Review article
https://doi.org/10.31823/d.29.3.7
Ethical Problems Related to Allowing the Use of Morally Questionable Vaccines
Zorica Maros
orcid.org/0000-0003-4908-2900
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abstract
When rubella vaccines came on the market in the 1960s, a socio-intellectual discussion about their ethical-moral dimension began. Namely, the use of fetal tissue harvested from intentional abortions to make these vaccines makes them morally questionable. The Church has allowed end-users to use such vaccines if there is no other way of protection, that is, to achieve due wellbeing. Nevertheless, this permission has caused and still causes numerous objections, as well as great misunderstandings and disagreements. Can we talk about moral consistency and integrity if those who strongly oppose abortion agree to vaccines whose production is related to intentional abortion? Is the Church contradicting its teaching with this permission, or is it hypocritical? The article offers a theoretical reflection on specific disagreements to eliminate these intellectually and religiously in no way trivial misunderstandings.
Keywords
vaccine; Catholic Church; ethical issues; hypocrisy; scandal; appeal to conscience; commercialization of abortion
Hrčak ID:
265985
URI
Publication date:
30.11.2021.
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