There's an image on the internet of preparations being made to burn a woman at the stake. The cartoon dialogue balloon shows one of the magistrates, who is wearing a surgical mask, saying: "No mask, no jab, and she is still healthy? Do we need any more evidence of witchcraft?"
It brings to mind a U.S. federal court discrimination claim by an exceptionally health-conscious Major League Baseball scout against the Washington Nationals for firing him for refusing COVID vaccination.
Bernard "Benny" Gallo is typical of some individuals proactive in their own personal health care – he exercises regularly, eats organic foods, and avoids medications, according to the court filing (thomasmoresociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/GALLO-v.-WASHINGTON-NATIONALS-Baseball-Club-4-20-22-Complaint.pdf).
In his April 20 lawsuit, Gallo cites religious reasons for refusing vaccination. And his case points to inconsistencies regarding COVID restrictions and the absurdities of one-size-fits-all strategies to combat the virus.
Except for osteopathic therapies, Gallo rarely consults other medical professionals. "Mr. Gallo is a devout Christian, who believes that his body is created by God, a gift he must steward well by taking good care of his health. As part of his religious beliefs, he objects to all vaccinations, and has not received a vaccination since his childhood," the court filing said.
Major League Baseball has been inconsistent in COVID mandates -- while encouraged to take them, players are exempt from required vaccinations, for example, while all other MLB employees must be vaccinated.
The Nationals, "applied its vaccination policy in a manner that was lenient and accommodating to some employees, but needlessly harsh and inflexible as to others," including Gallo, his lawsuit said.
His filing included a medical report showing Gallo to have natural immunity with antibodies "possibly higher than antibody levels of those who had been vaccinated" and the lawsuit said he was willing to wear a mask when in close contact with others, to be weekly tested, and to take steps to remain healthy.
Charles LiMandri, one of Gallo's lawyers, said "The Washington Nationals' denial of a reasonable accommodation is unlawful."
"Mr. Gallo's beliefs regarding the sanctity of his physical body and obligation to take care of it are those of a devout Christian," according to LiMandri.
Gallo has pro-life beliefs that do not allow him "to inject into his body a vaccine that is in any way connected with taking the life of another human being through abortion, a condition that he has learned is true of all COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States," LiMandi said.
LiMandri is general counsel for The Thomas More Society, a Chicago based nonprofit law firm advocating for religious liberty and other issues and his statements were contained in a Society news release.
Gallo has lost not only his job, but "his life's passion of working as a baseball scout," the release said. Professional esteem for Gallo resulted in him being elected to the Southern California Scouts Association.
In normal circumstances, an enterprise should be honored to have a man like Gallo in its ranks. But the Nationals, like so many employers, have advocated or given in to questionable medical practices.
There is also the question of the legality of it all, which hopefully will be resolved in Gallo's court case.
But the Nationals fired a man of obvious integrity, health, and health consciousness who is willing to partake of the theater of protective procedures for others.
He just won't take the shot.
Even if professionally he must be burned at the stake.
Retired business professor Mike Landry, Ph.D., has been a journalist, broadcaster, and church pastor. Living in Northwest Arkansas, he writes on current events and history and is a commentary writer for The Western Journal.
