According to Religion News, on Oct. 12, the archbishop published a statement defending the Catholic soldiers in the U.S. military refusing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate as the soldiers are concerned about vaccines produced from abortion-derived cell lines. 

The head of the Archdiocese for Military Services in the U.S., Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, retorted to the recent mandate from Pentagon officials. 

Officials require armed services personnel to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which caused more than 71,000 American fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control. 

Archbishop Sides with Catholic Soldiers

The archbishop marks the rising concern in some Catholic groups about the cells obtained from aborted fetal tissue used by vaccine manufacturers in the 1970s and 1980s.

He notes that some Catholic soldiers worry about using abortion-derived cells to develop COVID-19 vaccines, The Christian Post reports.

Broglio wrote that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines had been tested using aborted baby cells, The Christian Post reports. It is being done "for centuries considered remote material cooperation with evil and is never sinful," he continued.

He added that Johnson & Johnson was produced  with aborted baby cell lines, saying it is "more problematic." It will become "morally permissible" if it is the only vaccine available.

He also wrote, "no one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine"  if this action breaches the "sanctity of his or her conscience."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Vatican officials concluded that Catholics taking vaccines is 'morally acceptable' in their issued statement. Broglio acknowledged it, but he still insists the preeminent thing is freedom of conscience, Catholic News Agency reported.

Archbishop Broglio cites Pope Paul VI stated that people have a "'civil right not to be hindered in leading their lives in accordance with their consciences'"

He added, "conscience does not lose its dignity," even though someone's decision is wrong and conflicting to others.

He also stated that denying religious accommodations or performing actions against people "who raise earnest, conscience-based objections" contradicts the federal law and calls it "morally reprehensible."

Deadline Approaches U.S. Military

According to government officials and The Washington Post issued recent data, active-duty military members already had the total dosage of the vaccine. A newly assembled Space Force is included in the Air Force's data.

Beyond 90% of Navy personnel and 81% of Army and Air Force personnel have been inoculated. 

Yet, the archbishop's message comes as some military branches are nearing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate deadlines: On Nov. 28, active-duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel should get the vaccination. Air Force personnel must get the shot on Nov.2 and the Army by Dec. 15.

Reserve units of the military's vaccination system fall behind active-duty personnel. Members of the Marine Corps Reserve must get jabbed on Dec. 28, yet only 35.5% have compiled on the mandate.

Since then, the U.S. military has been obligated to get various vaccines and medicines under any circumstances, including the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, wherein the rubella vaccine was developed using human fetal cells.

Powerful assemblies of the U.S. bishops and archbishops - including the current president of the USCCB - released the announcement that they are not issuing religious exemptions for Catholics. 

The Vatican Requires Vaccination

Pope Francis defines getting vaccinated as "An act of love." The Vatican also has a "green pass" vaccine mandate which requires individuals to show proof of vaccination, tests negative, or has recovered from COVID-19.  

People opposing vaccination have an obligation to pay out-of-pocket for COVID-19 tests.