U.S. Bishops' Pro-Life Chairmen Addresses Ethical Concerns on the New COVID-19 Vaccines - FULL TEXT



U.S. Bishop Chairmen for Pro-Life and Doctrine Address Ethical Concerns on the New COVID-19 Vaccines
 DECEMBER 14, 2020
WASHINGTON– On December 14, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the new COVID-19 vaccines. In their statement, the bishops address the moral concerns raised by the fact that the three vaccines that appear to be ready for distribution in the United States all have some connection to cell lines that originated with tissue taken from abortions.

With regard to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, they concluded:

“In view of the gravity of the current pandemic and the lack of availability of alternative vaccines, the reasons to accept the new COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are sufficiently serious to justify their use, despite their remote connection to morally compromised cell lines.

“Receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines ought to be understood as an act of charity toward the other members of our community.  In this way, being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.”

With regard to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the bishops found it to be “more morally compromised” and consequently concluded that this vaccine “should be avoided” if there are alternatives available. “It may turn out, however, that one does not really have a choice of vaccine, at least, not without a lengthy delay in immunization that may have serious consequences for one’s health and the health of others,” the bishop chairmen stated. “In such a case … it would be permissible to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine.”

At the same time, the bishops also warned that Catholics “must be on guard so that the new COVID-19 vaccines do not desensitize us or weaken our determination to oppose the evil of abortion itself and the subsequent use of fetal cells in research.”

The full statement from the bishop chairmen may be found here.

Press Release USCCB

Comments

Kenneth Bowles said…
I am truly upset to find that pharmaceutical companies are using tissues from a murdered child when there are so many other ways to develop vaccines. In the Philippines where I live, there is no choice and I don't think anything has been mentioned about the composition of the vaccines. Whatever vaccine is available here will be required to be taken by the populace here, including foreigners or face a severe penalty. While for many Americans (US and Canada) and those from UK and Australia or New Zealand, the penalty is not that severe. Maybe as much as US$100. That is about PHP 5,000 for Filipinos. In a country where the minimum salary (and usually the maximum) is only PHP 16,000 per month, it's very severe.
+Gregory
December 14, 2020 at 9:53 PM
Anonymous said…
So the Catholic Church is telling us to take this vaccine which is the mark of the beast. No, not happening and may God have mercy on you!
December 14, 2020 at 11:01 PM
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