Roman Catholic leaders in St. Louis and New Orleans are advising Catholics to Covid-19 vaccine of Johnson & Johnson, recently approved for use in the US, is “morally compromised” because it occurs through a cell line derived from an aborted fetus. The Archdiocese of New Orleans says the decision to receive a vaccine is a matter of individual conscience.
In his statement late last week, he stopped advising Catholics not to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but adds that Catholics should choose coronavirus vaccines made by Moderna or Pfizer – if available.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis on Tuesday encouraged Catholics to look for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and, if possible, avoid the Johnson & Johnson version. Like the declaration of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the declaration of St. Louis called the Johnson & Johnson vaccine “morally compromised.” However, the statement of St. Louis stresses that Catholics can get this vaccine “with good conscience if no other alternative is available.”
Later Tuesday, a statement issued by the presidents of the doctrinal committees and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States abortion problems issued a statement reiterating moral concerns. He said Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are preferable “if a vaccine can be chosen.”
While it does not dispute the claim of church officials that a cell line derived from abortion is used in production, Johnson & Johnson issued a statement Tuesday stressing that there is no fetal tissue in the vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is made from a harmless cold virus, called adenovirus, the same technology he used to produce a successful Ebola vaccine. Adenovirus is cultured using what is called an immortalized cell line and the virus is removed and purified.
There are several types of cell lines created decades ago that use fetal tissue and are widely used in medical manufacturing, but the cells they contain today are clones of the first cells and not the original tissue.
The U.S. bishops’ conference said in a January statement that “abortion-derived” cell lines were used to test Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, but not for their development or production.
In Ohio, people will be able to choose which shot they want, but the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was really the only option for 84-year-old Nancy Heber, according to CBS This Morning national correspondent David Begnaud. He has several allergies to different medications, including the solution that converts Moderna and Pfizer lyophilized vaccines into liquid.
“I thought when it will be my turn,” Heber said after receiving the shot from Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday. “I’m so excited that today has been my day for freedom.”
Statements by the archdiocese renewed religious discussions about the vaccine and the use of abortion-derived cells. In December, the Vatican said it was “morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used aborted fetal cell lines” in the research and production process when “ethically irreproachable” vaccines are not available to the public.
Pope Francis has often spoken about the need to ensure that vaccines are widely available, especially for the poor and marginalized. And, last month, a decree signed by the governor of the Vatican City-State said that Vatican employees who opt for vaccination without a proven medical reason could be sanctioned, including being fired.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans released its statement Friday, the day before the Food and Drug Administration cleaned up Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine for use in the United States.
Asked Tuesday about the New Orleans archdiocese’s statement, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a rare anti-abortion Democrat, stressed the need for people to use any of the approved vaccines available to stop the spread of the virus.
Edwards said he spoke Sunday with Archbishop Gregory Aymond about the statement. “I haven’t read his statement as if he was completely telling people who are Catholic or otherwise not to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” Edwards said.
“I’m encouraging everyone to get the first vaccine available.”
He noted a statement issued Monday by Bishop Michael Duke of Baton Rouge.
Duke acknowledged “moral concerns” about the recently approved vaccine. But, he added, “if for any reasonable circumstance you can only receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, feel free to do so for your safety and the common good.”
This is similar to the guide to the U.S. Bishops’ Conference published in January. “Given that COVID-19 virus can pose serious health risks, it may be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that uses abortion-derived cell lines if there are no other vaccines that are comparable in terms of safety and efficacy. without connection to abortion “. dit.