Catholic Exemptions
Historical Background Regarding School Exemptions
While many parents have sought religious exemptions to vaccines derived from aborted fetal tissue, the response from those who attempt to deny this right has been that the Catholic Church says the vaccines are “morally acceptable”. In fact, in a June 2005 Statement from the Pontifical Academy for Life under the approval of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the right to abstain under proper conditions is clearly upheld.
Furthermore, Msgr. Suaudeau issued a clarification upholding the parental right to abstain from vaccination.
In December 2007, the NJ Catholic Conference of Bishops reversed their previous policy of denying religious exemptions at all Catholic schools in the State.
By the Numbers:
In 2007, out of 195 dioceses in the country, only 27 remain with such unlawful, stringent – and unwarranted policies.
Fast Forward to 2025: 53 Dioceses do not allow any religious/philosophical exemptions in states that allow them. There are 26 Dioceses in 5 states that do not allow Religious or philosophical exemptions.
Why are the numbers increasing? Every Diocese in the USA ought to allow parents to abstain on Doctrinal Church teaching. The USCCB agrees! PL Secretariat Vaccines-Conscience-Exemption-updated-April-2015_0.pdf
We have worked with countless Bishops and Diocesean Chanceries over the last 25 years to find a happy medium and a solution. We continue to work towards resolving this issue so that NO child is denied a Catholic Education.