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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops this week encouraged Catholics to choose Moderna’s Pfizer or COVID-19 vaccines over Johnson & Johnson, if possible, as the latter’s inoculation was developed from stem cells obtained in two abortions decades ago.
Bishop Kevin Rhoades, chair of the conference Doctrine Committee, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chair of the conference’s Pro-Life Activities Committee, on Tuesday called on Catholics to choose the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine instead. than that of Johnson & Johnson, if a choice is available.
But they added that it is “morally acceptable” for worshipers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if no choice is available, calling being vaccinated “an act of charity that serves the common good” .
Pfizer and Moderna used cell lines from fetal tissue to test their vaccines, according to multiple reports. However, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was developed from stem cells obtained from two abortions.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine became the third candidate authorized for emergency use in the United States earlier this month after the approval of Moderna and Pfizer inoculations in December.
Catholic groups that oppose abortion have long criticized medical societies that use human cell lines from aborted fetuses.
Several dioceses in the United States have also expressed concerns about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans last week called Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine “morally compromised” because of its use of stem cells obtained from abortions.
The Vatican issued guidelines in December that it is acceptable for Catholics around the world to receive COVID-19 vaccines “who have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process” when vaccines against the “ethically flawless” coronaviruses are not available.
Pope Francis
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Johnson & Johnson said in a statement to The Hill: “We are able to manufacture hundreds of millions of doses using our cell line system and we look forward to delivering those doses worldwide and helping to meet the critical needs. ”
The statement also noted that the vaccine “uses an inactivated, non-infectious adenovirus vector – similar to a cold virus – which encodes the coronavirus ‘spike’ (S) protein” and that “there is no tissue. fetal in the vaccine “.
Update: 19:25
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