The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans has issued a statement in light of guidance from the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops calling the new vaccine released by Johnson & Johnson “morally compromised” and has recommended against using it.
The vaccine, which relies on aborted fetus cells for its manufacturing process, was recently approved by the FDA for emergency use along with two other vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna. The other two vaccines are acceptable, according to the statement, because “though there was some lab testing that utilized the abortion-derived cell line, the two vaccines currently available from Pfizer and Moderna do not rely on cell lines from abortions in the manufacturing process and therefore can be morally acceptable for Catholics as the connection to abortion is extremely remote.”
“It is under the same guidance that the archdiocese must instruct Catholics that the latest vaccine from Janssen/Johnson & Johnson is morally compromised,” the statement continues, “as it uses the abortion-derived cell line in development and production of the vaccine as well as the testing.”
The statement says that the decision by individuals who receive one of the morally acceptable vaccines “remains one of individual conscience in consultation with one’s healthcare provider” and that the Church “maintains that in no way does the Church’s position diminish the wrongdoing of those who decided to use cell lines from abortions to make vaccines.”
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The archdiocese is urging its members to receive either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine if they choose to be vaccinated.