Nurse fights for religious freedom

Alexandra Clark, a behavioral health nurse at St. Clare’s Denville Hospital, has filed a class-action lawsuit against the hospital for allegedly denying religious exemptions for the influenza vaccine. In her lawsuit, filed on October 18, Clark claims that the hospital informed employees in September that it would not accept religious exemptions this year, a departure from previous practices. Clark, who received an exemption in 2023 based on her Catholic beliefs, argues that the hospital’s new policy violates her rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. She states, “I must either violate my sincerely held religious beliefs or lose my job.” The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensation for emotional distress and claims that hundreds of employees may have faced discrimination. St. Clare’s has not confirmed the change in policy but emphasizes its commitment to staff and patient safety.