Ascension’s Vaccine Exemption Denial Under Scrutiny on Appeal

A federal appeals court in Chicago will hear oral arguments in an Indiana doctor’s bid to block a health-care system from requiring that workers get vaccinated against Covid-19 despite religious objections.

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit May 31 will consider the arguments of Paul Halczenko, who’s contesting a federal district judge’s decision denying his request for a preliminary injunction against Ascension Health Inc.

The judge found that Halczenko failed to show he’d suffer irreparable harm without the court order. But Halczenko contends that Ascension’s decision to turn aside his request for a religious exemption and fire ...