Biomedical Research

Moral Guidance on Vaccines

Vatican documents

• Moral Reflections On Vaccines Prepared From Cells Derived From Aborted Human Foetuses
• Dignitas Personae
• Note on Italian Vaccine Issue
• Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines
• Pontifical Academy for Life: Vaccine for all. 20 points for a fairer and healthier world.pdf

USCCB Documents

• Answers to Key Ethical Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines (en español) (January 6, 2021)
• Moral Considerations Regarding The New COVID-19 Vaccines (en español) (December 11, 2020)
• Catholic school conscience exemptions
• Coalition letter to FDA (2019) urging access to ethical vaccines
• Coalition letter to FDA (2020) urging ethical COVID vaccine
• Memo to Bishops on Vaccines for COVID-19
• Thank you campaign to Sanofi for ethical polio vax

Urge Pharmaceutical Companies to Stop Using Abortion-Derived Cell Lines

In the documents listed above, the Vatican urges everyone concerned for the sanctity of life to protest the use of abortion-derived cell lines and advocate for the development of vaccines with no connection to abortion. To make it easier to take this action, we provide the following sample letters to pharmaceutical companies that are using abortion-derived cell lines to produce and/or test vaccines.

• Letter to Pfizer
• Letter to Moderna
• Letter to Johnson & Johnson
• Letter to AstraZeneca
• Letter to GSK
• Letter to Merck
• Letter to Sanofi Pasteur

Some of the many resources available on this issue are listed below. You may also use the Searcuscar feature to find other material. Please contact us, using the link on the far upper right corner of this page, if you need further information.

Church Documents and Teachings

• Dignitas Personae and Related Information , Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, December 12, 2008
• On Embryonic Stem Cell Research, USCCB, June 2008 (En Español)
• "Stem Cells: What Future for Therapy?" , Pope Benedict XVI, September 16, 2006 (En Español )
• Address to the Members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences , Pope John Paul II, November 10, 2003 (En Español )
• Declaration on the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells , Pontifical Academy for Life, August 25, 2000 (En Español )
• Donum Vitae: Instruction on Respect for Human Life , Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, February 22, 1987 (En Español )

Fact Sheets

• Stem Cell Research Study 2010, September 16, 2010
• Points to consider: The New NIH Guidelines for embryonic stem cell research, May 18, 2009
• Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning: Questions and Answers June 13, 2008 (En Espanol)
• Embryonic Stem Cell Research: "Miracle" Cures, or Decades of Basic Research?, February 21, 2007
• Practical Problems with Embryonic Stem Cells, February 2007
• Catholic Support for Ethically Acceptable Stem Cell Research, November 2005
• Scientific Experts Agree: Embryonic Stem Cells Are Unnecessary for Medical Progress, March 2009
• Current Clinical Use of Adult Stem Cells, June 7, 2005
• Human Cloning and Embryo Research: No Road to Biotechnology Growth, May 2004
• President Bush's Stem Cell Decision, August 13, 2001
• Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Vaccines using Fetal Tissue, August 2001
• What is an Embryo?, February 26, 1998
• Current State Laws Against Human Embryo Research

Articles and Publications

• Stem Cells and Hope for Patients, by Maureen Condic, Ph.D., 2008 (En Espanol)
• The Ethics of Stem Cell Research, by Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D., 2006 (En Espanol)
• The Problem of Deception in Stem Cell Research, by Richard Doerflinger, September 15, 2006
• Congress, White House Take Action on Stem Cell Research, Life Insight, June/July 2006
• The Great California Boondoggle, Life Insight, November/December 2004
• What Fools These Mortals Be, Life Insight, February/March 2004
• The Case Against Funding Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research by Anton-Lewis Usala, M.D., 2001 (En Espanol)
• The Human Embryo as Research Commodity, Life Insight, August/September 2001
• Stemming the Tide of Misinformation, Life Insight, May/June 2001
• What Does Cloning Have to Do With Stem Cell Research?, Life Insight, March/April 2001
• False Freedom and the Culture of Death, by Richard Doerflinger, 2000 (En Español)
• Should the Government Force You to Help Kill Human Embryos?, Life Insight, August/September 2000
• Death by Vivisection and Statutory Deconstruction, Life Insight, September 1999
• Science Without Conscience, Life Insights, February 1999 
• Finding Cures Without Killing, Life Insight, February 1999

