lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Communion on the tongue safer than communion in the hand: Polish doctors

WARSAW , Poland , October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A group of Polish doctors warned that reception of Holy Communion in the hand is dangerous .
The open letter to the Catholic Church in Poland , published in the most recent weekend edition of Catholic newspaper Nasz Dziennik ( “ Our Daily ” ) and addressed to “ the bishops , priests , and brothers and sisters in the faith of the Catholic Church , ” and signed by over 60 medical experts , the doctors say they are concerned by the new practice .
Receiving communion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in majority-Catholic Poland before the coronavirus crisis .
However , in an October 6 statement , the bishops “ recalled that people who , for various reasons , wished to receive Holy Communion in their hands with faith and veneration , can not be accused of disrespecting the Eucharist .
The Holy See accepts this way of giving the faithful the Lord ’ s Body as worthy.
” The doctors now wrote , “ We are concerned about the fact that in recent months there has been encouragement on the part of priests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to receive communion on the hand as a more hygienic method that allegedly protects the faithful from SARS-CoV-2.
” “ We don ’ t know on what basis , particularly on what scientific research , such a thesis was built , or which medical premises confirm it , ” they added .
“ We believe , from the medical point of view , that one can ’ t treat giving Holy Communion in the hand as a method much safer than receiving Holy Communion by mouth.
” The doctors pointed out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” between human bodies and their surroundings .
Many experts have emphasized the existence of multiple micro-organisms that could include pathogens on hands , they noted , and listed both the germs and their unpleasant effects on the human body .
“ Even if we splash disinfectant on our hands before entering church , we have to remember that during Mass they touch things or places we haven ’ t disinfected : pews , clothing , glasses , hair and even money ( the home of many germs ) folded in the [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The doctors are also concerned by the modern practice of communicants standing face-to-face with the person administering the Blessed Sacrament .
“ From the epidemiological point of view , we must warn that the standing position also encourages the spread of infection as it makes the priest and communicant more vulnerable to mutual infection , ” they wrote .
They observe that either could infect the other with airborne droplets moving from one mouth or nose to the other ’ s , or even through the eyes .
Therefore , they recommend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible from the priest ’ s face : they suggest kneeling .
“ It should be stated , from the medical point of view , that the giving of Holy Communion directly in the mouth and in the kneeling position is a decidedly safer and more appropriate method than receiving Holy Communion in the hand and standing , ” they said and made a dramatic appeal : “ Out of concern for the health of the faithful , we wish to appeal strongly to the Polish Episcopate , to bishops and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administering the Body of Christ on the tongue [ to those ] in a kneeling position.
” The lead signers of the document were three pathologists from the Medical University of Białystock : Dr. Marek Baltaziak , Dr. Maria Elżbieta Sobaniec-Łotowska , and Dr. Stanisław Sulkowski .
In September , 27 German doctors gave similar advice to the German bishops , declaring that there are “ no medical reasons for a ban of Communion on the tongue.
” Like the Polish doctors , the Germans pointed out that hands are very easily contaminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that receiving Communion kneeling at a distance from the priest ’ s face .
They noted also that if a priest should accidently touch a communicant ’ s tongue , he can disinfect his fingers immediately afterwards .

PETITION UPDATE (7/9/2021) -
Father James Altman was informed late last week that he has been removed as pastor of St. James the Less parish, and that his priestly faculties have been suspended indefinitely.
Please Click Here to WATCH LifeSite's exclusive interview with Fr. Altman, and Click Here to READ more about this turn of events.
As Bishop William J. Callahan’s decree explains, this means he is forbidden from celebrating “The Holy Eucharist” with any members of the faithful present, except for his elderly parents. He is also “no longer allowed to preach,” administer baptism, or assist at marriages.
Altman said that he wasn’t issued restrictions from hearing Confessions or Anointing of the Sick.
The decree also states that he is to continue to live within the Diocese of LaCrosse, where he has been instructed to meet with the Vicar for Clergy at least once a month, and has been “invited to begin” a month-long “spiritual retreat” to help him to “spiritually heal” and “address the issues that caused the issuance of this decree.”
The order states it is in effect as long as “cause” is present, but it does not specify what the cause is. Callahan said he asked Altman to resign on May 23 for being “divisive and ineffective.”
Altman first triggered backlash from his bishop when his video “You cannot be a Catholic and a Democrat. Period” went viral last year. Altman shared that in response to this, his office “got the most vile, despicable phone calls, letters” and “some terrible, really foul messages.”
Callahan criticized Altman at the time for his “manner and tone,” to which Altman countered, “what about the manner and tone of the 10,000 babies that are chopped up last Saturday?”
