Catholic religious agency during the Covid-19 emergency: the issue of vaccines.

Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pubishers Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 9805378 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-0980 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 13867415 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Theor Med Bioeth Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Dordrecht ; Boston : Kluwer Academic Pubishers, c1998-

Catholicism* ; COVID-19*/prevention & control ; COVID-19*/epidemiology ; Religion and Medicine*; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage ; Pandemics/prevention & control

The Catholic Church's reflection on and assessment of the Covid-19 pandemic has developed in several areas. Inspired by the tradition of its social teaching, specifically by the values of the dignity of the human person, justice, solidarity, and the common good, a strong sense of responsibility-on the part of all to prevent the spread of the pandemic and care for the affected sick-was called for. This resulted in a series of interventions and documents on the various medical and spiritual issues involved, particularly concerning the vaccines again Covid-19. In this short article, I draw out these insights from the official and universal reference point of the Catholic Church (i.e., Vatican sources in their various expressions and expertise). Interventions from other religions have also played a significant role during the Covid-19 pandemic as exemplified by the close relationship between certain religious actors and the World Health Organization. However, these alternative viewpoints, while important in and of themselves, do not find a suitable place within this work, which focuses on the Catholic Church's perspective.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

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Keywords: Catholic Church; Common good; Covid 19; Personal responsibilities; Vaccines

0 (COVID-19 Vaccines)

Date Created: 20240530 Date Completed: 20240611 Latest Revision: 20240611

20240611

10.1007/s11017-024-09673-3

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