‘Extremely odd’: Call for Catholic priests to be exempt from Covid-19 vaccination

The Pope has called getting the Covid-19 vaccine an ‘act of love” but some Catholic priests want to be exempt from the mandate that all aged care workers have the jab. LATEST >>

TASMANIA’S Health Minister has flat out rejected pressure from the Catholic Church for priests who have a conscientious objection to getting the Covid-19 vaccine to still be allowed to provide ministry in aged care homes.

This State’s Catholics have joined a national call for clarification on exemptions for clergy regardless of recent mandates.

But Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said there was no recognition of conscientious objection in existing directions.

“There will be no exemptions. It is my understanding that many church leaders strongly support the use of vaccinations and that they can be used in good conscience,” Mr Rockliff said.

“As has been consistently seen interstate and across the world, aged care homes are especially vulnerable to the serious impacts of Covid-19.”

Pope Francis has launched a powerful appeal for people to get vaccinated calling it “an act of love”.

But the Australian Catholic Medical Association is applying pressure on the Prime Minister and state health ministers for governments and health care agencies to “respect and protect freedom of conscience” and the “legitimacy of conscientious objection”.

Tasmanian Archbishop Julian Porteous this week asked the state government to clarify its position but has not yet heard back.

From September 17, those who work in aged care homes, including those who come into the home to provide services other than gardening and maintenance, must have at least made a booking for their first dose of the vaccine.

Father Paschal Corby at St Marks Catholic Church in Dingley, Melbourne. Picture: David Geraghty

ACMA’s Reverend Dr. Paschal Corby said “no one should be coerced to receive any vaccine” and that “vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation.”

Archbishop Porteous – who has received his two doses of the vaccine – said in a letter to clergy cited by the ABC that he was obligated to respect the decision of those members of the clergy who had a conscientious objection.

He asked that those with an objection to contact him to discuss how the issue could be managed with regard to providing ministry in aged care facilities within their parish.

Archbishop Porteous also wrote that he was “currently engaging the Tasmanian Government about the possibility of Rapid Antigen Testing being used as part of an exemption protocol.

The church’s call has perplexed health professionals and those who represent workers in the aged care sector.

Archbishop Julian Porteous. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“It doesn’t matter if you are a priest or a tradie who wants to come into an aged care facility, you need to be vaccinated so residents and staff are protected from the virus,” Health and Community Services Union state secretary Tim Jacobson said.

“This call for priests to be exempted is extremely odd. The reality is every aged care worker and everyone who enters and leaves the premises should be under the same rules.”

The AMA agreed saying the mandate was about the safety of patients and workers not about vaccine by force.

AMA Tasmania President Dr Helen McArdle said with worrying numbers of COVID-19-infected frontline workers furloughed across mainland states, as well as several clusters being linked to hospitals and aged care facilities, the branch supported mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers across all sectors.