“What I would hope would always come through no matter what people think about my manner and tone, is that they would recognize that what’s coming through there is God’s love,” Altman told LifeSiteNews. “A love that I recognize because He’s loved me, and I didn’t deserve that.”
“If I seem angry at times, it has nothing to do with me, it has to do with the people. And I asked the question recently, how can they love? If you love, how can you not feed your children?”
In late April, Altman chided the U.S. bishops for needlessly shutting churches and denying the faithful sacraments during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the hierarchy showed “an abundance of cowardice.”
In his interview with LifeSite, Altman alluded to the fact that some don’t like seeing him “upset.”
“I’m thinking well, if you’re denying my child food, the Bread of Life – [Bishop Fulton J. Sheen] said, if you can’t get angry about stuff like that then you can’t love either. Because greater love has greater anger towards those things that are contrary to the salvation of eternal souls, which is the only thing that matters in the end,” said Altman.
"I don’t care what they do to me, honestly, in the end… what troubles me is the interference with the feeding of God’s children, which is through word and through the sacrament. Both of which were denied to people over the past 15 months."
Please continue to SIGN and SHARE this petition, and to continue to contact the Diocese of LaCrosse's Chancery Office, to politely voice your opposition to the removal of Fr. Altman from his parish. The Chancery's phone number is: 608-788-7700.
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PETITION UPDATE (5/24/2021) -
Father James Altman, the Wisconsin priest whose video message last fall "You can’t be a Catholic and a Democrat" went viral and who has fearlessly admonished the U.S. bishops for shutting churches and denying the faithful Sacraments during the COVID-19 crisis, announced on Pentecost Sunday that his bishop has asked him to resign for being "divisive and ineffective."
Please CLICK HERE to READ LifeSiteNews' latest article related to Fr. Altman's ongoing persecution, just to continue shepherding his flock.
Bishop William P. Callahan began threatening the outspoken priest with "canonical penalties" in September, even as public support for the priest surged among rank-and-file Catholics around the country and the world.
And now, a group called 'Faithful America' is proudly boasting responsibility for taking down Fr. Altman, but Faithful America are not even a Catholic organization!
Thankfully, Fr. Altman says he is working with a canon lawyer to resolve this matter.
WATCH Fr. Altman's Sunday sermon in which he announces the bishop's decision to ask for his resignation.
"In response my canon lawyer asked for clarification – asked for the justification and a chance to review what was in my file that suggested I was so divisive and ineffective,” explained Altman. “And I say all this only because, I'm no expert on canon law, but understand only that while we are contesting bishop's request — and we are — he could in theory appoint a parish administrator whilst I remain a pastor without duties until the appeal goes through Rome, which could take up to a year or more."
Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, offered his support for Altman via Twitter.
Please continue to SIGN and SHARE this petition with your like-minded family and friends.
And, after signing and sharing, please take a minute to contact the LaCrosse Diocese to politely voice your support for Fr. Altman, and against leftist pressure groups like 'Faithful America.' Please ask Bishop Callahan to prayerfully reconsider his decision and allow Fr. Altman to remain as pastor of St. James the Less parish.
The phone number for the diocese office is: 608.788.7700
Thank you!
PETITION UPDATE (9/15/2020) -
Just this past weekend a prayer vigil was held outside the Cathedral in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on behalf of Fr. James Altman, the priest facing Church penalties for saying that you cannot be a Catholic and a Democrat in 2020.
Hundreds of faithful Catholics turn out to pray for Fr. Altman. Though Fr. Altman did use strong language to warn his flock against spiritual perils, what he said about the Democratic Party's platform is true!
Motivated by a deep sense of justice, supporters gathered at the Cathedral to pray for the priest, and for Bishop Callahan to stand by his priest rather than punish him.
"Fr. Altman is a rare breed. He’s a modern-day St. John the Baptist," declared one woman who attended the prayer vigil. "He’s really changed my life and so many others he’s had that impact on. We need more priests who are true shepherds."
Fr. Richard Heilman, who is the founder of the U.S. Grace Force and who was also present to help lead people in prayer during the vigil, had this to say about Fr. Altman: "Bottom line: he loves, loves, loves his flock. And so, like a good shepherd, if he sees the wolves invading, he sounds the warning alarm."
Please consider SIGNING this petition if you have not already signed. And, please SHARE this petition and video with your family, friends and colleagues. Thank you!
If after signing and sharing you wish to make an even greater impact, we encourage you to contact the Diocese of LaCrosse's Chancery Offices to politely let them know that you support Fr. Altman and want to see him continue in his essential ministry.
Diocese of LaCrosse's Chancery Office phone number: 608-788-7700.
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ORIGINAL PETITION TEXT:
Father James Altman, pastor of St. James the Less parish in the Wisconsin Diocese of LaCrosse, has been threatened with canonical punishment by his Bishop, Most Rev. William Patrick Callahan.
