The Australian Catholic Medical Association (ACMA) has called for all levels of government and aged and health care agencies in Australia to respect and protect freedom of conscience and legitimacy of conscientious objection regarding mandated vaccinations.
The Association has written to the Prime Minister and State Leaders to reinforce the Australian Catholics Bishops Conference that โno one should be coerced to receive any vaccineโ and that โvaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligationโ.
ACMAโs Bioethical Advisor Rev Dr Paschal Corby said freedom of conscience was paramount, but it need not preclude the provision of safe and effective medical services.
โAs health care professionals we all want to work in and promote a safe working environment, and it is possible to achieve this without a policy of forced vaccination,โ Dr Paschal said.
โCatholic teaching holds that no one should be forced to have a vaccine or be discriminated against for exercising a conscientious objection.
โIn addition, religious freedom in Australia is protected by both Section 116 of the Constitution as well as the common law, and it is our view that medical professionals wishing to abstain from COVID-19 vaccination in view of their Catholic beliefs should not be discriminated against โ in any way โ for doing so.
โHealth and aged care agencies could apply additional safeguards and risk mitigation strategies around those staff with conscientious objections, which would respect the importance of conscience while ensuring a safe environment for both staff and patients, particularly the vulnerable.
โFor example, regular rapid antigen testing would both respect the dignity of conscience and ensure a safe environment for both staff and patients, particularly the vulnerable.
โWhile we disagree in principle with vaccine mandates, any attempt to establish such mandates should have a clear and straight forward exemption policy for conscientious objection which does not place undue burdens, or involve discrimination.โ
The ACMA represents medical professionals right around the country and aims to support, inform and inspire our members to live and work in fidelity with the teachings of the Catholic Church, and to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine.
