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MAY 26, 2021
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Iowa Bishops release statement on COVID-19 vaccines
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There is encouraging news about the development and distribution of vaccines against the coronavirus. Thanks be to God.
Some people have concerns about the safety of the vaccine on account of the speed of its development and of FDA approval.
In this regard, experts explain that the speed is a testimony to scientific advances that turned years into months without compromising safety and scientific integrity.
Some people are concerned, too, about the risk of side effects. There is no scientifically proven link between vaccines and other conditions, such as autism.
It is not uncommon to experience minor side effects from being vaccinated. People may feel temporarily uncomfortable, but the benefit from the vaccine exceeds any burden.
Finally, there is troubling news that some drug companies used cell lines from the fetal tissue of an aborted baby in the design, development and production of their vaccines.
In response, the USCCB Committees on Pro-life and Doctrine had this to say:
People may in good conscience use the vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna, which made only limited use of those unethical cell lines (for lab testing of the vaccine).
Morally speaking, the vaccine offered by these two companies is relatively remote from the evil of abortion, and so need not trouble anyone’s conscience to use either one.
In contrast, some other companies use a cell line from the fetal tissue of an aborted baby in the design, development, production, and lab testing of their COVID vaccines.
If possible, those vaccines should not be used. If there is no alternative available, however, people may in good faith use them against the serious health risk of COVID.
The common good of public health takes precedence over any reservation about being treated with vaccines; they will not be effective if people do not use them.
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Most Rev. Michael Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque
Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City
Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport
Most Rev. William Joensen
Bishop of Des Moines
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Hay noticias alentadoras sobre el desarrollo y la distribución de vacunas contra el coronavirus. Gracias a Dios.
Algunas personas están preocupadas sobre la seguridad de la vacuna debido a la velocidad de su desarrollo y de la aprobación de la FDA.
En este sentido, los expertos explican que la rapidez es un testimonio de los avances científicos que convirtieron años en meses sin comprometer la seguridad y la integridad científica.
Algunas personas también están preocupadas por el riesgo de efectos secundarios. No existe un vínculo científicamente comprobado entre las vacunas y otras condiciones, como el autismo.
No es raro experimentar efectos secundarios menores después de ser vacunado. Las personas pueden sentirse temporalmente incómodas, pero el beneficio de la vacuna excede cualquier molestia.
Por último, hay noticias preocupantes de que algunas compañías farmacéuticas utilizaron células del tejido fetal de un bebé abortado en el diseño, desarrollo y producción de sus vacunas.
En respuesta, los Comités de la USCCB de Pro-vida y Doctrina comunicaron lo siguiente:
Las personas pueden utilizar en buena conciencia las vacunas producidas por Pfizer y Moderna, que sólo hicieron un uso limitado de esas líneas celulares poco éticas (para las pruebas de laboratorio de la vacuna).
Moralmente hablando, la vacuna ofrecida por estas dos compañías está relativamente alejada del mal del aborto, por lo que no es necesario molestar a la conciencia de nadie al usar cualquiera de las dos.
Por el contrario, algunas otras compañías utilizan una línea celular del tejido fetal de un bebé abortado en el diseño, desarrollo, producción y pruebas de laboratorio de sus vacunas COVID-19.
Si es posible, esas vacunas no deben utilizarse. Sin embargo, si no hay alternativa disponible, las personas pueden utilizarlas de buena fe contra el grave riesgo para la salud de COVID-19.
El bien común de la salud pública tiene prioridad sobre cualquier reserva sobre el tratamiento con vacunas; no serán eficaces si la gente no los usa
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racism and violence
I join our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and my brother bishops, and all men and women of good will, in condemning once again the persistent evil of racism. The recent death of George Floyd, unjust and unnecessary as it so patently was, is merely one more example, calling out to God for justice.
Prejudice based on race assaults the God-given dignity of the persons against whom it is directed. It also corrodes the God-imitating capacity to love freely in the hearts of those in whom it lurks. I echo the words of Pope Francis in saying, “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At the same time, we have to recognize that the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost.”
Both worldly justice and the salvation of souls require us, not only to denounce this (and every) sin, but also regularly to examine our own conscience, to repent of our own faults, and, by God’s grace, to teach and model virtue and justice.
Millions of men and women of good will, of every race and creed, strive to live with each other every day, without either racism or violence, not only in moments of magnified publicity, such as the many laudable and peaceful protests against racism across the country in recent days, but also, and more importantly, in the ordinary affairs of life. May God give us all the grace to grow in this way of goodness, freedom, and charity.
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