The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has published a statement, linked below, on the morality of using some anti-COVID 19 vaccines. The statement reinforces material previously published by the USCCB and Catholic Health Association (CHA). At this point in time, Moderna and Pfizer have both developed vaccines using mRNA, and without the use of controversial fetal cell lines. However, both vaccines have been tested using controversial fetal cell lines. Given the remote connection between these cells and the vaccines, both COVID vaccines are in line with previous moral statements made by Pope Benedict XVI and the Pontifical Academy for Life. Receiving either vaccine would be morally permissible and would certainly also be an important pro-life decision that would help to defend the most vulnerable members of our community, who are at the most risk of developing severe coronavirus cases. This new statement from the CDF also clarifies that “when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available…it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.”  The AstraZeneca vaccine used controversial HEK293 lines (descended from two abortions that took place in the 1960s) in its development. However, because most people do not have a choice in the vaccine that they receive, it is morally permissible to take this vaccine in order to protect the lives of those who are most at risk of serious coronavirus.