DeLauro Deplores the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairmen for Failing to Welcome the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine That Will Save Lives

Press Release

House Appropriations Committee Chair and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairmen for Doctrine and for Pro-Life urged people to choose the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

"It is unconscionable that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in contradiction with the guidance of Pope Francis, would fail to embrace a new and safe vaccine. Pope Francis teaches us that human dignity is only realized in community. In the midst of a deadly pandemic, our survival relies upon working together to socially distance and reduce our risk to our own health and the health of others.

"The approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine marks another unprecedented victory for science in the global fight against COVID-19. The statement of the Chairmen of the Committee on the Doctrine and the Committee on Pro-Life Activities is both irresponsible to society and antithetical to previous statements made by the Vatican about the use of vaccines that clearly state, "it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.'

"Because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose and no special refrigeration, it offers great hope of attacking the coronavirus globally. If we can attack the virus globally, we can vaccinate the world and save millions of lives. Isn't that what we should be doing?

"We have an obligation to our family, friends, community, and the world to do everything in our power to stop the spread of this virus that has changed the course of humanity. This is not the time to politicize our chance at ending this dark time and rebuilding our communities."

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