The Vatican on Monday urged Catholics to get vaccinated against covid-19, as all vaccines developed are “morally acceptable,” including those made from fetal cell lines aborted in the last century.
A note published this Monday “On the Morality of the Use of Certain Anti-Covid-19 Vaccines” recalls previous positions taken by the Church 15 years ago, but is intended to respond to specific questions raised in recent months. receive.
“It is morally acceptable to receive vaccines (against) covid-19 that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their development during the research and manufacturing process,” clarifies the note endorsed by the Pope and published by the Congregation this Monday. for the doctrine of faith (guardian of dogma).
The Catholic Church explains that the link between a person currently being vaccinated and fetuses aborted in the last century is “distant”.
Stem cells from fetuses aborted in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s – reproduced in laboratories as “cell lines” for decades – have been used by many researchers at various stages of anti-vaccine development. -covid-19, for example by the Astra Zeneca, Moderna and Pfizer groups, according to documentation available on the website of the European Institute of Bioethics.
In several countries around the world, especially in Latin America, but also in Australia and the United Kingdom, the bishops have had intense debates over the dilemma of “moral ethical” vaccines.
The Vatican also ruled Monday that “the use of these vaccines does not signify the moral endorsement of abortion.”
It asks drug companies and government health agencies “to produce, approve, distribute, and offer ethically acceptable vaccines that do not cause problems of conscience.”
While vaccination should be “voluntary” in general rules, the Church insists that it is an act of “the common good” and “the protection of the weakest and most vulnerable,” a view that is completely contrary to that of anti-vaccine movements. .
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is finally calling on the “moral obligation” on the pharmaceutical industry, governments and international organizations to make vaccines against Covid-19 “affordable even for the poorest countries,” responding to a recent call from Pope Francis. . .