Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Manila can decide on their own if they want to be vaccinated against the new coronavirus disease or not.
“That is their own decision,” said Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the archdiocese.
The prelate, however, said there are others who should be given priority to receive the vaccine. “Priority should be given to frontliners and (the) vulnerable instead of priests,” he said.
Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao also said the poor should be given priority.
“Because we are considered frontliners … someone offered to sponsor the vaccination of bishops and priests,” revealed the prelate.
“We are very grateful for the offer, but we said we would be happy if it will be given to the poor first because they have no means to pay,” said Bishop Ongtioco.
Under the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program, priority is given to frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent population, and the uniformed personnel.
They will be followed by teachers and school workers, government workers, “essential workers” in agriculture, the food industry, transportation, and tourism, sociodemographic groups in significantly higher risk areas, overseas Filipino workers, remaining workforce, and students.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has earlier expressed support for the government’s efforts to acquire COVID-19 vaccines and to prioritize poor communities in its deployment.
A pastoral statement dated January 8 urged the government to commit to a single vaccine distribution plan that will prioritize medical frontliners and those who are most at risk.
The prelates, meanwhile, reminded that the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that everyone has the right “to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions.”
“He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience,” said the bishops, adding that they recognize the right of individuals “to choose to be vaccinated or not.”
The church leaders said they are also raising an “ethical concern” after learning that some of the COVID-19 vaccines were manufactured using cells obtained from the remains of an aborted female fetus who was killed in 1973.
“The perennial teaching of the Church must be repeated: Deliberately procuring abortion, even if it is for the purpose of obtaining material for vaccines, is morally unacceptable,” they said.
“The end does not justify the means; otherwise, the most inhuman and inhumane acts would be permissible in order to attain supposedly ‘worthwhile’ ends,” read the prelates’ statement.
