lifesitenews--2020-02-04--Protestants to receive Communion at first Catholic Mass in Geneva Cathedral since Reformation

GENEVA , February 4 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The first Catholic Mass in Geneva ’ s cathedral since the Reformation takes place at the end of this month and Protestants have been invited to attend and receive Holy Communion .
Moreover , although Catholic Church canon law does not permit intercommunion , it is reportedly a common practice in Geneva , according to Swiss Protestant news agency Protestinfo .
Fr .
Pascal Desthieux , Catholic episcopal vicar for the canton of Geneva , will say Mass in Saint-Pierre Reformed Protestant Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. on February 29 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s parish council .
Mass was abolished in the nearly 900-year-old church in August 1535 after iconoclasts desecrated and razed the interior , slashing images and breaking statues deemed to violate the new Reformed cult they had accepted , Protestinfo reported .
The cathedral subsequently became notable as the home church of Reformer John Calvin , and his triangular chair is still kept next to the pulpit .
The decision to invite Fr .
Desthieux to say Mass in Saint-Pierre began as informal talks followed by an ecumenical service in the cathedral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a discussion and a council vote , said parish council president Daniel Pilly .
“ There was no opposition , which is significant .
The idea appealed because it corresponds to our desire to make the cathedral a meeting place for all Geneva Christians .
A space that transcends confessional boundaries , ” he told Protestinfo .
Protestants have been invited to attend the Mass and to receive Communion , but “ this is nothing special in Geneva , ” Pilly said .
“ This is already done locally in many parishes during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other to the Lord 's Supper and to Communion , ” he said .
Catholics have previously been invited to ecumenical services at Saint-Pierre , and the parish council also allowed Lutherans to celebrate Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday when their church was closed for renovations .
For several years , Anglicans sang carols at the cathedral at Christmas , Protestinfo reported .
Emmanuel Fuchs , president of the Protestant Church in Geneva and a pastor in Saint-Pierre , told Protestinfo that the invitation is “ a signal that the climate in Geneva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roman Catholic Church .
We have made notable progress in terms of ecumenism , especially with the Joint Declaration , signed in 2017 , which recognizes our respective ministries.
” Added Fuchs : “ As Pope Francis said , ecumenism is achieved by walking .
We are trying to walk together in the hope that when we have made enough progress , the obstacles that seem to us today insurmountable will no longer be.
” However , the Catholic Church can not sanction intercommunion between Catholics and Protestants , as prominent clerics such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vatican ’ s Congregation for Divine Worship , Cardinal Raymond Burke , and Archbishop Athanasius Schneider have frequently reiterated .
Cardinal Sarah has described Communion by those who do not profess Catholic faith as “ sacrilegious ” and an “ outrage ” against the sacrament .
“ Intercommunion is not permitted between Catholics and non-Catholics .
You must confess the Catholic Faith .
A non-Catholic can not receive Communion .
That is very , very clear .
It ’ s not a matter of following your conscience , ” the cardinal said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bishops of Germany are renewing their push for “ intercommunion , ” and Pope Francis has sent mixed signals on the matter .
A September 2019 German ecumenical paper argues that theological debates in the last decades clarified differences stemming from the Reformation and there is now “ agreement ” regarding the “ theological meaning of the Eucharist/Last Supper , ” and that , “ on that foundation , the diversity of liturgical traditions is being valued , ” Maike Hickson reported in LifeSiteNews last week .
Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christian Unity , told Vatican News he disagreed with the document ’ s underlying assumption : “ namely : that the Catholic Eucharistic celebration and the Protestant Last Supper are identical , ” Hickson reported .
Meanwhile , the Holy Father told Reverend Michael Jonas , Lutheran pastor of the Evangelical Church in Rome , that “ Catholics and Protestants are very close to one another in what they do in their public worship [ Gottesdienst ] , ” according to comments Jonas made to LifeSiteNews .
In May 2018 , Pope Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow a Protestant spouse married to a Catholic to receive Holy Communion , but then said in an in-flight press conference shortly afterward that it is up to individual bishops , and not bishops ’ conferences , to decide the matter .
In 2015 , he made comments to a Protestant wife of a Catholic , which appeared to “ suggest , ” in the words of National Catholic Register Rome correspondent Edward Pentin , “ that a Lutheran wife of a Catholic husband could receive Holy Communion based on the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her conscience .
”

'This is nothing special in Geneva,' as Intercommunion 'is already done locally in many parishes during ecumenical celebrations.'
GENEVA, February 4, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The first Catholic Mass in Geneva’s cathedral since the Reformation takes place at the end of this month and Protestants have been invited to attend and receive Holy Communion.
Moreover, although Catholic Church canon law does not permit intercommunion, it is reportedly a common practice in Geneva, according to Swiss Protestant news agency Protestinfo.
Fr. Pascal Desthieux, Catholic episcopal vicar for the canton of Geneva, will say Mass in Saint-Pierre Reformed Protestant Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. on February 29, at the invitation of the Protestant cathedral’s parish council.
Mass was abolished in the nearly 900-year-old church in August 1535 after iconoclasts desecrated and razed the interior, slashing images and breaking statues deemed to violate the new Reformed cult they had accepted, Protestinfo reported.
The cathedral subsequently became notable as the home church of Reformer John Calvin, and his triangular chair is still kept next to the pulpit.
The decision to invite Fr. Desthieux to say Mass in Saint-Pierre began as informal talks followed by an ecumenical service in the cathedral, which then “matured” into a discussion and a council vote, said parish council president Daniel Pilly.
“There was no opposition, which is significant. The idea appealed because it corresponds to our desire to make the cathedral a meeting place for all Geneva Christians. A space that transcends confessional boundaries,” he told Protestinfo.
Protestants have been invited to attend the Mass and to receive Communion, but “this is nothing special in Geneva,” Pilly said.
“This is already done locally in many parishes during ecumenical celebrations where Protestants and Catholics invite each other to the Lord's Supper and to Communion,” he said.
Catholics have previously been invited to ecumenical services at Saint-Pierre, and the parish council also allowed Lutherans to celebrate Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday when their church was closed for renovations. For several years, Anglicans sang carols at the cathedral at Christmas, Protestinfo reported.
Emmanuel Fuchs, president of the Protestant Church in Geneva and a pastor in Saint-Pierre, told Protestinfo that the invitation is “a signal that the climate in Geneva is extremely favorable and fruitful with the Roman Catholic Church. We have made notable progress in terms of ecumenism, especially with the Joint Declaration, signed in 2017, which recognizes our respective ministries.”
Added Fuchs: “As Pope Francis said, ecumenism is achieved by walking. We are trying to walk together in the hope that when we have made enough progress, the obstacles that seem to us today insurmountable will no longer be.”
However, the Catholic Church cannot sanction intercommunion between Catholics and Protestants, as prominent clerics such Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship, Cardinal Raymond Burke, and Archbishop Athanasius Schneider have frequently reiterated.
Cardinal Sarah has described Communion by those who do not profess Catholic faith as “sacrilegious” and an “outrage” against the sacrament.
“Intercommunion is not permitted between Catholics and non-Catholics. You must confess the Catholic Faith. A non-Catholic cannot receive Communion. That is very, very clear. It’s not a matter of following your conscience,” the cardinal said in 2015.
Despite this, the Catholic bishops of Germany are renewing their push for “intercommunion,” and Pope Francis has sent mixed signals on the matter.
A September 2019 German ecumenical paper argues that theological debates in the last decades clarified differences stemming from the Reformation and there is now “agreement” regarding the “theological meaning of the Eucharist/Last Supper,” and that, “on that foundation, the diversity of liturgical traditions is being valued,” Maike Hickson reported in LifeSiteNews last week.
Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, told Vatican News he disagreed with the document’s underlying assumption: “namely: that the Catholic Eucharistic celebration and the Protestant Last Supper are identical,” Hickson reported.
Meanwhile, the Holy Father told Reverend Michael Jonas, Lutheran pastor of the Evangelical Church in Rome, that “Catholics and Protestants are very close to one another in what they do in their public worship [Gottesdienst],” according to comments Jonas made to LifeSiteNews.
In May 2018, Pope Francis blocked the German bishops’ proposal to allow a Protestant spouse married to a Catholic to receive Holy Communion, but then said in an in-flight press conference shortly afterward that it is up to individual bishops, and not bishops’ conferences, to decide the matter.
In 2015, he made comments to a Protestant wife of a Catholic, which appeared to “suggest,” in the words of National Catholic Register Rome correspondent Edward Pentin, “that a Lutheran wife of a Catholic husband could receive Holy Communion based on the fact that she is baptized and in accordance with her conscience.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-04--Sanders plans ‘dozens’ of executive orders, including restored abortion funding

February 4 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Socialist presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders plans to make extensive use of executive action to implement his agenda if he wins , according to a campaign document recently obtained by The Washington Post .
The document , prepared by campaign manager Faiz Shakir , senior adviser Warren Gunnels , and policy director Josh Orton , lists a number of proposed executive orders for Sanders to review , the Post reported .
“ We can not accept delays from Congress on some of the most pressing issues , ” it declares , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governed with racism and for his own corrupt benefit.
” Among the suggestions were that a President Sanders could order the U.S. Department of Justice to legalize marijuana , ban the exportation of crude oil on the basis of climate change being a national emergency , and reversing various aspects of President Donald Trump ’ s immigration policies .
While some of the proposals would fall within scope of the president ’ s executive authority , others – namely changing federal marijuana policy and banning exports – would likely be struck down for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal law .
The Post also reported that the document references “ reversing federal rules blocking U.S. funding to organizations that provide abortion counseling ” – likely a reference to the Trump administration ’ s Protect Life Rule , which cuts almost $ 60 million from Planned Parenthood ’ s annual federal funding by requiring “ clear financial and physical separation between Title X-funded projects and programs or facilities where abortion is a method of family planning ” and banning “ referral for abortion as a method of family planning.
” Sanders campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authenticity of the document but would elaborate on its contents .
The Post ’ s copy of the document indicated that Sanders himself had not yet embraced or rejected any of the specific proposals , but they are consistent with Sanders ’ past comments about using executive orders to address immigration , marijuana , and pensions , as well as his threat to make the Justice Department “ go after those states ” that restrict abortion “ in every way that I legally can.
” RealClearPolitics ’ national polling average of the Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 23.7 percent , just behind former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s 27 percent .

