A Hamilton pastor says he has handed out “thousands” of exemption letters for individuals who do not want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for religious reasons.

Peter Marshall is a pastor at Kingdom Worship Centre, a non-denominational Christian church on Hamilton Mountain.

He says he’s only heard of a handful of churches giving out religious exemption letters for use in settings where government-mandated proof of vaccination systems are in place.

“They view their bodies as a temple of God, and that they are not to pervert that body or contaminate because it belongs to God,” Marshall said.

Many businesses including restaurants, gyms, event spaces and theatres do not accept religious exemption letters in place of proof of vaccination.

According to the Public Health Ontario website, there are some medical conditions that would warrant an exemption letter like a previous allergic reaction to the vaccine or myocarditis. However, there are no religious exemptions.

A professor of applied ethics says Marshall is doing a disservice to his community.

“This pastor is in effect handing out ill health and death warrants to his congregants,” said Arthur Schaffer, Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, at the University of Manitoba. “Public health trumps religion.”

Marshall acknowledges that most businesses in the public sector will not honour his letters but claims some private businesses have accepted them.

Back in March, there was an outbreak at the church where 11 parishioners tested positive for COVID-19 following an indoor service.

The church voluntarily closed at the time and was fined $1,000 for not following Hamilton’s face covering by-law.