Catholic Schools and Non-Immunizing Families

[Sam88]

maryceleste:

Please note, I’m speaking here of those who oppose vaccines due to the belief that they’re unnecessary and damaging to our children’s health. The issue of aborted fetal tissue vaccines is a simpler one…

There has been a vatican statement that covers fetal tissue vaccines in detail, it is very clear and informative but as it is fairly new not many people are aware of it. Despite all the posts in this thread, I haven’t seen any reference by name to “Moral reflections on vaccines prepared from cells derived from aborted human foetuses”, from the Sacred Congregation on the Doctrine of Faith, June 9, 2005. cogforlife.org/vaticanresponse.pdf

I suggest that faithful Catholics that are making decisions about vaccines read this in full, but I wll excerpt a brief quote that I found of great interest. (Bold highlights are not in the original text)
VaticanStatement:

As regards the diseases against which there are no alternative vaccines which are available and ethically acceptable, it is right to abstain from using these vaccines if it can be done without causing children, and indirectly the population as a whole, to undergo significant risks to their health. However, if the latter are exposed to considerable dangers to their health, vaccines with moral problems pertaining to them may also be used on a temporary basis. The moral reason is that the duty to avoid passive material cooperation is not obligatory if there is grave inconvenience. Moreover, we find, in such a case, a. proportional reason, in order to accept the use of these vaccines in the presence of the danger of favouring the spread of the pathological agent, due to the lack of vaccination of children. This is particularly true in the case of vaccination against German measles.

Why is German measles singled out as an example? Part of the reason is in the following, from the same document:
VaticanStatement:

In any case, there remains a moral duty to continue to fight and to employ every lawful means in order to make life difficult for the pharmaceutical industries which act unscrupulously and unethically. However, the burden of this important battle cannot and must not fall on innocent children and on the health situation of the population - especially with regard to pregnant women.

It seems to me that this document contains a rationale regarding when vaccine use is unacceptable (immoral), and when it obligatory, with the implication that at least one such vaccine may be obligatory, until such time as an acceptable alternative is available. (No such alternative vaccine for german measles is available in the United States, but hopefully that will change.)

 

[maryceleste]

Sam88:

It seems to me that this document contains a rationale regarding when vaccine use is unacceptable (immoral), and when it obligatory, with the implication that at least one such vaccine may be obligatory, until such time as an acceptable alternative is available. (No such alternative vaccine for german measles is available in the United States, but hopefully that will change.)

I agree that that’s the implication of the document. They’re not in a position to say it outright, though, since the value of rubella vaccine to the public health is a scientific question, and the Vatican can’t speak definitively on matters of science. If, as some believe, the MMR vaccine carries its own health risks, then that’s another factor to be considered in making the decision.

(BTW, the Center for Disease Control says, “We can protect mothers and their babies from the tragic effects of rubella in two ways. One is to make sure that women are immune to rubella before they become pregnant. This keeps them from getting rubella while they are pregnant, which also protects their unborn children. The second way is to immunize all children.”

It seems like the Church has the ability to take a leading role in reducing the rate of congenital rubella – and other pregnancy complications – by making rubella antibody screening, nutritional counselling, and other “preconceptional education,” a standard part of Catholic marriage preparation classes. I would love to see this happen!)

On the other hand, the document does seem to support parents who refuse the chicken pox vaccine on ethical grounds. Unfortunately, in many areas, these “everything but chicken pox” parents will still need an exemption if they want to send their children to school or daycare. (To the officials, if you skip even one vaccine, that’s as bad as skipping all of them. )

We’re still undecided about the MMR, but we’re considering waiting until our daughter reaches puberty, and then just doing the rubella shot alone. Same with chicken pox, if she hasn’t caught it naturally by then. Hopefully, by that time, single, ethical vaccines will be available.

That reminds me of another point from the Vatican document, that hasn’t been mentioned: The Church has stated very clearly that Catholics are morally obligated to fight against the evil of aborted tissue vaccines. This would include such things as talking to their physicians, petitioning drug manufacturers, educating their fellow parents, and – of course – prayer. I think that’s something we can all agree on. :yup: