Non-vaxing Catholics?

[Kristina77]

Hi,
I am hoping someone can give me some information about the religious exemption for a Roman Catholic school. My DH and I have been looking for the "perfect" school for our DD for months now. I wanted the Montessori, but Dh doesn't like it at all. Now, we are about to visit our church's school, which is roman catholic. DH is totally PRO-vax but DD is 100% vax free and she will stay that way. (because of me). Anyway, I was hoping that this exemption issue won't be such a big deal, since we were not planning to put DD to a religious school. But since DH is not satisfied with any of the schools we've seen so far, he came up with this idea about the catholic school.
He is not a catholic, I am a roman catholic from "birth" . But as far as I know catholics DO vaccinate. So, how can I go with the religious exemption for the RC school? I've heard that they don't accept the excuse for aborted fetal tissues in vaccines from the catholics,(even though this isn't my reason for not vaxing!) What can I do? Our pastor sees us in church almost every Sunday, I really don't want to get into an "argument" with him, once I tell him that we do not vax because of "sincere religious beliefes". My decisions aren't based on religion (that much). I can't believe it had to come down to this. I thought DD will be enrolled in a "regular" non-religious school where I could have easily pull the religious exemption.
ANY catholics here who don't vax and still got the religious exemption???

Thank you!

Kristina(29) mama to Jasmine(4)-: :

[giggleball]

You don't have to be a particular denomination to claim religious exemption.... it simply goes against your personal religious beliefs, i.e., God made us with an immune system and you do not believe in injecting anything else into your body. Many will come along with specific examples of religious exemptions, but you don't have to be a particular religion for it to "stick."

[spero]

Start by calling the school administration office and asking what they require for submission as far as vaccine exemption goes. Every school, including parochial schools, is a little different. Be warned that some private schools will not accept exemptions.

[menudo]

Check out this site: www.cogforlife.org

They have some good information for Catholics/vaxing.


From cogforlife.org:

Further, the Catholic Church has always upheld the right to follow one's properly formed Moral Conscience. It is considered a primordial right which cannot be interfered with, especially in religious matters.

[angie7]

Like the pp mentioned, private schools have the option to not accept exemptions so dont be surprised if they deny your child's entry. Only a state funded school is required to accept exemptions.

[spero]

Originally Posted by menudo

Check out this site: www.cogforlife.org

They have some good information for Catholics/vaxing.


From cogforlife.org:

Yes, it's an excellent site - but still, the RC church is extremely wishy-washy on the vax issue; and Catholic schools are notorious for denying exemptions.

[menudo]

I know it does depend on parish and in general the church is pro vax. But if they are clueless to the issue, some quotes from the cogforlife resources may make the school less likely to deny her child.

[Taryn237]

I just came on intending to start a thread on this. My DS in only one but will be going to a small private Catholic school and I've been wondering about exemptions too.

I really really can't imagine a Catholic school denying entrance if your child doesn't have the vaccines that are made from aborted fetal tissue. Right now there are no alternitives (according to cogforlife.com) for Chickenpox or Rubella both of which are required for school in my state. If they did deny entrance for that reason I would go to your Bishop. I really think that most practicing Catholics only give those vaccines because they have NO clue how they are made. Here are links to Vatican statements about fetal tissue in vaccines:

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=38498
http://www.cogforlife.org/vaticanresponse.htm

From the Vatican statement:

"To summarize, it must be confirmed that:

-there is a grave responsibility to use alternative vaccines and to make a conscientious objection with regard to those which have moral problems;

- as regards the vaccines without an alternative, the need to contest so that others may be prepared must be reaffirmed, as should be the lawfulness of using the former in the meantime insomuch as is necessary in order to avoid a serious risk not only for one's own children but also, and perhaps more specifically, for the health conditions of the population as a whole - especially for pregnant women;

- the lawfulness of the use of these vaccines should not be misinterpreted as a declaration of the lawfulness of their production, marketing and use, but is to be understood as being a passive material cooperation and, in its mildest and remotest sense, also active, morally justified as an extrema ratio due to the necessity to provide for the good of one's children and of the people who come in contact with the children (pregnant women);

- such cooperation occurs in a context of moral coercion of the conscience of parents, who are forced to choose to act against their conscience or otherwise, to put the health of their children and of the population as a whole at risk. This is an unjust alternative choice, which must be eliminated as soon as possible."

Although from what I'm taking from this it sounds like we should still use those vax anyway....???

Now the other vaccines.... I'm not sure what they'd say. Maybe if you could pull together a lot of information backed by the Bible and Catechism you could fight them at a higher level.

[applejuice]

I was raised Catholic and I attended Catholic school for eight years and I have never been vaccinated. This was the 1960s. No problems. I understand I was not the only one. My sibs attended there and were never vaxed either.

[Kristina77]

Thank you all for the info!

I think I'll just go up to our priest and ask him about the whole issue,
I'd like to hear what he has to say about all this.
But I'm not sure that I want to "fight" this till the end with the RC school.
If they say no, well, I'd tell them how disappointed I am and keep looking
for another private school for DD.

I appreciate your help ladies!

Kristina(29) mama to Jasmine(4)-:::

[spero]

Interesting thread on Catholic school, exemptions, and other crazy stuff in regard to the Church and vaccination

[kimiesue]

If you get the book "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan Rubin he will tell you in that book that you shouldn't vaccinate. I personally do because my husband is in the military and we move around every three years and with traveling overseas it's almost necessary. anyways... Jordan Rubin is a totally organic type of guy and was raised like that totally vax free until he went to college at FSU. He had to get the MMR and low and behold he got chron's desiease. He says that the MMR is the reason why... and by doing this whole foods thing like it was in the begining was the thing that cured him of it. It's a good book.
I hope this helps. I hate taking pills and my husband has been perscribed a bunch and I'm so thankful that he doesn't take them, but there is one medication that he takes on occasion.

~Alaskan Momma- Kimie Sue
: : girl: Makayla 3 girl: Makenzie 12mons