Bishop Mark Hagemoen confirmed his support as bishop of Saskatoon: “to carry out government health directives to mitigate the spread of infection, and to safeguard the elderly and other health-compromised persons.”
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon addressed concerns about vaccine mandates and fulfillment of health directives in the diocese in a Nov. 2, 2021 letter to the Catholic community. The bishop’s message was also copied to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark.
The message came in the wake of a recently-defeated city of Saskatoon bylaw that would have restricted gathering sizes in Saskatoon – including for places of worship, unless proof of vaccination was required.
Bishop Hagemoen acknowledged “the great concern that Catholics should not be prevented from attending religious services, including the Mass or receiving the other Sacraments, even if they decide to reject vaccination.”
He also expressed strong concern about the broad and extreme implementation of vaccine mandates, and the impact on those who are unvaccinated, which can include loss of livelihood.
“The vaccine mandates for the general population are becoming severe and perhaps ethically questionable in our current circumstances – at least as these relate to environments outside of health care facilities,” Hagemoen said.
“It is a long-standing principle in the Catholic faith tradition – and in similar religious and other ethical and social teachings – that free and informed consent is required for all medical interventions. While the expression and exercise of conscience is not an absolute and isolated moral principle, it is an important feature of the principle of the Dignity of the Human Person in upholding the principle of the Common Good: the expression of personal freedoms are in a healthy tension with the right of others to health, dignity, and respect.”
The bishop added: “I pray that our governments will always be careful that wide-spread mandates re: vaccination will take into account this important albeit difficult tension. This includes navigating carefully the issue of ‘exemptions.” On this point, I am not speaking about ‘religious exemptions’ but the fundamental exemption that comes from the personal right to a person’s choice to not be forced to assent to a medical intervention.”
Bishop Hagemoen stressed: “There must be a very, very good reason to compel a person against their will to undergo a medical procedure. This is a topic of difficult and careful discernment by ethicists in various health, educational, and other society contexts dedicated to the health and welfare of all citizens.”
At the same time, the bishop acknowledged the serious and complex situation and the many issues facing leaders in the ongoing pandemic, saying “This is perhaps the most polarizing situation I have seen in my life.”
In his message, Bishop Hagemoen listed some of the issues involved:
- Care of other people’s and one’s own health and well -being;
- The role and respect for the exercise of conscience, as this relates to freely choosing medical interventions, including vaccination;
- Dealing with the real crisis and threat to seniors and other health compromised and vulnerable persons to the risks of the effects of infection;
- The disruption of many wide ranging and needed health services because of the increased burden on our hospitals and health care providers as they care for those with COVID-19;
- The disruption to people’s families, jobs and livelihoods, and their normal expressions of freedom of movement and association;
- The trust of legitimate civic authority, and the place of citizens, the role of all community institutions in this, including faith-based organizations;
- The respect and trust in science, and its important contribution to the health, safety, and well-being of all citizens.
“The pandemic is causing so much disruption, difficulty, suffering, and confusion. It is also the cause of much division and even acrimony within our communities, including our parish communities and our families,” wrote Hagemoen.
“It is indeed a sorrowful state of affairs when our Catholic Christian community is torn apart as, ‘the gates of Hades’ attempt to prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). In such a crisis it is even more incumbent on the Church to pray and work towards the marks of our Catholic faith – we are One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic,” he said. “And we trust in the Saviour of the World during times when the Evil One seeks to tear apart the Body of Christ.”
In his message, Bishop Hagemoen also affirmed that “our statement of faith and religious belief holds strongly the support for the legitimate civic authority in the service of the common good and the good of all persons of our country.”
Hagemoen confirmed his support as bishop of Saskatoon “to carry out government health directives to mitigate the spread of infection, and to safeguard the elderly and other health-compromised persons,” adding that he himself is vaccinated and supports the development and use of ethically-produced vaccines.
The message from the bishop ended with prayer: “Let us all join together in prayer and renewed commitment to fulfilling the call to be Christ-like and to live and act as members of His Body. This call is all the more critical during this time of great trial for us all. Let us also persevere in prayer for the legitimate government authorities who are tasked with carrying out their entrusted and important responsibilities to the general public and all citizens, as we navigate this difficult crisis, and work towards coming through this as healthy and intact human community.
“I continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten our minds and hearts, and give us wisdom, courage and a spirit of love and charity, as we continue to deal with this global pandemic, and strive to protect and care for all.”
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