March 21, 2021 - "COVID-19 Vaccines"

With the availability of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been asked for guidance by a number of parishioners about the morality of taking one of the vaccines.  Even though I wrote about this several weeks ago, I am going to do it again because I think that there is a need to do so.  Let me begin by quoting a statement that the Maryland Catholic Conference posted on March 9, 2021.
 
Last week, the Federal Drug Administration approved a third COVID-10 vaccine, resulting in three now in use:  Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.  What should most Catholics know about receiving these COVID-19 vaccines?
 
· Our bishops have encouraged Catholics to get vaccinated (unless medically indicated otherwise).  Vaccination against COVID-10 is an act of charity in light of the virus’s grave risk to the life and health of others.
· Catholics may receive any of the three vaccines offered.  There has been discussion in media about the morality of the vaccines, but the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith notes it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that use a compromised fetal cell line in development, in light of the grave risk to public health and availability.  Their document…provides a discussion of this topic, including remote cooperation.
· Delaying or declining a vaccination may risk the health and life of others, especially those who are not able to be vaccinated due to medical conditions.  As the Vatican COVID-19 Commission, with the Pontifical Academy for life notes, “On the moral responsibility of undergoing vaccination … it is necessary to reiterate how this issue also involves the relationship between personal health and public health, showing their close interdependence.  In the light of this connection, we consider it important that a responsible decision be taken in this regard, since the refusal of the vaccine may also constitute a risk to others.”
 
A concern many are asking is if they are compromising their pro-life values by receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  To that question, I want to provide this answer provided by the Archdiocese of Washington in its recently issued “FAQ on COVID-19 Vaccine Development”:
 
Catholic moral teaching calls us to care for the common good, avoiding association with grave evil. Our Catholic moral teachings also teach us to take action to protect each and every person we encounter, especially the most vulnerable. This teaching has not changed in the life of the Church, and will never change. Our opposition to abortion and the development of vaccines using cell lines descended from the act of abortion should be made clear to pharmaceutical companies.

When applying these moral values to the complex and nuanced situations we face in daily life, we are called to use the virtue of prudence. Prudence calls us to seek the most good in each and every situation, while avoiding evil. When faced with the nuance of the COVID-19 vaccines, each of us is called to discern how we can do the most good. For many of us, our commitment to protecting life at all stages calls each of us to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available, in order to defend those most at risk of serious corona virus. Because the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia have limited vaccines available during this rollout process, we encourage each member of the Archdiocese of Washington to receive the COVID-19 vaccine that is most readily and easily available. By seeking vaccination, we can help to protect our vulnerable communities from this deadly pandemic.
 
Finally, it is vitally important that Catholics remember how remote the connection between abortion and these recently developed vaccines really is. Our moral teaching opposes abortion under all circumstances, and there is a moral difference between committing an act of abortion, harvesting cells for use in treatment and vaccine development, and receiving a vaccine with the intent to protect your community. We must discern our level of responsibility in each of these circumstances to avoid oversimplifying a complex theological tradition.
 
Until next week,
 
Fr. John