U.S. Bishop Chairmen for Doctrine and for Pro-Life Address the Use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine

WASHINGTON– On March XX, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recently approved for use in the United States.

“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. 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. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has judged that ‘when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available … it is morally acceptable to receive Covid19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.’****

However, if one can choose among equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen. Therefore, if one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnson’s. While we should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines, given the world-wide suffering that this pandemic is causing, we affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good. 1 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines” (17 Dec 2020), no. 2.

**** For further details, we refer people to our earlier December 2020 statement, to our Answers to Key Ethical Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines, to the Congregation of the Faith’s Note, and to the statement of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy for Life [Note of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy for Life “Vaccine for all. 20 points for a fairer and healthier world”].

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will lead a special, multimedia experience of the Way of the Cross, which will be available for streaming on the Diocese of Trenton’s YouTube channel beginning Friday, Feb. 19.

Attention All Parishioners 

For snow closures:  if the Howell Township schools are closed because of snow then St. William the Abbot will also be closed.

The St. William the Abbot Youth Group is looking for new members!  For more information on meetings and how to join, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The parishioner envelopes are here.  Please stop by the church to pick up yours.

GUIDELINES FOR RETURNING TO MASS
In order to facilitate a safe and healthy environment when returning to Msss at Saint William the Abbot parish, please be certain to familiarize yourself with the current Parish and Diocesan Guidelines.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE GUIDELINES

We need to do everything possible to stay open. Please wear a mask over your mouth and nose at all times. Please stay home if you are not feeling well, coughing or have been exposed to someone with Covid-19.

PLEASE NOTE: 
Many of you have received an email that says it is from Fr. Tom.  It is asking for money or gift cards for him.  It is a SCAM!  Fr. Tom would never solicit money or gift cards from anyone.  Please delete it.  There is also one asking for the same thing for Bishop David.  That is also a SCAM.