Colorado's Catholic bishops released a religious exemption letter template from the COVID-19 experimental injections for Catholics, with the bishops stating that they "continue to support religious exemptions from any and all vaccine mandates." 

The August 5 letter, signed by Denver's Archbishop Samuel Aquila, along with Bishops Stephen Berg of Pueblo and James Golka of Colorado Springs and Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez of Denver, opened by repeating the Colorado hierarchy's previous statements that "the use of some COVID-19 vaccines is morally acceptable under certain circumstances." However, the bishops swiftly added that they were aware and "understand" that many people decide not to get the injections based on "well-founded convictions." 

The letter comes after Denver mayor Michael Hancock declared August 2 that "all city employees" along with private-sector employees in "high risk settings" would be subject to mandatory vaccination by September 30. The order affects more than 10,000 individuals and comes despite Hancock admitting that around 70% of those eligible had taken the injection.