The Archdiocese of New Orleans is warning local Roman Catholics that the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine is “morally compromised as it uses the abortion-derived cell line in development and production of the vaccine as well as the testing,” and should be avoided, if possible, in favor of other vaccines.

“The decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine remains one of individual conscience in consultation with one’s healthcare provider,” the statement said. 

Though the developers of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also relied on abortion cells, local church officials argued that the material was only used in lab testing.

Those vaccines “therefore can be morally acceptable for Catholics, as the connection to abortion is extremely remote,” officials said.

Catholics are not morally obligated to take any vaccine and there are some, like the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine which are morally illicit according to the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

Raymond Arroyo discusses the topic with National Catholic Bioethics Center Director of Education Fr. Tad Pacholczyk on World Over: