Christian Daycare in Milford Defies Connecticut Vaccination Mandates

A Christian Daycare Center Challenges Connecticut’s Vaccination Mandates

A private, Christian day care center in Milford, Connecticut, is taking legal action to challenge the state’s mandatory vaccination rules for students. This effort marks a renewed push to question the constitutionality of these regulations, which have been a point of contention for some religious communities. The daycare center first filed a lawsuit in 2023, shortly after the state legislature and governor removed religious exemptions for student vaccinations.

The case has drawn attention from both supporters and critics, with the daycare center arguing that the state is overstepping its authority. Jim Loomer, pastor of the church associated with the day care, expressed concerns about the state's approach, stating, “We’re honoring and listening to what the parents are saying and saying to the state I think you’re being unreasonable, you’re overstepping what really is your authority.”

The lawsuit is supported by a national legal nonprofit organization called We The Patriots USA, which advocates for health freedom, religious freedom, Second Amendment rights, and free speech. While previous attempts to overturn vaccination mandates have not succeeded, Loomer and his legal team believe they now have stronger arguments. Their confidence stems from a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that favored a group of Maryland parents seeking a religious exemption from school lessons on LGBTQ+ issues.

Attorneys for the daycare center have filed new materials in their ongoing federal case, referencing this landmark ruling. However, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is defending the state’s position in court. His office argues that the Supreme Court’s decision does not apply to the current case, as it involves different legal issues.

In a statement, Tong’s office said, “vaccination requirements do not involve the compelled learning regulations at issue in [the recent rulings] and therefore do not similarly interfere with parents.” The attorney general’s office has vowed to continue defending the state’s vaccine rules.

Despite the legal challenges, medical experts emphasize the importance of childhood immunizations. Routine vaccines for diseases like polio, rubella, and measles are widely regarded as safe and effective for most children. Dr. Joy Hong, a veteran Connecticut pediatrician, stated, “Childhood vaccinations protect the health of our children. These vaccines, although they can have some small side effects, in general are very, very safe.”

However, for individuals who hold strong religious beliefs, the safety and effectiveness of vaccines are secondary to ethical concerns. Some parents and religious leaders argue that certain vaccines are developed using cell lines derived from aborted fetuses, which conflicts with their moral convictions.

Loomer explained, “We not only live it, but we teach it to our children that you shouldn’t be trying to profit off of something that is clearly, you know, the taking of a human life.”

Cameron Atkinson, an attorney representing the daycare center, emphasized that the core of the lawsuit is faith-based. “At the end of the day, here at Milford Christian Church, the issue is faith first,” he said.

This ongoing legal battle highlights the complex intersection between public health policy and individual religious beliefs. As the case moves forward, it continues to spark debate about the balance between state authority and personal freedoms.