Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Priest Rips GOP Sen. For Chastising People Who Trust Vaccines Over 'Natural Immunity' God Gave Us

Priest Rips GOP Sen. For Chastising People Who Trust Vaccines Over 'Natural Immunity' God Gave Us
Ting Shen/Pool/Getty Images

James Martin, a Jesuit priest and the editor-at-large of America Magazine, criticized Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson after Johnson chastised people who trust COVID-19 vaccines over the "natural immunity" he attributes to God.

During an appearance on a conservative radio program, Johnson downplayed the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and insisted that natural immunity poses a more valuable hinderance to the virus.


You can hear what Johnson said in the audio below.

Johnson said:

“Why do we assume that the body’s natural immune system isn’t the marvel that it is? Why do we think that we can create something better than God in terms of combating disease?”
“There are certain things we have to do, but we have just made so many assumptions, and it’s all pointed toward everybody getting a vaccine.”

Johnson's remarks prompted a response from Martin, who tore into the Senator with the following remark:

"So much for God creating us with brains."

Martin's response only further underscore that Johnson's claims are incorrect.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has long debunked claims natural immunity is more beneficial than the vaccine.

In fact, a study published in August showed "unvaccinated individuals are more than twice as likely to be reinfected with COVID-19 than those who were fully vaccinated after initially contracting the virus."

It also pointed out COVID-19 vaccines "offer better protection than natural immunity alone and that vaccines, even after prior infection, help prevent reinfections."

The agency continues to stress the importance of getting the vaccine as the best line of defense against COVID-19.

"COVID-19 vaccines remain safe and effective. They prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
"Additionally, even among the uncommon cases of COVID-19 among the fully or partially vaccinated vaccines make people more likely to have a milder and shorter illness compared to those who are unvaccinated. CDC continues to recommend everyone 12 and older get vaccinated against COVID-19."

Many have praised Martin for his response and joined him in his criticisms of Johnson


Johnson is nonetheless far from the only prominent Republican to spread misinformation about COVID-19 immunity.

During an appearance at a Turning Point USA conference last month, former Alaska Republican Governor Sarah Palin insisted she would get a COVID-19 vaccine "over my dead body," telling the crowd of conservatives she doesn't need to be inoculated because she previously had the virus.

Palin, who has often downplayed the pandemic's severity since it began and earned applause from conservative organizations in the process, pushed the "herd immunity" argument in her remarks to host Charlie Kirk. She has previously, ironically, promoted mask-wearing, particularly after she herself caught COVID-19 last spring.

More from Trending

Donald Trump
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Slammed After Saying He's 'Not Joking' About Running For A Third Term

Republican President Donald Trump was ridiculed for insisting he was "not joking" about running for a third presidential term, which would violate the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, stating a President cannot be elected beyond a second term.

In an NBC interview Sunday morning, Trump maintained his allies were pushing for a third term for the Trump administration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump
Fox News

Trump Ripped For Bonkers Answer After Being Asked To Define What A 'Woman' Is

President Donald Trump was called out after he was asked by a conservative reporter at the end of Women's History Month to give his definition of a "woman"—only to show that he doesn't even know his own talking points let alone those of the wider GOP.

This past Friday, Trump attended the swearing-in ceremony for interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, where he also took questions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Karoline Leavitt
C-SPAN2

Karoline Leavitt Gives Mind-Boggling Update On Signal Group Chat Scandal—And Critics Are Furious

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was called out after she dismissed reporters' questions amid revelations that Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials, particularly Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing military strategy surrounding war strikes in Yemen.

Lawmakers from both parties have increased their calls demanding an investigation into the Signal scandal. The latest push came from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, who on Monday sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard calling for an independent probe.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kids in a classroom
Maskot/Getty Images

Tennessee Senate Passes Bill Requiring Schools To Teach Students To Get Married And Have Kids

The Republican-led Tennessee Senate has passed a bill that requires schools to teach children a "success sequence" that emphasizes the importance of getting married and having children.

If approved by the state House, the “Success Sequence Act” would require schools to teach students about the purported “positive personal and societal outcomes” of following a prescribed sequence of life events: earning a high school diploma or equivalent, entering the workforce or pursuing higher education, getting married, and then having children.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two people flirting
Photo by Jed Villejo on Unsplash

People Break Down Telltale Signs That Someone Thinks You're Attractive

Let's be honest: Some of us are pretty clueless when it comes to flirting.

Whether it's knowing how to flirt or suspecting when someone is flirting with us and acting on it, we fumble our way through the experience and might only occasionally find our way to a date or relationship.

Keep ReadingShow less