Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/21a145_gfbi.pdf
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4 

DR. A v. HOCHUL 

GORSUCH, J., dissenting 

that “we left off [the religious exemption] in our regulations
intentionally.”  Governor  Hochul  Holds  Q&A  Following
COVID–19  Briefing 
(Sept.  15,  2021),  https: // www.
governor.ny.gov/news/video-rough-transcript-governor-hochul-
holds-qa-following-covid-19-briefing.  Asked why, the Gov-
ernor  answered  that  there  is  no  “sanctioned  religious  ex-
emption  from  any  organized  religion”  and  that  organized 
religions are “encouraging the opposite.”  Ibid.  Apparently
contemplating Catholics who object to receiving a vaccine, 
Governor Hochul added that “everybody from the Pope on
down is encouraging people to get vaccinated.”  Ibid. 

Speaking  to  a  different  audience,  the  Governor  elabo-
rated: “How can you believe that God would give a vaccine
that would cause you harm?  That is not truth.  Those are 
just lies out there on social media.”  Governor Hochul At-
tends  Services  at  Abyssinian  Baptist  Church  in  Harlem
(Sept. 12, 2021), https://governor.ny.gov/news/video-audio-
photos -rush-transcript-governor-hochul-attends-servces-
abyssinian-baptist-church.

The  day  before  the  mandate  went  into  effect,  Governor
Hochul again expressed her view that religious objections
to COVID–19 vaccines are theologically flawed:  “All of you, 
yes,  I  know  you’re  vaccinated,  you’re  the  smart  ones,  but 
you  know  there’s  people  out  there  who  aren’t  listening  to
God  and  what  God  wants.  You  know  who  they  are.”
Governor  Hochul  Attends  Service  at  Christian  Cultural 
Center (Sept. 26, 2021), https://governor.ny.gov/news/rush-
transcript - governor - hochul - attends - service -christian- 
cultural-center. 

Around the same time, Governor Hochul also announced 
that  New  York  would  alter  its  unemployment  insurance
scheme.  Healthcare workers who failed to comply with the
mandate would not only lose their jobs; they would be per se 
ineligible  for  unemployment  insurance  benefits.  See  In 
Preparation  for  Monday  Vaccination  Deadline,  Governor