Fr. Altman's alleged "offense"?
Stating what every faithful Catholic knows to be true in 2020: "You cannot be a Catholic and a Democrat."
Please SIGN this petition which will go to Bishop Callahan and ask him to stop any canonical proceedings against Fr. Altman.
In a strongly-worded YouTube video, designed to shepherd the faithful out of harm's way (supporting the Democratic Party's evil platform), Fr. Altman states the following:
"Here's a memo to clueless, baptized Catholics out there: You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period. Their party platform absolutely is against everything the Catholic Church teaches. So, just quit pretending that you're Catholic and vote Democrat. Repent of your support of that party and its platform, or face the fires of Hell..."
Strong stuff to be sure, but Fr. Altman was taking his cue from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (whom he quotes) – the Church has a "duty and obligation" to speak up when politicians act in an immoral way.
In other words, a pastor must give strong warnings, at times, to guide souls away from grave danger, even when the dangers come from politicians or a political party.
When your house is burning down...or, more appropriately, when someone is attempting to burn your house down, it's time to dispense with the niceties of politically correct language.
And, as Fr. Altman suggests, the Democratic Party's evil platform which promotes the desecration of God's plan for humanity is, in effect, trying to burn down our house (i.e., the Church).
Not only do the Democrats openly advocate for abortion (i.e., killing innocent human beings), but they also promote the destruction of the natural family and the desecration of human nature in support of the homosexual and transgender agendas.
Remember the following:
The Obama-Biden Administration attempted to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to participate in the provision of abortion-inducing drugs and contraception and threatened schools with the loss of federal funding if they wouldn’t let boys in girls’ bathrooms and vice versa.
Democratic Senators Kamala Harris and Mazie Hirono grilled a judge, who is a Knight of Columbus, on his membership in the Knights, absurdly suggesting that membership in the Catholic mens' fraternal organization should disqualify someone from sitting on the bench.
And, in 2017, the DNC Chairman said that pro-lifers were not welcome in the party.
No faithful Catholic should even think about voting for such a platform. And, the bishops should be on the frontlines, speaking this truth to power.
Thankfully, the Bishop of Tyler, Texas, Most Rev. Joseph Strickland, has come out in support of Fr. Altman's statement, tweeting:
"As the Bishop of Tyler I endorse Fr. Altman’s statement in this video. My shame is that it has taken me so long. Thank you Fr Altman for your COURAGE. If you love Jesus & His Church & this nation...please HEED THIS MESSAGE.”
With this petition, we now ask that Fr. Altman's own bishop, Most. Rev. Callahan, likewise support his priest and stop any canonical proceedings against him.
Devoid of united leadership from the Hierarchy, individual priests must do their best to inform the laity of the mortal dangers on full view in the Democrats' platform.
And, threatening to silence priests for strongly speaking the truth only plays into the hand of those who actually hate what the Church stands for...and who will, if elected, most likely seek to injure, or even eradicate, the Church.
The bishops should know that the legacy of the Democratic Party being the party of the small man and of the Catholic immigrant is now over.
The Democratic Party of today is the party of radical individualism, not the common good. And, rabid support for abortion and the homosexual agenda are practically obligatory.
As such, the Democratic Party is not a friend of the Church and any priest or bishop who thinks otherwise is being deceived, or allowing himself to be deceived or bullied.
This is not just an abstraction! This is a serious threat to Christianity and their party's platform needs to be met with strong opposition.
Thank you for SIGNING this petition to the bishop of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Bishop Callahan, asking him to support Fr. Altman rather than bringing any canonical proceedings against him.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'Bishop threatens ‘canonical penalties’ for priest whose viral video warned Catholics can’t be Democrats': https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/bishop-threatens-canonical-penalties-for-fr-altman
YouTube Video - 'Fr. James Altman: You cannot be Catholic & a Democrat. Period.': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-7eoTN2vNM
Statement regarding Fr. James Altman from Bishop Callahan: https://diolc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Statement-Father-James-Altman-090920.pdf
'Bishop Strickland echoes priest: ‘You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat’': https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/bishop-strickland-echoes-priest-you-cannot-be-catholic-and-be-a-democrat
**Photo Credit: Screen capture from Fr. James Altman's YouTube video on Alpha News MN


lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Professor compares bishop’s rejection of ‘pre-eminence’ of abortion to complicity in Nazi atrocities

SAN DIEGO , October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Diego recently gave an interview in which he claimed , “ To say abortion is the pre-eminent issue in a particular political season is to reduce the common good , in effect , to one issue .
And that ’ s a distortion of Catholic teaching.
” “ My concern [ is ] that when you say abortion is the pre-eminent issue we face as a nation , you are setting up an election choice , ” said McElroy .
