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[아시아경제 임온유 기자] The Vatican City State, the spiritual capital of 1.3 billion Catholics around the world, is controversial over the creation of a rule that can fire an employee who refuses to be vaccinated against Corona 19.
On the 18th (local time), according to the Italian news agency ANSA, the Vatican made an executive order issued on the 8th to allow disciplinary punishment for employees who refuse vaccination for no health reasons. This is because refusing to receive vaccination may cause harm to others.
Disciplinary action is said to be possible even to dismissal in accordance with the provisions of the 2011 Employee Rights and Duties Act. The regulation states that employees who refuse to take preventive health measures can be fired. The executive order came into effect under the signature of Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello (78, Italy), the head of the Vatican administration.
The Vatican, home to the Holy See, the headquarters of Catholics in the world, has about 5,000 employees, most of whom are known to commute from Rome, Italy.
The Vatican’s strong stance against employees who refused to receive vaccination became controversial as it was announced late through social network services (SNS) on the 18th. It is said that most countries, including Italy, are too rigid compared to leaving vaccination to personal judgment.
Criticism has emerged that it is contrary to the’spirit of mercy’ which Pope Francis advocates. In December of last year, the Pope congratulated the staff of the Holy See and emphasized that “no one should be harmed. No one should lose their jobs” in a situation where the economic hardship is aggravated by Corona 19.
As the controversy grew, the Vatican issued explanatory material that night, saying that the rules stating the possibility of dismissing employees should not be seen as disciplinary or punishment, and that freedom of personal choice should be respected. He emphasized that the relevant executive order introduced to respond to the current health crisis balances the health of all employees and freedom of choice, and that it is unlikely to be seen as violating the rights of employees.
The Vatican, the world’s smallest sovereign state, launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign on the 13th of last month. The Pope also gave the first vaccination on the first day, and then finished the second vaccination on the 3rd of this month.
In an interview with Italian media at the beginning of last month, before the start of the Vatican vaccination campaign, the Pope emphasized that it is very dangerous to deny it, saying, “Vaccination is a problem not only for one’s own health and life, but also for the lives of others.”
Reporter Lim On-yu [email protected]