Category: Public Policy

A Pro-Life Warning About COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies

In December, C-PLAN shared an informative presentation given by Catholic biologist Pamela Acker about the morality, safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, and the tragic link between abortion and these treatments.

Subsequently and sadly, we have learned that another COVID-19 treatment, monoclonal antibodies (depending on the manufacturer) are also connected to abortion (though some are not).  This is disheartening as many who have declined the COVID-19 vaccines, due to its link to abortion, may have hoped that monoclonal antibody treatments were an ethical alternative to abortion-linked vaccines.

This hope was also encouraged by some popular COVID-19 doctors and even pro-life elected officials who touted the antibodies’ benefits in helping to reduce severity of COVID-19 symptoms and perhaps save lives.

Regretfully, for most monoclonal antibody treatments there is a link to abortion, although there is at least one ethical version, and possibly others in development.

In a helpful and sobering article on January 11, Children of God for Life, the pro-life organization focused on ending aborted fetal cell research, provided documentation that sadly confirms most monoclonal antibody treatments could not exist without aborted fetal cells – just like the COVID-19 vaccines.

We encourage everyone to read their article and share with family and friends:

Children of God for Life notes that their list is not exhaustive and there are more antibody treatments in development (both with and hopefully without links to abortion).

 

Are there any ethical treatments for COVID-19?

With the ethical controversy surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibodies continuing, this begs the question: Are there any ethical and early treatments for COVID-19?

In addressing the issue, C-PLAN should acknowledge that there is a vigorous (and often) heated debate or even divide currently occurring within the medical and scientific community over effective and early treatment for COVID-19.  Many healthcare facilities and professionals adhere to, and have confidence in, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) approved treatments and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) recommendations to treat COVID-19, including vaccines.  However, many of these treatments while holding promise may still be experimental and have ethical concerns (e.g. link to aborted fetal research).

Alternatively however, a growing minority of healthcare professionals such as those affiliated with America’s Frontline Doctors, Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, Truth for Health Foundation, or North Carolina Physicians for Freedom, have expressed concern over the government’s limited options for early COVID-19 treatments as well as its efficacy.  Instead, these healthcare professionals have opted to prescribe long existing, generally safe and inexpensive medications on an off-label basis to try and treat COVID-19 patients in an early, outpatient setting to prevent severity or hospitalization.  Some of these medications such as Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin were developed without the use of aborted fetal research.

Critics of this alternative approach argue that there is a lack of extensive studies on these medications in successfully treating COVID-19.  Supporters however have noted there is ample anecdotal and field evidence that these medications can and have been helpful in early treatment of COVID-19, preventing hospitalizations and even saving lives.

This has led to a clash, with some healthcare workers even being fired by hospitals or practices, or face losing professional privileges as a doctor in Houston recently encountered.  This clash garnered the attention of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson who held an extensive 6-hour panel discussion in late January on the matter.

This divide among the medical and scientific communities is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

While C-PLAN does not provide healthcare guidance, nor does it endorse medical treatments, individuals may wish to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified healthcare professional to learn more on this matter.

 

Questions to Ask

With COVID-19 vaccines, most monoclonal antibodies, and potentially new medical treatments tainted by aborted fetal research, it raises an important discussion point as well as questions for Catholics.

In her 1988 book, Beyond Abortion: A Chronicle of Fetal Experimentation, Suzanne Rini documented the pervasive and gruesome practice of aborted fetal cell research by the scientific community during the 1930s – 1980s.  These barbaric practices which continue today often use “aborted” babies who are born alive and have their organs harvested while alive and without anesthetic.  They die not from the abortion procedure but from having their organs removed. We can only imagine the horror these precious little ones felt in their first and only moments of life.

Considering this practice has been ongoing for 80-plus years and the financial incentives that drive it, barring a miracle, the situation is unlikely to change.

In closing, C-PLAN offers a few questions:

  • What will it take for a local Catholic community and other people of goodwill to pressure the medical and scientific community to cease this barbaric practice and develop ethical medical treatments? 
  • Are writing protest letters to pharmaceutical companies – who engage in and profit from barbarism – really the only and effective option to convince these businesses to change course? 
  • Has the Catholic Church and her members truly leveraged everything they possibly have to put an end to this practice?

