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The Diocese of Allentown joined other Roman Catholic leaders on Wednesday in advising Catholics that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, newly approved for use in the United States, is “morally compromised” because it is produced in the United States. using a cell line derived from an aborted fetus. .
Other vaccines are available that are more morally acceptable, Bishop Alfred Schlert said in an article published by the diocese’s AD Today.
The Loyal Voices advice from Lehigh Valley covers matters similar to those disseminated by Catholic leaders in St. Louis and New Orleans.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans says the decision to receive a vaccine is a decision of individual conscience. In his statement late last week, he stopped before advising Catholics not to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but adds Catholics should choose coronavirus vaccines made by Moderna or Pfizer – s ‘they are available.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis on Tuesday encouraged Catholics to research Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and avoid the Johnson & Johnson version if possible. Like the declaration of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the declaration of St. Louis called the Johnson & Johnson vaccine “morally compromised.” However, the St. Louis statement pointed out that Catholics can obtain this vaccine “in good conscience if no other alternative is available.”
Later Tuesday, a statement issued by the chairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees on doctrinal and abortion issues released a statement reiterating the moral concerns. He said Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are preferable “if you have the ability to choose a vaccine.”
Without disputing the claim by church officials that an abortion-derived cell line is used in production, Johnson & Johnson issued a statement on Tuesday stressing that there is no fetal tissue in its vaccine. .
Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is made using a harmless cold virus called adenovirus, the same technology used to produce a successful Ebola vaccine. The adenovirus is grown using what is called an immortalized cell line, then the virus is removed and purified.
Several types of cell lines created decades ago using fetal tissue exist and are widely used in medical manufacture, but the cells they contain today are clones of early cells, not tissue. ‘origin.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a January statement that “abortion-derived” cell lines have been used to test Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, but not for their development or production.
Statements from the archdiocese renewed religious discussions about the vaccine and the use of cells derived from abortion. In December, the Vatican declared that “it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses” in the research and production process when “ethically flawless” vaccines are not available. to the public.
Pope Francis has often referred to the need to ensure that vaccines are widely available, especially for the poor and marginalized. And, last month, a decree signed by the governor of Vatican City State said Vatican employees who withdraw from vaccinations without a proven medical reason could face sanctions, including dismissal. .
The Archdiocese of New Orleans released its statement Friday, the day before the Food and Drug Administration cleared the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for use in the United States.
Asked Tuesday about the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ statement, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards – a rare anti-abortion Democrat – stressed the need for people to use one of the approved vaccines available in order to stop the spread of the virus.
Edwards said he spoke with Archbishop Gregory Aymond on Sunday about the statement. “I don’t see his statement as completely telling people who are Catholic or otherwise not to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” Edwards said.
“I encourage everyone to take the first vaccine they have.”
He took note of a statement released Monday by Bishop Michael Duca of Baton Rouge.
Duca acknowledged the “moral concerns” regarding the newly approved vaccine. But, he added, “if for some reasonable circumstance you can only get the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, you should feel free to do so for your own safety and for the common good.”
This is similar to the directives issued by the American Bishops’ Conference in January. “Since the COVID-19 virus can involve serious health risks, it may be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that uses cell lines derived from abortion if there are no other vaccines available. comparable in terms of safety and efficacy unrelated to abortion, ”the January guide mentioned.
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The Associated Press and supervising journalist Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report. Reach it at [email protected].
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