Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church has historically opposed abortion and the use of fetal tissue in vaccines and medical research. However, the Church has clarified that it is permissible to use vaccines generated using aborted fetal tissue if there are no alternative vaccines available and there is a significant health risk associated with not vaccinating. This position has evolved over time, with the Vatican and religious leaders from other major religions concluding that it is not sinful to accept vaccines made with fetal tissue. The Church encourages Catholics to make vaccine brand choices that avoid the use of vaccines associated with aborted fetal tissue, but permits their use if there are no morally acceptable alternatives. The ultimate decision to vaccinate is left to the individual, with Catholics expected to discern the choice intellectually and prayerfully while considering the Church's guidance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's stance on abortion | "From the moment of conception, the life of every human being is to be respected in an absolute way, no one can under any circumstance claim the right directly to destroy an innocent human being" |
| Catholic Church's stance on vaccines produced using aborted fetal tissue | The Catholic Church permits the temporary use of vaccines generated using aborted fetal tissue to protect children from preventable diseases until alternative vaccines that do not use aborted fetal tissue are available. |
| Religious leaders' stance on vaccines produced using aborted fetal tissue | Religious leaders from the major religions, including Catholicism, have evaluated the use of these cells in making vaccines and determined that it is not sinful to accept vaccines made in this manner. |
| Fetal cells in vaccines | Vaccines do not contain any of the original fetal tissue or cells or cells derived from fetal materials. However, traces of human DNA fragments remain. |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's stance on abortion
The Church's opposition to abortion has led to its criticism of vaccine development using fetal tissue. The Church has encouraged its members to use alternative vaccines produced without human cell lines if possible, as they believe that the use of fetal tissue in vaccine development obscures the value of human life. However, the Church has also stated that it is acceptable to use vaccines derived from fetal tissue if there are no alternative options available and there is a significant health risk associated with not receiving the vaccine.
Despite the Church's stance, some Catholics hold differing views on abortion, ranging from anti-abortion positions with some exceptions to accepting the legality and morality of abortion. Additionally, some critics of the Church's teaching on abortion argue that the Church has only recently opposed abortion, while others, such as Catholic philosophers Daniel Dombrowski and Robert Deltete, have defended abortion rights as "defensibly Catholic".
The Church also recognizes certain acts that indirectly result in the death of a fetus as morally legitimate, such as the removal of a cancerous womb or an ectopic pregnancy. In the case of ectopic pregnancy, the Church allows for the removal of the tube containing the embryo, even if it results in the foreseeable death of the embryo, as the primary intention is to protect the life of the mother.
Overall, the Catholic Church's stance on abortion is clear and unwavering, and it continues to play a significant role in shaping the views of its followers and influencing public policy on abortion.
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The Catholic Church's stance on vaccines produced using fetal tissue
The Catholic Church is opposed to abortion and the use of aborted fetal tissue in vaccines and medical research. The Church's position on abortion is clear: "from the moment of conception, the life of every human being is to be respected in an absolute way, [...], no one can under any circumstance claim the right directly to destroy an innocent human being".
However, the Church has indicated that it is acceptable to use vaccines produced using aborted fetal tissue if there are no alternative vaccines available and there is a significant health risk associated with not receiving the vaccine. In 2005, the Pontifical Academy for Life stated that parents may allow their children to receive such vaccines if no alternative exists and there is a grave health risk. The Vatican has clarified that "all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience, with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion".
The Catholic Church encourages its members to use alternative vaccines produced without human cell lines if possible. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called on Catholics to choose vaccine brands that do not use aborted fetal tissue if available. However, the Vatican stated that it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses when "ethically irreproachable" vaccines are not available.
It is important to note that while fetal cell lines have been used in vaccine development, the vaccines themselves do not contain any fetal tissue or cells derived from fetal materials. The cell lines are used to grow vaccine viruses, but during the purification process, any remaining cellular debris and DNA are removed.
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The Vatican's statements on fetal tissue in vaccines
The Catholic Church is opposed to abortion. However, it has clarified that "all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience, with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion". The Church has encouraged its members to use alternative vaccines, produced without human cell lines, if possible.
In 2005, the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life stated that parents may allow their children to receive vaccines made from fetal tissue if no alternative exists and there is a grave health risk. The Academy urged consumers to "oppose by all means... vaccines which do not yet have morally acceptable alternatives, creating pressure so that alternative vaccines are prepared, which are not connected with the abortion of a human fetus".
In 2017, the Pontifical Academy for Life reiterated its position, stating that "clinically recommended vaccinations can be used with a clear conscience and that the use of such vaccines does not signify some sort of cooperation with voluntary abortion".