If the left-wing Democrat were elected president, he plans liberal use of his power to advance his radical ideas.
February 4, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Socialist presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders plans to make extensive use of executive action to implement his agenda if he wins, according to a campaign document recently obtained by The Washington Post.
The document, prepared by campaign manager Faiz Shakir, senior adviser Warren Gunnels, and policy director Josh Orton, lists a number of proposed executive orders for Sanders to review, the Post reported. “We cannot accept delays from Congress on some of the most pressing issues,” it declares, “especially those like immigration where Trump has governed with racism and for his own corrupt benefit.”
Among the suggestions were that a President Sanders could order the U.S. Department of Justice to legalize marijuana, ban the exportation of crude oil on the basis of climate change being a national emergency, and reversing various aspects of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
While some of the proposals would fall within scope of the president’s executive authority, others – namely changing federal marijuana policy and banning exports – would likely be struck down for encroaching on the legislative branch and existing federal law.
The Post also reported that the document references “reversing federal rules blocking U.S. funding to organizations that provide abortion counseling” – likely a reference to the Trump administration’s Protect Life Rule, which cuts almost $60 million from Planned Parenthood’s annual federal funding by requiring “clear financial and physical separation between Title X-funded projects and programs or facilities where abortion is a method of family planning” and banning “referral for abortion as a method of family planning.”
Sanders campaign spokesman Mike Casca did not dispute the authenticity of the document but would elaborate on its contents. The Post’s copy of the document indicated that Sanders himself had not yet embraced or rejected any of the specific proposals, but they are consistent with Sanders’ past comments about using executive orders to address immigration, marijuana, and pensions, as well as his threat to make the Justice Department “go after those states” that restrict abortion “in every way that I legally can.”
RealClearPolitics’ national polling average of the Democrat primary currently has Sanders in second place with 23.7 percent, just behind former Vice President Joe Biden’s 27 percent.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--Pro-aborts vandalize pro-life billboard: 3rd attack in 5 months

SOUTH BEND , Indiana , February 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – An Indiana pro-life billboard educating the public about the deadly legacy of Roe v. Wade was vandalized this week – the third time in five months that a pro-life outdoor ad in the area has been vandalized .
The billboard was sponsored by Right to Life Michiana and featured a web address that directs people to the website of St. Joseph County Right to Life .
It was vandalized with two different tags ; one was anti-police acronym “ ACAB ” and the other was anti-life message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Right to Life Michiana ad occurred in September 2019 , shortly after the discovery of 2,246 fetal remains in the garage of deceased abortionist Dr. Ulrich Klopfer .
Four roadside benches promoting resources for women in crisis were vandalized with black paint .
The second occurrence was in December 2019 , when six roadside benches promoting resources for women in crisis were vandalized in blue paint .
On one of the ads , the eyes of the woman in the photo were painted over in blue .
“ This is concerning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiding helpful resources to promoting violence , ” said Jackie Appleman of Right to Life Michiana .
“ Unfortunately , this isn ’ t surprising because the abortion movement is intolerant to other views and promotes violence.
” Since the Supreme Court ’ s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 , more than 60 million human babies have been killed by abortion .
This is more than all the American lives lost in war since the nation ’ s inception .
The purpose of the Roe v. Wade billboard campaign is to educate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this immoral decision , ” according to Right to Life Michiana .
“ Nothing the abortion movement does is going to stop us , ” said Outreach Manager Melanie Garcia .
“ Nothing ’ s going to stop us from being out there and educating the public on the value of life and violence of abortion .
”

'The vandalism is escalating from simply hiding helpful resources to promoting violence...this isn’t surprising because the abortion movement is intolerant to other views and promotes violence.'
SOUTH BEND, Indiana, February 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – An Indiana pro-life billboard educating the public about the deadly legacy of Roe v. Wade was vandalized this week – the third time in five months that a pro-life outdoor ad in the area has been vandalized.
The billboard was sponsored by Right to Life Michiana and featured a web address that directs people to the website of St. Joseph County Right to Life. It was vandalized with two different tags; one was anti-police acronym “ACAB” and the other was anti-life message “Kill 200.”
The first vandalism of a Right to Life Michiana ad occurred in September 2019, shortly after the discovery of 2,246 fetal remains in the garage of deceased abortionist Dr. Ulrich Klopfer. Four roadside benches promoting resources for women in crisis were vandalized with black paint. The second occurrence was in December 2019, when six roadside benches promoting resources for women in crisis were vandalized in blue paint. On one of the ads, the eyes of the woman in the photo were painted over in blue.
“This is concerning. The vandalism is escalating from simply hiding helpful resources to promoting violence,” said Jackie Appleman of Right to Life Michiana. “Unfortunately, this isn’t surprising because the abortion movement is intolerant to other views and promotes violence.”
Since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, more than 60 million human babies have been killed by abortion. This is more than all the American lives lost in war since the nation’s inception. The purpose of the Roe v. Wade billboard campaign is to educate the community about “the destruction of this immoral decision,” according to Right to Life Michiana.
“Nothing the abortion movement does is going to stop us,” said Outreach Manager Melanie Garcia. “Nothing’s going to stop us from being out there and educating the public on the value of life and violence of abortion.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--Southeast Asia bishops ban Holy Communion on tongue in response to coronavirus

MANILA , Philippines , February 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Bishops in southeast Asia have banned the traditional method of receiving Holy Communion in the belief that this will help stop the spread of coronavirus .
Last week , the Catholic Bishops ’ Conference of the Philippines ( CBCP ) sent a letter to all of its dioceses with instructions for greater hygiene during liturgies .
Penned by the CBCP Secretary-General Fr .
Marvin Mejia , the letter instructs Catholics to receive communion in the hand .
“ The communion in the hand ( must ) be practiced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are reasonably cautious about this matter , ” Mejia wrote .
Filipino Catholics are also discouraged from exchanging the sign of peace and holding hands while reciting the Our Father .
Bishops asked parishes to empty and refill holy water stoups regularly and to fasten “ protective cloth ” over the grilles of confessionals .
Meanwhile , the CBCP ordered special prayers for the sick and against the disease .
The Archdiocese of Singapore published extensive information and advice about coronavirus on its website .
In a section specifically dedicated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ Holy Communion is to be received only on the hand till further notice.
” “ Communion from the chalice is to be suspended till further notice , ” it added .
In Singapore churches , no holy water will be available at the entrances of churches .
Instead “ alcohol hand sanitizers may be made available near entrances of churches and confessionals.
” The Archdiocese also banned hand-holding in church and took the opportunity to remind the faithful that they aren ’ t really supposed to be joining hands at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also to be noted that liturgical laws have consistently not allowed the holding of hands during the Lord ’ s Prayer during Mass , ” it stated .
Meanwhile , Catholics were instructed to stay home when they are sick and not to participate in Mass or other church activities .
They were assured that they are exempted from their Sunday obligation .
The guidelines for the Archdiocese of Singapore were first published on January 24 .
In a blogpost dealing with the interdict on the traditional manner of distributing communion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communion on the hand is strictly forbidden at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass .
“ Firstly , it is not allowed to distribute Communion in the hand during the Traditional Latin Mass or when using the Rite for Distribution of Communion outside of Mass , or during sick calls with the older Rituale Romanum .
Also , in the older Rite , Communion is not distributed under both kinds , ” he wrote .
“ Distribution of communion in the hand would be a serious liturgical abuse , precisely because it deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reception of communion at the Ordinary Form of the Mass , the blogger-priest reminded his readers that they are not bound to receive communion every time they go to Mass .
“ If you are dead set against receiving on the hand , period , then don ’ t even go forward .
Don ’ t make a scene at the communion rail .
Make a spiritual communion , ” Zuhldorf advised .
The priest recognizes that receiving Holy Communion on the tongue is the right of the faithful and that forcing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand is against that right , but he stressed that reception of Holy Communion is not , like Sunday Mass attendance , a weekly obligation .
He also encouraged those who are ill to stay home from Mass .
“ If you are ill or infectious or contagious then you don ’ t have an obligation to go to Sunday Mass , ” Zuhldorf wrote .
“ While it might be laudable from your perspective to offer up the discomfort and make the effort , it might be a violation of both prudence @ @ @ @

Other precautions include forgoing the sign of pace at the Ordinary Form of the Mass, no holy water in churches, and protective cloths in confessionals.
PRAYER PLEDGE: VP Pence is right. We need prayer to fight coronavirus, not political antics! Sign the petition here.
MANILA, Philippines, February 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Bishops in southeast Asia have banned the traditional method of receiving Holy Communion in the belief that this will help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Last week, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) sent a letter to all of its dioceses with instructions for greater hygiene during liturgies. Penned by the CBCP Secretary-General Fr. Marvin Mejia, the letter instructs Catholics to receive communion in the hand.
“The communion in the hand (must) be practiced ordinarily to help prevent further fear from people who are reasonably cautious about this matter,” Mejia wrote.
Filipino Catholics are also discouraged from exchanging the sign of peace and holding hands while reciting the Our Father. Bishops asked parishes to empty and refill holy water stoups regularly and to fasten “protective cloth” over the grilles of confessionals.
Meanwhile, the CBCP ordered special prayers for the sick and against the disease.
The Archdiocese of Singapore published extensive information and advice about coronavirus on its website. In a section specifically dedicated to disease prevention at Mass, it stated that “Holy Communion is to be received only on the hand till further notice.”
“Communion from the chalice is to be suspended till further notice,” it added.
In Singapore churches, no holy water will be available at the entrances of churches. Instead “alcohol hand sanitizers may be made available near entrances of churches and confessionals.”
The Archdiocese also banned hand-holding in church and took the opportunity to remind the faithful that they aren’t really supposed to be joining hands at the Our Father prayer anyway.
“It is also to be noted that liturgical laws have consistently not allowed the holding of hands during the Lord’s Prayer during Mass,” it stated.
Meanwhile, Catholics were instructed to stay home when they are sick and not to participate in Mass or other church activities. They were assured that they are exempted from their Sunday obligation.
The guidelines for the Archdiocese of Singapore were first published on January 24.
In a blogpost dealing with the interdict on the traditional manner of distributing communion, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf reminded readers that communion on the hand is strictly forbidden at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.
“Firstly, it is not allowed to distribute Communion in the hand during the Traditional Latin Mass or when using the Rite for Distribution of Communion outside of Mass, or during sick calls with the older Rituale Romanum. Also, in the older Rite, Communion is not distributed under both kinds,” he wrote.
“Distribution of communion in the hand would be a serious liturgical abuse, precisely because it deals with the Eucharistic species.”
Regarding the reception of communion at the Ordinary Form of the Mass, the blogger-priest reminded his readers that they are not bound to receive communion every time they go to Mass.
“If you are dead set against receiving on the hand, period, then don’t even go forward. Don’t make a scene at the communion rail. Make a spiritual communion,” Zuhldorf advised.
The priest recognizes that receiving Holy Communion on the tongue is the right of the faithful and that forcing the faithful to receive Holy Communion in the hand is against that right, but he stressed that reception of Holy Communion is not, like Sunday Mass attendance, a weekly obligation.
He also encouraged those who are ill to stay home from Mass.
“If you are ill or infectious or contagious then you don’t have an obligation to go to Sunday Mass,” Zuhldorf wrote.
“While it might be laudable from your perspective to offer up the discomfort and make the effort, it might be a violation of both prudence and charity.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--Portuguese cardinal allows divorced and ‘remarried’ Catholics to receive Communion

February 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In an article published in January by the Portuguese daily Jornal de Noticias , Cardinal Antonio Dos Santos Marto of Leiria-Fatima officially announced that two divorced and “ remarried ” couples and a divorced and “ remarried ” woman have been allowed to receive Holy Communion in his diocese “ like any Catholic.
” Three more couples are following a “ path of discernment ” which will allow them to receive the sacraments after having shown that “ they have a good-faith relationship with God.
” The first-ever couple to have obtained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the approval of Cardinal Antonio Marto of Leiria-Fatima , Portugal , recently went public about their case .
They are a former female catechist and a divorced man who have been in a civil marriage for 10 years .
They have been allowed to receive the sacraments since May 2019 after completing a “ path of discernment ” organized by the diocese of Leiria-Fatima , in Portugal .
The “ path ” was implemented there in the wake of Amoris laetitia which opens the door to such situations .
The names of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday in the tabloid Correio da Manhã , which specializes in garish front pages and sensational news , and included a short interview with the couple and with Cardinal Antonio Marto .
Pope Francis named Marto a cardinal in June 2018 , days after Marto published a “ Pastoral note ” on May 31st , 2018 , giving “ pastoral guidelines in view of better ecclesial integration of divorced faithful living in a new union.
” Remarkably , the story came out about the same time that the Argentinian press related how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fernandez , received communion together with his second official mistress , Fabiola Yañez , although he is divorced and is actively working for the legalization of abortion in his country .
In an added twist , the first time Rosalia , 39 , and Gastão , 47 , from Leiria , received communion as a divorced and “ remarried ” couple was May 13 , 2019 : the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima who appeared to three children from May to October of 1917 in the mountain village of the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , they say they are “ at peace ” and once again feel accepted as “ children of God.
” Under the headline “ The Church reinstates divorced faithful , ” O Correio da Manhã added hard-hitting subtitles : “ The diocese of Leiria-Fatima opens the door to spouses in a second union ” – “ Rosalia and Gastão were allowed to return to Communion and thank the Pope.
” “ We ’ ve gone from a wounded heart to a heart at peace .
Thank you , Pope Francis , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actively Catholic before they entered into an adulterous union .
According to the Correio , they married civilly 10 years ago and found themselves obliged to “ limit their participation in the Church.
” Said Rosalia : “ It was painful .
It felt like a big gash .
I was a catechist and a minister of Communion .
I realized , in the moment in which I was getting married , that I would be in a state of adultery.
” Gastão added : “ We never received Communion again .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a state of sin .
I remain married for the Church and we accepted that consequence.
” It was only when the diocese of Leiria-Fatima , explicitly quoting Pope Francis ’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia , opened special sessions for divorced and “ remarried ” Catholics that “ a light started to shine in the lives of Rosalia and Gastão , ” wrote the Correio .
They followed the sessions set up by “ Don Antonio ’ s ” pastoral note , which explicitly follow the orientation given by Amoris laetitia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines of the Bishops of Greater Buenos Aires , “ approved as authentic magisterium by a letter from the Pope , ” and those of the Bishops of Germany , Malta , and Emilia-Romagna in Italy .
All these directives read Amoris laetitia as allowing the sacraments to be given to divorced and “ remarried ” couples who remain in their illicit union although their Church marriage was not judged null and void by an ecclesiastical tribunal .
In the same popular newspaper , Cardinal Marto answered the question as to why he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s vision for the family.
” “ A path had not yet been found for divorced spouses allowing them to be reinstated in the life of the Church and the Christian community , which in this case , can lead to full integration of the sacraments .
No one can remain condemned forever , that ’ s what the Pope said , ” he answered .
“ Does the Church need to adapt to the times ?
” the journalist asked him .
“ Right .
It must welcome these families , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priests and bishops , communities must do the same , ” said Cardinal Marto .
He formally presented the implementation of his “ path of discernment ” when he inaugurated a new “ Support Center for Families ” ( “ Centro de Apoio a Familia , CAF ) in the diocesan seminary of Leiria .
It caters to families in crisis with a team of 21 volunteers who will give them free psychological , medical , legal and spiritual counseling .
“ The family is the best and most valuable intangible heritage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the Jornal de Noticias which reported on the inauguration ceremony , the CAF will try to help couples stay together , but it also hopes to “ help future divorced couples also to follow this process ” of discernment .
Last June , a report on Rosalia Rodrigues and Gastão Crespo , complete with a picture of them with Gastão ’ s son by his Catholic marriage and the three small boys of the “ blended family , ” all smiles , was published by their parish journal and then picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the diocese of Leiria-Fatima .
It was titled “ A testimony of life.
” Rosalia and Gastão explained that despite having entered into a civil union , they never missed a Sunday mass and made sure their boys were baptized and received catechism .
Had Cardinal Marto not instituted his “ path of discernment , ” things would have remained that way .
It was the existence of this “ path ” that led them to decide to take steps in order to receive the sacraments .
The June article did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 13 – perhaps it was written before – but in it Rosalia and Gastão said that “ lately , ” they had been “ asked ” and had “ accepted ” to become catechists and to join their parish commission .
They also recounted how they had met some time after Gastão ’ s divorce in 2006 : “ We fell in love responsibly and it is with full conscience of the religious consequences of our union that we decided to get a civil marriage in 2009.
” Rosalia was a full-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( the seat of a spectacular Eucharistic miracle in the 13th century ) .
Gastão was also a catechist and active in the Church .
He married in 1998 and had a son .
He said he “ tried in every possible way ” to find reconciliation with his wife , but without success .
He also said his marriage was a “ conscious and responsible ” one for both himself and his wife and therefore valid : “ there was no room for a process of nullity.
” Besides looking closely after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept up a “ cordial relationship ” with the boy ’ s mother .
The “ path of discernment ” led Rosalia and Gastão to join bi-weekly two-hour sessions for six months .
“ At the end of this whole magnificent path , we feel called to the matrimonial vocation and to be even closer to God , even without being united by the sacrament of Matrimony , ” they said .
They hope to be “ an example ” for other couples living in a second union .

