Hunched innocuously in the shadow of Rome’s mighty Piazza Venezia, just a stone’s throw from one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, the Santi Apostoli church might be forgiven for having more respect for the dead than for the living.
That’s because of the treasures that the church protects. As well as having briefly accommodated the tomb of Michelangelo, the church has, since the year 556, housed relics of particular significance to the Holy Catholic Church: the remains of two of Jesus’ contemporaries, Saint Philip and Saint James, the latter of whom is believed to have been Jesus’ brother.
Some U.S. bishops discouraging Catholics from receiving Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
By: Web Staff
and last updated 2021-03-04 11:58:59-05
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement Wednesday discouraging Catholics from receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine if alternative vaccines are available.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was recently approved for emergency use in the United States, was developed, tested and produced with lab-grown cells originally derived from cells taken from aborted fetal tissue in the 1980s. Pfizer and Moderna s vaccines were tested with the lab-grown cells, but the cells were not used in their production.
Pope Francis walking into the unknown as he risks his safety to keep Iraqi Christianity alive
Even for Pope Francis, often unfazed by risks to his personal safety, an historic visit to Iraq this week will present acute challenges
4 March 2021 • 6:30am
Iraqi security forces patrol around the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Baghdad during preparations for the Pope s visit
Credit: SABAH ARAR /AFP
He has visited trouble spots around the world, from Azerbaijan and Colombia to Mozambique and Myanmar.
On a trip to the Central African Republic, he became the first pope to enter an active war zone, while on the mean streets of Rio de Janeiro he gave his security staff conniptions by mingling with the crowds.
Some U.S. bishops discouraging Catholics from getting Johnson & Johnson vaccine
By: Web Staff
and last updated 2021-03-04 12:17:41-05
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement Wednesday discouraging Catholics from receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine if alternative vaccines are available.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was recently approved for emergency use in the United States, was developed, tested and produced with lab-grown cells originally derived from cells taken from aborted fetal tissue in the 1980s. Pfizer and Moderna s vaccines were tested with the lab-grown cells, but the cells were not used in their production.
The USCCB is encouraging Catholics to choose the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead if available, but stressed that if there are no alternatives to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good.