Lying About Vaccines Is Sinful

Last updated on: October 1, 2021 at 12:02 pm by Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC

Lying About Vaccines Is Sinful 2021-10-01T12:02:21-04:00 Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Last year, I wrote a piece on lying to avoid mask mandates. I think it applies to two situations about vaccines. It is immoral to create fake vaccine cards and it is immoral to claim one reason for a vaccine exemption when you really want it for another reason. I will briefly note these two issues then refer you to that article to apply these principles.

New Issues with Honesty

I have seen people promoting both of these. Obviously fraudulent documentation creating a risk for oneself and others is unethical. I’ve run across several who are claiming that the remote abortion connection is why they are applying for a vaccine exemption; but then when I point out how astronomically-remote it is or ask about what they’d do if a vaccine with even less connection than currently approved ones is approved, they indicate that they are not vaccinating for some other reason. If you trust Andrew Wakefield, Sherri Tenpenny, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Del Bigtree, or Judy Mikovits more than the vast vast majority of medical experts or something similar, please be honest about it and apply for an exemption based on that.

2 vaccine vials on a document (CC BY-SA 4.0 vaccination works)

Applying My Article about Honesty with Masks

Here are some key points from that article that apply to lying in these situations.

However, some people created online sites saying one could fake a disability and avoid wearing a mask. Faking a disability for this purpose breaks at least three commandments and probably four. […]

Thou Shall Not Kill

The fifth commandment is not just against killing but also includes things that will harm another or things that have a reasonable chance to harm or kill. Not wearing a mask when close to others is obviously in the last category. In fact, the Catechism says (2288), “Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.” […]

Whatever you think of the scientific research, those who fake a disability are breaking two or three other commandments.

Thou Shall Not Bear False Witness

These people are obviously lying about disability to get a certain benefit. Not liking a mask is not a disability. Almost nobody prefers wearing them, but we do it to protect others from infection.

Thou Shall Honor Your Father and Your Mother

Catholic teaching has attributed obedience to legitimate authority under this commandment. Whatever you think of masks, the state and/or businesses can ask you to wear one because they believe in masks’ efficiency. (They slow transmission as noted above.) Wearing a mask is not an intrinsically evil act and a legitimate authority can ask a minor inconvenience based on what that authority understands will improve public health. […]

Thou Shall not Steal

This one might not seem as obvious. But when these people present these fake cards, they steal the time of two groups of people. First, they steal the time of the employee who needs to check regulations and explain to them that this isn’t valid. Second, when a person who legitimately has a disability comes in, it takes them (or their caregiver) extra time to get their accommodation acknowledged. A large number of fake claims leads stores to check more vigorously when a disabled person makes a claim.

I think the application of these points applies equally in both points about vaccines.

Conclusion

Honesty is the best policy. There is an extensive moral theology on mental reservation, where one does not say something or says something true that they suspect the hearer will interpret differently than the speaker meant it. But none of this justifies actively creating misinformation in legitimate authority. Let’s be honest about our vaccination status or reasons for refusal. Lying is intrinsically evil.

Note: Please support me on Patreon so I can keep writing more analysis like this explaining Catholic moral teaching on current events.

Previous Post

September 22, 2021

Only 1 Step from Autonomous Warfare (& Privacy Concerns)

Next Post

October 4, 2021 Talking About Autism and My Early Life on a Podcast

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Autism Bioethics Book Review Business and Economics Catholic Social Teaching Culture Diocesan Life Disability Discipleship Euthanasia Family Life Genetics Global Politics History Immigration Inspiration Interview Liturgy Moral Theology My Life News Analysis Original Articles Prayer Privacy Pro-Life Science Sexual orientation or identity Social Media Sports Technology Theology Uncategorized US Politics Vatican

Select a Month March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz