Richard Doerflinger
By Richard Doerflinger • Catholic News Service • Posted June 4, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans and isolated us from each other as authorities struggle to prevent infections. As vaccinations increase, we see fewer new cases, and a welcome relaxation of some precautions especially for those who are vaccinated. That raises its own issues.
Some predict a two-class society: the privileged who are vaccinated and can resume normal activities, and second-class citizens who must still wear masks and distance themselves from others. That is especially troubling to Catholics who refuse vaccines because of their connection with fetal tissue from abortion.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Did Use Aborted Fetal Cell Lines: What Does This Mean?
03/04/21 AT 11:36 PM Pharmacist Madeline Acquilano fills a syringe with the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine in the US state of Connecticut Photo: AFP / Joseph Prezioso
KEY POINTS
Johnson & Johnson uses aborted fetal cell lines to produce its vaccine
The cell lines are derived from lab-grown cells that originated from an aborted fetus in 1985
Aborted fetal cell lines have reportedly been filtered out when the vaccine is in vials
Some religious conservatives have advised against getting the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, arguing that it was “morally compromised” because it was developed from cells derived from aborted fetal tissue.