Theology professor Randall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic Thing , compared Bishop McElroy ’ s refusal to decisively condemn pro-abortion policy and politicians to the complicity of German bishops who refused to condemn the Nazi regime .
Bishop McElroy explained his rejection of the “ pre-eminence ” of abortion as a voting issue to Sebastian Gomes of “ Voting Catholic , ” a “ podcast from America Media that helps U.S. Catholics discern their vote in the upcoming presidential election.
” Bishop McElroy commented on the USCCB statement : “ The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship : A Call to Political Responsibility .
Bishop McElroy described abortion as “ one of several ” pre-eminent issues to consider when voting , entreating Catholics to “ read the whole document ” of the USCCB .
“ [ It tells you to ] look at climate change , which threatens to end the whole of humanity .
Look at the divisions we have in our nation now , in terms of race and class , the undocumented .
If someone reads through that with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then that ’ s a great thing .
But don ’ t pick one sentence out , ” said Bishop McElroy .
He opposed the idea that abortion is “ the primary moral issue ” because “ the issue of life is the foundation of the house of the common good.
” Bishop McElroy countered : “ But I would say this : The house itself and the foundation rest on the earth , and the earth is at stake in climate change and in the care for creation .
And so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t have a foundation if you don ’ t have the earth [ or ] a habitable place for our humanity.
” “ When you are voting for candidates , you have to ask yourself in this particular moment , who is going to be better at achieving the common good ?
Your judgment is temporary , ” said Bishop McElroy .
In his article “ On the Nature of Complicity , ” Randall Smith compared the gravity of abortion policy to the murderous policy of Nazi Germany .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ See and the German government , in which “ Church leaders pledged to refrain from speaking out on issues not directly related to the Church.
” Smith noted that last May , in a twenty-three-page public report , Germany ’ s Council of Catholic Bishops “ admitted ‘ complicity ’ by their predecessors who did not do enough to oppose the rise of Nazi regime and its mistreatment of Jews.
” “ In eighty or ninety years , will future U.S. bishops be submitting a similar document of their own , confessing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not do enough to oppose the abortion regime ?
” “ Who , in retrospect , would not look back in shame at a German bishop who called questioning the Catholic commitments of Catholic Nazi leaders ‘ offensive because they constitute an assault on the meaning of what it is to be Catholic ’ ?
Because ‘ being Catholic means loving the Church ; being Catholic means participating in the sacramental life of the church ; being a Catholic means trying to transform the world by the light of the Gospel ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the words of our own Bishop McElroy of San Diego about those who question Joe Biden ’ s Catholicism.
” “ And we transform the world in the light of the Gospel how ?
Is it not by opposing the killing of innocent human beings ?
”

PETITION UPDATE (10/22/2020)
Today, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal issued a ruling that the provision in the act allowing "abortion in the case of a high probability of severe and irreversible impairment of the fetus or an incurable disease that threatens the fetus" is inconsistent with the Polish Constitution, which was permitted since 1993 until the time when the conceived child reaches the age when it is able to survive outside the mother's body, in practice up to the 24th week of pregnancy.
This ruling makes abortion for eugenic reasons illegal in Poland!
Thank God and sincere gratitude to the Polish Constitutional Court for doing the right and reasonable thing.
And, thank you for continuing to sign this petition. We will send all signatures to the Polish Constitutional Court as way to show our thanks!
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On October 22nd, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal will decide whether eugenic abortion - on the grounds of a positive Down Syndrome test, for example - currently allowed by the Abortion Act of 1993 is in keeping with the country's constitution.
Eugenic abortion is not the mark of an advanced society. It is, rather, the mark of a savage society which deems some human lives as disposable.
And, the reason the court will issue a ruling is because Members of the Sejm (the Lower House of the Polish Parliament) have requested clarification of the law.
We, therefore, ask you to join us in urging the Polish Constitutional Tribunal to reject eugenic abortion and affirm the dignity and life of every preborn baby.
Let's encourage the Polish Court to a give good example to the rest of the world, and affirm life!
By SIGNING this petition, we demonstrate our agreement with the amicus brief brought to the Polish court by Ordo Iuris International Law Center, which you can READ by clicking here.
The problem mainly lies in two Articles of the Abortion Act (1993), which legalizes eugenic abortion, and which are, therefore, non-compliant with Article 30 of the Polish Constitution. That is because of the key fact, that they legalize eugenic practices towards an unborn child, denying him the respect and protection of his dignity.
Indeed, according to the Polish Constitution, the source of all freedoms and rights is dignity and it not only belongs to each human, but it cannot be relinquished.
