ILLINOIS
Family Harassed by Social Workers
Illinois law requires children to be vaccinated before they go to public or private schools, unless the parents can claim a religious or medical exemption. Under Illinois law, a religious exemption is fairly straightforward, and a number of Home School Legal Defense Association members have claimed such an exemption because of their sincere religious objection to vaccinations. Social workers, unfortunately, interpret the vaccination laws more broadly than do school officials.
One of our member families was recently contacted by social workers who claimed, at first, to be completely unaware of a religious exemption from vaccination requirements. After attorney Scott Somerville faxed them a copy of the religious exemption law, the social workers responded, "That has nothing to do with the child neglect law."
When Somerville explained what the law actually required, social workers argued, "She can't claim a religious exemption because she's a Baptist." Somerville asked to speak with an attorney for the Department of Children and Family Services.
HSLDA explained to the department's attorney that the U.S. Supreme Court has clearly ruled that Baptists may also claim religious exemptions, citing the case of Frazee v. Employment Security Dept., 489 U.S. 829 (1989). At this point, the attorney for DCFS began to soften her legal position, and we are optimistic that the family will be cleared of all allegations of neglect soon. Please pray for this family and all others whose religious convictions have set them at odds with social workers.
