Catholic Conference of Ohio
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Issues - Catholic Conference of Ohio

Disaster Response

Bishops Call for Prayers, Hope, and Assistance Following Deadly Tornadoes in the South and Midwest

Catholic Charities USA responds to the disaster

USCCB President Archbishop Jose H. Gomez calls for prayer and assistance for all those who were in the path of the storm: "It is heartbreaking to see the destruction and devastation brought by the tornadoes...During this Advent season where we await in joyful anticipation for the birth of our Lord, we pray for those who have been injured, for those who have lost their lives, and for their grieving families and communities. May those who have been impacted by these storms find peace, comfort, and hope in our faith and in God’s endless love."

How to Help: Please consider financially supporting the work of Catholic Charities USA as they help our brothers and sisters in their recovery.

U.S. Bishops' President Offers Prayers in Solidarity with Those Impacted by Hurricane Ida

Hurricane brought catastrophic damage to the Gulf Coast.

“Hurricane Ida has hit the Gulf Coast and brought with it catastrophic damage with wind, rain, storm surges, and flooding. As the storm moves inland, it continues to hit communities in several states and causing damage. Multiple dioceses of the Church in the United States have been affected. I call on people of good will to join me in praying for the safety, well-being, and protection of everyone in these impacted areas.   We also pray in a special way for the first responders, health care workers, and emergency personnel who bring relief, comfort, and healing...

Catholic Relief Services' Providing Aid to Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Donations being Sought

The death toll is rising from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that recently rocked Haiti. Thousands are injured and many more have lost their homes and loved ones—while an unknown number are still missing.‌Families in Haiti face tragedy from this devastating earthquake—while still recovering from the last one. 

‌Catholic Relief Services are on the ground, in the places most heavily hit in Les Cayes and Jeremie, working with partners and affected communities to identify the most urgent needs. Meanwhile, tropical depression Grace is threatening further devastation, food is in short supply as stores and stocks have been destroyed and a landslide has blocked access.

President of U.S. Bishops Conference Expresses Sorrow and Offers Prayers in Wake of Haiti Earthquake

The Bishops of Ohio Announce the Lifting of the Dispensation from the Obligation to attend Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation

Takes effect in each of the Dioceses of Ohio the weekend of June 5-6, 2021

On May 13, 2021 the Ohio Bishops issued a letter reinstating the general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

"...Together, the Bishops of Ohio have decided that the general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (including the Saturday/Vigil Mass) is to be reinstated. This will take effect in each of the Dioceses of Ohio the weekend of June 5-6, 2021. As has always been the case, those who have a serious reason are exempt from attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2181). This includes those who are ill, have significant health risk factors or care for someone who is immuno-compromised or ill, as well as those who have significant fear or anxiety of contracting the coronavirus in a large group of persons..."

Ohio Bishops Issue Letter of Hope regarding Coronavirus and the Eventual Resumption of Full Church Services

Continued Use of Safety Protocols and Vaccines Encouraged

Catholic bishops throughout Ohio issued a common letter of hope to the Catholic faithful.  The letter looks forward to a time, in the not so distant future, where each diocese can return to the regular celebration of Mass with full church capacity and thus lift the dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.

The letter invites parishioners to continue to follow all the essential protocols of hand sanitizing, mask wearing and social distancing. It encourages vaccinations.

U.S. Bishops Urge Letters of Concern Regarding House Passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Act contains many positive provisions but could allow funding of abortions domestically and internationally.

The USCCB is imploring the Senate to fix the problem in the House passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that could allow funding of abortions domestically and internationally. 

 The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a letter to Congress. The letter supports additional COVID relief to help those in need stating that "the American Rescue Plan Act contains many positive provisions that are consistent with the USCCB’s priorities for additional COVID relief.  Unfortunately, in contrast to the previous COVID relief bills, the American Rescue Plan Act provides billions of dollars for health care services through various funding streams that are not subject to Hyde Amendment or Helms Amendment protections."  The Hyde Amendment is a legislative provision barring the use of federal funds to pay for abortion except to save the life of the woman, or if the pregnancy arises from incest or rape. The Helms Amendment has prohibited any US foreign aid from being used for the performance of abortion as a method of family planning.

U.S. Bishop Chairmen for Doctrine and for Pro-Life Address the Use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine

On March 2, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recently approved for use in the United States. 

“...Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines raised concerns because an abortion-derived cell line was used for testing them, but not in their production.  The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, however, was developed, tested and is produced with abortion-derived cell lines raising additional moral concerns. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has judged 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.’[1] However, if one can choose among equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen. Therefore, if one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnson’s.  

“While we should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines, given the world-wide suffering that this pandemic is causing, we affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good..”

Letter on Vaccines from the Ohio Bishops
 

Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Addresses the Use of Anti-Covid-19 Vaccines

The Vatican's doctrinal office, with the approval of Pope Francis, issued a note Dec. 21 saying it can be "morally acceptable" for Catholics to take vaccines against the coronavirus.

"...when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available (e.g. in countries where vaccines without ethical problems are not made available to physicians and patients, or where their distribution is more difficult due to special storage and transport conditions, or when various types of vaccines are distributed in the same country but health authorities do not allow citizens to choose the vaccine with which to be inoculated) it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process..."

Ohio Bishops Issue Letter on Vaccines

Vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer to combat COVID-19 may be taken without moral reservations.

The Catholic Bishops in Ohio issued a letter to parishioners addressing questions and concerns being raised regarding the use of covid-19 vaccines. Of particular concern to many Catholics are various issues related to application of the Church’s moral teaching to the development, distribution, and reception of vaccines. The letter outlines the following principles:

  •  Any vaccine must be developed in a morally acceptable manner;
  • Catholics are obliged to advocate for vaccine development to be done in a morally acceptable manner throughout every stage; 
  • The vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer to combat COVID-19 may be taken without moral reservations;
  • Catholics are obliged to advocate for the just distribution of a vaccine so that those most vulnerable may have access. 

 Read also: USCCB Statement by the Chairmen of the Committee on Doctrine and the Committee on Pro-Life Activities United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

U.S. Bishop Chairmen for Pro-Life and Doctrine Address Ethical Concerns on the New COVID-19 Vaccines

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines justified; AstraZeneca vaccine more problematic

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the new COVID-19 vaccines. In their statement, the bishops address the moral concerns raised by the fact that the three vaccines that appear to be ready for distribution in the United States all have some connection to cell lines that originated with tissue taken from abortions.