 

 

Defending Conscience Rights Recap (video)

On December 20, the Carolina Family Coalition, C-PLAN’s parent organization, hosted a Defending Conscience Rights Against Vaccine Mandates event at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlotte.  The event was organized to help support Catholic workers stand up for their conscience rights against vaccine mandates, which violate Church teaching.  Below is a recap and video of the event. Only the presentations are available (not the Q&A).

Note: If you need to file a religious exemption with your employer, please see our religious exemption page: https://www.prolifecharlotte.org/obtaining-a-religious-exemption/

Alternate link: https://rumble.com/vrd781-defending-conscience-rights-against-mandates-december-20-2021.html

Here are a few takeaways from the event:

Matthew Quinn – Attorney

Mr. Quinn gave an overview* of the legal situation and offered these helpful points:

  • Religious exemption due to the vaccines’ link to abortion is the strongest argument for employees
  • Be reasonable and sincere; keep focus on objection to abortion link
  • Employers don’t want to fire most people – if enough employees resist companies may back down
  • Seek help from an attorney

* As a reminder, the remarks are general assessments of the legal situation regarding vaccine mandates. Individuals should consult with an attorney for specific legal guidance for their particular situation.

Tim Hill – Terminated Radio Host

Mr. Hill shared his inspirational story of how his company mandated the vaccine, denied his religious exemption, and terminated his employment when he declined to receive the vaccine. He shared the following advice:

  • He was not going to choose his job over God
  • God has a plan for everyone, its not up to us to know what it may be
  • He remarked that he has a clear conscience and peace in his decision

Fr. Matthew Codd – Pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Charlotte

Fr. Codd reflected upon the suffering workers and families may endure due to resisting vaccine mandates and offered a reflection on the Passion of Christ:

  • Do not be afraid of things being taken away from us
  • Christ gave everything He loved away – including His Blessed Mother (to St. John)
  • Nothing to be feared with poverty as it is close to God and brings about greater freedom
  • God is close to those who suffer

Connecting Workers and Friendly Employers

One consensus among attendees was an interest in connecting Catholic workers with companies supporting conscience rights.  One such business owner was in attendance and is actually looking for employees.  Sustainable Plumbing, a family-owned local plumbing business in Concord, is looking for workers who don’t mind “digging in the dirt” and have an interest in the plumbing industry.  They also have contacts with other small businesses in various fields who are also seeking employees. Contact Paige Shue with Sustainable Plumbing to see if this might be a good fit, or if they may have contacts in other fields: paige(at)sustainableplumbing.org

What’s Next?

To help connect Catholic workers and friendly employers, the Carolina Family Coalition is forming a small team to try and develop a local directory that can link companies that support conscience rights and prospective employees.  If you happen to be a Catholic employer that supports conscience rights and are in need of employees, or you are just an individual that would like to volunteer on this initiative, please e-mail us at: info(at)carolinafamilycoalition.org

End of the Year Support

We hope to hold more events to help defend the family in 2022 as time and resources allow.  To support the Carolina Family Coalition’s mission to defend families against the secular culture, including vaccine mandates, please consider making a one-time or monthly tax-deductible gift (link).

Photo courtesy of J. Sarkis

An appeal for the Church to the world (How to Re-open the Churches)

AN APPEAL FOR THE CHURCH TO THE WORLD

How to get the Churches re-opened now.

 

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, 2020

 

This week Charlotte’s abortion facilities remain open yet normal public Masses inside a parish remain restricted for the 9th consecutive week. Something isn’t right.

On Good Shepherd Sunday (May 3) priests in the Diocese of Charlotte began to pose some insightful observations in their homilies about the effects of the lock-down on the faithful:

  • We are not dumb sheep – Fr. John Putnam, St. Mark parish (homily link)
  • We are losing our humanity – Fr. Timothy Reid, St. Ann parish (homily link)

A few days later on Thursday May 7, several prominent clergy in the Catholic Church, including several Cardinals, Bishops, and priests, released a letter to governments across the world condemning the excessive government intrusions and actions, while also addressed several pro-life matters. This letter is of  utmost importance.

