BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH

. . . . We, the Roman Catholic Christian community of
Blessed Sacrament, nourished by and united in the Eucharist, empowered by the Holy Spirit, dedicate ourselves to being the Body of Christ and actively living the Gospel.  As faithful stewards we will continue to develop and build the Body of Christ by prayer and service.
 

Located on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, we invite to come join our parish family for Sunday Mass and see what we have to offer you and your family.
 

December 18, 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Peace be with you!

In these Advent days of preparation for the coming of our Lord, we hope and pray that the Prince of Peace may console you and draw you to himself. Over this past year the struggles with the global COVID-19 pandemic have weighed heavily on our hearts, yet our Lord has been with us to deepen our faith and trust
in him. Know of our prayers for you and for all health care workers who are so diligently caring for those who are ill.

As vaccines for COVID-19 are now becoming available, we wish to address the moral questions that have arisen, insofar as some vaccines are developed using cells lines that have originated from the tissue taken from babies who were aborted decades ago.1  Abortion is a grave evil, and we must avoid complicity in abortion. Let us also pray for God’s peace, healing, and mercy for all those who have had abortions.

At the time of this writing, the Food and Drug Administration has given approval for the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer. Two other vaccines, one developed by Moderna and the other developed by AstraZeneca, might also gain FDA approval.2

It is morally permissible to receive the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. Neither of these vaccines have used cell lines originating in tissue taken from aborted babies in their design, development, and production. However, both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccine did use such a cell line in the confirmatory testing. This connection to the abortion is very remote, however, and it is important to keep in mind that there are varying levels of responsibility. Greater moral responsibility lies with the researchers than with those who receive the vaccine. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has indicated that it is morally permissible to be vaccinated if there are no alternatives and there are serious health risks.3  Such serious health risks are present due to the current pandemic.

The vaccine developed by AstraZeneca is more morally problematic, however. It did utilize in the design, production, development, and confirmatory testing a cell line that originated from tissue taken from an aborted baby. This vaccine may be received only if there are no other alternatives. If one does not have a choice of vaccine and a delay in immunization may bring about serious consequences for one’s health and the health of others, it would be permissible to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine. It is somewhat similar in production to the Rubella vaccine, which the Pontifical Academy of Life indicated could be received for grave reasons and if there are no other alternatives.4
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1 For more on the morality of COVID-19 vaccines, see the joint statement of the chairmen of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine and Pro-Life Activities on which our statement is based: moral-considerations-covid-vaccines (usccb.org)
2 For more information about specific vaccines being developed for COVID-19 see this reference chart from the Charlotte Lozier Institute: COVID-19-Vaccine-Candidates-and-Abortion-Derived-Cell-Lines.pdf (lozierinstitute.org)
3 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Certain Bioethical Questions (Dignitas Personae) (2008), nos. 35-36: Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (vatican.va)
4 Pontifical Academy for Life, “"Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Foetuses,” (9 June 2005) in National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 6:3 (2006): 541-49

If one were to choose not to be vaccinated, one would have a moral responsibility to embrace the necessary precautions to avoid spreading the disease to others.

At this same time, we join our voices to call for the development of vaccines that have no connection to abortion. Our consciences must not be dulled, nor may we imply in any way that abortion is acceptable.

Let us implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that God may bring an end to the pandemic and that all esteem and respect the dignity of human life.

Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron                  Most Reverend Paul J. Bradley
Archbishop of Detroit                                      Bishop of Kalamazoo

Most Reverend Earl A. Boyea                        Most Reverend John F. Doerfler
Bishop of Lansing                                           Bishop of Marquette

Most Reverend Robert D. Gruss                    Most Reverend Walter A. Hurley
Bishop of Saginaw                                          Apostolic Administrator
                                                                        Diocese of Gaylord

Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak
Bishop of Grand Rapids

You can make your CSA donation here.  The picture below is a link to the Diocese of Grand Rapids website.  Click on that link and it will tell you how to make your donation.  Don’t forget to reference Blessed Sacrament when filling out the form.

ALONG WITH OUR SUNDAY MASSES, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING DAILY MASSES ONLY ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AT THIS TIME
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REGULAR WEEKEND AND
WEEKDAY MASS TIMES

SUN:   9:00am / 11:00am

TUE:   8:30am

WED:  10:30am (Mass is at 8:30am when school is not in session)

THU:   8:30am

SAT:    4:30pm/confession 3:30pm

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Please check the current bulletin for any changes in the weekday Mass schedule.