The employees have filed religious exemptions due to the connection that all currently available COVID-19 vaccines have with abortion. The vaccines were all developed and/or produced using a line of stem cells harvested from aborted babies.
NorthShore operates hospitals in Evanston, Highland Park, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Skokie, and Chicago.
The court set November 16 as the date for a preliminary injunction hearing. Liberty Counsel, who is serving as legal counsel for the 14 employees, says that it will file a brief with the court to provide legal relief for the entire class of healthcare workers.
During the fall veto session, the Illinois General Assembly passed an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act that would take away the conscience rights currently being exercised by the employees in this case. If that legislation becomes effective, it may become much more difficult for Illinoisans to defend their conscience rights as they relate to COVID-19 shot mandates.
