Another common concern amongst Catholics (and rightfully so) is the relation to abortion.
I’m a lay Catholic, and the extent of my formation when it comes to moral theology is limited. I’m going to summarize my own understanding on this topic, but ultimately, the purpose of this post is to direct you to better sources.
Basic Principles
- We should listen to the Magisterium on matters relating to faith and morals (CCC Part 3, Section 1, Chapter 3, Article 3).
- Though the Church encourages us to use our own, well-formed consciences, “Personal conscience and reason should not be set in opposition to the moral law or the Magisterium of the Church” (CCC 2039).
- Abortion is a “moral evil” and “formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense” (CCC 22271 and 2272).
- Scientific research should respect the human person (CCC 2292-2295).
- The Church supports ethical stem cell research.
- The Church recognizes that there are different levels of cooperation with evil.
The Short Answer
It is morally acceptable to receive a COVID vaccine.
The moral duty to avoid such passive material cooperation is not obligatory if there is a grave danger, such as the otherwise uncontainable spread of a serious pathological agent–in this case, the pandemic spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. It must therefore be considered that, in such a case, all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which the cells used in production of the vaccines derive. It should be emphasized, however, that the morally licit use of these types of vaccines, in the particular conditions that make it so, does not in itself constitute a legitimation, even indirect, of the practice of abortion, and necessarily assumes the opposition to this practice by those who make use of these vaccines.
Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Here’s a summary of the statement.
The USCCB has also echoed these sentiments.
Given the urgency of this crisis, the lack of available alternative vaccines, and the fact that the connection between an abortion that occurred decades ago and receiving a vaccine produced today is remote, inoculation with the new COVID-19 vaccines in these circumstances can be morally justified.
USCCB
The short answer: it is morally acceptable to receive a COVID vaccine. Click To TweetIn view of the gravity of the current pandemic and the lack of availability of alternative vaccines, the reasons to accept the new COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are sufficiently serious to justify their use, despite their remote connection to morally compromised cell lines.
USCCB
How the Vaccines Use the Cells
It’s important that we as Catholics understand how these cells were obtained and how they are used so we don’t make false claims.
General
Innocent lives were destroyed through abortion in the 1960s and 1970s, and the cells were harvested then. The abortions were not performed with the intent to harvest these cells. These abortions were evil as all abortion is evil.
The cells were then used to create cell lines. This video shows the basics of how a cell line from embryonic stem cells may be developed.
Stem cells are desirable from a research perspective because the cells can be manipulated to perform different functions. There are absolutely ethical ways to harvest and use stem cells, but using embryonic stem cells from an aborted child is not one of these situations.
Specific to COVID-19
Pfizer and Moderna used information other scientists developed using one of these unethical cell lines. Pfizer did some testing using one of these cell lines.
Neither Pfizer nor Moderna used morally compromised cell lines in the design, development, or production of the vaccine. A confirmatory test, however, employing the commonly used, but morally compromised HEK293 cell line was performed on both vaccines. Thus, while neither vaccine is completely free from any connection to morally compromised cell lines, in this case the connection is very remote from the initial evil of the abortion.
USCCB
The AstraZeneca vaccine has a stronger connection to the compromised cell lines.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is more morally compromised. The HEK293 cell line was used in the design, development, and production stages of that vaccine, as well as for confirmatory testing…The AstraZeneca vaccine should be avoided if there are alternatives available.
USCCB
Johnson & Johnson also used the morally-compromised cell lines in development of the vaccines.
The EPPC has a solid explanation on how the cell lines are used and why pro-life scholars believe it is morally acceptable to receive the vaccines.
The Charlotte Lozier Institute shared a helpful chart that highlights the status of the development, whether abortion-derived cell lines were used in development and production, and to what extent the lab testing used abortion-derived cell lines.
Steel Magnificat has an informative (albeit a little snarky) post called “No, the COVID Vaccines Do Not Contain Dead Children.”
It's important that we as Catholics understand how these cells were obtained and how they are used so we don't make false claims. Click To TweetCooperation with Evil
When it comes to these vaccines, what it boils down to is that:
- The cooperation is very remote
- There must is proportionate reason (in this case, an uncontrolled pandemic)
- The vaccines themselves must be safe and effective
The Pontifical Academy for Life has a nice summary on the ethics of (Italian) vaccines.
INSTRUCTION DIGNITAS PERSONAE ON CERTAIN BIOETHICAL QUESTIONS is another good resource.
Yet another great resource is “Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Foetuses.”
Father Matthew Schneider, LC wrote an article demonstrating the extent of the remoteness of cooperation in “12 Things Less-Remote Cooperation in Evil Than COVID Vaccines.”
Other Explanations and Anecdotes
The National Catholic Bioethics Center has a great document about the ethics of the vaccines and the hierarchy when it comes to cooperation.
Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk addresses whether or not a Catholic could accept a COVID-19 vaccine. His article includes a chart with the ethical profile of different COVID-19 vaccines.
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley received the Moderna vaccine.
I am grateful to have been in line for the vaccine and encourage all people to be vaccinated as the opportunity is presented, as an important action of care and concern for our loved ones, our communities and our nation. With the help of God and the excellent medical care provided at St. Elizabeth’s and many other hospitals, we will make our way through and beyond the pandemic.