Fortunately, there is a close connection between the protection of human dignity and legal guarantees of the protection of human life in Polish law, and that is why in its judgment of January 2004, the Constitutional Tribunal stated: "There can be no protection of human dignity if there are no sufficient grounds to protect life."
Please SIGN this petition which urges the Polish Constitutional Tribunal to vindicate and protect the lives of the sick preborn babies.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Ordo Iuris amicus brief urging the Polish Constitutional Court to declare two articles of the Abortion Act to be in non-conformity with the Polish Constitution: https://ordoiuris.pl/pliki/dokumenty/Miedzynarodowy_Amicus_Curiae_ws_obrony_zycia.pdf
*Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com
**LifeSiteNews and LifePetitions are against abortion under every circumstance. By supporting this petition, we are not somehow suggesting that we are only against eugenic abortion.


lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Judge protects Colorado churches from governor’s COVID capacity, face mask directives

DENVER , Colorado , October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Two Colorado churches and their pastors are currently protected from the state ’ s enforcement of capacity limits and face masks during worship services thanks to an order handed down by a federal judge on October 15 , 2020 .
This decision came following a lawsuit against federal and state officials for an array of religious freedom violations .
Thomas More Society Special Counsel Rebecca Messall and co-counsel Brad Bergford , who are representing the congregations and their pastors , were pleased with the order .
Messall reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partially granting the relief sought by these houses of worship and their leaders , “ The lawsuit calls both the federal government and Colorado leaders into account for their violations of the right to free exercise of religion , among other abuses of power , primarily resulting from Governor Jared Polis ’ COVID-19 related Executive Orders.
” Denver Bible Church and its pastor , Robert Enyart , and Community Baptist Church and its pastor , Joey Rhoads , asked the court to enjoin enforcement of orders related to Colorado ’ s gubernatorially mandated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask requirements .
Currently , Colorado imposes capacity limits on houses of worship that are more severe than those that apply to other so-called critical businesses whose settings pose a similar risk of COVID-19 transmission .
The state also allows a variety of exceptions to its facial-covering requirement where it recognizes that removing a mask is necessary to carry out a particular activity .
The order , issued by the Honorable Daniel D. Domenico , states , “ ... the Constitution does not allow the State to tell a congregation how large it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not so limited , or to tell a congregation that its reason for wishing to remove facial coverings is less important than a restaurant ’ s or spa ’ s. ” Domenico also noted , “ The First Amendment does not allow government officials , whether in the executive or judicial branch , to treat religious worship as any less critical or essential than other human endeavors .
Nor does it allow the government to determine what is a necessary part of a house of worship ’ s religious exercise.
” The judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcing the state ’ s Executive Orders and Public Health Orders against the churches and pastors , in particular matters of occupancy limitations and face mask requirements during worship services .
Read the United States District Court for the District of Colorado Order by Judge Daniel D. Domenico , issued October 15 , 2020 , granting in part plaintiff ’ s motion for preliminary injunction in the lawsuit Denver Bible Church et al .
v. Alex M. Azar et al.
, as represented by Thomas More Society Special Counsel Rebecca Messall here and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed August , 2020 , here .

PETITION UPDATE (8/27/2020)
Thank you for continuing to SIGN and SHARE this petition, which asks policymakers at all levels of government to reverse mandatory mask orders within their borders.
Facebook has restored the share link for this petition, saying that the decision to block it was a 'mistake...'
Please share with your Facebook friends, but we should all take heed of this warning: when an organization or individuals have to beg, plead and cajole just to express objective truths, it may be time to start looking for other social networking platforms.
Facebook needs to treat its users with respect, no matter their political persuasion. Moreover, Facebook needs to treat objective reality and facts with more respect.
One-size-fits-all oppressive government mask mandates must stop!
Healthy adults and children should not be forced - by the state - to wear masks when the risk of infection is low and the benefit of wearing a mask is highly questionable.
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PETITION UPDATE (8/25/2020)
Facebook is actively censoring this petition, saying that some people find it 'abusive.'
How anyone could find alternate facts about oppressive mask mandates 'abusive' is incredible...that is, impossible to believe.
This is exactly the kind of censorship which Big Tech is getting a bad reputation for.
The fact that Facebook calls differing opinion and objective reality "abusive" says a lot about Facebook and their agenda to silence reason and logic, not just conservatives and Christians.
But, people are more intelligent than Facebook give them credit for.
And, the more this continues, the more reasonable people will look alternate platforms to share their thoughts and connect with their friends and family. The more that happens, the less revenue Facebook will generate.
All of us have a decision to make, and the time is coming where we might have to tell our Facebook friends that we are moving to another platform.
We are encouraging people to continue SIGNING this petition and SHARING it via other platforms such as Parler and Gab, and to share the link below with your family and friends on Whatsapp, Telegram, Threema and Signal.
