Australia Catholic Church Urging Catholics to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

The Catholic Church in Australia is urging people to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.

Although there are issues on how some of the vaccines have been developed, the Bishops Commission for Life, Family and Public Engagement said they were encouraging people to get vaccinated in line with the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith guidance.

Citing the Vatican document, the bishops say “it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process asking people to take the vaccines”.

 They add that “if you are only offered one option, you may receive whichever vaccine you are offered, including the AstraZeneca one, with a clear conscience”.

For those with “a serious reason” not to receive the vaccine, they are “morally obliged to do their utmost, by other protective means and appropriate behaviour, to avoid contracting COVID-19 themselves and to avoid transmission of the disease”.

Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, the chair of the Bishops Commission for Life, Family and Public Engagement, said civil and health authorities should “work ethically with respect for every human person from conception until natural death”.

“At all times we oppose the destruction of human life,” Archbishop Comensoli said. “At the same time, remote connection with such actions is an important factor when considering our responsibility to the common good and the health of others.”

Original Source