Letter From Father Seidel
Dear Walla Walla Catholic School families,
On July 28th the Department of Health issued updated guidelines and mandates regarding school openings for the coming year. Overall this guidance has given the school greater flexibility regarding social distancing, and daily screenings. As such, our classroom capacity will be returned to normal and our morning greeting will be focused on welcoming students not screening for health (note- parents should still monitor students health and keep children home from school if they are symptomatic of infectious illness).
Regarding masks, the Governor has opted to continue to invoke his emergency powers in requiring all schools, private or public, to mandate the wearing of masks for all present, whether vaccinated or not. This emergency power is granted under RCW 43.06.220 which indicates that “Any person willfully violating any provision of an order issued by the governor under this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor” (5). Additionally, the superintendent of school, Chris Reykdal, has indicated that violation of this order opens one to individual (and presumably corporate) legal liability, as well as the possibility of losing the ability to hold in-person instruction. Given the possible repercussions of violating this mandate, the Walla Walla Catholic Schools will require all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to abide by masking regulations.
Regarding Vaccinations, neither the school nor the state are mandating vaccinations for any person. It appears that the state is moving to treat differently those vaccinated and unvaccinated regarding quarantine and testing. Additionally, the state may make a distinction regarding masking mandates between those vaccinated and unvaccinated. It is my position as President to be as minimally invasive into the medical decisions of families as possible.
Regarding thoughts on whether or not to vaccinate: It is beyond my professional competency to comment on the safety or effectiveness of the vaccine. However, regarding the morality of the vaccine is recognized to be morally licit for persons to receive and I refer you to the Diocese of Spokane’s webpage on the subject for more information. The ethical concerns revolve around the remote cooperation in evil due to testing on HEK293 cells. Father Matthew Schneider LC, a respected bioethicist published this article on “12 Things Less-Remote Cooperation in Evil Than COVID Vaccines” and Specifically regarding the use of HEK293, Fr. Schneider produced a list of current medicines that were tested on this cell line including Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin, Aleve, Tums, Pepto-Bismol, and Claritin.
Ultimately, the choice to vaccinate is one that lies in the hands of the individual or parents, but I hope these notes have been helpful in discerning any ethical dilemmas around the vaccine.
I am very much looking forward to the start of a more normal school year and to seeing you all soon.
God bless,
Fr. Seidel
President, Walla Walla Catholic Schools