CHICAGO (LifeSiteNews) — In the nation’s first class action settlement of its kind, a federal court judge has granted final approval of a $10.3 million settlement for over 500 healthcare workers who were unlawfully denied religious exemptions from the COVID-19 shot.
Judge John F. Kness of the Northern District of Illinois granted this final verbal approval in Jane Doe 1, et al. v. Northshore University HealthSystem on Monday. Following the final judgment that is expected to be entered this week, the defendant NorthShore will have to pay $10,337,500 to their over 500 current and former employees in this class action lawsuit who were deemed “victims of religious discrimination, and who were punished for their religious beliefs against taking an injection associated with aborted fetal cells.”
NorthShore, a private “integrated healthcare delivery system” that consists of six hospitals and other medical facilities in the Chicago area, mandated its 18,000 workers to receive the COVID shot in 2021. Among those workers, some were unlawfully discriminated against and denied religious exemptions, and their employment was later terminated. Other employees who are part of the suit were forced to accept the shot against their religious beliefs.
A press release from Liberty Counsel explains that the 13 healthcare workers who were terminated for refusing to take the shot will receive $24,000 each in compensation. Additionally, these individuals will be eligible to apply for rehire within 90 days of final settlement approval by the court, where they may resume their previously held seniority-level positions.
America’s best loved pro-life priest, Fr. Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life as well as the President of the National Pro-Life Religious Council, has apparently been laicized (dismissed from the priesthood) by order of Pope Francis.
SIGN: This outrageous attack on the pro-life movement by the so-called “listening Church” is a mockery of justice. Stand by Fr. Pavone ASAP!
Catholic News Agency reports that a December 13 letter to all bishops in America, sent from the Pope’s representative in America – the Papal Nuncio Fr. Christophe Pierre – says that Fr. Pavone was laicized for “blasphemous communications on social media” and “persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop.”
In a separate statement, the papal nuncio wrote that the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy – the head of the Vatican’s department dealing with priests – said that there was “no possibility of appeal” of the decision.
DEMAND JUSTICE: Pope Francis’ totalitarian regime cannot strike down faithful pro-life priests like Fr. Frank Pavone without international outrage!
According to CNA, which has confirmed the letter with several bishops, the statement calls Fr. Pavone, “Mr. Pavone.”
“Since Priests for Life, Inc. is not a Catholic organization, Mr. Pavone’s continuing role in it as a lay person would be entirely up to the leadership of that organization,” the statement says.
The statement notes that the decision on the matter by the Dicastery for Clergy was issued on November 9, but Fr. Pavone had not heard of the decision from the Vatican until CNA called him for comment.
SIGN AND STAND UP NOW: DEMAND THAT POPE FRANCIS IMMEDIATELY STOP HIS ATTACKS AGAINST FAITHFUL PRIESTS!
If Pope Francis and this Vatican regime can get away with expelling faithful priests like Fr. Frank Pavone, then the Catholic Church may truly be entering the darkest period of her existence!
SIGN NOW!
MORE REACTION:
John-Henry Westen: Here Is What the ‘Blasphemy’ Charge Against Fr. Pavone Is All About
John-Henry Westen: BREAKING: Pope Francis laicizes America’s best loved pro-life priest Fr. Frank Pavone
Employees who were forced to take the COVID-19 shot against their religious beliefs to keep their positions at NorthShore will also be granted approximately $3,700 each in compensation. These former and current employees should expect to receive this compensation within 60 days of the final approval of the settlement from the court.
In addition to the multi-million dollar settlement, NorthShore also must change their “no religious accommodations” policy that led to the unlawful termination of their employees and forced others to take the Covid-19 shot against their religious beliefs. The revised policy will be “consistent with the law” and allow for religious accommodations for employees across their numerous facilities.
“This classwide settlement involves health care workers who have been unlawfully discriminated against and denied religious exemptions from the COVID shot mandate,” said Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver. “These heroes who daily give their lives to protect and treat their patients also must provide for their own families.”
“This settlement should be a wake-up call to every employer that did not accommodate or exempt employees who opposed the COVID shots for religious reasons. Let this case be a warning to employers that violated Title VII,” Staver continued.
As previously reported by LifeSiteNews, employees still have the right to “reasonable accommodation for their religious beliefs,” even when “an employer or even the federal government pushes a vaccine mandate under the guise of a pandemic.”
Unfortunately, these Illinois healthcare workers were not alone when it came to having their jobs terminated due to this unlawful discrimination. New York City fired approximately 1,700 employees for not receiving the COVID jab. A New York State Supreme Court later reinstated these employees in October and ordered back pay for them, as their rights were clearly violated when their positions were terminated. The court also noted that “being vaccinated does not prevent an individual from contracting or transmitting COVID-19.”
READ: Air Force can’t punish members seeking COVID shot religious exemption, Appeals Court rules