Accurate information is a human right, pope tells Catholic communicators
Catholic communicators must help provide correct and truthful information about COVID-19 and its vaccines and do so in a way that avoids oversimplification and creating conflict, Pope Francis said.
Court blocks vaccine mandate for businesses, allows it for health workers
The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision Jan. 13 blocked a rule by the Biden administration that would have required employees at large businesses to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or wear masks and get tested each week for the coronavirus.
Pope calls for ‘reality check’ against misinformation about vaccines
The COVID-19 pandemic calls for an urgent reality check against baseless information and for increased efforts so everyone has access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools, Pope Francis told diplomats from around the world.
Supreme Court does not seem convinced of employer vaccine-or-test rule
During two sets of oral arguments Jan. 7, the majority of Supreme Court justices questioned the Biden administration’s requirement that large businesses need their employees to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or be tested while they were less dubious about the requirement that most health care workers be vaccinated.
Vatican mandates vaccination for most employees
With a view toward staying open and protecting people from a new increase in COVID-19 infections, the Vatican mandated that all employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus or show proof of having recovered from it.
COVID-19 vaccines present ‘no ethical problem,’ says head of papal academy
The Vatican has reaffirmed its support of COVID-19 vaccines with both the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life and a Holy See communique reiterating Pope Francis’ insistence that getting inoculated is “an act of love.”
Abortion, religious liberty, vaccine mandate cases top busy 2021 for court
This past year was busy for the nation’s high court, particularly with issues of interest to Catholics regarding abortion, religious liberty, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the death penalty.
Court denies religious exemption on vaccine for N.Y. health care workers
The Supreme Court turned down emergency requests Dec. 13 from New York health care workers seeking a religious exemption from the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its health care employees.
Survey: Most don’t see reasons to seek vaccine religious exemption as valid
A poll released Dec. 9 showed a strong majority of Americans don’t see the reasons for a religious exemption to the coronavirus vaccine as valid.
With new COVID rules, New Zealand bishops to have Masses for unvaccinated
New Zealand’s bishops said they will ensure that people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely attend Mass under a new system, while warning that unvaccinated priests will be limited in their ministry.
