Vatican mandates COVID vaccine for employees A man receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the atrium of the Paul VI hall at the Vatican in this Jan. 20, 2021, file photo. A variety of sanctions have been issued by the head of the commission governing Vatican City State for citizens, residents and personnel who fail to follow current COVID-19 measures. The sanctions cover employees who refuse vaccination. CNS photo/Vatican Media
Vatican mandates COVID vaccine for employees By
Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service February 19, 2021
VATICAN CITY As a last resort, the Vatican may sanction employees who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine for non-medical reasons, according to a new Vatican decree.
Registered nurse Shyun Lin gives Alda Maxis, 70, the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 23, 2021. (CNS photo/Mary Altaffer, Pool via Reuters)
Many Catholics have not been able to attend in-person, communal worship and celebration of the sacraments because of the risk of infection with Covid-19. The obvious way for the faithful to be able to resume full participation and unfettered access to the sacraments is to mandate that churchgoers receive an approved Covid-19 vaccine (i.e., one with full Biologics License Approval from the Food and Drug Administration).
Churches have an ethical obligation to protect the health of clergy, staff and worshipers. One of the highest-risk settings for contracting Covid-19 is a large, closed space containing many people. In addition, many religious rites include actions that increase the risk of infection. It is morally irresponsible for churches to invite people to worship and receive the sacraments without taking a
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) As a last resort, the Vatican may sanction employees who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine for non-medical reasons, according to a new Vatican decree.
A variety of sanctions for anyone violating measures intended to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus were included in a decree signed Feb. 8 and later posted on the Vatican website by the head of the commission governing Vatican City State.
While the protocols apply to everyone at the Vatican, the harshest sanctions are