Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
CV NEWS FEED // The Catholic diocese in West Virginia will continue its current vaccination policies even if a state law regarding school immunizations changes, according to a statement Catholic Vote received on March 18.
House Bill 5105, which eliminates vaccine requirements for full-time virtual public school students who do not physically attend a public school, passed 70-29 in the House of Delegates and 20-12 in the Senate, according to legislative records. Private or parochial schools, if they inform students’ parents in writing regarding their policy, can choose to stop requiring vaccines. West Virginia requires students entering preschool to receive vaccination for hepatitis B; diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis; chicken pox; polio; and measles, mumps and rubella upon enrollment.
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s director of marketing and communications, Tim Bishop, provided the statement, which said the diocese’s schools currently comply with the state’s immunization requirements for all students. Every student who is entering a Catholic school for the first time needs to show proof that they received immunizations, in accordance with the West Virginia Immunization Program Guidelines for Pre-Kindergarten programs and New School Enterers, according to the statement. Students who return to a diocesan school must show proof of the immunizations that are required for their respective grade level.
“We are grateful that our Catholic schools enjoy the freedom to rely on our foundation of faith in crafting educational environments rooted in the love and truth of Christ,” the statement said. “Firmly anchored to that faith, and the Church’s extensive examination of the morality of vaccination, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s Department of Catholic Schools does not anticipate any changes in its policy with respect to vaccination, even in the event of a change in current law.”
According to the statement, the current minimum requirements at the schools are a necessity for supporting an environment that is conducive to learning while trying to effectively prevent diseases among the children.
“Christ’s command to love our neighbor includes taking the proper steps to protect one another from harm and immunizations have a long and successful track record of protecting children,” the statement said. “The Catholic Church approves of immunizations as an aspect of its concern for both the individual and the common good.”
Bishop said the total enrollment across the diocese’s schools is 4,528 students.
The diocese will not offer letters of religious exemption for students in other schools, according to the statement.
“The Catholic way is to promote the common good,” Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s bishop, Mark Brennan, said on MetroNews’ “Talkline” podcast. “Vaccinations have more than two centuries’ track record of really helping to improve public health.”
Brennan said in the interview with broadcaster Hoppy Kercheval that the measures contribute to the protection of the teachers, staff and students, along with the wider community, and individual Catholic schools must continue to follow the state’s current policy.
The bishop and Kercheval’s discussion begins at 28 minutes into the March 15 podcast episode.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has not signed the bill as of 5:55 p.m. ET March 18, according to the legislature’s website.