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley
The archbishop of Miami got his vaccine.
I am always afraid of needles, and as a typical guy I am not made for pain. I wanted to show today, first of all, that we have confidence in the vaccine and that we don’t have any ethical concerns about the vaccine. Hopefully my stepping up will encourage other people to get the vaccine as it becomes available to them. The bishops of the United States have issued a very detailed explanation of why we have no ethical concerns about these particular vaccines and we will encourage everyone to access them, because even people who might not have much to fear from infection — if they are not high risk and if they are healthy or if their demographic age is such that they would expect to recover easily — the fact that they would get vaccinated is a benefit to others around them so that they might not be responsible for others catching the virus.
Archbishop Wenski
Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC wrote a detailed explanation on how this qualifies as remote cooperation in evil and how the HEK-293 cell line is connected to many of the drugs we use.
Brett Salkeld wrote an awesome piece called “How to Vaccinate Like a Catholic: A Guide Through the Prickly COVID-19 Issues.”
Chris Woodward wrote a great article about Jeffrey Barrows, DO, MA (senior VP of bioethics and public policy for CMDA) and his stance on the COVID-19 vaccines.
Trent Horn had Fr. Matthew Schneider on his podcast.
Father Nicanor Austriaco, a Dominican priest who is also a biology professor, shared his thoughts on the vaccine.
To be clear, as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available for which I am eligible, whether in the USA or here in the Philippines, I intend to be vaccinated with it. Also, as soon as a vaccine becomes available for my mother here in the Philippines, I will encourage her to be vaccinated with it
Father Nicanor Austriaco, quoted in Dominican priest, microbiologist affirms moral liceity of COVID-19 vaccine
While there is a technical causal linkage between each of the current vaccines and prior abortions of human persons, we are all agreed, that connection does not mean that vaccine use contributes to the evil of abortion or shows disrespect for the remains of unborn human beings. Accordingly, Catholics, and indeed, all persons of good will who embrace a culture of life for the whole human family, born and unborn, can use these vaccines without fear of moral culpability.
Statement from Pro-Life Catholic Scholars on the Moral Acceptability of Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines
To be perfectly clear, we are not saying that people are justified in using and promoting these vaccines because the great goods they provide offset the evil of appropriating a prior wicked action. Rather, we believe that there is no such impermissible cooperation or appropriation here. The attenuated and remote connection to abortions performed decades ago and the absence of any incentive for future abortions offer little if any moral reasons against accepting this welcome advance of science.
Statement from Pro-Life Catholic Scholars on the Moral Acceptability of Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines
Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist wrote a thoughtful piece on being pro-life in light of the vaccine.
Leah Libresco Sargeant wrote a great opinion piece for the New York Times.
Act of Charity
Some sources even argue that getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an act of charity.
Receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines ought to be understood as an act of charity toward the other members of our community. In this way, being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.
USCCB
Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC wrote a very helpful post on this subject.
The Pontifical Academy for Life argued that there is “the moral obligation to guarantee the vaccination coverage necessary for the safety of others is no less urgent, especially the safety more vulnerable subjects such as pregnant women and those affected by immunodeficiency who cannot be vaccinated against these diseases.”
Moral but Not Obligated
Though it is morally acceptable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, it is not obligated.
At the same time, practical reason makes evident that vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary.
Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
What is obligated is protecting others whether you choose to vaccinate or not.
Those who, however, for reasons of conscience, refuse vaccines produced with cell lines from aborted fetuses, must do their utmost to avoid, by other prophylactic means and appropriate behavior, becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent. In particular, they must avoid any risk to the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons, and who are the most vulnerable.
Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Though it is morally acceptable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, it is not obligated. What is obligated is protecting others. Click To TweetThe must be told that if they are unable, or unwilling, to take a COVID19 vaccine, then they must do everything else they can do to protect society from the virus. They are going to have to promote the use of masks, social distancing, and limits to the number of people who can gather together at a time. If they truly want to be shown to have a true moral claim, they must show they are moral by their actions. The must be told they can’t be against lockdowns if they are unwilling to promote vaccination. They must be told they can’t be against mask mandates if they are unwilling to promote vaccination. They must be told they can’t be against contact tracing if they are unwilling to promote vaccination. They must be told they are obligated to protect their neighbor. And if they are unwilling to use the best means to do so, they are even more obligated to promote the few options which they have left.
The Vatican Said We Don’t Have To Take A COVID19 Vaccine? by Henry Karlson
So What’s a Catholic to Do?
Though we may morally receive the vaccine, we should still make it clear that we oppose abortion and the unethical development of these vaccines.
we should be on guard so that the new COVID-19 vaccines do not desensitize us or weaken our determination to oppose the evil of abortion itself and the subsequent use of fetal cells in research.
USCCB
The use of an ethically problematic vaccine, however, may be done only “under protest.”
The National Catholic Bioethics Center Points to Consider on the Use of COVID-19 Vaccines
If possible, we should choose the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk gives phenomenal, concrete steps we can take as Catholics to voice our opposition to the unethical development of the vaccines.