Columns and Commentary

• NIH Wants to Fund Human-Animal Chimera Research, by Greg Schleppenbach, Life Issues Forum, August 26, 2016
• Life Lived ietri Dish, by Tommy O'Donnell, Life Issues Forum, May 6, 2016
• The Little People on Death Row, by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, May 15, 2009
• New Stem Cell Guidelines Not “Ethically Sensitive” (A Response to Douglas Kmiec), Catholic News Service column, Cardinal Justin Rigali, April 24, 2009
• Oz Pulls Back the Curtain by Mary E. McClusky, Life Issues Forum, April 17, 2009 
• Science's Rightful Place by Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, March 10, 2009 
• Why the Embryo Matters, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, June 27, 2008
• Investing in Common Sense?, by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, March 20, 2008
• Time to Reprogram the Stem Cell Debate, Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, December 14, 2007
• Fact vs. Politics on Stem Cells, Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, January 12, 2007
• Missouri: The "Clone-Me" State?, Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, October 6, 2006
• Destroying Life: An End in Itself?, by Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, July 28, 2006
• Science and Ethics: Together Again?, Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, August 26, 2005
• Stem Cells Without Embryos?, Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, June 30, 2005
• Vote for Science?, Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, October 22, 2004
• Navigating Rough Moral Water, Gail Quinn, Life Issues Forum, September 10, 2004
• Farming Humans for Fun and Profit, Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, January 20, 2004
• Mourning Timmy, Cathleen Cleaver,Life Issues Forum, August 17, 2001
• First Principles and the "Frist Principles", Richard M. Doerflinger,  Life Issues Forum, July 20, 2001

Testimony and Letters

• Moral Considerations Regarding the New COVID-19 Vaccines, December 14, 2020
• Memo to Bishops on Vaccines for COVID-19, November 20, 2020
• Joint Letter to President Trump on FDA Funding of Aborted Fetal Tissue Research, December 20, 2018
• Joint Letter to HHS on FDA Funding of Aborted Fetal Tissue Research, September 11, 2018
• New Poll: Americans Continue to Oppose Tax Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Support Ethical Alternatives, September 16, 2010
• Guidelines for Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Comments of Bishops Conference to the National Institutes of Health, Msgr. David Malloy,  May 22, 2009
• Letter to Congress on Retaining Pro-Life Laws, Cardinal Rigali, February 5, 2009
• Letter to President-Elect Obama Regarding Executive Orders, by Cardinal George, January 16, 2009
• Opposing S.5 (Embryonic Stem Cells) and H.R. 2560 (Human Cloning), Letter to House of Representatives, Cardinal Justin Rigali, June 6, 2007
• Opposing S.5 (Embryonic Stem Cells), Letter to Senate, Cardinal Justin Rigali, April 4, 2007
• Opposing H.Rn Destruction of Human Embryos, Letter to Congress, Cardinal Justin Rigali, January 9, 2007
• Sustain President's Veto of H.R. 810, "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act", Letter to Congress, Cardinal William H. Keeler, July 19, 2006
• Three Bills Relating to Bioethics and Stem Cell Research ,Letter to Senate, Cardinal William H. Keeler, July 12, 2006
• Supportinational Umbilical Cord Blood Bank, Letter to Senate, Cardinal William H. Keeler, July 11, 2005
• Opposing 5.471 on Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Letter to Senate, Cardinal William H. Keeler, July 11, 2005
• Opposing H.R. 810 on Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Letter to House of Representatives, Cardinal William H. Keeler, May 17, 2005
• Ethical and Policy Concerns Regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Testimony to Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Richard M. Doerflinger, September 29, 2004
• Opposing Amendments to Labor/HHS Appropriations Bill on Stem Cell Research , Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Cardinal William H. Keeler, July 7, 2004
• Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding, Letter to House of Representatives, Richard M. Doerflinger, April 28, 2004
• Public Policy Regarding Human Embryo Research, Testimony to the President's Council on Bioethics, Richard M. Doerflinger, June 12, 2003
• Human Embryo Research is Illegal, Immoral, and Unnecessary, Testimony to Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Senate Appropriations Committee, Richard Doerflinger, July 18, 2001
• Public Funding of Destructive Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Letter to Congress, Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, July 10, 2001
• Opposing S.2015, The "Stem Cell Research Act", Letter to Senate, Cardinal William Keeler, March 3, 2000
• Guidelines for Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Comments of Bishops Conference to the National Institutes of Health, Rev. Msgr. Dennis N. Schnurr,  January 31, 2000
• National Bioethics Advisory Commission's Report on Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Letter to Congress, Cardinal William Keeler, May 27, 1999
• Ethical Reviews of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Comment to National Bioethics Advisory Commission, Richard M. Doerflinger, April 16, 1999
• Legal Status of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Testimony toSenate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Education, Richard M. Doerflinger, January 26, 1999
• Ethical Concerns Regarding New Developments in Embryo Research, Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Education, Richard M. Doerflinger, December 2, 1998

News Releases and Statements

• U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities Calls NIH’s Dr. Francis Collins Defense of Using Baby Body Parts from Abortions for Research “Deeply Disturbing”, December 18, 2018
• Chairman of U.S. Bishops’ Conference Committee on Pro-Life Activities Applauds Cancellation of FDA Fetal Tissue Contract, Urges Additional HHS Action, September 27, 2018
• Bishops Welcome Ruling Against Embryonic Stem Cell Funding, Urge Government to Pursue Ethical Stem Cell Research, August 25, 2010
• Cardinal Rigali Criticizes Final NIH Guidelines for Destructive Stem Cell Research, July 7, 2009
• USCCB Submits Comments to NIH on Proposed Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, May 22, 2009
• Bishops Urge Catholics to Contact Congress and NIH: Oppose Destructive Stem Cell Research, May 6, 2009
• Cardinal Rigali Criticizes Draft NIH Guidelines for Destructive Stem Cell Research, April 21, 2009
• Executive Order on Embryonic Stem Cells 'A Sad Victory of Politics over Science and Ethics,' Says Cardinal Rigali, March 9, 2009
• Cardinal Rigali to Congress: Keep Existing Pro-Life Laws, February 5, 2009
• Bishops Urge New President to Keep Laws on Conscience Rights,
  Foreign Aid for Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, January 19, 2009
• Bishops' Pro-Life Office Debuts Stem Cell Research, Abortion Ad, September 5, 2008
• Cardinal Rigali Welcomes Proposed Human/Animal Hybrid Ban, April 30, 2008
• Stem Cell Breakthrough Advances Science Without "Ethical Landmines," Says Cardinal, November 20, 2007
• Cardinal Regali Commends President Bush for Veto of Destructive Embryo Research Bill, June 20, 2007
• New Studies Show Promise for Ethical Stem Cell Research, June 7, 2007
• USCCB Official Comments on Approval of Bill to Fund Stem Cell Research Requiring the Destruction of Human Embryos, June 7, 2007
• Cardinal Rigali Urges House To Reject Two Bills Promoting Destruction Of Human Embryos, June 6, 2007
• Bishops' Official Laments Senate Passage of Bill Promoting Destruction of Human Life, April 11, 2007
• Cardinal Rigali Urges Senate to Reject Stem Cell Legislation Promoting Destruction of Human Life, April 5, 2007
• Pro-Life Official Welcomes Briefing on Cloning Agenda's Risks to Women, March 8, 2007
• Bishops' Official Reacts to House Passage of Destructive Stem Cell Research Bill, January 11, 2007
• Catholic Official: New Study Provides No "Ethical" Road to Stem Cell Research, August 24, 2006
• USCCB Official Commends President Bush for Statements, Actions Regarding Proposed Legislation on Stem Cell Research, July 19, 2006
• Bishops' Official Reacts to Congressional Action on Stem Cell Research, May 25, 2005
• Support Urged For Bill Fostering Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Research and Treatments, May 24, 2005
• Cardinal Urges Congress Not to Fund Research That Requires Destroying Human Embryos, May 18, 2005
• New Poll: Most Americans Oppose Federal Funding of Stem Cell Research Using Human Embryos, May 16, 2005
• Catholic Official Says Campaign for Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ignores Ethical and Practical Problems, September 29, 2004
• Bishops' Official Hails Adult Stem Cell Success Stories at Press Conference, June 24, 2004
• Reproduction and Responsibility: The Regulation of New Biotechnologies, Statement on the Report by the President's Council on Bioethics,Cardinal William H. Keeler, April 1, 2004
• Bishops' President Urges Congress Not to Fund Embryonic Stem Cell Research, July 11, 2001
• Cardinal Keeler Urges Senate Rejection of Stem Cell Research Act, March 6, 2000
• Bishops' Aide Says NIH Guidelines Demean Human Life, Undermine Federal Policy on Protection of Human Subjects, February 1, 2000