February 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In an article published in January by the Portuguese daily Jornal de Noticias, Cardinal Antonio Dos Santos Marto of Leiria-Fatima officially announced that two divorced and “remarried” couples and a divorced and “remarried” woman have been allowed to receive Holy Communion in his diocese “like any Catholic.”
Three more couples are following a “path of discernment” which will allow them to receive the sacraments after having shown that “they have a good-faith relationship with God.”
The first-ever couple to have obtained such official permission to receive Holy Communion with the approval of Cardinal Antonio Marto of Leiria-Fatima, Portugal, recently went public about their case.
They are a former female catechist and a divorced man who have been in a civil marriage for 10 years. They have been allowed to receive the sacraments since May 2019 after completing a “path of discernment” organized by the diocese of Leiria-Fatima, in Portugal.
The “path” was implemented there in the wake of Amoris laetitia which opens the door to such situations.
The names of Rosalia Rodrigues and Gastão Crespo were revealed on Tuesday in the tabloid Correio da Manhã, which specializes in garish front pages and sensational news, and included a short interview with the couple and with Cardinal Antonio Marto. Pope Francis named Marto a cardinal in June 2018, days after Marto published a “Pastoral note” on May 31st, 2018, giving “pastoral guidelines in view of better ecclesial integration of divorced faithful living in a new union.”
Remarkably, the story came out about the same time that the Argentinian press related how the new President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, received communion together with his second official mistress, Fabiola Yañez, although he is divorced and is actively working for the legalization of abortion in his country.
In an added twist, the first time Rosalia, 39, and Gastão, 47, from Leiria, received communion as a divorced and “remarried” couple was May 13, 2019: the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima who appeared to three children from May to October of 1917 in the mountain village of the same name, 30 km away. Since then, they say they are “at peace” and once again feel accepted as “children of God.”
Under the headline “The Church reinstates divorced faithful,” O Correio da Manhã added hard-hitting subtitles: “The diocese of Leiria-Fatima opens the door to spouses in a second union” – “Rosalia and Gastão were allowed to return to Communion and thank the Pope.”
“We’ve gone from a wounded heart to a heart at peace. Thank you, Pope Francis,” Rodrigues told the daily.
Both were actively Catholic before they entered into an adulterous union. According to the Correio, they married civilly 10 years ago and found themselves obliged to “limit their participation in the Church.”
Said Rosalia: “It was painful. It felt like a big gash. I was a catechist and a minister of Communion. I realized, in the moment in which I was getting married, that I would be in a state of adultery.” Gastão added: “We never received Communion again. It didn’t make sense to be in a state of sin. I remain married for the Church and we accepted that consequence.”
It was only when the diocese of Leiria-Fatima, explicitly quoting Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia, opened special sessions for divorced and “remarried” Catholics that “a light started to shine in the lives of Rosalia and Gastão,” wrote the Correio. They followed the sessions set up by “Don Antonio’s” pastoral note, which explicitly follow the orientation given by Amoris laetitia. They also quote as a source the guidelines of the Bishops of Greater Buenos Aires, “approved as authentic magisterium by a letter from the Pope,” and those of the Bishops of Germany, Malta, and Emilia-Romagna in Italy. All these directives read Amoris laetitia as allowing the sacraments to be given to divorced and “remarried” couples who remain in their illicit union although their Church marriage was not judged null and void by an ecclesiastical tribunal.
In the same popular newspaper, Cardinal Marto answered the question as to why he “decided to adopt the Pope’s vision for the family.”
“A path had not yet been found for divorced spouses allowing them to be reinstated in the life of the Church and the Christian community, which in this case, can lead to full integration of the sacraments. No one can remain condemned forever, that’s what the Pope said,” he answered.
“Does the Church need to adapt to the times?” the journalist asked him. “Right. It must welcome these families, but this is not only the affair of priests and bishops, communities must do the same,” said Cardinal Marto.
He formally presented the implementation of his “path of discernment” when he inaugurated a new “Support Center for Families” (“Centro de Apoio a Familia, CAF) in the diocesan seminary of Leiria. It caters to families in crisis with a team of 21 volunteers who will give them free psychological, medical, legal and spiritual counseling.
“The family is the best and most valuable intangible heritage of humanity,” said Cardinal Marto. According to the Jornal de Noticias which reported on the inauguration ceremony, the CAF will try to help couples stay together, but it also hopes to “help future divorced couples also to follow this process” of discernment.
Last June, a report on Rosalia Rodrigues and Gastão Crespo, complete with a picture of them with Gastão’s son by his Catholic marriage and the three small boys of the “blended family,” all smiles, was published by their parish journal and then picked up and republished by the communications office of the diocese of Leiria-Fatima. It was titled “A testimony of life.”
Rosalia and Gastão explained that despite having entered into a civil union, they never missed a Sunday mass and made sure their boys were baptized and received catechism. Had Cardinal Marto not instituted his “path of discernment,” things would have remained that way. It was the existence of this “path” that led them to decide to take steps in order to receive the sacraments.
The June article did not reveal that they did exactly that on May 13 – perhaps it was written before – but in it Rosalia and Gastão said that “lately,” they had been “asked” and had “accepted” to become catechists and to join their parish commission.
They also recounted how they had met some time after Gastão’s divorce in 2006: “We fell in love responsibly and it is with full conscience of the religious consequences of our union that we decided to get a civil marriage in 2009.”
Rosalia was a full-time parish social worker and catechist in Santarém (the seat of a spectacular Eucharistic miracle in the 13th century). Gastão was also a catechist and active in the Church. He married in 1998 and had a son. He said he “tried in every possible way” to find reconciliation with his wife, but without success. He also said his marriage was a “conscious and responsible” one for both himself and his wife and therefore valid: “there was no room for a process of nullity.” Besides looking closely after their son, Gastão says he has kept up a “cordial relationship” with the boy’s mother.
The “path of discernment” led Rosalia and Gastão to join bi-weekly two-hour sessions for six months. “At the end of this whole magnificent path, we feel called to the matrimonial vocation and to be even closer to God, even without being united by the sacrament of Matrimony,” they said.
They hope to be “an example” for other couples living in a second union.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--Catholic university presidents ‘warmly welcome’ pro-gay message of Fr. James Martin

WASHINGTON , D.C. , February 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – At a meeting in the nation ’ s capital , Fr .
James Martin , S.J .
– the most prominent clergyman arguing for the normalization of homosexuality and transgenderism within the Church – addressed 150 Catholic college and university presidents , urging them to promote “ inclusion ” on their campuses by promoting “ LGBT-affirming liturgies , ” permitting students to choose their own pronouns , and holding “ Lavender Graduations.
” Martin offered his remarks at the annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidents were joined by nearly 200 top staff for a three-day conference at D.C. ’ s swanky Ritz-Carlton Hotel .
ACCU President Fr .
Dennis H. Holtschneider said the group “ welcomed Martin very warmly , ” according to The Washington Post .
Holtschneider told the group that the session was not about “ challenging Church teaching ” but about “ delving into it.
” Jim Towey , past president of St. Vincent College and Ave Maria University – two schools with reputations as orthodox Catholic institutions – expressed receptivity to Fr .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ perception by some of Pope Francis ’ s openness on LGBT outreach , ” indicates that “ there is a shift underway , ” Towey told the Post .
“ Martin ’ s talk could signal the beginning of a larger debate on these contentious issues.
” Martin ’ s presence at the ACCU meeting may very well be evidence of a quiet seismic shift in some Catholic schools : A serious erosion of their Catholic identity and a further abandonment of Catholic moral teaching .
Last summer , the alumni publication of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Catholic institution in Maryland which until recently was seen as a bastion of orthodoxy , included for the first time an “ engagement ” announcement for a same-sex couple .
“ One dean of a university in the Northeast said that while you may have trouble with ‘ reluctant trustees , bishops [ , ] or other constituents ’ over the moral case , the practical case is strong , ” recounted Martin .
The gaying and transgendering of Catholic Schools Martin filled his speech with suggestions for making Catholic campuses “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the experience of senior staff who have already forged ahead with normalizing homosexuality and transgenderism at their schools .
Martin avoided speaking about the Courage Apostolate and how it might help “ LGBT students ” to live chaste lives in accordance with Church teaching .
Instead , he chose to speak about “ the undercurrent of ‘ conversion therapy ’ that runs through our church like a polluted stream.
” Yet no one in the Catholic Church advocates for so-called conversion therapy .
It is a term which pro-LGBT activists like Martin employ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts of those with unwanted same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria to seek psychological counseling in the pursuit of wholeness and happiness .
Selectively quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church , Martin asserted that treating same-sex attracted and gender-confused students with “ respect , compassion , and sensitivity , ” requires using pronouns that do not correspond with reality and enshrining “ sexual orientation and gender identity ” into nondiscrimination policies .
• Calling people by the names and pronouns they choose is part of respect ; • Following the example of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where L.G.B.T .
faculty and staff wear purple stoles over their academic regalia ; • Allowing transgender students to “ live in housing that matches their gender identity ” ; • Ensuring that students can change their names/gender on records , and that faculty members use the student ’ s preferred name and pronouns .
Janet Smith , recently retired professor of moral theology at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit , Michigan , challenged Catholic school leaders who might easily accept Martin ’ s message .
“ Any university or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and every claim of Martin to a close analysis doesn ’ t deserve the position , ” Smith told LifeSiteNews .
“ It won ’ t take long ; his arguments fall like a house of cards for anyone who possesses the least amount of logical skills.
” “ And if these presidents aren ’ t objecting strenuously to being subjected to Martin ’ s blather when they could be getting guidance on these difficult questions based on legitimate science , and sound philosophy and theology , they don ’ t know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she continued .
Smith pointed out the flawed nature of Fr .
Martin ’ s presentation : Saint John Paul II taught that our dignity lies in our ability to know the truth and our freedom to act in accord with it .
Sadly , unsurprisingly , the word “ truth ” never appears in Martin ’ s speech .
He studiously ignores the truth that no scientific studies establish that transitioning from one sex to another has any real benefits ; he does not take up the truth that operations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of harmful mutilation ; he never talks about the need to understand God ’ s plan for sexuality ; to see that the body expresses our calling to live lives of complete self-giving .
“ This only serves to remind Catholic families of the importance of choosing colleges that fully embrace the Catholic faith , without reserve , ” Patrick J. Reilly , President of The Cardinal Newman Society , told LifeSiteNews .
“ The most compassionate educators are those who teach and witness to the Church ’ s wisdom and moral clarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fidelity do great harm and burden young people with confusion and despair .
We see it across the world today.
” Although Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler , Texas , was unavailable for comment , he recently took to Twitter to criticize an upcoming Fordham University pro-homosexual Catholic ministry conference which Martin had promoted .
“ May those who join in this Conference share the full message of Catholic teaching .
If Catholics minister without calling sinful behavior sinful then their work is neither truly Catholic nor true ministry .
True compassion calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LifeSiteNews reached out to an array of bishops , Catholic university and college presidents , and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – all of whom either declined to comment on or ignored LifeSite ’ s invitation to offer reactions to Martin ’ s speech .
Fr .
Martin ’ s lengthy record of pro-gay activism ranges from his many speeches and media appearances promoting homosexuality to his retweeting of a complaint that priests can ’ t “ bless ” gay unions to suggesting that the Church is full of “ homophobia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attracted .
He supports gay men kissing each other during the sign of peace at Mass , says that a Catholic attending a same-sex “ wedding ” is like attending a Jewish wedding , and suggests that his critics are secretly gay themselves .
The Jesuit says homosexual priests should “ come out ” about their sexual proclivities , but has publicly declined to say whether he himself is gay .
In 2018 , he told participants at the World Meeting of Families in Ireland that active homosexuals “ should be invited into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ eucharistic ministers ” in order to make them welcomed and accepted in the Catholic Church .

