Hope in the Midst of the Battle with COVID-19
It seems hard to believe that it is almost a year since the world came to a shut-down with the emergence of the deadly COVID-19 virus. So much of the world and our lives have changed over these months. Many are experiencing a growing fatigue with the limitations and restrictions as well as a growing frustration of when will things return to “normal.”
In the midst of this we know that there is now some light at the end of the tunnel for us and the world, with the discovery of a vaccine to prevent the spread and reception of the virus. This is a much welcomed gift given to us, thanks to the relentless efforts of so many in the medical and scientific community, the millions (if not billions) of dollars that has been put into research and development, and the unprecedented sharing of scientific research around the world. All of this has allowed the accelerated discovery, testing, and approval of a vaccine that will be a game changer in our fight against this deadly virus, and hopefully put an end to this worldwide pandemic. This is good news, and there are rays of light at the end of this long and darkened tunnel that we have been living these many months.
In the midst of this good news, sadly, we know there have been a number of voices of dissent, naysayers, and modern day prophets of doom and gloom, who have tried not only to deny the reality of this worldwide pandemic, but also the gift of this new found vaccine. Regrettably, some of these voices have come from a small, but vocal minority, within the Catholic Church as well as the pro-life movement. They have chosen to manipulate not only the truth, but the rich and clear teaching of the Church on the issue of the vaccine. Somehow, they have placed themselves above the wisdom of the Church and the consistent teaching of the Magisterium.
So what are we, as faithful Catholics and pro-lifers, called to do at this moment? Quite simply, we need to listen to the wisdom and sound teaching of the Church. We need to do our part to bring an end to this pandemic by abiding by the various regulations by our public health officials, and above all, to avail ourselves of the vaccine, when it is available to us, and to do so with a clear conscience.
On December 21, 2020, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith addressed this very issue. In their “Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines,” they help navigate us through these murky waters, and remind us that it is morally acceptable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally in December, the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories addressed this very issue in an excellent and succinct pastoral letter. As the Bishops state in the opening line of their letter: “Is it okay for a Catholic to be vaccinated against COVID-19? The short answer is: Yes, it is.”
If you have not yet read the Note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith or the Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, we would encourage you to do so. They are readily available on the internet, and provide invaluable teaching on this important issue.
In the very near future, Priests For Life Canada will also be making a more elaborate and detailed statement on the moral use of the vaccine. It will also address a number of the concerns raised by the prophets of doom and gloom about the vaccine. This theme will also be taken up in the February episode of our podcast, The Pro-Life Hour, where Fr. Tom and Fr. John interview Dr. Moira McQueen, a leading moral theologian. It is an episode that you don’t want to miss, and you can find it on our website and social media platforms.
In the meantime, it is important to continue to keep ourselves informed on this issue so that we can share it with family, friends, and fellow parishioners and encourage them to be vaccinated when the time comes. Let’s all do our part!