Posted on 08/04/2005 7:50:01 PM PDT by Coleus
Misrepresentation in press leads Vatican official to clarify position on vaccines
Largo, Fl., Aug. 04, 2005 (CNA) - Msgr. Jacques Suaudeau of the Pontifical Academy for the Family has clarified the content in the recent Vatican statement on vaccines, putting to rest any misunderstandings that may have followed after a news agency misrepresented the statement and the monsignor’s comments.
Msgr. Suaudeau had spoken with a journalist from the news agency but, according to Children of God for Life, the news agency had “grossly misquoted” the monsignor’s intentions, and he “responded in his own defense.”
The Vatican’s eight-page document states that Catholics can refuse vaccines that were prepared from cells derived from aborted fetuses and must lobby at the corporate and government level for alternative vaccines that do not contain aborted fetal cell lines.
In an e-mail response to Children of God for Life's spiritual adviser, Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, Msgr. Suaudeau noted that the Vatican document “denounces the use of ‘tainted’ vaccines; it asks for alternative vaccines; it invites ... parents (and others) to put pressure on government and companies to offer alternative vaccines.
“The document speaks clearly about ‘conscientious objection’,” the monsignor continued. “This was the main point of the document.”
The monsignor said he thinks that, with the Vatican document, Children of God for Life have “a useful instrument to put pressure on local authorities in order to get exemption of vaccination for their children, in schools.
“But more important,” he added, “is the lobbying to get the alternative vaccines free entrance in the U.S."
"The restriction formula about the possible use of tainted vaccines in conditions ‘of considerable dangers’ was needed,” he said.
According to Children of God for Life, the news agency had also misquoted its executive director, Debi Vinnedge.
The Vatican document, titled “Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Fetuses”can be read at www.cogforlife.org
Vatican Official Clarifies His Position Regarding Vaccine Statements to CNS
(Largo, FL) Msgr Jacques Suaudeau of the Pontifical Academy for the Family has clarified what was meant by the recent Vatican statement, completely contradicting the July 26, 2005 CNS article, Vatican says refusing vaccines must be weighed against health threats.
After CNS falsely reported and then partially retracted statements that had been allegedly made by Debi Vinnedge, Children of God for Life's Executive Director, the organization decided to check with the Msgr. himself. The article apparently caused the Vatican official much consternation as he rued "the mistake" he had made in speaking with "some English-speaking journalist on the subject" (of the vaccines.)
In an email response to Children of God for Life's Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, Msgr. Suaudeau noted, "What seems more useful is to read carefully the document, from introduction to conclusion."
"It is also important to keep in mind that this document is not intended only for Children of God [for Life] or for the particular situation of the United States, but considers the question of vaccines in a worldwide perspective," he added.
Msgr. Suaudeau noted that while officials at the Holy See do not provide "official" opinions of Vatican documents to private individuals, his statements were meant to clarify his own position. He made two key observations:
"1) The document as such supports the position of Children of God [for Life]. It denounces the use of "tainted" vaccines, it asks for alternative vaccines; it invites (the document speak about a "duty", which is a pretty strong word) parents (and others) to put pressure on government and companies to offer alternative vaccines. The document speaks clearly about "conscientious objection"(p.7). This was the main point of the document. As such I do think that Children of God [for Life] have there a useful instrument to put pressure on local authorities in order to get exemption of vaccination for their children, in schools. But more important is the lobbying to get the alternative vaccines free entrance in the U.S."
"2) The restriction formula about the possible use of tainted vaccines in conditions "of considerable dangers"(p.7) was needed: in fact we had problems with local (Italian) journals using titles like that: "Vatican forbid vaccinations".
Children of God for Life was grateful for the response. "Msgr. Suaudeau has effectively cited what we have said to those who wish to put their own spin on what the Vatican really stated, " said Debi Vinnedge. "Read the statement for yourself!"
The document can be reviewed in its entirety at www.cogforlife.org/vaticanresponse.pdf
Further Reading:
NCBC Has Moral Obligation to Print the Truth And Follow Vatican Directives
Vatican Condemns Vaccines Made with Tissue Obtained by Abortion
I hope they also issue a clarification that people have the right to refuse vaccines which are implicated in causing autism and other health problems like infertility. There has been widescale misconduct by the pharmaceutical and medical communities in the use of dangerous and unnecessary vaccines. No one is obligated to submit to the Frankenstein malpractice of wackos and quacks.
"Put pressure on the politicians especially Pro-Life and Catholic Politicians, the FDA and Drug Companies, let your clergymen know what's going on."
Good idea. And write letters to editors and call talk shows.
Thank you for the ping -
To say that use of embryonic stem cell vaccines is permissible if no other vaccine is available is the epitome of ethical good sense.
It's similar to saying that capital punishment is permissible in places where the prisons cannot safely hold the offenders. (I know I--or they--lost a bunch of people here.)
The Church in these two judgments, and others, looks to the future, when possible societal catastrophe can render communications and other things that we take for granted obsolete.
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