Catholic colleges should host 'Lavender Graduations' and call students by pronouns that do not correspond with reality, the Jesuit argued.
SIGN THE PETITION: Bishops, please stop Fr. Martin's LGBT advocacy! Sign the petition here.
ANALYSIS
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – At a meeting in the nation’s capital, Fr. James Martin, S.J. – the most prominent clergyman arguing for the normalization of homosexuality and transgenderism within the Church – addressed 150 Catholic college and university presidents, urging them to promote “inclusion” on their campuses by promoting “LGBT-affirming liturgies,” permitting students to choose their own pronouns, and holding “Lavender Graduations.”
Martin offered his remarks at the annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), where school presidents were joined by nearly 200 top staff for a three-day conference at D.C.’s swanky Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
ACCU President Fr. Dennis H. Holtschneider said the group “welcomed Martin very warmly,” according to The Washington Post.
Holtschneider told the group that the session was not about “challenging Church teaching” but about “delving into it.”
Jim Towey, past president of St. Vincent College and Ave Maria University – two schools with reputations as orthodox Catholic institutions – expressed receptivity to Fr. Martin’s message.
The “perception by some of Pope Francis’s openness on LGBT outreach,” indicates that “there is a shift underway,” Towey told the Post. “Martin’s talk could signal the beginning of a larger debate on these contentious issues.”
Martin’s presence at the ACCU meeting may very well be evidence of a quiet seismic shift in some Catholic schools: A serious erosion of their Catholic identity and a further abandonment of Catholic moral teaching.
Last summer, the alumni publication of Mount St. Mary’s University, a Catholic institution in Maryland which until recently was seen as a bastion of orthodoxy, included for the first time an “engagement” announcement for a same-sex couple.
“One dean of a university in the Northeast said that while you may have trouble with ‘reluctant trustees, bishops[,] or other constituents’ over the moral case, the practical case is strong,” recounted Martin.
The gaying and transgendering of Catholic Schools
Martin filled his speech with suggestions for making Catholic campuses “more inclusive,” often drawing from the experience of senior staff who have already forged ahead with normalizing homosexuality and transgenderism at their schools.
Martin avoided speaking about the Courage Apostolate and how it might help “LGBT students” to live chaste lives in accordance with Church teaching.
Instead, he chose to speak about “the undercurrent of ‘conversion therapy’ that runs through our church like a polluted stream.”
Yet no one in the Catholic Church advocates for so-called conversion therapy. It is a term which pro-LGBT activists like Martin employ in order to discredit and undermine the efforts of those with unwanted same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria to seek psychological counseling in the pursuit of wholeness and happiness.
Selectively quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Martin asserted that treating same-sex attracted and gender-confused students with “respect, compassion, and sensitivity,” requires using pronouns that do not correspond with reality and enshrining “sexual orientation and gender identity” into nondiscrimination policies.
He argued:
Calling people by the names and pronouns they choose is part of respect;
Providing L.G.B.T.-inclusive benefits reflects compassion;
Including sexual orientation and gender identity in nondiscrimination policies shows sensitivity.
Martin proposed:
Highlighting L.G.B.T. faculty and staff as role models;
Introducing L.G.B.T.-affirming spiritualities, theologies, liturgies;
Following the example of a Catholic school which has a Lavender Graduation, where L.G.B.T. faculty and staff wear purple stoles over their academic regalia;
Allowing transgender students to “live in housing that matches their gender identity”;
Ensuring that school health insurance should cover gender “transition”-related services;
Ensuring that students can change their names/gender on records, and that faculty members use the student’s preferred name and pronouns.
Resisting Fr. Martin’s advice
Janet Smith, recently retired professor of moral theology at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, challenged Catholic school leaders who might easily accept Martin’s message.
“Any university or college president who does not subject each and every claim of Martin to a close analysis doesn’t deserve the position,” Smith told LifeSiteNews. “It won’t take long; his arguments fall like a house of cards for anyone who possesses the least amount of logical skills.”
“And if these presidents aren’t objecting strenuously to being subjected to Martin’s blather when they could be getting guidance on these difficult questions based on legitimate science, and sound philosophy and theology, they don’t know what the responsibilities of Catholic education entail,” she continued.
Smith pointed out the flawed nature of Fr. Martin’s presentation:
Saint John Paul II taught that our dignity lies in our ability to know the truth and our freedom to act in accord with it. Sadly, unsurprisingly, the word “truth” never appears in Martin’s speech. He studiously ignores the truth that no scientific studies establish that transitioning from one sex to another has any real benefits; he does not take up the truth that operations to change people’s sex are acts of harmful mutilation; he never talks about the need to understand God’s plan for sexuality; to see that the body expresses our calling to live lives of complete self-giving.
“This only serves to remind Catholic families of the importance of choosing colleges that fully embrace the Catholic faith, without reserve,” Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society, told LifeSiteNews.
“The most compassionate educators are those who teach and witness to the Church’s wisdom and moral clarity. Others who compromise their witness and fidelity do great harm and burden young people with confusion and despair. We see it across the world today.”
Although Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, was unavailable for comment, he recently took to Twitter to criticize an upcoming Fordham University pro-homosexual Catholic ministry conference which Martin had promoted.
“May those who join in this Conference share the full message of Catholic teaching. If Catholics minister without calling sinful behavior sinful then their work is neither truly Catholic nor true ministry. True compassion calls the person from sin to virtue.”
May those who join in this Conference share the full message of Catholic teaching. If Catholics minister without calling sinful behavior sinful then their work is neither truly Catholic nor true ministry. True compassion calls the person from sin to virtue. https://t.co/lSOKKHIYbz — Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) January 30, 2020
LifeSiteNews reached out to an array of bishops, Catholic university and college presidents, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – all of whom either declined to comment on or ignored LifeSite’s invitation to offer reactions to Martin’s speech.
Martin’s past record
Fr. Martin’s lengthy record of pro-gay activism ranges from his many speeches and media appearances promoting homosexuality to his retweeting of a complaint that priests can’t “bless” gay unions to suggesting that the Church is full of “homophobia” and “marginalizes” the same-sex attracted.
He supports gay men kissing each other during the sign of peace at Mass, says that a Catholic attending a same-sex “wedding” is like attending a Jewish wedding, and suggests that his critics are secretly gay themselves.
The Jesuit says homosexual priests should “come out” about their sexual proclivities, but has publicly declined to say whether he himself is gay.
In 2018, he told participants at the World Meeting of Families in Ireland that active homosexuals “should be invited into parish ministries” specifically mentioning them becoming “eucharistic ministers” in order to make them welcomed and accepted in the Catholic Church.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--Vatican doctrine office never saw Amazon Synod draft that ‘opens door’ to married priests

