Comment on Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership by Sean Pitman.
Here’s an interesting video clip of Dr. Peter McCullough explaining why he believes the mRNA vaccines cause “Turbo Cancer”.
https://x.com/MmisterNobody/status/1803982453565968439
In this clip he cites three mechanisms, describing these three mechanisms as a “multi-hit hypothesis”. These three proposed mechanisms are as follows:
- mRNA can impair DNA repair mechanisms, resulting in cancer
- The mRNA vaccines contain fragments of DNA plasmids from a protooncogene virus known as SV40, which is known to promote cancer growth
- The mRNA vaccines produce the S2 segment of the spike protein, which can interact with the p53 protein and BRCA-1/2 proteins, tumor-suppressor proteins within human cells, resulting in cancer
Now, these particular claims have been investigated in detail by cancer biologists. It turns out that none of these mechanisms or potential “hits” to the genetics of human beings is a valid concern… for the following reasons.
DNA repair mechanisms impaired by mRNA:
This is a very strange argument since DNA is contained within the nucleus of a cell and is decoded by various protein-based machines to produce mRNA. This mRNA is then transported through the nuclear membrane into the cytoplasm of the cell where it is again decoded by protein machines to produce various other proteins – in the cytoplasm. The mRNA used in vaccines works the very same way, except it never enters the nucleus of the cell. It stays in the cytoplasm where it is decoded to produce a modified and stabilized version of the COVID-19 viral spike protein. So, since the mRNA from the vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, it cannot be said, then that this mRNA impairs DNA repair mechanisms. That just doesn’t happen – not even in theory.
The mRNA vaccines contain SV40 fragments:
Dr. Robert Malone, who played a role in developing the messenger RNA, or mRNA, technology used in the vaccine, testified that the shot includes a DNA sequence called Simian Virus 40, or SV40. The truth is that tiny non-functional fragments of SV40’s DNA sequence are used as “starting material” in producing the vaccine. Then, even these starting DNA sequences are broken down and removed as part of the manufacturing process. The only thing even theoretically left in the final product are “trace amounts” of very tiny fragments of the SV40 DNA sequence. In other words, no intact or infectious elements of the SV40 virus end up in the human body and the rare minute fragments that happen to get into a cell are rapidly broken down by the cell and do not enter the nucleus or affect a person’s DNA. As Dr. Paul Offit (director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) points out, “It’s very hard for a DNA fragment to enter a cell, specifically its nucleus, where the DNA resides. Your cytoplasm doesn’t like DNA and has a variety of mechanisms to rid itself of DNA. In addition, for that fragment of DNA to be integrated into your DNA, you also have to have enzymes that disrupt the DNA and allow you to insert that fragment. That’s what gene therapy is all about, and that’s what makes gene therapy so hard to do.” (Link)
In short, there’s not even a theoretical cancer risk here and no real world increases in cancer linked to the mRNA vaccines has been identified. Really, if anyone is concerned here, far far greater amounts of viral genetic material enter the human body and human cells throughout the body via a natural COVID-19 infection as compared to a localized mRNA vaccination in one’s shoulder.
The mRNA suppresses p53:
The claim is based on a paper written by Wafik El-Deiry (Link), an eminent oncologist and cancer biologist the director at Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University (a big name in p53 research for 30 years) and another paper written by Singh and Singh (June 30, 2020)
So, first off, what did El-Deiry say in his paper? Well, it turns out that he was actually writing about infection by COVID-19 and the effects of infection on human cells. In his paper he argued that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, produced in humans cells during infection, mediates host cell infection and cell-cell fusion that causes stabilization of tumor suppressor p53 protein.
This is very interesting since one would naturally think that the stabilization of a tumor suppressor, like the “guardian of the genome” p53, would result in a suppression of tumor production, not an enhancement of tumor development. El-Deiry seems to be saying is that the spike protein activates p53, not deactivates it – which would be protective against cancer formation. It is also interesting to note that the cell lines used for his investigation were cancer cell lines themselves: human lung cancer cells H460, breast cancer cells MCF7, colorectal cancer cells HCT116 (p53 wild-type or p53-null), and sarcoma cells U2OS with p53-knockout (U2OS-P53KO). El-Deiry goes on to specifically note that, “We have not evaluated normal cells such as airway, muscle, immune, brain or intestinal cells.” So, what did El-Deiry think his study actually showed that was relevant to the possibility of cancer enhancement. Well, in the presence of the viral spike protein, there was decreased expression of p21, which induces cell cycle arrest, in response to p53. So, the suggestion was made that this interference could result in an increased cancer risk for those who already had cancer – since it would make the cancer cells more resistant to chemotherapy treatment.
