The state Senate Republican leader and a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church both criticized Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont for referring to Mother Teresa while speaking Wednesday about state employees who seek a religious exemption for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Lamont was speaking at a press conference outside the state Capitol in Hartford when he was asked about the standards for faith exemptions to his mandate that state employees must be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.
“Let’s see if people try to exploit it or are these really deeply held faith reasons they put forth,” Lamont responded. “Is this something that is being exploited or is this a very small group of Mother Teresas who come forward and feel deeply? I really want people vaccinated.”
Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly of Stratford said the late saint, who died at the age of 87 in 1997, should not have been mentioned in that context. An internationally known figure, she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
“I take exception to governor’s snide remark calling individuals who claim a religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine ‘Mother Teresas,’ ” Kelly said. “Mother Teresa dedicated her life to service. She is an international role model of faith, humility, and charity. She is recognized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Her life must be emulated, not denigrated as a joke or used as a veiled sarcastic insult.”
Kelly added, “Religious freedom is a core value of our nation. Government has no business judging someone’s religious beliefs, let alone joking or laughing at them. As the leader of our state, I expect much more from the governor when it comes to respecting people’s religion and faith.”
Regarding Kelly, Lamont’s chief spokesman, Max Reiss said, “His comments are false, and he is once again trying to politicize an issue of public health.”
Chris Healy, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Connecticut, said, “It is sad and unfortunate and very disappointing that the governor chose to make Mother Teresa, who is really Saint Teresa to correct that, as some kind of eccentric character to demean people of legitimate faith.”
Healy added, “Yes, the church and church leaders do support vaccines, and we have done that, but we also respect people’s right to conscience. Saint Teresa gave her entire life to helping the poor and the sick, and that is why she is a venerated model for goodness — not just in the Catholic Church but to people around the world. To chuckle over using her name like that was really insensitive to many of the 1.3 million Catholics in this state and other people of faith.”
Lamont’s comments were posted on YouTube at youtu.be/pJ6gsgdJCyY.
Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
