Bishop Walter A. Hurley, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Gaylord, has issued the following statement in response to questions raised about the moral implications of the COVID-19 vaccine:
“There have been many questions regarding the ethical implications of the COVID-19 vaccine and what moral responsibility one has to get vaccinated. With significant matters like this, too often decisions are made based upon political views rather than moral responsibility. It’s critical that we recognize that we each have a moral responsibility to care for one another and to further the common good. In the specific context of this global pandemic, we have a moral duty to lessen the suffering caused by COVID-19 in a manner that is safe and consistent with our faith. The COVID-19 vaccine is a legitimate means of preventing the spread of the disease, and taking the vaccine is both morally acceptable and encouraged. Vaccination should be a serious consideration for Catholics, and all people of good will, who seek to care for one another in this epidemic. If one chooses not to be vaccinated, one then has a moral responsibility to embrace the necessary precautions to avoid spreading the disease to others.”
