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Veteran news reporter fired for drawing the line against vaccine mandate turns to her faith: 'God has a purpose to this and will use it for good'
Image source: YouTube/KMOV-TV video screenshot

Veteran news reporter fired for drawing the line against vaccine mandate turns to her faith: 'God has a purpose to this and will use it for good'

A Missouri news reporter says she was fired for refusing to comply with her former employer's stringent rules regarding its vaccine mandate. Despite being let go from her job, the reporter has faith that "God has a purpose" to her termination and "will use it for good."

Kim St. Onge has been a television news reporter for nearly a decade – most recently employed by KMOV-TV in St. Louis. The station implemented a vaccine mandate in the summer that required employees to get their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Aug. 20, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

KMOV's parent company, Meredith Corporation, reportedly granted St. Onge a religious exemption, but only after she obtained a letter from her pastor. However, there were several hoops the reporter would have to jump through to retain her job while being unvaccinated.

St. Onge would allegedly need to wear an N95 face mask at all times at work as well as take a COVID-19 test twice a week and provide a time-stamped photo of the negative test results. The news reporter said she was told that she would also have to be in a different room for on-site meetings with her vaccinated colleagues and attend virtually.

In a Facebook post shared on Sunday, St. Onge said the rule requiring her to be separated "is where I really drew the line and proves this is not just about health."

The news reporter questioned the company's policy, "So, I'm testing TWICE weekly and wearing an N95 mask, but can't sit in the same room as my vaccinated colleagues who we now know can not only get Covid, but still pass it to others?"

"I informed my union representative I did not agree to follow those policies and was let go," she explained. "I turned down a non-disclosure agreement worth several thousand dollars to not be silenced."

St. Onge acknowledged that her decision would cause some to "staunchly disagree" with her — and even cause some people to "feel personally offended by my choice."

She reasoned, "But, this is too big to stay quiet. Our freedoms are being stripped away ... freedoms our parents, grandparents, and so many others fought for."

The news reporter noted, "Many people, including doctors and nurses who were hailed heroes in 2020, are now among the unemployed."

"I refuse to stand for a company dictating medical decisions for its employees, especially when it comes to an experimental vaccine," she declared, adding, "I want my future kids to know their mom stood up for her beliefs, her morals, even though it cost their mom her job."

St. Onge thanked all of the viewers who welcomed her into their homes and shared their stories with her.

"While this certainly wasn't the way I expected my career in TV news to end, as a follower of Christ, I know God has a purpose to this and will use it for good," she concluded the Facebook post.

St. Onge told CBN News that her termination from KMOV "felt really discriminatory."

During the trying times, St. Onge said her faith in God helped her stay true to her convictions.

"I have Scripture that I would repeat in my head when I was feeling discouraged. When it's all said is done ... I only answer to God," she told CBN News. "Our Savior already went through all this and He's got it."

"Joshua 1:9 is my favorite ... I have used it countless times. 'Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you where you go,'" she recited.

St. Onge told the Christian news outlet that she is currently working with a temporary employer in the St. Louis area.

She said the response to her decision has been "overwhelmingly supportive."

In April 2020, the KMOV news station was comfortable enough with St. Onge to have her deliver a "coronavirus message" of "togetherness" at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Message From Kimwww.youtube.com

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