Freedom Updates
Advocates in Action
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM FILES RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST KAISER PERMANENTE
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026
CONTACT: NICOLE VELASCO AT
MEDIA@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM
Murrieta, CA — Advocates for Faith & Freedom has filed a federal lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente on behalf of Sarah Plath, a former Kaiser medical assistant who was terminated after seeking a religious accommodation from Kaiser’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
Mrs. Plath is a devout Christian whose faith guides her conscience, her view of the sanctity of human life, and her belief that her body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. When Kaiser required employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or obtain an exemption, Mrs. Plath submitted a religious accommodation request explaining her sincerely held beliefs. She also provided additional written support, including a letter from her pastor.
Kaiser initially provisionally approved Mrs. Plath’s religious exemption, but later reversed course, denied her request without meaningful explanation, placed her on unpaid leave, and ultimately terminated her employment. At the same time, Kaiser granted accommodations to other similarly situated employees and allowed alternatives such as masking, testing, symptom screening, social distancing, and other precautionary measures.
“This case is about more than one employee losing her job,” said Sam Kane, Senior Legal Counsel at Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “It is about whether Americans can still live and work according to their sincerely held religious convictions without being punished by corporate gatekeepers. No employer should be allowed to force a faithful Christian to choose between her conscience and her livelihood – especially when reasonable accommodations were available.”
Mrs. Plath had worked for Kaiser since approximately 2010 and complied with masking, testing, and other safety protocols. Rather than engage in a meaningful interactive process or explain why her accommodation would create an undue hardship, Kaiser rejected her request and ended her employment.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued Mrs. Plath a Right to Sue letter and found reasonable cause to believe that violations of federal law occurred.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom maintains that religious liberty does not disappear in the workplace. Neither government pressure nor corporate mandates can override the conscience rights protected by federal and state law.
“Our Constitution and civil rights laws were written to restrain overreach and protect the individual,” Kane added. “When large institutions trample the religious convictions of everyday Americans, we will stand in the gap and fight back.”
The lawsuit brings claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act for religious discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation. Mrs. Plath seeks damages, attorneys’ fees, reinstatement, and a declaration that Kaiser violated her rights under federal and state law.
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BEFORE SHE BEGINS SERVING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE…
Dear Friend,
We are incredibly grateful for Julianne Fleischer’s years of service defending faith, freedom, and families. As she prepares to begin her next chapter with the U.S. Department of Justice, we sat down to reflect on her journey, her calling, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Watch the full interview and please keep Julianne in your prayers as she embarks on this exciting new opportunity to serve our nation.
In Christ,
Robert Tyler
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ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM DEMANDS MLB COMMISSIONER RETRACT PUNISHMENT OF CHRISTIAN SF GIANTS PLAYERS FOR WEARING BIBLE VERSES
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026
CONTACT: NICOLE VELASCO AT
MEDIA@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM
Murrieta, CA – June 16, 2026 – Advocates for Faith & Freedom, a nonprofit legal organization dedicated to protecting religious liberty and constitutional freedoms, today demanded that Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred immediately retract the league’s warning and any disciplinary action against San Francisco Giants pitchers who wrote Bible verses on their caps during the team’s Pride Night event.
On June 12, 2026, during the Giants’ Pride Night game, pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker respectfully expressed their Christian faith by inscribing references to Genesis 9:12-16 — a passage celebrating God’s covenant and the rainbow as its symbol — on their team-issued Pride Night caps. MLB responded by issuing a formal warning to the players, claiming the writing violated uniform rules.
“This is a blatant violation of the players’ rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion,” said Erin Mersino, Vice President at Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “MLB should never punish players for peacefully sharing a positive Biblical message, especially one referencing the very symbol the league featured on its Pride caps. The selective enforcement here sends a clear message: Christian faith is not welcome in Major League Baseball.” That message must be rectified.
The players’ actions were personal expressions of faith with no intent to harass or discriminate. Genesis 9:12-16 recounts God’s promise to Noah, using the rainbow as a sign of mercy and covenant — a message of hope entirely consistent with themes of inclusion and redemption. MLB’s policy, as applied, appears to target religious viewpoints while permitting other forms of expression on uniforms.
Therefore, in a letter co-written by Robert Tyler, founder and President of Advocates for Faith & Freedom, and Shea Hausenauer, Senior Litigation Counsel, Advocates for Faith & Freedom is calling on Commissioner Manfred to:
- Retract any warning, discipline, or adverse action taken against the players involved;
- Issue a public apology acknowledging that peaceful religious expression should not have been treated as punishable conduct;
- Clarify in writing that league rules will be applied in a viewpoint-neutral manner that respects religious expression and conscience rights;
- Eliminate uniform changes on Pride nights or officially print Bible verses on players’ uniforms on these nights; and
- Officially put the Cross and Bible verses on everyone’s uniforms during Christian Faith nights at stadiums.
A copy of the letter is available here.
“Professional athletes do not forfeit their rights and beliefs when they step onto the field,” added Mersino. “If MLB truly values diversity and inclusion, it must include religious diversity and protect players’ rights to express their faith without fear of retaliation.”
Advocates for Faith & Freedom will continue monitoring this situation to defend religious liberty in sports and public life.
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