This is my response to the article published January 28, 2021, by Fr. Matthew Schneider, titled “If Any Drug Tested on HEK-293 Is Immoral, Goodbye Modern Medicine”. Obviously from a catholic perspective. His general thesis is captured in what he wrote:
The author lists many drugs which he says have been tested using the HEK-293 embryonic cell line, which is the one he focused. I have not checked the validity of his claims, but if true, I say no medication should be used by a true believer in the Lord if it was developed with or tested on embryonic cells. Some investigation might be needed to find ethical alternatives. There are many in the natural (alternative) medical world. For example, I no longer use any pain medications at all. Not even paracetamol. I have found good alternatives that are non-toxic chemicals.
No cooperation with evil
This seems to be a discussion of whether it amounts to remote or proximate cooperation with evil. The author argues that because the abortion on which the cell lines were established occurred a long time ago thus the cooperation with evil is remote. It’s like saying that the level of sin has now been diluted down to a miniscule level so you are ok to take advantage of what comes of it. It is no longer sinful.
I remember some years ago when I read about Lipton testing their tea with fetal cells. From that moment on I chose never to drinking that brand again. But many foods, vaccines and other products have been tested with or developed with human fetal cells. See the list here. Don’t consume any processed foods and you’ll avoid those companies’ products.
