Welcome to Monday. The vast majority of women religious in the U.S. are over the age of 70 and many live in large groups in close quarters, making getting the coronavirus vaccine a matter of life and death. The Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, has been under federal investigation after it failed to divulge fraud committed for years by one of its priests.
Because the vast majority of women religious in the United States are over the age of 70 and many live in large groups in close quarters, when sisters will get the coronavirus vaccine may be a matter of life and death. But the timing of their vaccinations depends on where they live.
States, not a federal agency, are handling vaccine distribution, so there will likely be different rules and procedures in each of them. This means a convent in Brooklyn in New York City could fall under one set of rules while a community just across the river in New Jersey could be under another. One in Philadelphia, less than two hours away, could be under a third.
But the differences are likely to be minor, said Brian Kane, senior director of ethics at the Catholic Health Association and the organization's point person on the vaccine.
"Nationally, there's a great deal of consensus on how to do it," Kane said. "Sisters are probably high up on the list. First is health care workers, of course, but then, basically, it's people at higher risk of catching it, and certainly, advanced age and whatever health conditions they have would be factors."
You can read more of this story here.
"More background:
- "I have a moral obligation to receive the vaccine and to witness to others who are fearful, most notably the people of color I work with and serve," writes Sr. Mary Catherine Redmond in a commentary for NCR. "… It is my moral obligation to protect and witness that this is about the care of all, not some. Not those chosen but all."
From 2014 until 2018, Fr. Lenin Vargas allegedly solicited funds from parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Starkville, Mississippi, where he was the pastor, for what he claimed were expenses for his cancer treatment and for charities in his native country of Mexico.
But according to a federal indictment, there was no cancer treatment. Vargas had HIV and his medical expenses were covered by his employer, the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi. Still, Vargas was able to raise over $33,000.
Furthermore, the diocese failed to divulge the fraud, allowing Vargas to pilfer money for years, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. In July, the diocese, which was also being investigated for its alleged inaction, agreed to tighten its financial controls under a deal it reached with the feds.
You can read more about this case here.
This week, we continue our series, Building a Common Future, in which we asked Catholic politicians, activists and scholars to offer advice to President-elect Joe Biden.
"Building our common future: It's what the United States, indeed, the entire world needs right now," we wrote in an editorial introducing the series.
Today's commentary comes from Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, and focuses on rural poverty. "To effectively work for justice for rural people living in poverty, and for all the economically disadvantaged, we will need to relearn our basic civics lessons and promote true participatory democracy," he writes.
Read the rest of Stowe's commentary here.
More headlines
Final thoughts
In preparation for the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, Global Sisters Report is hosting a conversation at 2 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Jan. 19 with Srs. Gabriella Bottani and Jean Schafer, both leaders among Catholic sisters working against human trafficking. You can register to attend this virtual event here. A second session on the hidden world of human trafficking happening locally and how ordinary citizens can make a difference will be held at 2 p.m. Central Thursday, Jan. 21. That event is hosted by Jennifer Reyes Lay and Felician Sr. Maryann Agnes Mueller. You can register for the second session here.
Until Tuesday,
Stephanie Yeagle
NCR Managing Editor
[email protected]
Twitter: @ncrSLY
