Washington State recently terminated several employees who declined to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Among them was Nick Rolovich, the former head coach of the Washington State University football team, who is now suing the state for what he believes was an unjust decision.
According to Rolovich’s lawyer, Brian Fahling, the coach will be pursuing legal action against athletic director Pat Chun for allegedly showing prejudice against Rolovich’s deeply held religious convictions. Rolovich, a devout Catholic, had requested a religious exemption from the vaccine mandate, which was denied. He consistently wore a mask during Washington games to adhere to safety protocols.
Along with Rolovich, four other members of the coaching staff were also dismissed. A significant number of 1,800 state employees either lost their jobs, resigned, or retired on the same day due to their stance on vaccinations. Jake Dickert, the former defensive coordinator, has taken over as the new head coach for the Cougars. Rolovich was terminated with cause, and he did not receive compensation for the remainder of his contract, which was set to run for another four years.
Notably, Pope Francis and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have approved Covid-19 vaccinations as morally acceptable, urging Catholics to get vaccinated to safeguard their communities. However, some Catholics, including Rolovich, continue to resist vaccination efforts despite these recommendations.
