In an open letter to faith leaders across the state, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen and Gov. Roy Cooper expressed their gratitude for the state’s faith community’s support so far during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Then the two asked for the religious leaders to reach out to North Carolinians who haven’t gotten vaccinated.
The letter, addressed to “Faith Leaders,” stated that, during the pandemic, “not only have you provided much-needed source of prayers and comfort to people in mourning in our state, you have performed countless acts of loving kindness as you cared for and sustained our communities.”
The letter went on to remind the leaders of the faith communities that there’s a lot more work to be done.
“We write today to ask for your help so that we can keep people well, save lives, and end this pandemic.”
It noted that hospitals across the state are strained right now, and medical providers in other states have even faced situations where care wasn’t readily available for people experiencing non-COVID-related life-threatening health crises.
Cooper and Cohen then listed some ways church’s and other religious institutions can help.
Here are some of the suggested steps:
- Directing congregations to “trustworthy sources” on vaccines, such as doctors, medical providers and the NCDHHS website YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov.
- Posting and sharing vaccine information in highly visible areas in the house of worship.
- Hosting or sponsoring vaccine events.
- Sending a letter or email to congregants sharing resources that provide accurate information about vaccines – and encouraging people to avoid sharing misinformation on social media.
- Talking to your congregation about “why our faith calls upon us to protect our health and those around us by getting vaccinated.”
- Adding a message encouraging people to get vaccinated to your organization’s voicemail.
The letter suggests other ways faith leaders can help, such as by “becoming an ambassador” for the vaccine effort.
“Some people need to be assured that the vaccines are safe and effective,” it states. “Others need to be confident that they and their communities are not being treated unjustly. Share your vaccine story with your congregation. Encourage your congregants to share their stories.”
Sure. King Cooper sends talking points to religious leaders. Government pushing abortion derived and tested vaccines on religious groups isn’t creepy. I wonder if Cooper will send out more talking points closer to election time. Religious leaders aren’t qualified to offer health advice only spiritual , who would not have a diagnosis from a deacon or surgery from a synagogue?
Sounds like coercion to me.
A violation of the Nuremberg Code.
Any real church leader should be outraged at this hypocrisy.
Disgusting.
Can’t churches doing much to help as this has all been over politized and we all know politics does play well in church.
Whatever happened to “Faith, not fear”? Too many churches have fallen prey to this fear based power grab.
Enough is enough.
Lol, their higher power is Satan. The 501C3 Church has sold out. Deaths up to almost 15,000 and 700,000 adverse effects. VAERS reporting system reflects < 1% of the actual adverse effects. Natural immunity 27 times more effective than the clot shot. Biden is impatient with me. Gibraltar has a 99% vaccinate rate and a 2,500% spike in new cases. Yeah all vaccinated! The vaccines don’t work. We have a pandemic of the vaccinated. Nice job getting vaccinated and causing the real pandemic now bone heads!! We’ll have to clean up the mess once you guys die. Look for mass vaccinated die off by end of year and into early 2022. May the vaccinated get right with Jesus. Your time is running out!
Here’s something, how about telling me what this vaccine will do to folks in five years time. Is there any way they can put my mind at ease that there won’t be life long problems that crop up five, six, seven, etc., years from now? They can’t and that’s my main concern. No doctor, clergy, congress critter, or any other form of humanity can answer that question.
I’m surprised Cooper didn’t tell religious leaders to tell their congregations that if they don’t get the vaccine they’ll be destined to hell. Cooper and Biden have tried everything to get everyone to take the vaccine – lotteries, gift cards, FEAR, intimidation. Any politician running for office would be thrilled to have the advertising budget that’s been used to convince people to get the vaccine.
I doubt true minister’s of the gospel will be taking marching orders from King Cooper.
The STATE is asking organized religion to foster a political stance.
On the day Democrats vote to codify Roe v Wade. That’s rich.
Schmoozing the church boys are ya Coop? I see this headed in the direction of church services off limits to the uninoculated. Halting and checking for proof at the entrance. You probably cleverly have it penciled into your to-do list in a timely manner for Thanksgiving. The devout are normally quite mellow and law abiding, so you see very little pushback and most will march along and be good little citizens, getting those jabs and proudly producing their shot card, all masked up, kids, babies and all. Ministers, priests rabbis etc. have a deep political stripe to them, so perhaps most of those back slapping shepherds will tend their flocks to your bidding, happy that their powers of persuasion have impressed you. However, the harder government pushes Coop, the more the suspicious, which is a pretty healthy number and the most vocal of the flock, dig their heels. It is not difficult to see dark clouds looming with the left’s most dependable voters. Yes Coop, your precious minorities may become your biggest thorn, if I may use a biblical reference. Their ancestors are already whispering warnings to not believe that reoccurring “Trust me, I am your government” talk. Those cautionary echoes are not without merit I might add. Your faithful minority voters ask themselves; how many times can we fall for these traps? Think Coop: Images of AME churches as our trustworthy government station agents to check covid ID’s. How about requiring ID’s at the Catholic Churches’ Spanish masses? Coop’s most unwavering faithful the Unitarians’ who seem to actually worship Democrats as their gods will just push on through ID checkers. Ah yes. The Christian Scientists will really be happy to oblige on this one. Yes indeedie. Lotta wrinkles in this pairing with the churches Coop. Better back off.
Mr. Cooper needs to be specific on his apparent medical expertise in reference to his comment about Vaccine misinformation. What “specifically” is that misinformation?. The FDA approved a vaccine that is available in this country. Is that a lie or truth? We do or don’t have a choice to participate in an experimental drug? What is the Truth!? Therapeutics that are “Proven” to work. Is that a lie or truth? No mention, or consideration of natural anti-bodies that are stronger and last longer. Is that a lie or truth? Would “Dr.” Cooper please clear up and be specific about this apparent mis-information.
Nowhere in the Bible can Cooper find support for this campaign.
Amen
A higher power? You want God to help your sins while theres a vaccine mandate ruining the nation and the real truth being scewed with hate and money. Lets all watch plandemic amd decide for ourselves!
We have a serious case of a pandemic of the unvaccinated and it must be eradicated before it spreads any further.
The symptoms are a belief and hope in God, distrust of ‘authortative’ figures, insistence of personal freedom and independent thought, as well courage to stand up to evil.
Cooper thinks we are stupid and gullible. Deployables. King George probably thought the same of the Patriots.
So go ahead Roy and Mandy, mandate it, and draw the line. The majority is on our side.