Thank you!
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One-size-fits-all oppressive government mask mandates must stop!
Healthy adults and children should not be forced - by the state - to wear masks when the risk of infection is low and the benefit of wearing a mask is highly questionable.
Please SIGN this petition which asks policymakers at all levels of government to reverse mandatory mask mandates within their borders.
Public health policies should be based on science and logic, not on the type of political posturing and virtue-signaling which led Joe Biden to recently call for a national mask mandate.
And, public health policies certainly shouldn't lead to a situation where more people could become sick.
But, that is exactly what these mandatory mask mandates are doing.
Here are four inconvenient facts about masks:
1) Masks** are largely ineffective at stopping the transmission of viruses.
The vast majority of masks worn by the public are made from material which cannot filter-out viruses because virus particles are too small to catch or obstruct. Wearing cloth masks to stop a virus is like putting a bee in a bird cage to keep it from flying away.
Wearing a mask for long periods of time ensures that the wearer has a warm and moist receptacle around his or her mouth, on which viruses and bacteria can land and accumulate.
Thus, masks are actually likely to have little effect in stopping the spread of COVID-19 acting as a barrier, but could actually make things worse acting as a receptacle.
2) Mandates which call for masks to be worn outdoors are both absurd and oppressive.
3) There are clearly documented hazards of wearing masks for long periods of time.
4) And, since school is on everyone's mind...
Notwithstanding the above information on the ineffectiveness of most masks against viruses, we don't know if asymptomatic children can even transmit the virus.
But, it was a reported in an article in the July 21, 2020 Uk Times that: "There has been no recorded case of a teacher catching the coronavirus from a pupil anywhere in the world, according to one of the UK government's leading scientific advisers."
And, we also know that children are extremely unlikely to get seriously ill or die from COVID infections. In any case, children cannot possibly be expected to wear a mask properly in a way that would cut transmission.
There are still a lot of unknowns about COVID-19, but we have grown in our understanding of this disease since the beginning of the crisis.
The knowledge we have gained should allow government and health authorities to make more nuanced policies than the current one-size-fits-all mask mandates.
Where are the legislative hearings in county commissions, and state, provincial or federal legislatures before these drastic actions are mandated? Where are the open and transparent debates among experts that provide our representatives with the necessary information to make good policy decisions?
The real pandemic is the panic and the resulting tyranny that is being caused by dictatorial governors, corporate media and the monopolistic Big Tech.
The truth is that COVID-19 is like a bad cold for most people; this is not ebola or the plague.
Of course, the very elderly and those with serious health conditions should take precautions or be quarantined, but the rest of society should begin the long process of returning to normality.
The frenzy to force everyone to wear a mask, at all times, has gone beyond all comprehension, and goes against science and logic.
Please SIGN this petition which asks policymakers at all levels of government to reverse any mandatory mask order within the borders of their county, state, province, or country.
Thank you!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'Explosion in mandatory masking isn’t driven by science, but fear', PART I - https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear
'Explosion in mandatory masking isn’t driven by science, but fear', PART II - https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear-part-ii
OSHA Document on Surgical Masks and Respirators stating that surgical masks do NOT prevent airborne particles (e.g. viruses) from being inhaled - https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3219.pdf
'PETER HITCHENS: Face masks turn us into voiceless submissives - and it’s not science forcing us to wear them, it’s politics' - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8537489/PETER-HITCHENS-Face-masks-turn-voiceless-submissives.html
**Here, we are referring to the masks worn by the vast majority of the public, not to specialist masks or respirator-type masks.
***Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com


lifesitenews--2020-10-22--New California COVID rules ban events longer than 2 hours, demand hosts collect contact info

CALIFORNIA , October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The government of California has issued new COVID-19 restrictions limiting outside gatherings to no more than three households for a maximum of two hours and telling individuals to collect contact information for their friends and relatives for private social occasions .
“ Gatherings that include more than 3 households are prohibited .
This includes everyone present , including hosts and guests .
Remember , the smaller the number of people , the safer , ” reads the “ Guidance for Private Gatherings , ” issued by the California Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The host should collect names of all attendees and contact information in case contact tracing is needed later.
” The new California rules apply to private gatherings which the state defines as “ social situations that bring together people from different households at the same time in a single space or place.
” “ Gatherings should be two hours or less .
The longer the duration , the risk of transmission increases , ” reads the guidelines .
The new guidelines state that “ All persons planning to host or participate in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines which include collecting the information of guests “ in case ” contact tracing is required .
The guidelines also state that households that interact with one another should be “ stable over time ” and that participating in “ multiple gatherings with different households or groups ” is strongly discouraged .
Indoor gatherings are banned , with the guidelines stating that “ All gatherings must be held outside ” and attendees can only go indoors to use the bathrooms .
