Dear Parishioners,
I’m so happy to hear when people tell me that they, their family members or friends have received the Covid vaccine. The more people get vaccinated across our nation and the rest of the world – and the quicker that happens – the sooner we’ll be able to turn the corner in healing our society, getting everyone back to work, and having our children return to school.
I am eager to see my parents getting the Covid vaccine. They live in Connecticut. My Dad is 78 and my Mom 75-years old. They are lovely, deeply religious people and I greatly care for them. A few days ago, I called them on the phone. However, when I brought up that topic, they began to list the reasons why they would not get vaccinated. I was listening in consternation and dread to the semblance of the anti-vaccination conspiracy theories and debunked claims. They have absorbed it from some unscrupulous online articles and YouTube videos in Polish that they have found on the Internet. I found out that even some of my close family members, whom my parents trust a great deal, have sent that material to them to watch. For over one hour, I tried to reason with my dear parents, trying to direct them to reliable sources of information and to dispel the misinformation they have been exposed to. And even though my parents love me and trust me, I suspect that they still remain unconvinced, their health and lives jeopardized by the toxic misinformation of the anti-vaccination conspiracy theories. But I’m stubborn and I will not give up on trying to help my parents and other people’s parents to see the reality and let go of the things that keep them away from receiving a lifesaving Covid vaccine. For me, this is part of what it means to be pro-life.
Over the last 20 years, I have taken part in so many pro-life marches, education, and advocacy initiatives at the county, state, and national level. I’ve spoken out about the rights of the unborn and already born children. I’ve advocated against various forms of violence and injustice, abortion, torture, racism, anti-immigration policies, destruction of our common home, wars, and economic exploitation. And even though I never considered that the lives of my elderly parents might be jeopardized by euthanasia, I still did march for life. Now, however, I realize that for my parents and hundreds of thousands of other elderly people in the United States, the mishmash of the anti-vaccination pseudo-scientific and pseudo-religious claims that exist in cyberspace is a direct threat to human life. In other words, choosing life includes a commitment to seek truth and verify it with authoritative sources, expose lies and falsehoods, and help others makes wise decisions that promote health and the common good.
So I end this reflection with my earnest pro-life appeal to you all: speak up and help so many good people like my parents to receive accurate information regarding Covid vaccines. Respectfully, lovingly and yet firmly, challenge those who, albeit unwillingly, disseminating false, misleading information. Assist the elderly with getting the vaccine they need. Who knows how many lives you may save? Already, you might be a real hero in disguise.
Peace and all good,
Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM