Man Has Standing After College Denies Vaccine Exemption

A man who withdrew from a cardiac sonography program — after his request for a religious exemption from a COVID-19 vaccine requirement was denied — has standing to sue for violation of his right to religious freedom under the First Amendment and Illinois law, a federal court ruled.

Luke Wegmann was admitted into the Cardiac Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at John A. Logan College in 2022 — and as part of the program’s requirements, he had to perform clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals including Blessing Hospital.

After asking Blessing Hospital for a religious vaccine exemption, he learned that the hospital ...