Before I go into some of the more specific aspects of the COVID vaccines, I want to go over some beliefs that are important to keep in mind when discussing the vaccines.
Life
What Catholics Believe
Catholics value life from conception to natural death.
“Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.”
CCC 2258
We also recognize that our health is a gift. We should care for our own bodies and for those around us.
Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.
Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment, and social assistance.
CCC 2288
How it Applies to the Vaccine
As I explained on my post about masks, Coronavirus is a very serious illness. This pandemic has killed millions and left so many to struggle with long-term health issues.
The COVID vaccines are a way to reduce the severity of symptoms, reduce the likelihood of death, and may even reduce spread.
All of these aspects help protect the health and life of our neighbors.
Science
What Catholics Believe
Catholics recognize that faith and science cannot be in conflict. We understand that science is a way to explore the world God created. God gave us intellect to analyze His amazing creation.
“Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth.” “Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are.”
CCC 159
How it Applies to the Vaccine
Though we should look at moral issues through the lens of our faith, Catholics should also look at the scientific evidence available when it comes to vaccines.
Though we should look at moral issues through the lens of our faith, Catholics should also look at the scientific evidence available when it comes to vaccines. Click To TweetTruth
What Catholics Believe
Catholics recognize that there is absolute truth in this world, and that we must live honestly.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Exodus 20:16
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 12:22
There are many beautiful things to be said about speaking truthfully in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Truth as uprightness in human action and speech is called truthfulness, sincerity, or candor. Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists in showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and in guarding against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy.
CCC 2468
By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.
CCC 2485
Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.
CCC 2486
There is even a section specifically talking about truth in the media.
By the very nature of their profession, journalists have an obligation to serve the truth and not offend against charity in disseminating information. They should strive to respect, with equal care, the nature of the facts and the limits of critical judgment concerning individuals. They should not stoop to defamation.
CCC 2497
We recognize that sharing the truth is a way to love others.
One of the many, many things I love about our Catholic faith is that we are able to pursue truth (and Truth).
Pope St. John Paul II wrote the encyclical Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason). The focus, of course, is how reason helps us to know God and ourselves. I think it beautifully describes our capacity as humans to use our reason.
The pursuit of truth is a Christian activity.
The pursuit of truth is a Christian activity. Click To TweetHow it Applies to the Vaccine
We must seek and share what it true about the vaccines.
We shouldn’t believe conspiracy theories like:
- the vaccine is a scheme to carry out population control by sterilizing women
- the vaccine is actually a way to microchip us
- COVID is completely made up to support a liberal agenda
We shouldn’t support fear-mongering pieces about the vaccine that are full of misleading content.
At the same time, we should be honest about the limitations of the vaccines and the side effects.
We (as Catholics) must seek and share what it true about the vaccines. Click To TweetWhat This Looks Like Practically Speaking
Pray
First, and foremost, we must pray.
Pray that the Holy Spirit guides our understanding.
Pray that the Holy Spirit leads those in positions of power to speak the truth.
Pray for those suffering from COVID.
Pray for our world.
Prayer is by far the most important thing we can do.
Evaluate
Second, we should evaluate the truthfulness of the media we consume. There are concerted efforts to share misinformation about the vaccine.
CRAP Test
When it comes to evaluating sources, we can use the “CRAP test.“
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View
Here’s an example from an academic research standpoint.
Additional information on evaluating sources can be found here.
When we are specifically curious about the bias (the P of CRAP) and reliability (the R of CRAP), I recommend the Ad Fontes Media bias chart.
Fake News
The IFLA has a great infographic on spotting fake news.
Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories are profitable. The shock value drives up ad revenue because people want to find out this “exclusive” information (that is only exclusive because there is not truth to it so others aren’t reporting on it). They are able to sell their solutions.
Scientific Literacy
Of particular importance when it comes to understanding information about vaccines is scientific literacy.
Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.
What Is Scientific Literacy? by Sheril Kirshenbaum
Scientific literacy is not just knowing scientific facts. It is about having a good enough understanding of science to apply it to making decisions.
The University of Akron discussed some standards for scientific literacy.
NPR has an interesting opinion piece about scientific literacy in America. It’s six years old so things may have changed, but it has some good questions to consider.
You should not need a college education to be scientifically literate. Scientific literacy is as skill that everyone should work on building. If you’d like to build this skill for free, you can take an online course from the University of Alberta.
This is a great, quick video on why something being published doesn’t mean that it is trustworthy.
This Doesn’t Mean You Should Stop Reading Commentaries
The point of evaluating your sources isn’t to force you to only read from strictly news-based, center sources – after all, my blog would be one of those biased sources. Instead, it is to remind us to take into consideration what additional work we may need to do after reading something from a particular source.
If you see a tweet about something shocking, look for other sources on the topic. If you read an article with content that no other media outlet is reporting on, ask yourself why.
Defending Truth
Third, we must admit when we make mistakes.
Fourth, we should call out attacks on truth when we see them.
tl;dr
As Catholics, we respect life, science, and truth. We should take that into consideration in our daily lives, especially when considering the COVID vaccines.
As Catholics, we respect life, science, and truth. We should take that into consideration in our daily lives, especially when considering the COVID vaccines. Click To TweetP.S. Friendly Neighborhood Epidemiologist has a great post about misinformation from a Christian perspective.
