The recently-approved Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus vaccine is morally compromised – produced with abortion-derived cell lines – and should not be accepted by Catholics if other choices are available, Bishop Alfred Schlert said.
Other vaccines are available and are more morally acceptable, he said.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also has commented on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“The approval of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in the United States again raises questions about the moral permissibility of using vaccines developed, tested, and/or produced with the help of abortion-derived cell lines,” the Conference said.
“Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines raised concerns because an abortion-derived cell line was used for testing them, but not in their production. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, however, was developed, tested and is produced with abortion-derived cell lines raising additional moral concerns,” it said.
If one can choose among equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the one that is least morally objectionable should be chosen, the Bishop’s conference said.
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