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Is Vatican City an absolute monarchy? Rep Madison Cawthorn trolled for calling Covid-19 vaccine mandate illegal

Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn recently took to Twitter to share his remarks on Vatican City's new decree which reportedly could result in its employees losing their jobs for refusing to be vaccinated

To combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there were reports that suggested how Rome's Vatican City could take a hard line against employees who refuse to be vaccinated for COVID-19. As per reports, Vatican employees could lose their jobs if they refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccination. Following the news, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) took to Twitter to share his perspective over the issue, which did not sit too well with the internet.

According to a report by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, employees who refuse to get COVID-19 vaccination would face penalties that can include firing from their current job. Cawthorn shared the news on his Twitter feed and wrote, “This doesn’t sound legal...One shouldn’t be forced against their will to be vaccinated. The vaccination is there for those who want it, and are in need of it due to medical vulnerabilities.” It should be noted here that his Twitter bio states that "this account is maintained by federal staff." So there is always a possibility that the tweets from his account might not be his personal opinion.

However, Cawthorn, who was accused of sexual misconduct allegations in August 2020, received backlash over his remarks as several Twitter users trolled him and even went on to talk about the Pope's rule in the Vatican City.

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Is Vatican City an absolute monarchy?

Vatican City is the Holy See’s independent city-state within Rome, Italy. In the Vatican City, the pope is the sovereign of the stage, and the legislative authority is vested in the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State -- a body of cardinals appointed by the pope for five-year periods. The state’s foreign relations are entrusted to the Holy See’s Secretariat of State and diplomatic service. That being said, the pope has absolute power in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches over Vatican City.

Vatican City employs several thousand people, most of them live outside the walled 100-acre territory. But those who reside in the Vatican’s walls tend to be elderly, including Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI. In light of the ongoing pandemic, Pope Francis, 84, was vaccinated for COVID-19 last month and has remained a big supporter of vaccination. Pope Francis said: “It is an ethical choice because you are gambling with your health, with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others.”

Under Pope Francis, the Vatican City has set up several facilities to help Rome’s homeless population. In January 2021, it began vaccinating homeless people who are looked after in the territory’s health facilities. Unlike other places, the Vatican even offered free COVID-19 tests to migrants and the homeless. That is why when Cawthorn gave his remarks on Vatican City’s latest vaccination policy, people started to troll him.

“Vatican is a big dance club in New York”

Right after Cawthorn made his remark, people schooled him and told him that the Vatican City comes under the pontiff. One user wrote: "Sir, you are aware the Vatican is a sovereign city state, governed by an absolute monarch? It's not governed by American law, let alone wingnut cosplay law." Another wrote: "He’s not aware cause it has to be spoon fed and a daily regurgitated talking point on foxnews for it to sink in". A third person tweeted: "It's not nice to ask members of the #SeditionCaucus rhetorical questions like this, it just confuses them. He probably thinks the Vatican is a big dance club in New York." Another person trolled Cawthron by tweeting: "100% Cawthorn thinks “Vatican” is a company in the US. 100%." While another wrote: "Does he a) think "Vatican" is the name of an employer in his district or b) allege violations of international law and aim to enter the United States into a military engagement against the Holy See". Another wrote: "When the D student, college drop out, flunky doesn’t understand the Vatican is it’s own sovereign entity."

Meanwhile, the Vatican City State Governorate has released a statement explaining a recent decree on the need to vaccinate the employees, saying that they seek to strike a balance between protecting the community and an individual's freedom of choice.

"For those who refuse vaccination in the absence of health reasons — the adoption of measures that both minimizes the danger at issue and allows alternative work solutions to be found for the interested party,” the statement reads.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.