So, in short, all this paper shows is that, in cell culture, using cancer cell lines, it is possible that SARS-CoV-2 infection might interfere with some forms of p53 tumor suppression activity specifically dealing with those with pre-existing cancer undergoing chemotherapy. What this really means is that an actual COVID-19 infection carries with it a far far greater risk compared to an mRNA vaccination when it comes to actually causing an increased risk of developing cancer to begin with. Consider, for instance, that an actual COVID-19 infection results in elevated levels of chemokines that could also contribute to cancer development, such as increases in chemokines CCL2, CCL4, CXCL8, CXCL9 and CXCL10 that have been found in those infected with COVID-19. These chemokines are known to participate in oncogenesis, the promotion of tumor cell expansion, cancer stem cell proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the attraction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and recruitment of fibroblast (Jafarzadeh et al., 2022). In comparison, the very short-lived vaccine mRNA sequences would have minimal effect – even in theory. Beyond this, no increase in cancer rates for the vaccinated have been identified. It just hasn’t and isn’t happening.
It is also interesting to note that, on his own LinkedIn account, Dr. El Deiry wrote: “Complete loss or mutation of p53 doesn’t cause cancer immediately either in mice or humans…. I will be very clear that this is not anti-vaxx rhetoric and is not intended to discourage anyone from taking a COVID vaccine or booster as recommended by their physician or other health care provider. The COVID vaccine has saved millions of lives and is strongly recommended for the elderly and those with comorbid medical illnesses including patients with cancer.”
But, what about the Singh/Singh 2020 paper that McCullough specifically cites in the video clip linked above? McCullough specifically says that it is the S2 subunit from the mRNA vaccine produced spike protein, not the spike protein for a COVID-19 infection, that interacts with p53 and BRCA-1/2. However, in the actual paper, Singh/Singh counter McCullough’s claim, explaining that, regarding a COVID-19 infection in particular, “We found p53, BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 interact with heptic repeat-2 region of S2 subunit through C- terminal domain.” After all, “the inactive S protein exists as a single peptide, but is activated by cleavage into S1 and S2 by cellular proteases during infection (specifically by “furin in the Golgi apparatus”).” (Link) Nothing was said of the mRNA vaccines in this paper. Also, no direct causal ties with cancer or cancer progression (for this interaction between the S2 protein subunit and p53/BRCA-1/2) was demonstrated in this paper either. The best that can be concluded here is that, if anything, an infection with COVID-19 would be far far more risky compared to an mRNA vaccination with regard to this particular proposed mechanism.
As a relevant aside, there have also been cases where a patient with metastatic carcinoma experienced dramatic tumor regression following mRNA vaccination against COVID-19. (Link)
Sean Pitman Also Commented
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
I think that there can be a reasonable combination of the best of modern medicine as well as the best of healthful living and natural remedies such as exercise, sunlight, vitamin D, “forest bathing”, good sleep, vegan or at least a vegetarian diet, etc…
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
You opted not to get vaccinated during the pandemic, for whatever reason, but did not advise others to do the same. That’s fine. I think you probably increased your own risk a bit, but that’s far better than giving medical advice to others when you don’t know for sure that you’re right – especially for those who were at higher risk than you. It’s also good that you supported others who did choose to get vaccinated.
As far as SDA hospitals and organizations, I agree that there has been some drift from the ideal. I’m not happy that so many non-SDAs are hired to work in and to be leaders. I’m also disappointed that there isn’t a lot more emphasis, direction, and teaching with regard to healthful living. There are some who are doing this, like Dr. Roger Seheult. However, there does seem to be a lack of an organized or official emphasis on how to living healthful so as to avoid having to use so many medications for chronic conditions that are largely self-inflicted. Now, I do sympathize that quick fixed and pills are what most patients want. Most doesn’t want to give up their back health habits, so doctors often just give up and give their patients what they want. Still, this does not excuse the lack of effort along these lines in our hospitals and medical schools. Also, more should be done to spread the Gospel Message in our hospitals as well…
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
Thank you for your kind words and support. I really appreciate it very much!
