Major Religious Freedom Fight in Florida

Oct 5, 2026

TODAY: A major test of Christian religious freedom

Last month, the Sixth District Court of Appeal made the highly unusual move of asking Liberty Counsel to submit an amicus brief in the case Marin v. Nemours Children’s Hospital.

Even more unusual, the court then asked us to present oral arguments en banc, to the full 11-judge panel, giving me the same amount of time given to the plaintiff, defense, and state attorney general.

I delivered those arguments just weeks ago, and I am glad I did because this case could set a major precedent for religious freedom in Florida.

In this case, a nationally recognized employer decided which Christian beliefs were acceptable — and fired employees whose beliefs it rejected.

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In 2021, Nemours Children’s Hospital fired Christian Marin, an HVAC technician, because he refused the COVID-19 shot based on his sincerely held pro-life Christian beliefs.

Marin could not take a drug or vaccine associated with abortion. 

But what happened next was especially troubling. 

Nemours granted religious accommodations to other employees whose theological objections the hospital considered acceptable — while categorically rejecting employees whose religious objections were based on opposition to abortion. 

Religious freedom cannot depend on whether an employer approves of your theology. 

Nemours acknowledged that the COVID shots used aborted fetal cells in testing and/or development. Yet the hospital rejected Marin's sincerely held religious beliefs. 

Florida's Sixth District Court of Appeal invited Liberty Counsel to file an amicus brief and granted Liberty Counsel oral argument in this important case. This is highly unusual, and an honor to be called to serve in this manner. 

Liberty Counsel argues that Nemours violated the Florida Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination because of religion. 

Unlike federal Title VII employment law, Florida law does not contain the same “undue hardship” language that has been used to weaken religious protections. 

Florida law prohibits intentional religious discrimination — and employers should not be allowed to create a hierarchy of “acceptable” and “unacceptable” religious beliefs. 

This case is about much more than one man's job. 

It is about whether Christians can hold and act upon sincerely held religious convictions without secular employers deciding which tenets of their faith deserve protection . . . and which do not. 

Please pray that the court will uphold religious liberty and that my arguments will clearly demonstrate what is at stake. 

And please stand with Liberty Counsel financially today. 

Your gift helps provide the legal resources necessary to fight cases like Christian Marin's and defend Christians when employers violate their religious freedom. 

Please make your most generous gift today — and let the Challenge Grant DOUBLE your impact.

Christian Marin stood by his convictions.

Today, I am standing before the court to defend the principle that religious freedom cannot be reserved only for beliefs an employer finds acceptable.

Will you stand with Christian and Liberty Counsel through your prayers and your generous gift today? 

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel


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SOURCE:

“FL Children’s Hospital Fired Employee Over COVID-19 Shot.” Liberty Counsel, January 28, 2026. LC.org/newsroom/details/012826-fl-childrens-hospital-fired-employee-over-covid19-shot. 

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