By Taylor Rayray Special to the Herald As a part of the universal Catholic church, we have all endured emotional, mental and physical challenges this past year-and-a-half during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mask-wearing and habitual sanitizing have become the new normal, and for a large portion of this period we have not been able to celebrate […]
Vatican to require vaccination proof or negative COVID test
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Visitors, tourists and employees who want to enter Vatican territory will be required beginning Oct. 1 to show proof of vaccination, recovery from the coronavirus or a negative COVID-19 test. The anti-COVID ordinance, which was approved by Pope Francis and signed by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president […]
Vaccination is an act of love, pope says in ad campaign
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — When each individual makes a small act of charity, like getting the COVID-19 vaccine, every gesture added together can transform the world, Pope Francis said in a global ad campaign. “Being vaccinated with vaccines authorized by the competent authorities is an act of love. And contributing […]
Not me: The moral dilemma of seeking vaccine exemptions
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Getting vaccinated is “an act of love,” Pope Francis said in his latest urgent appeal, after more than a year of insisting COVID-19 vaccines be equitably available worldwide for everyone to get inoculated. Nonetheless, some Catholics have been wondering if they should seek a religious exemption […]
Catholic coalition stresses importance of vaccine for all
By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — On World Health Day, April 7, a new group of 31 U.S. Catholic organizations encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine as an act of charity and solidarity with others. The group also emphasized the need for vaccine equity in the United States and around the world. […]
Photo: Shot in the arm
Shot in the arm Bishop Larry Silva receives his first of two Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations March 6 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa’s hall. His second dose is scheduled for April 3. The bishop commented, “For anyone who can receive the COVID-19 vaccine, you will be helping our community to be able to return to […]
Bishop says latest COVID-19 vaccine can be used in good conscience
By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — In a new video, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine reiterated that use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine “can be used in good moral conscience.” “There’s no moral need to turn down a vaccine, including the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is morally acceptable […]
Widespread vaccination, backed by pope, faces obstacles
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The hurdles on the path toward a fair, global distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine are economic, technical, political and moral. The difficulty of vaccine rollouts even in the world’s richest countries demonstrates what a daunting task it is to quickly get the inoculations into the arms […]
Bishop Larry Silva’s letter concerning the new COVID-19 vaccines
CONCERNING THE NEW COVID-19 VACCINES Dear Faithful of the Diocese of Honolulu, Peace be with you, and happy new year! As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, this new year brings some hope in controlling the virus through vaccines. The State of Hawaii vaccination plan is being implemented at this time. You may have some moral or […]
Bishop sees ‘hope’ in COVID vaccine, will ‘probably’ get it
By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald “This new year brings some hope in controlling the virus through vaccines,” Bishop Larry Silva wrote in a Jan. 8 letter (see page 2) to Hawaii’s Catholics, while acknowledging that some may have “moral or ethical concerns” because of the use of cell lines from abortions in the vaccines’ […]
