Religious leaders unite to build confidence and encourage COVID vaccine

[ad_1]

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With the states’ vaccination rate stagnating at around 62%, faith community leaders are now speaking out to encourage their worshipers to get vaccinated.

Some 95 pastors and priests wrote an open letter in the Star-Advertiser urging the public to get vaccinated to protect themselves against COVID-19. Those who signed the letter represent various religious organizations of different religions that serve thousands of worshipers.

They acknowledged that many unvaccinated people are suspicious of the government and they hope they will trust their message.

I cannot think of a greater tragedy than what has happened to this country than the politicization of this public health catastrophe, said Rev. David Gierlach of St. Elizabeths Episcopal Church.

Good people, nice people listen to misinformation and follow it.

St. Elizabeths is located in Kalihi, an area hard hit by the COVID virus.

He and the other church leaders who signed the letter said the vaccinations were necessary to keep Hawaii’s health care system from being overwhelmed.

I think unvaccinated people have an obligation on behalf of our healthcare workers, Gierlach added.

Or don’t come to the hospital. It’s sort of, if you’re going to buy this package then buy the whole bag and all the consequences that come with it – which is a horrible thing to think and say, but otherwise our health care system will collapse.

Many churches that support the immunization effort do not have a specific doctrine or policy that prohibits injections.

This could make it difficult for one of their church members to apply for a religious exemption from the vaccine.

Pastor Wayne Surface of the Ohana Baptist Church in Moanalua said the state and county already have strict requirements for the religious exemption.

He said some members had asked him to write a letter to their employers requesting an exemption.

I told them that I doubted the government would accept this letter. A working company could do it, but I don’t think the federal or state government will, Surface said.

They’re probably going to have something in the written policy of the church that shows it. Now and in the past too.

Copyright 2021 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

[ad_2]