The P. Alberto Carrara is a soldier of Christ. He was born in Italy and holds a PhD in Medical Biotechnology from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Padua, Italy. He is a professor of Philosophical Anthropology at institutions such as the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and the European University of Rome. The Vatican has recognized his work so far, and in 2017, he was appointed by Pope Francis as a Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The research and projects of Fr. Alberto have led him to be one of the scientists participating in an international consortium of Catholic media, news agencies, and renowned researchers worldwide. The goal is to clarify information and data circulating through the media about coronavirus vaccines and to identify those that are false. The communication office of Regnum Christi in Spain was able to speak with Fr. Alberto Carrara, LC, and explains what this project involves, recognizing its importance today: “There is a right to receive adequate information to form a personal judgment about the goodness of the available vaccines.”

How did you become part of this project?

I have been collaborating for several years with Aleteia.it as a Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Director of the Neuroethics Research Group at the Regina Apostolorum University in Rome, Professor of Neuroethics at the Faculty of Psychology of the European University of Rome, and Fellow of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights. When the consortium led by Aleteia, in collaboration with Verificat, an agency dedicated to fact-checking, and I Media, a news agency specialized in Vatican information, decided to present Google with a project aimed at helping to clarify false or confusing news about COVID-19 vaccines. I was invited among the 16 international experts of the Scientific Committee.

It is a great honor and a responsibility towards millions of people. According to an announcement on their blog Google News Initiative, the project is one of 11 selected from 309 proposals from 74 countries by the impartial jury of the “Fund against misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines”. The project is open to all Catholic media, offering free and exclusive access to verified information, as well as the possibility of consulting the Scientific Committee of the Consortium.

What does this project consist of and what is its goal?

It aims to establish and strengthen a true global Catholic information network, an international consortium of Catholic media, news agencies, and renowned scientists who can advise Christian communities to help clarify false or confusing news about COVID-19 vaccines. For example, on social media, many scientific and ethical questions are raised related to the ethical nature of the vaccine production process, which need to be clarified or explained by scientists, bioethicists, and theologians.

Why do you consider this important?

You need to read the press to realize the need for clear, precise, and objective information based on scientific studies. On one hand, there is a “moral duty” to get vaccinated to respect not only one’s own life but also that of others. However, there is also a right to receive adequate information to form a personal judgment about the goodness of the available vaccines. Journalists play a fundamental role in support and verification, based on listening to their audiences’ concerns, offering correct information about misunderstandings circulating online and offline.

What is your specific role within the project?

My role as one of the 16 members of the Scientific Committee is to provide scientific, bioethical, and theological consultancy to journalists requesting guidance on scientific and ethical issues, such as those related to the ethical nature of the vaccine production process.

You can follow Fr. Alberto Carrara on his Twitter account or on Facebook