ROME , February 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – New details have emerged regarding a draft text of Pope Francis ’ s widely anticipated summary document on the Amazon Synod that is said to “ open the door ” to abolishing priestly celibacy in the Latin Church .
According to Italian historian Roberto de Mattei , multiple sources have confirmed that neither the Vatican Secretary of State nor the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith were given the partial draft of the apostolic exhortation that Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes sent to at least several bishops conferences in mid-January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberto de Mattei , president of the Lepanto Foundation and director of Corrispondenza Romana , reported based on documents received from several bishops , that a partial draft text had been sent to members of the episcopacy by Cardinal Hummes that would lead to a widespread weakening of priestly celibacy in the Latin Church .
Cardinal Hummes , who served as General Relator at the October 2019 Amazon Synod , has long advocated a change in the discipline of priestly celibacy .
The Brazilian cardinal made headlines in 2006 when he argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic history and culture , the Church could review this question , because celibacy is not a dogma but a disciplinary question.
” According to documents received by Corrispondenza Romana , the partial draft text that bishops received from Cardinal Hummes reproduced verbatim paragraph 111 of the Amazon Synod ’ s final document .
In paragraph 111 , the synod fathers proposed ordaining married men in “ the most remote areas of the Amazon region.
” De Mattei argued that the positive inclusion of this passage in the apostolic exhortation ( whether in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would effectively “ open the door ” for the German Bishops , and others , to create a married clergy .
“ There is no reason to prohibit in other regions of the world what will be permitted in some parts of the Amazon , ” he wrote .
In comments to LifeSite on February 5 , de Mattei expanded on his initial report , saying : “ It is known that , on January 13 , Cardinal Hummes sent a letter to all the bishops to make them aware of the imminent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exhortation.
” De Mattei continued : “ Based on absolutely sure sources , Corrispondenza Romana revealed the existence of a subsequent letter , sent sub secreto by Cardinal Hummes himself , in which paragraph 111 of the Amazon Synod ’ s final document is presented as part of Pope Francis ’ s Post-Synodal Exhortation .
But it seems that the document approved by the Congregation for the Faith does not contain this passage.
” He added : “ It seems impossible to imagine that Pope Francis was unaware of the initiative of Cardinal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis ’ strategy ?
What twist will he keep for us at the last moment ?
” Were two parallel initiatives set in motion ?
And if so , why ?
It is still premature to say what the final outcome will be .
The apostolic exhortation is currently in translation and is expected to be released on February 12 , 2020 .

'What is Pope Francis’ strategy? What twist will he keep for us at the last moment?'
ROME, February 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – New details have emerged regarding a draft text of Pope Francis’s widely anticipated summary document on the Amazon Synod that is said to “open the door” to abolishing priestly celibacy in the Latin Church.
According to Italian historian Roberto de Mattei, multiple sources have confirmed that neither the Vatican Secretary of State nor the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith were given the partial draft of the apostolic exhortation that Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes sent to at least several bishops conferences in mid-January.
On Friday, January 31, Roberto de Mattei, president of the Lepanto Foundation and director of Corrispondenza Romana, reported based on documents received from several bishops, that a partial draft text had been sent to members of the episcopacy by Cardinal Hummes that would lead to a widespread weakening of priestly celibacy in the Latin Church.
Cardinal Hummes, who served as General Relator at the October 2019 Amazon Synod, has long advocated a change in the discipline of priestly celibacy. The Brazilian cardinal made headlines in 2006 when he argued that “even though celibacy is part of Catholic history and culture, the Church could review this question, because celibacy is not a dogma but a disciplinary question.”
According to documents received by Corrispondenza Romana, the partial draft text that bishops received from Cardinal Hummes reproduced verbatim paragraph 111 of the Amazon Synod’s final document. In paragraph 111, the synod fathers proposed ordaining married men in “the most remote areas of the Amazon region.”
De Mattei argued that the positive inclusion of this passage in the apostolic exhortation (whether in the main body or a footnote) would effectively “open the door” for the German Bishops, and others, to create a married clergy. “There is no reason to prohibit in other regions of the world what will be permitted in some parts of the Amazon,” he wrote.
In comments to LifeSite on February 5, de Mattei expanded on his initial report, saying: “It is known that, on January 13, Cardinal Hummes sent a letter to all the bishops to make them aware of the imminent release of Pope Francis’s Post-Synodal Exhortation.”
De Mattei continued: “Based on absolutely sure sources, Corrispondenza Romana revealed the existence of a subsequent letter, sent sub secreto by Cardinal Hummes himself, in which paragraph 111 of the Amazon Synod’s final document is presented as part of Pope Francis’s Post-Synodal Exhortation. But it seems that the document approved by the Congregation for the Faith does not contain this passage.”
He added: “It seems impossible to imagine that Pope Francis was unaware of the initiative of Cardinal Hummes. But then what is Pope Francis’ strategy? What twist will he keep for us at the last moment?”
Were two parallel initiatives set in motion? And if so, why?
It is still premature to say what the final outcome will be. The apostolic exhortation is currently in translation and is expected to be released on February 12, 2020.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--BREAKING: Senate votes to acquit Trump on impeachment charges

WASHINGTON , D.C. , February 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The United States Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump of both articles of impeachment Wednesday afternoon , ending a months-long political battle and giving Trump another potent talking point going into his re-election campaign later this year .
52 voted “ not guilty ” and 48 “ guilty ” on the first article , while 53 voted “ not guilty ” and 47 “ guilty ” on the second article .
The impeachment push was sparked in September by Trump ’ s requests that the Ukrainian government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election , as well as former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s role in the ouster of a prosecutor who had been investigating his son ’ s business dealings in the country .
Trump ’ s defenders argue it ’ s legitimate for world leaders to request assistance in rooting out a previous administration ’ s potential corruption ; his opponents claim it was at the very least inappropriate given Trump and Biden ’ s political rivalry , and a serious abuse of power if Trump made congressionally-authorized foreign aid a condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articles of impeachment accused the president of “ abuse of power ” in his requests to Ukraine , and “ obstruction of Congress ” for the administration ’ s non-compliance with House subpoenas .
The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted 230-197 in December to impeach the president , but it was always considered unrealistic that the Republican-controlled Senate would vote to remove him from office .
A 67-vote supermajority would have been required to convict and remove Trump , though a simple majority voting to acquit on both counts gives Trump a rhetorical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in office .
At National Review , former federal prosecutor and conservative legal analyst Andy McCarthy concluded the charges against Trump “ range from insignificant to implausible to inane , ” with the vague “ abuse of power ” meant to mask the “ lack of an identifiable crime ” on the president ’ s part .
As for the obstruction claim , he argued that disputes between government branches over information requests often hinge on debatable issues of executive privilege or legal confidentiality , and as such “ are meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Every Senate Democrat voted to convict Trump on both articles , including perceived “ moderate ” Sens .
Doug Jones of Alabama , Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona , and Joe Manchin of West Virginia , as well as presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , and Bernie Sanders of Vermont .
Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) , a longtime critic of the president , was the only Republican who voted to convict ( albeit on abuse of power , not on the obstruction charge ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s left-wing detractors to claim the vote was “ bipartisan.
” Liberal Republican Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , who were perceived as potential swing votes , both chose to acquit Trump .
President Trump has not yet issued a statement on the outcome , but did tweet the above video following the vote , which humorously suggests his detractors will be stuck with him far longer than four years .

The vote ends a months-long legal battle and gives Trump another potent talking point going into his re-election battle later this year.
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The United States Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump of both articles of impeachment Wednesday afternoon, ending a months-long political battle and giving Trump another potent talking point going into his re-election campaign later this year.
52 voted “not guilty” and 48 “guilty” on the first article, while 53 voted “not guilty” and 47 “guilty” on the second article.
(2/2): “…it is, therefore, ordered and adjudged that the said Donald John Trump be, and he is hereby, acquitted of the charges in said articles.” — Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) February 5, 2020
The impeachment push was sparked in September by Trump’s requests that the Ukrainian government help investigate foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election, as well as former Vice President Joe Biden’s role in the ouster of a prosecutor who had been investigating his son’s business dealings in the country.
Trump’s defenders argue it’s legitimate for world leaders to request assistance in rooting out a previous administration’s potential corruption; his opponents claim it was at the very least inappropriate given Trump and Biden’s political rivalry, and a serious abuse of power if Trump made congressionally-authorized foreign aid a condition of compliance.
Specifically, the two articles of impeachment accused the president of “abuse of power” in his requests to Ukraine, and “obstruction of Congress” for the administration’s non-compliance with House subpoenas.
The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted 230-197 in December to impeach the president, but it was always considered unrealistic that the Republican-controlled Senate would vote to remove him from office. A 67-vote supermajority would have been required to convict and remove Trump, though a simple majority voting to acquit on both counts gives Trump a rhetorical vindication on top of allowing him to remain in office.
At National Review, former federal prosecutor and conservative legal analyst Andy McCarthy concluded the charges against Trump “range from insignificant to implausible to inane,” with the vague “abuse of power” meant to mask the “lack of an identifiable crime” on the president’s part. As for the obstruction claim, he argued that disputes between government branches over information requests often hinge on debatable issues of executive privilege or legal confidentiality, and as such “are meant to be resolved by politics, not judges.”
Every Senate Democrat voted to convict Trump on both articles, including perceived “moderate” Sens. Doug Jones of Alabama, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, as well as presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), a longtime critic of the president, was the only Republican who voted to convict (albeit on abuse of power, not on the obstruction charge), provoking conservative ire and enabling Trump’s left-wing detractors to claim the vote was “bipartisan.” Liberal Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who were perceived as potential swing votes, both chose to acquit Trump.
President Trump has not yet issued a statement on the outcome, but did tweet the above video following the vote, which humorously suggests his detractors will be stuck with him far longer than four years.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--University ordered to pay $243k after denying pro-life students money, funding ‘LGBTQA Pride C

University ordered to pay $243k after denying pro-life students money, funding ‘LGBTQA Pride Center’

