"I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father." -John 15:15
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Welcome !
Transfiguration Parish is a community of Christian believers faithful to our Catholic tradition, and a pilgrim people entrusted to the Carmelite Friars. Through our participation in public worship we are nourished by the Word and Body of the Lord. We are called to share what we have received by evangelization and by good works to those in need.
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Vaccinations and Our Catholic FaithAs vaccinations are being promoted to stem the spread of the coronavirus and its variants, some Catholics are hesitant to take the vaccine on moral grounds. This week, Cardinal Dolan reminded us that we have a moral obligation to protect the lives of everyone, and referred us to the note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is below.
Because the protection of everyone is at stake, especially as already seen in the spread of the delta variant, it is important to get the vaccine.
Note on the morality of using
some anti-Covid-19 vaccines
The question of the use of vaccines, in general, is often at the center of controversy in the forum of public opinion. In recent months, this Congregation has received several requests for guidance regarding the use of vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, which, in the course of research and production, employed cell lines drawn from tissue obtained from two abortions that occurred in the last century. At the same time, diverse and sometimes conflicting pronouncements in the mass media by bishops, Catholic associations, and experts have raised questions about the morality of the use of these vaccines.
There is already an important pronouncement of the Pontifical Academy for Life on this issue, entitled “Moral reflections on vaccines prepared from cells derived from aborted human fetuses” (5 June 2005). Further, this Congregation expressed itself on the matter with the Instruction Dignitas Personae (September 8, 2008, cf. nn. 34 and 35). In 2017, the Pontifical Academy for Life returned to the topic with a Note. These documents already offer some general directive criteria.
Since the first vaccines against Covid-19 are already available for distribution and administration in various countries, this Congregation desires to offer some indications for clarification of this matter. We do not intend to judge the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, although ethically relevant and necessary, as this evaluation is the responsibility of biomedical researchers and drug agencies. Here, our objective is only to consider the moral aspects of the use of the vaccines against Covid-19 that have been developed from cell lines derived from tissues obtained from two fetuses that were not spontaneously aborted.
1. As the Instruction Dignitas Personae states, in cases where cells from aborted fetuses are employed to create cell lines for use in scientific research, “there exist differing degrees of responsibility”of cooperation in evil. For example,“in organizations where cell lines of illicit origin are being utilized, the responsibility of those who make the decision to use them is not the same as that of those who have no voice in such a decision.
2. In this sense, 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.
3. The fundamental reason for considering the use of these vaccines morally licit is that the kind of cooperation in evil (passive material cooperation) in the procured abortion from which these cell lines originate is, on the part of those making use of the resulting vaccines, remote. The moral duty to avoid such passive material cooperation is not obligatory if there is a grave danger, such as the otherwise uncontainable spread of a serious pathological agent--in this case, the pandemic spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. It must therefore be considered that, in such a case, all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which the cells used in production of the vaccines derive. It should be emphasized, however, that the morally licit use of these types of vaccines, in the particular conditions that make it so, does not in itself constitute a legitimation, even indirect, of the practice of abortion, and necessarily assumes the opposition to this practice by those who make use of these vaccines.
4. In fact, the licit use of such vaccines does not and should not in any way imply that there is a moral endorsement of the use of cell lines proceeding from aborted fetuses. Both pharmaceutical companies and governmental health agencies are therefore encouraged to produce, approve, distribute and offer ethically acceptable vaccines that do not create problems of conscience for either health care providers or the people to be vaccinated.
5. At the same time, practical reason makes evident that vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary. In any case, from the ethical point of view, the morality of vaccination depends not only on the duty to protect one's own health, but also on the duty to pursue the common good. In the absence of other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the common good may recommend vaccination, especially to protect the weakest and most exposed. Those who, however, for reasons of conscience, refuse vaccines produced with cell lines from aborted fetuses, must do their utmost to avoid, by other prophylactic means and appropriate behavior, becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent. In particular, they must avoid any risk to the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons, and who are the most vulnerable.
6. Finally, there is also a moral imperative for the pharmaceutical industry, governments and international organizations to ensure that vaccines, which are effective and safe from a medical point of view, as well as ethically acceptable, are also accessible to the poorest countries in a manner that is not costly for them. The lack of access to vaccines, otherwise, would become another sign of discrimination and injustice that condemns poor countries to continue living in health, economic and social poverty.
The Sovereign Pontiff Francis, at the Audience granted to the undersigned Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on 17 December 2020, examined the present Note and ordered its publication.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on 21 December 2020, Liturgical Memorial of Saint Peter Canisius.
Luis F. Card. Ladaria, S.I. + S.E. Mons. Giacomo Morandi Prefect Titular Archbishop of Cerveteri
The original text can be found here.Secretary
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Raising the Roofs!
This year, we learned that roofs of both the school and the church need replacing, as illustrated by the massive leaks we have in the parish. The current estimate for the work is $300,000.
One of our parishioners has challenged 300 members of our parish and school family to give $1000 each, after which he will also increase his donation. Please help us to reach our goal.
To help us out, please sign up an give to our Renew + Rebuild campaign. -
Please remember our sisters and brothers in prayer:
Our military:
Anthony Correia, Nick O'Kelly
Our essential workers,
especially healthcare workers working on the front line of the pandemic
Our sick:
Sr. Gema Abigail Belloso, Gary Cherico, Gerry Credendino, Pat DiMuro, Annmarie Ellinghouse, John Ford, Ricardo Hines, Peter Howe, Wendy Lisette Lopez, Jim Kane, James Keely, Chris Kesicke, David Johnson Long, Jr., Michael Mahoney, Annmarie Pontillo, Viktor and Valentina Podoprigorov, Joan Rand, Mary Therese Nguyen Thi Lan Anh (Fr. Huy's mother),Anthony Vaccaro, Chris Vanzo and his donor, Luciano and Maria Volpacchio, John Walsh, Anna Zambeletti, all those who are suffering from serious illnesses, especially the corona virus
Our twinned parish in Soyapango
Our deceased:
John Downey, Peter Farrone, Joseph Mark Long, Ann Miele, and Frances Rea -
Catholic News Service
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Vatican YouTube
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An Easier Way to Make Your Offertory:
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Today's Readings
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Reading I Nm 20:1-13Responsorial Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9Gospel Mt 16:13-23
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Mass Times
- Saturday: 5:00 PM EnglishEnglishEN Vigil Mass
- Sunday: 8:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN 10:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN 12:00 PM EnglishEnglishEN
- MonFri 7:15 AM EnglishEnglishEN 9:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN
- Saturday: 8:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN
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Confession
SATURDAY: 3:30pm - 4:00pm or by appt.
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Office hours
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am to 1:15pmClosed on all holidays
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Contact information
Priory Office:
268 South Broadway
Tarrytown NY 10591
(914) 631-1672
Fr. Emiel, Pastor:
pastortransfig10591@gmail.com
Fr. Stephan Huy Tran, Parrochial Vicar:
transfigurationpriory@gmail.com
Mrs.Elizabeth Rooney, Secretary:
transfigurationsec@gmail.com
Religious Education Office:
Mrs. Mariana Dalsass
(914) 631-2380
transfigurationprep@gmail.com
Transfiguration School:
40 Prospect Avenue
Tarrytown NY 10591
(914) 631-3737
transfigurationschool.org
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