Vatican: OK to get COVID vaccine from cell lines derived from abortion (AP) The Vatican on Monday declared that it is “morally acceptable” for Roman Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses, guidance that came after some churchmen in the United States argued that such products were immoral. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s watchdog office for doctrinal orthodoxy, said it had received several requests for “guidance” during recent months. The doctrinal office pointed out that bishops, Catholic groups and experts have offered “diverse and sometimes conflicting pronouncements” on the matter…
With no singing allowed, Catholic school embraces sign language (CNS) When music teacher Lynn Kingsbury at St. Damian School in the Chicago suburb of Oak Forest learned that her students wouldn’t be allowed to sing in class because of COVID-19 restrictions, she made a dream of hers into reality — teaching the students how to sing in American Sign Language…
Pope offers a lesson on left v. right (Crux) For what he defined as the “Christmas of the pandemic,” Pope Francis gave the Vatican power structure a unique present Monday: A meditation on the difference between “crisis,” which he said can be life-giving, and “conflict,” including ideological struggles of left v. right, which the pope said is destructive. Without naming them, Francis also acknowledged the impact of church scandals over the past year, but insisted they’re not the whole story…
Colorado medical practice to offer special care for adults with Down syndrome (CNA) A Catholic-run healthcare practice in Colorado has announced that it will partner with a major foundation based in Paris to bring specialized medical care to adults with Down syndrome. Bella Health & Wellness, a practice based in the Denver suburb of Englewood, Colorado, announced at a Dec. 3 fundraiser that they will partner with the Jerome Lejeune Foundation, a French organization named for the pro-life doctor who discovered the genetic cause of Down syndrome in the 1950s…