Attendees at private gatherings must also practice “ physical distancing ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the exception being to “ briefly ” remove the mask to eat or drink .
When it comes to having a private gathering in a public park , the same three household limit applies , “ even if unrelated gatherings of other groups up to three households are also occurring in the same park or other outdoor space.
” “ If multiple such gatherings are occurring , mixing between group gatherings is not allowed .
Additionally , multiple gatherings of three households can not be jointly organized or coordinated to occur in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space at the same time – this would constitute a gathering exceeding the permitted size , ” reads the guidelines .
The timing of the new California restrictions comes shortly after the World Health Organization ( WHO ) changed course , saying recently that world leaders should stop lockdowns .
The new rules for the sunshine state follow a Twitter message from California ’ s Democrat Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s office , which called for people eating out to take off their masks in between bites of food .
Newsom has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the most extreme lockdown measures in the United States .
According to government data , at the time of writing there have been just over 17,000 deaths associated with COVID-19 in the state , which has a population of 39.5 million .
At the national level , government intrusion into private gatherings took center stage in remarks made by Dr. Anthony Fauci , the controversial top coronavirus adviser to President Donald Trump .
Fauci said last week that American families should consider “ biting the bullet ” in sacrificing their Thanksgiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united daily in prayer , in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade .
Catholics from all over the world—from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , Pakistan , Singapore , the Philippines , India , Indonesia , Australia , New Zealand , Thailand , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Brazil , and other countries—are gathering daily to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our goal is , by means of this daily rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima , the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
To help obtain that goal , Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide rosary crusade : O Immaculate Heart of Mary , you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother .
Look upon the distress in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church .
In Fatima you warned against these errors , as you spoke about the errors of Russia .
You are the Mediatrix of all graces .
Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope : that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart , so that Russia will be converted , a period of peace will be granted to the world , and your Immaculate Heart will triumph , through an authentic renewal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purity of the Catholic Faith , of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life .
O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother , turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer .
Amen .
+ Athanasius Schneider , Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady ’ s message at Fatima , and about what you can do , please read Cardinal Burke ’ s 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
As St. Padre Pio once said , “ The rosary is the weapon for these times.
” Through prayer , God can shape history , change the world , and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world , through the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
Join us today !
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this rosary , you can access them via this PDF .
This document also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily rosary on LifeSite led by Fr .
Pillari .

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Obama praises young leftists creating ‘a new normal in America’

October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Former president Barack Obama released a video message Tuesday in support of his former vice president , Joe Biden , during which he described as “ inspiring ” this year ’ s wave of left-wing activism that has been characterized by violence .
“ One of the most inspiring things about this year has been to see so many young Americans fired up , organizing , marching , and fighting for change , ” Obama said .
“ Your generation can be the one that creates a new normal in America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system treats everybody equally , and gives everybody opportunity.
” Obama framed the impending presidential election as a “ tipping point ” for this movement , and stressed that “ to change the game on any of the issues we care about , Joe Biden needs your vote.
” After praising his former running mate , Obama closed by declaring that “ your generation is going to change the game entirely.
” For months , Americans have watched Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) protests become “ fired up ” in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , looting , and violence have swept through major cities across the country in response to the death of a Minnesota black man at the hands of a white police officer .
The officer was quickly charged with murder , but the incident still revived BLM ’ s narrative of “ systemic racism ” in law enforcement and throughout American society more generally .
As detailed by the U.S. Justice Department , New York shootings “ have been on the rise since looting and protests began on or about May 28 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July from the year before , and a 166 % increase in August from the year before ) ; prosecutors in Manhattan , Brooklyn , Queens , and the Bronx refused to prosecute crimes stemming from the protests ; city and state leaders “ have forcefully rejected federal law enforcement support ” ; and city leaders “ cut $ 1 billion from NYPD ’ s FY21 budget ” during a time of “ increased unrest , gun violence , and property damage , ” causing “ cancellation of the new police recruiting class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transfer of certain police functions , including school safety , out of the NYPD.
” Portland , the DOJ continued , has seen “ 100 consecutive nights of protests marred by vandalism , chaos , and even killing , ” including arson , injuries to police , and a 140 % spike in shootings from the previous year .
Amid it all , the city “ cut $ 15 million from the police bureau , eliminating 84 positions ” including the Gun Violence Reduction Team and emergency response personnel , ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement assistance .
And in Seattle , officials notoriously “ permitted anarchists and activists to seize six square blocks of the city ’ s Capitol Hill neighborhood ” and renamed it the “ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ” ( CHAZ ) or “ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest ” ( CHOP ) .
Police were “ ordered to abandon their precinct within the CHOP , ” leading to a 525 % increase in crimes such as homicide , robbery , and assault .