In December 2020, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement regarding the moral aspects of using the COVID-19 vaccine, which had been developed using cell lines derived from tissue obtained from aborted fetuses. The statement, approved by Pope Francis, said that if no alternative vaccine is available, it is morally justifiable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to protect one's health and pursue the common good. The Vatican emphasized that allowing the use of vaccines developed from aborted fetal cell tissues does not necessarily legitimize the practice of abortion.
The Vatican's position on fetal tissue in vaccines is guided by the principle of balancing the respect for human life with the need to protect public health and prevent significant health risks. While the Church opposes abortion and encourages the use of alternative vaccines, it recognizes that in certain circumstances, the use of vaccines developed with fetal tissue may be permissible to safeguard the health of individuals and the wider community.
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The use of fetal tissue in vaccine development
Fetal cell lines have been used in the manufacture of vaccines since the 1930s. One of the first applications of cell lines derived from fetal tissues was in the production of the first polio vaccines. For example, in the 1950s, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden propagated a polio virus in fetal cell lines to make a polio vaccine. The resulting vaccine was administered to about 2,000 children.
Many other vaccines, including those for chickenpox and rubella, are made using cell lines originally derived from fetal tissue from two pregnancies terminated in the 1960s. Descendants of the fibroblast cells from these fetuses have been growing in labs ever since, as the WI-38 and MRC-5 cell lines. They are still used to grow vaccine viruses today. As of March 2017, billions of vaccines have been given that were made using the WI-38 line alone.
Viruses need cells to grow and tend to grow better in human cells than animal cells. Almost all cells die after they have divided a certain number of times; scientifically, this number is known as the Hayflick limit. However, because fetal cells have not divided as many times as other cell types, they can be used for longer.
In 2005, the Pontifical Academy for Life concluded that parents may allow their children to receive vaccines made from fetal tissue if no alternative exists and there is a grave health risk. The academy also called for the development of new vaccines that can be made by other means. In 2017, the Pontifical Academy for Life reiterated that "clinically recommended vaccinations can be used with a clear conscience and that the use of such vaccines does not signify some sort of cooperation with voluntary abortion".
On December 21, 2020, the Vatican's doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, further clarified that it is "morally licit" for Catholics to receive vaccines derived from fetal cell lines or in which such lines were used in testing or development, including the COVID-19 vaccines.
It is important to note that vaccines do not contain any of the original fetal tissue or cells derived from fetal materials. Although the vaccine materials are purified from cell debris, traces of human DNA fragments may remain.
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The presence of fetal tissue in tetanus shots
The use of fetal tissue in vaccine development is a highly contested topic, with opposition on moral and religious grounds. The Catholic Church, for instance, maintains a clear stance against abortion, asserting that "from the moment of conception, the life of every human being is to be respected in an absolute way". However, the Church has also acknowledged the potential health risks associated with abstaining from vaccines produced using fetal tissue. In certain cases, the Church permits the temporary use of such vaccines, especially when alternative vaccines that do not use fetal tissue are unavailable.
Fetal cell lines have been used in vaccine manufacturing since the 1930s. The first medical application of fetal cell lines was in the production of the polio vaccine in the 1950s. Fetal cells, particularly fibroblast cells, are used because viruses tend to grow better in human cells than in animal cells. Additionally, fetal cells have not divided as frequently as other cell types, allowing for longer usage. The COVID-19 vaccine (J&J/Janssen) is a notable exception, as it is made using fetal retinal cells.
Despite the use of fetal cells in vaccine development, the resulting vaccines do not contain any fetal tissue, cells, or recognisable human DNA. During the purification process, cellular debris and growth reagents are removed, and any remaining cellular DNA is broken down. This means that vaccines do not contain "parts of fetuses".
The Catholic Church has encouraged its members to use alternative vaccines that are not connected with abortion whenever possible. However, the Vatican has clarified that all clinically safe and effective vaccinations can be used "with a clear conscience", as their use does not indicate cooperation with voluntary abortion. Religious leaders from major religions, including Catholicism, have evaluated the use of fetal cells in vaccines and deemed it not sinful to accept them.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church is opposed to abortion and has encouraged its members to use alternative vaccines that are not connected with the abortion of a human fetus. However, the Church permits the temporary use of vaccines generated using aborted fetal tissue if there are no alternative vaccines available and there is a significant health risk posed by not vaccinating.
Vaccines do not contain fetal tissue or cells, but traces of human DNA fragments may remain.
Vaccines that have been or are made using fetal tissue include those against rabies (Imovax), rubella, chickenpox, shingles, and adenovirus. The COVID-19 vaccine (J&J/Janssen) is made using fetal retinal cells.
Yes, none of the currently available HPV vaccines, including Gardasil 9, are produced using cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue.
Immortalised cell lines can be derived from tumors that have developed resistance to cellular senescence or from stem cells that are not originally taken from aborted fetuses.
