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NewsCreative Loafing Tampa BayAugust 3, 2026Hillsborough

Florida Attorney General warns Catholic schools to accept vaccine exemptions if accepting state vouchers

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a letter to the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops stating that Catholic schools receiving taxpayer-funded vouchers must honor student vaccine exemptions. The Attorney General argues that Catholic doctrine supports the right to individual conscience regarding medical decisions.

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Read the full story at Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Why It Matters

This action creates a potential legal conflict between state voucher funding requirements and the internal policies of private religious schools regarding student health mandates.

Key Facts

  • Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a formal letter to the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday.
  • The Attorney General asserts that schools accepting taxpayer-funded vouchers are subject to state requirements regarding vaccine exemptions.
  • The argument cites the Catholic Catechism, Pope Leo, and scripture to support the position that Catholic doctrine allows for individual conscience in medical choices.
  • The warning specifically targets the intersection of private religious school policy and state-funded voucher programs.

Who's Mentioned

organizationFlorida Conference of Catholic Bishops“Recipient of the letter from the Attorney General”organizationCreative Loafing Tampa“Publisher of the news article”personJames Uthmeier“Florida Attorney General”