Diocese backs vaccines as significant number of priests still await jab
WHILE certain figures within the Catholic Church may have cast some ambiguity over their position in relation to a Covid-19, there was a definitive response from the Diocese of Ferns that Bishop Denis Brennan is backing the vaccine, has no major anxieties surrounding it, would take it himself and would be urging others to take it at the earliest opportunity.
While Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford Lismore took a different view last week, stating that it was ‘a personal choice’ and refusing to state whether he would be taking a vaccine, Bishop Brennan was firm in his support for the roll-out of the vaccine.
Communications Officer for the Diocese of Ferns Fr John Carroll said that ‘a percentage’ of priests who serve as chaplains to nursing homes or hospitals have already had their Covid vaccination. For the majority remaining, they are eager to get it as soon as possible.
‘I think there is an appetite out there among priests to get vaccinated as soon as possible,’ said Fr Carroll, who himself has already had his jab. ‘I think the sooner everyone is vaccinated the better. We have had instances where priests have been seriously ill with Covid, but I suppose that’s common in all walks of life.’
While members of the clergy commonly have to officiate at funerals of people who have lost their battle with Covid, many are doing so un-vaccinated themselves and would be at risk. However, Fr Carroll says there’s been no push from their end to prioritise priests over any other frontline workers.
‘ Those who are attending hospitals and medical facilities are taken care of,’ he said. ‘For those remaining, I suppose it’s the same position as teachers and supermarket workers etc. In actual fact, they would probably be more hands on. There’s certainly no appetite for us to push ahead of anyone else, but we would certainly like to see it rolled out as soon as possible. I suppose generally as a group, we’re not the youngest bunch either.’
‘Really, I suppose, it would be nice to find out where abouts we will fall in terms of the vaccine, but we haven’t come out looking for specific information or anything like that yet.’