We encourage you to read all of it:

APPEAL FOR THE CHURCH TO THE WORLD – To Catholics and all people of goodwill
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/four-cardinals-several-bishops-sign-appeal-against-coronavirus-restrictions

Here are some important excerpts – especially about respect life and the rights of the Church.

Abortion/Population Control:

  • In particular, citizens must be given the opportunity to refuse these restrictions on personal freedom, without any penalty whatsoever being imposed on those who do not wish to use vaccines, contact tracking or any other similar tool.
  • Let us also consider the blatant contradiction of those who pursue policies of drastic population control and at the same time present themselves as the savior of humanity, without any political or social legitimacy.
  • Let us also remember, as Pastors, that for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses.

Rights of the Catholic Church:

  • Finally, as Pastors responsible for the flock of Christ, let us remember that the Church firmly asserts her autonomy to govern, worship, and teach.
  • For this reason, as Pastors we firmly assert the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments, just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction, such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments.
  • The State has no right to interfere, for any reason whatsoever, in the sovereignty of the Church.

This last remark is critical for us faithful to understand.

What these Cardinals and Bishops are stating is that the Church (i.e. a diocese) has the authority right now to re-open the parishes as normal and as they see fit, regardless of the government advisories or re-opening plans. No waiting for Phase 1 or 2 plans necessary.

Re-opening normal public Masses depends on a Bishop.

Writing to the Governor or County Commissioner is not necessary at this point.

Regardless of how this virus began, it has now morphed into an abuse of public authority toward the Catholic Church and an affront to the human dignity of all citizens (especially the unborn).

In an election year, where North Carolina is a battle ground state, and another Supreme Court vacancy looms on the horizon, this suppression of the liberties of the Church and its faithful is a serious cause of concern.

Let us pray for all bishops and priests – including those in the Diocese of Charlotte that they will have the courage to act in this critical moment.

Let us remember the words of Pope St. John Paul II in his inaugural homily in 1978:

DO NOT BE NOT AFRAID.  OPEN WIDE THE DOORS FOR CHRIST.

Our Lady of Fatima & St. John Paul II, pray for us!

VIDEO: Charlotte’s Human Trafficking Problem

Hear from Redeeming Joy, a ministry dedicated to victims of human trafficking in Charlotte, North Carolina. The state of N.C. is in the top 10 worst states nationally for human trafficking. According to founder, Lanie, Charlotte is also ranked in the top 3 nationally for the production and distribution of pornography. Watch below.

For more on Charlotte’s major problem with human trafficking, watch this WBTV news feature below:

Statement of North Carolina Bishops on HB2 “Bathroom Bill”

Statement of NC bishops on Public Restroom Access

March 18, 2016

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

One of the most fundamental and essential roles of government is to protect the people and the common good of all citizens. The recent decision by the City of Charlotte to allow transgendered individuals access to whichever place of public accommodation they wish, including bathrooms and locker rooms, strikes at the very responsibility government has in ensuring public spaces are safe and secure.

This issue is principally about safety. Beginning in April, in the City of Charlotte, any man will be able to walk into a women’s locker room without recourse, so long as he claims a female sexual identity. That same man could follow a child into an opposite sex bathroom. While this poses obvious safety issues, this violates diocesan policies associated with our Safe Environment programs.

The city ordinance also does not protect the rights of religious institutions, such as churches, Catholic schools, and charities. In a country founded on liberty and freedom, how can religious institutions be coerced into abiding by an ordinance that violates the very teachings they hold regarding sexuality and human dignity?

Other cities may follow Charlotte. As the Catholic Bishops with jurisdiction over the State of North Carolina, we stand against this ordinance and encourage the state legislature and the governor to show courage by passing a law that protects individuals and religious institutions.  We urge all Catholic Voice NC participants to write to their representatives and the Governor asking them to consider legislation invalidating the Charlotte ordinance. You can click on the link below to send a message.

This opportunity is taken to express the teachings of the Catholic Church, namely that all people are created in the image and likeness of God and should be cared for with love, compassion, and understanding. We can live out this teaching while also protecting children and all women and men-as is our moral obligation.
Sincerely in Christ,

Bishop Peter J. Jugis
Diocese of Charlotte


Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
Diocese of Raleigh