Urge Pharmaceutical Companies to Stop Using Abortion-Derived Cell Lines

In the documents listed below, 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.

Moral Guidance on Vaccines

USCCB Documents

Vatican documents

Pro-Life Action Alerts

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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

Fact Sheets

Articles and Publications

Columns and Commentary

Testimony and Letters

News Releases and Statements

  • U.S. Bishop Chairmen for Doctrine and for Pro-Life Address the Use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine (en español) (March 2, 2021)
  • 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