SAN MARCOS , California , February 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A pro-life club at the California State University ( CSU ) campus of San Marcos has achieved a major legal victory , after a settlement agreement required their university to change its policies to no longer discriminate against pro-life organizations and pay the pro-lifers ’ $ 240,000 in legal fees and $ 3,000 in damages .
The Students for Life ( SFL ) chapter had brought a federal lawsuit against the university .
They claimed that they were denied university funding to host pro-life speakers , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sponsor the so-called Gender Equity Center and LGBTQA Pride Center .
Students at the university are required to pay mandatory fees to the student government .
From those fees , the Gender Equity Center and LGBTQA Pride Center was reportedly receiving nearly $ 300,000 annually with no strings attached .
In contrast , other student clubs , including Students for Life , have only been allowed to apply for $ 500 per semester , which can not be used for honoraria or speaker fees .
“ In the 2016-2017 academic year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pride Center received a combined $ 296,498 to funds its activities—57 times more than all other 100 student groups combined—compared to the less than $ 6,000 that was actually distributed to all 100 other student groups , ” read a statement from Alliance Defending Freedom ( ADF ) , who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the pro-life student group .
In August 2019 , a federal court ruled that the university ’ s policies unconstitutionally discriminated against views the university didn ’ t favor .
As part of the settlement CSU , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , has agreed its revise policies so as not to discriminate in favor of particular viewpoints across all of its 23 campuses .
Former SFL-San Marcos president Nathan Apodaca has also been awarded a refund of his $ 300 mandatory student government fees .
The settlement states that the student government is now required to adopt “ viewpoint-neutral standards ” for the allocation of mandatory student fees to any registered student organization “ that involves viewpoint expression.
” They must comply with the Supreme Court ’ s 2000 ruling in a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth .
The student government must not “ discriminate against any funding request based on the viewpoint to be expressed by the RSO or proposed event.
” If funding applications are “ denied or reduced ” then reasons must be given for the decision , as well as a “ right of prompt appeal.
” “ Just because an idea might offend us does n't mean it 's wrong and just because we 're completely okay with a certain idea does n't mean it 's right , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ADF when the lawsuit began back in 2017 .
“ Ultimately , our clients ’ goal was to ensure the policies were changed and all students ’ freedoms are protected , ” Caleb Dalton , the ADF legal counsel , told The College Fix .
In a statement announcing the settlement , Dalton said : “ Public universities should encourage all students to participate in the free exchange of ideas , not create elaborate and secretive funding schemes to fund their favorite groups while excluding opposing views from equal access.
” The settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and LGBTQA Pride Center from funding via mandatory student fees , retroactive to July 1 , 2019 .
The student government may not use mandatory student fees “ unless and until ” it adopts viewpoint-neutral criteria for funding applications .
In last year ’ s federal court ruling that the university ’ s policies were unconstitutionally discriminatory , Judge James Lorenz ’ s ruled against “ qualified immunity ” for CSU Chancellor Timothy White and then-President Karen Haynes of CSUSM .
This means that if a settlement hadn ’ t been reached , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dalton said that this ruling gave the plaintiffs “ the leverage to make this [ the settlement ] happen.
” He added : “ Thankfully , the end result is a change of policy , not only on the San Marcos campus , but a directive from the Chancellor that the entire Cal State system review and revise its policies.
” “ Public universities have no right to use their power , including mandatory student fees , to fund speech they prefer while blocking speech they don ’ t like , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Life of America .
“ Because of the initiative and courage of student leaders at Cal State-San Marcos , pro-life students at public universities across California will benefit from the administration ’ s policy reversal .
Pro-life students should have every opportunity available to them that pro-abortion students enjoy , and anything less is a failure on the part of the university to abide by the First Amendment .
Schools can not use the power of the purse to punish students who value mothers as well as their preborn babies .
”

The Gender Equity Center and the LGBQTA Pride Center received a combined $296,498 to funds its activities—57 times more than all other 100 student groups combined. However, the California State University-San Marcos wouldn't give funds to pro-life students for a speaker.
SAN MARCOS, California, February 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A pro-life club at the California State University (CSU) campus of San Marcos has achieved a major legal victory, after a settlement agreement required their university to change its policies to no longer discriminate against pro-life organizations and pay the pro-lifers’ $240,000 in legal fees and $3,000 in damages.
The Students for Life (SFL) chapter had brought a federal lawsuit against the university. They claimed that they were denied university funding to host pro-life speakers, while mandatory student government fees were being used to sponsor the so-called Gender Equity Center and LGBTQA Pride Center.
Students at the university are required to pay mandatory fees to the student government. From those fees, the Gender Equity Center and LGBTQA Pride Center was reportedly receiving nearly $300,000 annually with no strings attached.
In contrast, other student clubs, including Students for Life, have only been allowed to apply for $500 per semester, which cannot be used for honoraria or speaker fees.
“In the 2016-2017 academic year, the Gender Equity Center and the LGBQTA Pride Center received a combined $296,498 to funds its activities—57 times more than all other 100 student groups combined—compared to the less than $6,000 that was actually distributed to all 100 other student groups,” read a statement from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the pro-life student group.
In August 2019, a federal court ruled that the university’s policies unconstitutionally discriminated against views the university didn’t favor.
As part of the settlement CSU, the largest four-year university system in the country, has agreed its revise policies so as not to discriminate in favor of particular viewpoints across all of its 23 campuses. Former SFL-San Marcos president Nathan Apodaca has also been awarded a refund of his $300 mandatory student government fees.
The settlement states that the student government is now required to adopt “viewpoint-neutral standards” for the allocation of mandatory student fees to any registered student organization “that involves viewpoint expression.” They must comply with the Supreme Court’s 2000 ruling in a similar case, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth.
The student government must not “discriminate against any funding request based on the viewpoint to be expressed by the RSO or proposed event.” If funding applications are “denied or reduced” then reasons must be given for the decision, as well as a “right of prompt appeal.”
“Just because an idea might offend us doesn't mean it's wrong and just because we're completely okay with a certain idea doesn't mean it's right,” Apodaca said in a video produced by ADF when the lawsuit began back in 2017.
“Ultimately, our clients’ goal was to ensure the policies were changed and all students’ freedoms are protected,” Caleb Dalton, the ADF legal counsel, told The College Fix.
In a statement announcing the settlement, Dalton said: “Public universities should encourage all students to participate in the free exchange of ideas, not create elaborate and secretive funding schemes to fund their favorite groups while excluding opposing views from equal access.”
The settlement agreement reportedly bars the Gender Equity Center and LGBTQA Pride Center from funding via mandatory student fees, retroactive to July 1, 2019. The student government may not use mandatory student fees “unless and until” it adopts viewpoint-neutral criteria for funding applications.
In last year’s federal court ruling that the university’s policies were unconstitutionally discriminatory, Judge James Lorenz’s ruled against “qualified immunity” for CSU Chancellor Timothy White and then-President Karen Haynes of CSUSM. This means that if a settlement hadn’t been reached, they could have been held personally liable.
Dalton said that this ruling gave the plaintiffs “the leverage to make this [the settlement] happen.”
He added: “Thankfully, the end result is a change of policy, not only on the San Marcos campus, but a directive from the Chancellor that the entire Cal State system review and revise its policies.”
“Public universities have no right to use their power, including mandatory student fees, to fund speech they prefer while blocking speech they don’t like,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America.
“Because of the initiative and courage of student leaders at Cal State-San Marcos, pro-life students at public universities across California will benefit from the administration’s policy reversal. Pro-life students should have every opportunity available to them that pro-abortion students enjoy, and anything less is a failure on the part of the university to abide by the First Amendment. Schools cannot use the power of the purse to punish students who value mothers as well as their preborn babies.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-05--EXCLUSIVE: Canada conservative leadership candidate would return party to male-female marriage defin

EXCLUSIVE: Canada conservative leadership candidate would return party to male-female marriage definition