Recent Comments by Sean Pitman
Liberty & Health Alliance – An Appeal for Action
While recommending the vaccines, the vaccine statements clearly left the decision to vaccinate, or not, to the individual. They had nothing to do with government funding (yet another conspiracy theory). These statements were issued in an honest effort to save lives, not to make money. The “medical minds” at the BoT Symposium generally support anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists like Peter McCullough who are known for promoting misleading or downright false claims regarding the pandemic and the mRNA vaccines.
Liberty & Health Alliance – An Appeal for Action
Pastor E.L. has also written (FB Post) an excellent explanation in defense of the affirmation statement and our denomination’s position on vaccines.
“The assumedly troublesome wording commonly highlighted concerning this issue is a misreading of intent in context, without trying to understand the sense in which it can be understood as harmonious with the rest of the statement which strongly affirms individual conscience. A charitable reading first attempts to understand what someone says in a sense that is harmonious, rather than immediately assuming they intend to contradict themselves.
The trajectory of the context in the Reaffirmation Statement suggests that when it asserts, “Claims of religious liberty are not used appropriately in objecting to government mandates or employer programs designed to protect the health and safety of their communities,” this is likely because the church has not established a doctrinal position on vaccines that would require uniform adherence among its members. If it had, such a stance would then necessitate the church to defend it as a matter of religious liberty.
The issue of vaccination is multifaceted, and adopting a definitive for or against position within church doctrine would infringe on the rights of those who hold opposing views. Instead, the document consistently emphasizes that this is a matter of individual conscience and underscores the church’s support for such personal discernment. Accordingly, it states: “We recognize that at times our members will have personal concerns and even conscientious convictions that go beyond the teachings and positions of the Church. In these cases, the Church’s religious liberty leaders will do what they can to provide support and counsel on a personal basis, not as a Church position, even at times assisting members in writing their own personal accommodation requests to employers and others.”
In essence, while the church has not elevated this issue to a doctrinal level requiring institutional defense, it remains committed to supporting individual religious convictions to the greatest extent possible. Personal convictions are respected and defended, even though the church as a whole has not taken—and could not reasonably be expected to take—a uniform doctrinal position on the matter.
To draw an analogy, Seventh-day Adventists could not argue that wearing head coverings in the workplace is a religious liberty issue because it is not a doctrinal requirement within the SDA faith, even though it is mentioned in the Bible. Instead, they could only frame it as a matter of personal conviction if they interpret the biblical instruction as still applicable today. While individual SDAs who support head coverings may personally view it as a religious liberty concern, the distinction lies in the fact that religious liberty claims are typically based on doctrines that a religion universally requires of all its adherents.
In contrast, Muslims can assert that head coverings are a doctrinal religious liberty matter because it is a doctrinally mandated practice within Islam. This highlights the difference between personal convictions and doctrines that are formally upheld by a religious institution when speaking of “religious liberty.”
Liberty & Health Alliance – An Appeal for Action
Pastor Wyatt Allen (one of the founders of the Liberty & Health Alliance) wrote in a FB Comment:
Two things your article lacks are compassion and understanding. The first would lead to the second. Should I have more time tomorrow, I’ll try to be more specific and why I make this claim. Though anybody reading it would see the lack of compassion. I think the lack of understanding essentially boils down to misrepresenting what we’re saying. COVID and the mandates might be passed. But unless we learn from our mistakes during this time (do you say the church made no mistakes?) we will be unprepared to help in the next crisis. And when we are unprepared to help in a meaningful way, it really does hurt people. Actual people. As a minister of the gospel, I have seen the tears, I have heard the pleas, I have witnessed the freedom being ripped away. We can theorize and write articles all day long about Liberty. But until we actually stand up for it, all that comes across is coldness.
My response:
You seem to suggest that I’m opposed to religious liberty and that I don’t care for those who suffered. How can you know this? I mean, I am a strong supporter of religious liberty and have experienced personal serious attacks on my own religious convictions. While in the army I was brought up for court martial twice for refusing orders to work on Sabbath in ways that I thought were opposed to God’s commands regarding the Sabbath. I was threatened with jail time, the loss of my career, and financial damages. So, you see, I’m very much aware of how it feels to be personally threated for my own religious convictions. I also understand why someone who is opposed to vaccines would blame the Church for a lack of support during the vaccine mandates.
