Someone on our social media channels this week asked what the Catholic Church teaches about the Covid-19 vaccines. Quite simply, the Church strongly encourages people to have the vaccine to reduce the risk that you will die or become seriously ill with Covid-19.  

Being vaccinated also significantly reduces the risk that you will pass Covid-19 onto your loved ones, or to other members in the community. Pope Francis and Archbishop Anthony Fisher (a bioethicist) have both explained that being vaccinated is a good act that protects others and the vulnerable in the community. I would say that vaccination against Covid-19 is an expression of our love of self and of neighbour.  

The Church would prefer that people be able to use vaccines that are not ethically compromised, which raises a concern with the AstraZeneca vaccine, because it was made using cell lines taken from an abortion that took place in the 1970s. Following a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (at the Vatican), Archbishop Fisher has explained that the connection to that abortion is so remote that it is not unethical for people to take the AstraZeneca vaccine. The very remote relationship between the historical abortion and the vaccine is outweighed by the massive public good that comes from a vaccinated population, as this will prevent many deaths from Covid-19 (see this article for a thorough explanation of the moral issues concerning the Covid-19 vaccines).   

There are many misconceptions floating around the severity of Covid-19 resulting in some people’s hesitancy to be vaccinated. I hope that at least some of these misconceptions are being altered by the news that people of all ages in our city are dying from Covid. As you are aware, the MGL has missions in Indonesia and the Philippines, and our brothers speak from firsthand experience of contracting Covid themselves, and of ministering to many, many people who are dying from Covid. Fr Tony has lost many dear friends back in India to the Delta variant. To anyone who might be harbouring lingering doubts about this, I implore you to make sure you are acquainted with the actual facts about Covid, and especially about the death rates among the unvaccinated overseas.

I am due for my second jab on 13 August, and Frs Tony, Brian, and Br Viknesh are also being vaccinated over the next few weeks. As people of faith we should be vaccinated because we want to protect one another from this virus.   

Supply of the vaccine is definitely an issue at present, but I would still encourage you to book in for it if you are able to. NSW Health have opened a walk-in vaccination hub at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre (Marana Auditorium), MacMahon St, Hurstville. The hub is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The hub will offer the AstraZeneca vaccine, and you need to bring ID and your Medicare Card.  

Be assured of my prayers and love for you all at this time,

Chris