NEW YORK (LifeSiteNews) — A federal appeals court has ruled that a Catholic woman may resume her legal case after being fired from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York because her request for a religious exemption from the bank’s COVID-19 shot mandate was denied.
The former employee, Jeanette Diaz, was serving as an executive assistant to top executives at the Federal Reserve when the COVID-19 crisis began.
Diaz had worked for the organization for 27 years before being fired for refusing the COVID-19 jab.
Diaz said that she was concerned that the vaccine was made with aborted fetal cells, and, as such, her Catholic faith precluded her from submitting to the required COVID-19 shot.
A lower court judge ruled in the New York Federal Reserve’s favor in 2023, citing his doubt that Diaz’s stated beliefs were sincere.
The three-judge appeals court panel unanimously concluded that “disputed issues of material fact about whether Diaz’s sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with the Federal Reserve’s vaccination policy preclude summary judgment against Diaz.”
“The Fed claimed she was hiding behind religion, but the court wasn’t buying it,” wrote conservative commentator Mario Nawfal on X.
“Apparently, the Fed doesn’t get to play religion referee,” he added.
🇺🇸 NY FED CAN’T DODGE VAX FIRING LAWSUIT
Jeanette Diaz got booted after 27 years for refusing the COVID shot.
She said it clashed with her Catholic faith and was tied to aborted fetal cells.
The Fed claimed she was hiding behind religion, but the court wasn’t buying it.… https://t.co/E5nKztEeBW pic.twitter.com/q9pUdWyzdg
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 2, 2025