JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, May 14, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — The Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City has barred Catholic parents from exempting their schoolchildren from vaccines for “religious” reasons while making religious exemptions “still allowable for other Christian and religious groups.” Citing the mandatory state policy for all schools in Missouri, which requires immunizations for all public and parochial school students, the Catholic School Office of the Jefferson City diocese released a statement to parents informing them of its new policy. Stating that it will be effective as of July 1, the statement asserted that the “Catholic Church supports immunization for the […]
This represents a subtle shift in support from the Pontifical Academy for Life's previous position, issued before Pope Francis dismissed and replaced all of its members.
Catholics continue to call for accountability in the sexual abuse crisis among Church hierarchy at all levels in the wake of months of abuse revelations.