MONTREAL , Quebec , February 4 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Richard Décarie says he ’ s running for leader of the Canada ’ s Conservative Party to return it to its roots and correct the “ Liberal-lite ” leftward swing it ’ s taken under the influence of “ red ” Tories .
“ I think the leadership of the Conservative Party needs to be changed drastically , ” the Quebecer and former Stephen Harper staffer said in an exclusive interview for LifeSiteNews with Georges Buscemi of Campagne Quebéc-Vie .
Part of that change would include returning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ union of a man and a woman , ” he said .
Indeed , Décarie ’ s candidacy stands in stark contrast to that of alleged front-runner , former MP Peter MacKay , as well as MPs Marilyn Gladu and Erin O ’ Toole , all of whom say they ’ ll march in the homosexual Toronto Pride parade the day after the new leader is announced at a Toronto convention June 27 .
( O ’ Toole has made his participation contingent on the police being allowed to march as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this race if they truly are the “ big tent party ” Harper built in 2004 , Décarie said .
And in his view , that means the party must recover the centre-right position it had under the former prime minister , and more particularly , go back to what it was before 2016 .
That ’ s the year Conservative delegates at a Vancouver convention voted 1,036-462 to nix the policy supporting the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman .
Canada legalized homosexual “ marriages ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a mistake , ” Décarie said .
“ I ’ ve been fighting with Mr. Harper in 2004 against the definition of marriage that the Liberals were trying to present , ” he told Buscemi .
“ So we need to go back to the definition of marriage with the union of a man and a woman , and then the rest of the unions will be covered by civil union.
” Former MP Brad Trost , who came in fourth in the last leadership race and is now chairing Décarie ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader at the Vancouver convention for those who opposed dropping the definition of traditional marriage .
Trost said at the time deleting the policy didn ’ t mean the Conservatives endorsed same-sex “ marriage , ” but that the party was neutral on the subject .
But Décarie ’ s view , as well as his observation that homosexuality is a “ choice , ” have led some high-level Tories to claim the party should bar him from the race for alleged bigotry .
There ’ s also been suggestions in the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grounds he doesn ’ t adhere to party policy .
This “ makes no sense , ” counters Décarie , pointing out policies are by definition subject to change .
“ I was challenged in this race , saying that I go against the party rules or policies , ” he told Buscemi .
But the policies “ were changed in 2016 , why not change them back if it ’ s necessary ?
” The firestorm over Décarie ’ s views on homosexuality has eclipsed his views on abortion , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pregnancy is not a disease , and so therefore , abortion should not be covered under Canada ’ s public health insurance plans .
Although health care is administered by the provinces , the federal government provides a large share of funding for it under Canada Health Act , Décarie said .
So if the federal government stops `` financing or funding abortion , it will be easy for the provinces to decide whether they will finance it themselves , or , they will decide to abandon it , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curtail the expansion of euthanasia , but that “ my perception is that life is starting at the conception until the natural death ” and this “ would set the base for debate ” within the party .
“ I ’ m always surprised to see the progressive Conservatives , more red Tories , are against debating those issues , saying it ’ s settled .
It ’ s never settled , ” he said .
“ We ’ re in politics to debate and I am proposing all those issues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not imposed like the Liberal Party is doing.
” He supports allowing Members of Parliament to bring forward private member ’ s bills , noting that Justin Trudeau ’ s father Pierre told “ his MPs that they had no power other than the day of election.
” Décarie denounced the controversial Yale telecommunications report that recommends the Liberal government massively expand the CRTC to regulate the internet and require that media be licensed to operate in Canada .
“ Liberalism is socialism by the back door and that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ In communist countries you have the control of the information and all of that .
I ’ m for freedom , the Conservative Party should be for freedom.
” Décarie supports a decentralized federal government and more autonomy for the provinces , stricter immigration laws , and banning private advertising from the CBC .
He initially said he ’ d run to oppose one-time Liberal Quebec premier Jean Charest ’ s candidacy .
But as Buscemi pointed out in the interview , Charest apparently decided against running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source quoted in French-language daily Le Devoir , internal polls revealed one-third of the party opposed abortion and same-sex “ marriage.
” Those are the views Andrew Scheer , the Conservative leader whose resignation in December kicked off the race , held at one point and likely still does , but as leader he insisted the party would not reopen the abortion debate on any level .
Scheer “ didn ’ t apply his own values , his personal values , to the party , and all the people that elected him were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreover , “ red Tories ” like MacKay claimed Scheer “ lost the election because he ’ s a social conservative , ” Décarie said .
“ I think it ’ s the opposite .
Let ’ s bring back that philosophy.
” It was MacKay ’ s implied threat that social conservatives weren ’ t welcome in the party that motivated Décarie to persevere in his leadership bid after Charest bowed out , he said .
Décarie is not the only social conservative candidate in the race .
Rookie Ontario MP Derek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ring , and has already received media backlash for his views .
Aspiring candidates must submit 1,000 signatures of party members from a minimum of 30 ridings in at least seven provinces and $ 25,000 by February 27 , at which point they ’ ll be vetted by the committee , including having to answer a 42-page questionnaire .
If they pass that hurdle , they must submit another 2,000 signatures and the balance of a total of $ 300,000 by March 25 .
The financial requirement shows the party obviously wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Décarie said , adding that a far more fitting criteria would be proficiency in both official languages — possibly a shot at MacKay , who can ’ t speak French .
Campaign Life Coalition is urging Canadians 14 years of age and older to buy a membership in the Conservative Party of Canada as soon as possible to be able to vote for the next leader .

'So we need to go back to the definition of marriage with the union of a man and a woman,' Richard Décarie said in an exclusive interview with LifeSiteNews.
MONTREAL, Quebec, February 4, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Richard Décarie says he’s running for leader of the Canada’s Conservative Party to return it to its roots and correct the “Liberal-lite” leftward swing it’s taken under the influence of “red” Tories.
“I think the leadership of the Conservative Party needs to be changed drastically,” the Quebecer and former Stephen Harper staffer said in an exclusive interview for LifeSiteNews with Georges Buscemi of Campagne Quebéc-Vie.
Part of that change would include returning the party to the definition of marriage as the “union of a man and a woman,” he said.
Indeed, Décarie’s candidacy stands in stark contrast to that of alleged front-runner, former MP Peter MacKay, as well as MPs Marilyn Gladu and Erin O’Toole, all of whom say they’ll march in the homosexual Toronto Pride parade the day after the new leader is announced at a Toronto convention June 27. (O’Toole has made his participation contingent on the police being allowed to march as well.)
The Conservatives must decide in this race if they truly are the “big tent party” Harper built in 2004, Décarie said.
And in his view, that means the party must recover the centre-right position it had under the former prime minister, and more particularly, go back to what it was before 2016.
That’s the year Conservative delegates at a Vancouver convention voted 1,036-462 to nix the policy supporting the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.
Canada legalized homosexual “marriages” in 2005, but dropping the policy was “a mistake,” Décarie said.
“I’ve been fighting with Mr. Harper in 2004 against the definition of marriage that the Liberals were trying to present,” he told Buscemi.
“So we need to go back to the definition of marriage with the union of a man and a woman, and then the rest of the unions will be covered by civil union.”
Former MP Brad Trost, who came in fourth in the last leadership race and is now chairing Décarie’s campaign, was the de facto leader at the Vancouver convention for those who opposed dropping the definition of traditional marriage.
Trost said at the time deleting the policy didn’t mean the Conservatives endorsed same-sex “marriage,” but that the party was neutral on the subject.
But Décarie’s view, as well as his observation that homosexuality is a “choice,” have led some high-level Tories to claim the party should bar him from the race for alleged bigotry.
There’s also been suggestions in the media the leadership committee could disqualify him on the grounds he doesn’t adhere to party policy.
This “makes no sense,” counters Décarie, pointing out policies are by definition subject to change.
“I was challenged in this race, saying that I go against the party rules or policies,” he told Buscemi. But the policies “were changed in 2016, why not change them back if it’s necessary?”
The firestorm over Décarie’s views on homosexuality has eclipsed his views on abortion, which he says is not health care because pregnancy is not a disease, and so therefore, abortion should not be covered under Canada’s public health insurance plans. Although health care is administered by the provinces, the federal government provides a large share of funding for it under Canada Health Act, Décarie said.
So if the federal government stops “financing or funding abortion, it will be easy for the provinces to decide whether they will finance it themselves, or, they will decide to abandon it,” he said.
Décarie said he has no proposed legislation to curtail the expansion of euthanasia, but that “my perception is that life is starting at the conception until the natural death” and this “would set the base for debate” within the party.
“I’m always surprised to see the progressive Conservatives, more red Tories, are against debating those issues, saying it’s settled. It’s never settled,” he said.
“We’re in politics to debate and I am proposing all those issues to make sure that they are well debated, and not imposed like the Liberal Party is doing.”
He supports allowing Members of Parliament to bring forward private member’s bills, noting that Justin Trudeau’s father Pierre told “his MPs that they had no power other than the day of election.”
Décarie denounced the controversial Yale telecommunications report that recommends the Liberal government massively expand the CRTC to regulate the internet and require that media be licensed to operate in Canada.
“Liberalism is socialism by the back door and that’s the proof of it, you know,” he said. “In communist countries you have the control of the information and all of that. I’m for freedom, the Conservative Party should be for freedom.”
Décarie supports a decentralized federal government and more autonomy for the provinces, stricter immigration laws, and banning private advertising from the CBC.
He initially said he’d run to oppose one-time Liberal Quebec premier Jean Charest’s candidacy.
But as Buscemi pointed out in the interview, Charest apparently decided against running because, according to an unnamed party source quoted in French-language daily Le Devoir, internal polls revealed one-third of the party opposed abortion and same-sex “marriage.”
Those are the views Andrew Scheer, the Conservative leader whose resignation in December kicked off the race, held at one point and likely still does, but as leader he insisted the party would not reopen the abortion debate on any level.
Scheer “didn’t apply his own values, his personal values, to the party, and all the people that elected him were very deceived,” Décarie said.
Moreover, “red Tories” like MacKay claimed Scheer “lost the election because he’s a social conservative,” Décarie said. “I think it’s the opposite. Let’s bring back that philosophy.”
It was MacKay’s implied threat that social conservatives weren’t welcome in the party that motivated Décarie to persevere in his leadership bid after Charest bowed out, he said.
Décarie is not the only social conservative candidate in the race. Rookie Ontario MP Derek Sloan has also thrown his hat in the ring, and has already received media backlash for his views.
Aspiring candidates must submit 1,000 signatures of party members from a minimum of 30 ridings in at least seven provinces and $25,000 by February 27, at which point they’ll be vetted by the committee, including having to answer a 42-page questionnaire.
If they pass that hurdle, they must submit another 2,000 signatures and the balance of a total of $300,000 by March 25.
The financial requirement shows the party obviously wanted to limit the number of candidates, Décarie said, adding that a far more fitting criteria would be proficiency in both official languages — possibly a shot at MacKay, who can’t speak French.
Campaign Life Coalition is urging Canadians 14 years of age and older to buy a membership in the Conservative Party of Canada as soon as possible to be able to vote for the next leader.
Share