Bishop Advises USCCB Guidance for Help with Vaccine Concerns Author: Diocese of Fall River In the News 4 Mar 2021 Share March 4, 2021 The recent approval of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine has prompted renewed discussion among some Catholics with moral and ethical concerns surrounding vaccine use. In response, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., is advising those with questions to use as guidance the March 2nd statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Written by the chairmen of two USCCB committees, Doctrine and Pro-Life Activities, the statement echoes and includes a judgment issued in a December 2020 communication from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The USSCB statement is as follows, “The approval of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in the United States again raises questions about the moral permissibility of using vaccines developed, tested, and/or produced with the help of abortion-derived cell lines. “Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines raised concerns because an abortion-derived cell line was used for testing them, but not in their production. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, however, was developed, tested and is produced with abortion-derived cell lines raising additional moral concerns. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has judged that ‘when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available … it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.’[1] However, if one can choose among equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen. Therefore, if one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnson’s. “While we should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines, given the world-wide suffering that this pandemic is causing, we affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good.” Further information is available from these sources: Moral Considerations Regarding the New COVID-19 Vaccines (USCCB) Answers to Key Ethical Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines (USCCB) Note on the Morality of Using Some Anti-COVID-19 Vaccines (Vatican) Note of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission in Collaboration with the Pontifical Academy for Life “Vaccine for all. 20 Points for a fairer and healthier world” (Vatican) [1] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines” (17 Dec 2020), no. 2. Diocese of Fall River Office of Communications Categorías Mensajes del Obispo In the News Press Releases and Statements Bishop's Blog Success Stories Photo Gallery Videos Related Posts Bishop's Blog 20 Ene 2021 Vaccines And Word Of God Sunday USCCB Statement on Covid-19 Vaccines On December 14, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop … Read More In the News 26 Ago 2021 Bishop da Cunha Issues Letter to Priests on Vaccine Exemptions Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., issued the following letter to priests of the Fall River Diocese on August 25, 2021 in response to questions on letters of support for … Read More In the News 3 Ago 2021 Diocese Encourages Wearing of Masks at Mass Following Updated CDC Guidance August 1, 2021 As most of you know, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a change to its mask-wearing guidance and now … Read More