Health

Church Committee Responds to MMR Vaccine Bill

by Dr Natalie Singh - Health Editor February 14, 2026

February 14, 2026 0 comments

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – State Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Colleton, filed a bill that would ban people from claiming religious exemptions as a reason for not getting the MMR vaccine before going to public schools. As of Feb. 13, it was directed to the Committee on Medical Affairs.

Bright Matthews’ filing comes as South Carolina has seen one of the worst measles outbreaks in the country.

David Raflo, with the Christian Science Committee on Publication for South Carolina, gave the following statement in response to the bill:

“Christian Scientists share a deep care for public health and safety, and remain mindful of the responsibility all citizens have to follow government requirements and respect the rights of others. We also share the notable goal to help our nation continue to make progress on public health issues.

Christian Scientists are not “against” vaccines nor “against” medical professionals. Nor do we engage in campaigns “for” or “against” such matters for our members or for society at large. Over a number of years, we have appreciated the availability of religious accommodation from vaccination requirements for church members who requested it. But that privilege was never intended to pit the conscientious practice of Christian Scientists as a religious minority against the well-being of society at large.

In the Christian Science community, views and decisions on vaccination and health care choice are highly individual and thoughtfully considered as a matter of personal religious choice and as the result of demonstrated spiritual practice, not as a function of church doctrine or dogma.

When requesting and using available religious accommodations or exemptions from vaccination or other requirements, Christian Scientists see the importance of striving to love our neighbor and of following the Golden Rule — thoughtfully listening to and having compassion for the concerns of others, whether it be a family member, a workplace, or a school.

When Christian Scientists ask for room to practice our religion in regard to vaccination decisions, it is because we have found, often over several generations, that conscientious prayer — based on understanding God and our relationship to Him — is a powerful defense against ill-health, and a powerful cure when we do confront sickness. So, when Christian Scientists seek accommodation from vaccination requirements for themselves, it’s not generally out of fear of what a vaccine may do. Instead, it’s a conscientious choice to seek preventative help through spiritual means that have proven effective in our lives.”

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date: 2026-02-13 20:46:00

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