It’s not that I don’t understand. It’s that I think that such efforts to blame the Church and the Vaccine Statements are misdirected since these Vaccine Statements repeatedly and specifically support individual choice in this matter. Recommendations regarding medical interventions, like vaccines, do not undermine personal religious liberties or the Church’s support for such liberties. The claims of the Liberty & Health Alliance to the contrary simply do not make sense to me. Even if the Church had no vaccine statements at all, I fail to see how this would have helped anyone during the vaccine mandates.
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Additional responses to other comments from Wyatt on FB:
Wyatt Allen: You’re also asking Charles Downing (not sure of his medical background) to explain to me that the “so-called vaccines” have too many adverse reactions. You see, right there you’re showing your hand. The reason why you’re so passionate against the Vaccine Statements of the Church is because you truly believe them to be harmful and evil. While I sympathize with why you feel this way, consider that I feel the very same way for the opposite reasons. I saw ICUs filled with the very sick and the dying during the pandemic, the significant majority of whom were the unvaccinated. Several of my own workers who refused to get vaccinated ended up in the ICU and two suffered permanent injuries so severe that they can no longer work full time. Many more from my own church and community ended up in the ICU for the same reason. More than a dozen of my own family friends died because they didn’t get vaccinated. My brother-in-law, the well-known pulmonologist Dr. Roger Seheult saw many many more die while holding their hands in his ICU in S. Cal – even some who were young and vegan and otherwise healthy. So, yes, we are both very passionate about this topic. It’s one of the reasons why I try to force myself to be as objective as possible when I talk about this topic.
The reason why I disagree with you and Charles here is because I think you have a misunderstanding of the risk/benefit ratio for the mRNA vaccines and vaccines in general. You don’t understand the nature of VAERS (which is maintained by the NIH and the CDC by the way) since you don’t seem to understand the difference between correlation and causation. The VAERS database is used to sort out this difference. The claim of Charles that the spike protein produced in response to the mRNA vaccines sends the human immune system into “overdrive” and “taxes” and “weakens” it is false. This isn’t how the human immune system works. The spike proteins are broken down into small pieces called “antigens”, which are then presented to T- and B-cells so as to educate them to know what to attack in the future. This process happens every day and does not tax or weaken the immune system in the least. I mean, consider that a C19 infection would produce far far more spike proteins throughout the entire body for a much longer period of time. The mRNA vaccines, in comparison, are self-limited and are largely localized. Charles’ claim that the vaccines have produced a 40% spike in cancer rates and “turbo cancers” is also a false claim based on the claims of conspiracy theorists. I’m an anatomic and clinical pathologist with a subspecialty in blood disorders. I diagnose cancers every day. That’s what I do. I can tell you that there has been no increase in cancers associated with the mRNA vaccines. Beyond this, there is no mechanism by which the mRNA vaccines could produce such a spike in cancer rates. As far as Charles’ claim that the vaccines were not “thoroughly studied”, this is also a false statement. The mRNA vaccines went through all of the standard steps for vaccine testing and approval – to include double-blinded placebo-controlled animal and human trials with great success. There were no increased deaths, much less “25 deaths”, and the “adverse reactions” were minor and not beyond the expected rate in the 70,000 human volunteers. Also, the mRNA technology itself is not new, but has been studied now for over 30 years. It’s just that all of the necessary technological information came together at just the right time for the mRNA vaccines to make it to the general public soon after the pandemic hit. That’s just the nature and usefulness of the mRNA technology which Charles doesn’t seem to understand.
_____________
Wyatt Allen: I’m not sure what important question(s) of yours I failed to answer? Please do point these out to me again so that I won’t inadvertently skip over something that is important to you.
Regarding your current question, of course I make mistakes all the time. In my job as a pathologist I try to be extremely careful to limit my mistakes, but mistakes do happen since we are all human and subject to error. I often wish I had a “redo” button available to me so that I could go back in time and fix some of my mistakes.
