I have received vaccinations in the past which had been developed using cells from aborted foetuses. In some cases it was because there was no alternative; in other cases it was because there had been no publicity about the origins of cell lines. In fact I remember when I found out that aborted foeteses had been used to develop vaccines and I attempted to warn another person about it and they could not believe it was possible. That was a few years ago now.

The Vatican has said that receiving a vaccine to prevent possible serious harm is accepitable behaviour irrespective of the origins of the cell line, if there is no morally acceptable alternative. When there is a choice to use a vaccine, then catholics are advised to choose the vaccine that does not derive from aborted foetal tissue.

Right from the start of the talk about a vaccine for COVID, church representatives have been exhorting manufacturers not to use morally doubtful sources.

I am pleased to hear that most research is being done on non-foetal material, and I will be waiting for one of those vaccines to become available, before I get my shot.

Thanks to church leaders for bringing this to the public's attention. People from many faiths have a deep respect for human life and will be glad to hear that there may be alternatve vaccines available, later if not sooner

Paul1405: a small number use cell tissue from an unborn fetus as part of their development,

OK, the release said "unborn Fetus." Immediately everybody has jumped on the "Aborted Fetus" Bandwagon. How do we know that the Fetus's are Aborted. There are many ways of getting unborn Fetus Cells. Discarded embryo from failed pregnancies or the unwanted embryo once the woman has fallen pregnant.

To my mind the Churches, of any Religion, should keep their bl00dy nose out of State affairs. That was the whole idea in the Separation of Religion & State, wasn't it.

runner, as discussed previously, I am not in favour of "abortion on demand" although you and I have different views on how best to deal with women seeking such abortions, and abortions in general.

Indy, me thinks we have some agreement here, do I need to answer your rhetorical question. Not being a smart arse, a Bishops house is called a palace, for obvious reasons. Unfortunately there would be no room at the inn for the diseased stricken folk. During the Great Plague, the Pope surrounded himself with fire, it must have felt like hell, seemingly it was most effective, he didn't catch the plague.

mhaze, you ask what is the "ethical dilemma", you would have to ask the Bishops that one. I take it to be, no abortions of any kind, therefore no fetus to develop a vaccine with, end of story. Cut 5 off 167 and go with the other 162, subject to other possible objections.

ttbn, I'm certainly not a Christian hating anything. I dislike some of the actions of Church hierarchy, but that's been done to death over time on the Forum, so I'll leave that to next time. If the government went along with these three wise men, then objections from others to vaccines for all sorts of reasons would be in order, including objections from the chicken lovers.

the facts are clear. The cell line is called HEK-293; it was derived from the kidney of a foetus that was aborted in 1972. HEK is an acronym for Human Embryonic Kidney

I'll go along with that Foxy.

SM, I only got as far as pedogreen, ONE SICK DUDE We HAVE HERE, can't comment on any topic unless you make reference to paedophilia. I'm wondering about you fella. GY once told me, sometime back, he had zero tolerance for such inferences It must be a long way to zero, but then SM you are on the right side of the fence with your dozens of innuendos, knowing I'm a Green.

Yuyutsu, as I understand it, the foetal cells are used in the development stage and not in the final production.

"Was the fetus killed for the purpose of vaccines" from what I read its not likely. Oddly I read the cells are from the 1970's or 80's.

"Those who cannot use this particular vaccine should be encouraged to import different vaccines." its not certain that even one vaccine will be developed.

Hasbeen your choice, but if you are over 70 why be so cautious.

JayB very good point.

Paul these damn fool politicians, & particularly their chief medical officers have got themselves into this lock down catastrophe, & can't get themselves out of it, unless they can claim the wonder vaccine allows them to drop it.

There is no other reason to rush an untried vaccine into production & distribution. Hell even the originators/manufacturers won't release the stuff, unless indemnified against any health disasters it causes down the track.

If the originators have so little faith in the safety of the stuff, do you really want to feed it to your grand kids?