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March 11, 2021One year ago, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was identified in Oklahoma. Who imagined at that time its impact or the changes that were in store for us? Since last March there have been more than 425,000 COVID cases in Oklahoma and more than 7,200 COVID deaths. There have been more than 520,000 deaths nationwide. It has touched us all.
This morning, I celebrated the funeral Mass of a parishioner who died long before his time leaving behind a grieving young family and an interrupted life. This is only one sorrow among so many.
One year ago, there were many naysayers declaring that COVID was not the threat that the media claimed and that it was no more dangerous than a seasonal flu. We have learned a lot about the disease since then. We have seen how unpredictable it is. We have experienced its devastating effects on every aspect of our lives, including our schools, our jobs, our ability to meet socially and to worship. We are learning how to live with it and mitigate its effects while slowing its spread.
Today, it seems that we are finally turning a corner on this terrible disease. Due in large part to the development of safe and effective vaccines, there is hope on the horizon for the first time in a long time. Currently, three vaccines have been approved for use in the United States and a massive distribution effort is bringing these to more and more people every day.
One of the threats that could slow the effort to reach herd immunity, however, is misinformation and fear about these vaccines. They have been declared safe and effective. But, are they ethical? Ethical considerations are important in health care. How have these vaccines been developed and tested?
This gets complicated. Unfortunately, in the testing process, all the currently approved vaccines used cell lines that initially were derived from aborted fetal tissue. One of the three, Johnson and Johnson, also relied on cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue in the production process as well. Does that mean that a Catholic or anyone opposed to abortion ought not to receive these vaccines?
After careful moral analysis, the consensus of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Vatican and other reputable sources such as the National Catholic Bioethics Center have determined that the degree of cooperation with the moral evil of abortion is so remote that it is morally permissible to receive these vaccines.
If given a choice about which vaccine to receive, choose one with no connection to abortion, or with the least connection. In this case, that would be either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccines. We may not have a choice, however. Given the gravity of the current health crisis, I encourage Catholics to receive whichever vaccine is available as soon as they can.
From a moral and ethical perspective those receiving these vaccines have a duty to express their concerns to the pharmaceutical companies and demand that they produce vaccines that have no reliance on cells or tissues that have any connection with abortion.
Let us pray for one another and for an end to this deadly pandemic.
Please find sample letters to send to pharmaceutical companies regarding development and testing of vaccines at archokc.org/vaccineletters.