I know that you believe that your argument (regarding all vaccines I think) is based on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy – and I respect that even though I don’t agree with you here. However, you are promoting your anti-vaccine position since you have presented numerous arguments against vaccines. I think these arguments are based on mistaken concepts and ideas, but, again, this is the reason for personal and religious liberty as long as these liberties don’t interfere with those of another.
I also understand that you want to plead for those who cannot effectively plead for themselves. I’m trying to do the same thing. I think that the misinformation presented by you and many others (particularly those like Dr. Peter McCulough) have caused untold injuries and deaths to many who would have been saved by being vaccinated. I also have no doubt there were those who misused the Vaccine Statements of the Church regarding mandates. While this shouldn’t have happened, again, I fail to understand how this is the fault of the Church? The Church has published many statements that have been misused. The same is true of many of the statements and claims found in the Bible itself. Is this the fault of the Bible? Should the Bible be rewritten because some of its language is confusing and difficult to properly understand by the many who have misinterpreted and misused it?
You keep repeating that the Vaccine Statements “exalt peer-reviewed scientific literature to the level of the Bible” – and that if I don’t see it this way that I should read them again. I’ve read them dozens of times and I still don’t see how you could possibly make this amazing, even shocking, claim. None of the leaders of the SDA Church would ever think to suggest such an idea – verbally or in writing. Certainly, no Christian physician or scientist would promote such a concept either. So, where are you getting this idea? The Vaccine Statements themselves make no such claim – not even close.
_______________
Wyatt Allen: The claim that the Vaccine Statements elevate peer-review literature equal to the Bible simply isn’t true. This claim is particularly shocking to me. I’m not sure how anyone could interpret these statements in this way? These statements are not statements of Fundamental Beliefs or doctrinal statements at all. They are simply general *recommendations*, not decrees or anything like that, regarding advances in medical science. That’s it. They specifically note that they are not to be considered doctrinal or in any way binding regarding the conscience of the individual – that the final decision is and should be with the individual regarding such issues.
Yes, words do matter, but in this case, I fail to see how your claims regarding the Church’s Vaccine Statements are valid or helpful moving forward since I fail to see how these Statements undermine individual religious liberty.
________________
Weston Greenwood: One can do both you know. I also advocate for both. I strongly believe the mRNA vaccines were a miraculous gift from God that saved millions of lives and prevented many many more hospitalizations and long-term injuries. At the same time, I’m also a strong supporter of personal and religious liberty – particularly for those who disagree with me. In the same way, the Vaccine Statements promote the benefits of vaccination while, at the same time, noting that one is perfectly free to disagree – and that this decision should take precedence.
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Weston Greenwood: The Church did bring this to a vote via the delegates at the last GC Session. It’s just that this vote went against you.
Again, if an employer bases his/her decision to mandate vaccination on the Church’s Vaccine Statements, then that employer is misusing these statements – which isn’t the fault of the Church.
And yes, just because the Church does not stand in the way of someone who wants to get vaccinated, and even encourages this, doesn’t mean that it, therefore, stands in the way of someone who doesn’t want to get vaccinated. Claiming otherwise makes no sense to me.
________________
Wyatt Allen: You’re essentially saying that, “Any outsider who reads the ADCOM statement will see it as binding”.
If someone does read it that way, they aren’t reading it correctly because that’s not what it says. It says that while the SDA Church, as an organization, is not inherently opposed to vaccines and recognizes their usefulness, it remains with the individual and individual conscience as to the final decision to get or not to get vaccinated – that it is not an issue of morality, is not a matter of salvation, and is therefore not doctrinal. That’s what it says. Those who read it otherwise for the purposes of enforcing mandates based on such Statements are clearly misusing them. And, obviously, such misuses are not the fault of the Church.
Also, contrary to your claim, the Church has not elevated peer-reviewed literature published in scientific journals to the level of Scripture. That’s a completely false and completely unfair claim – particularly directed at medical professionals like me who recognize the usefulness of vaccines while, at the same time, recognizing the final authority of the Bible in all questions of faith. It’s just that I don’t see where the Bible speaks against vaccines anywhere in its pages. The same is true for the Spirit of Prophecy.
The Flood
More details as to something I specifically got wrong might be interesting and helpful…
After the Flood
Thank you Ariel. Hope you are doing well these days. Miss seeing you down at Loma Linda. Hope you had a Great Thanksgiving!