Vaccine Letters

En Español

In his recent columns, Archbishop Coakley encouraged Catholics to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to help protect them, their families and their communities from the deadly virus. However, along with medical considerations, ethical considerations also are important in health care. 

"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 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." -- Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City.  

Please find below sample letters to send to pharmaceutical companies regarding development and testing of vaccines.