While all this was going on , city and state leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually condemned the violence following pressure to do so , but has endorsed its underlying grievances by claiming that “ systemic racism ” is “ not just in law enforcement , it ’ s across the board .
It ’ s in housing , and it ’ s in education , and it ’ s in everything we do.
” His running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) , said in June that the protests are “ a beautiful sight ” which are “ not gon na let up .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump has unequivocally condemned the rioters as “ sick and deranged Anarchists & Agitators .
”

For months, Americans have watched Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests become 'fired up' in a much more literal sense, as arson, looting, and violence have swept through major cities.
October 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Former president Barack Obama released a video message Tuesday in support of his former vice president, Joe Biden, during which he described as “inspiring” this year’s wave of left-wing activism that has been characterized by violence.
“One of the most inspiring things about this year has been to see so many young Americans fired up, organizing, marching, and fighting for change,” Obama said. “Your generation can be the one that creates a new normal in America, one that’s fairer, where the system treats everybody equally, and gives everybody opportunity.”
Obama framed the impending presidential election as a “tipping point” for this movement, and stressed that “to change the game on any of the issues we care about, Joe Biden needs your vote.” After praising his former running mate, Obama closed by declaring that “your generation is going to change the game entirely.”
For months, Americans have watched Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests become “fired up” in a much more literal sense, as arson, looting, and violence have swept through major cities across the country in response to the death of a Minnesota black man at the hands of a white police officer. The officer was quickly charged with murder, but the incident still revived BLM’s narrative of “systemic racism” in law enforcement and throughout American society more generally.
As detailed by the U.S. Justice Department, New York shootings “have been on the rise since looting and protests began on or about May 28, 2020” (a 177% increase in July from the year before, and a 166% increase in August from the year before); prosecutors in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx refused to prosecute crimes stemming from the protests; city and state leaders “have forcefully rejected federal law enforcement support”; and city leaders “cut $1 billion from NYPD’s FY21 budget” during a time of “increased unrest, gun violence, and property damage,” causing “cancellation of the new police recruiting class, cuts to overtime spending, and the transfer of certain police functions, including school safety, out of the NYPD.”
Portland, the DOJ continued, has seen “100 consecutive nights of protests marred by vandalism, chaos, and even killing,” including arson, injuries to police, and a 140% spike in shootings from the previous year. Amid it all, the city “cut $15 million from the police bureau, eliminating 84 positions” including the Gun Violence Reduction Team and emergency response personnel,” and Mayor Ted Wheeler also rejected federal law enforcement assistance.
One of the most inspiring things about this year has been seeing so many young people organizing, marching, and fighting for change. And to change the game on any of the issues we care about, we've got to vote for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. pic.twitter.com/vfHnP4XPxK — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 21, 2020
And in Seattle, officials notoriously “permitted anarchists and activists to seize six square blocks of the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood” and renamed it the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” (CHAZ) or “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” (CHOP). Police were “ordered to abandon their precinct within the CHOP,” leading to a 525% increase in crimes such as homicide, robbery, and assault. While all this was going on, city and state leaders also refused federal law enforcement.
Biden eventually condemned the violence following pressure to do so, but has endorsed its underlying grievances by claiming that “systemic racism” is “not just in law enforcement, it’s across the board. It’s in housing, and it’s in education, and it’s in everything we do.” His running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), said in June that the protests are “a beautiful sight” which are “not gonna let up. And they should not.”
By contrast, President Donald Trump has unequivocally condemned the rioters as “sick and deranged Anarchists & Agitators.”
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lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Undercover video: Google managers admit to suppressing conservative voices

October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A manager at Google affirmed that searches are “ skewed by the owners and the drivers of the algorithm ” to “ play God ” in favoring the election prospects of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and harming those of President Donald Trump .
With growing alarms about the enormous ability of “ Big Tech ” companies like Google , Facebook and Twitter to censor and even suppress political speech significantly impacting elections , Project Veritas , a non-profit undercover reporting enterprise , has released two new videos of conversations with Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented .
The first “ sting ” video featured Ritesh Lakhkar , a technical program manager at Google , as well as Patrick Markan , lead mechanical engineer at Fitbit , a consumer electronics and fitness company currently being bought by Google .
Journalist : “ You go to search and you type in ‘ Donald Trump , ’ and it ’ s like all negative — '' Journalist : “ — and when you type in ‘ Joe Biden , ’ it ’ s all positive.
” Patrick Markan : “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drivers of the algorithm , right ?
” Lakhkar : “ It ’ s skewed by the owners and the drivers of the algorithm … Describing this process in another place , Lakhkar stated , “ So … you ’ re like playing selective God … if it was fraud , it doesn ’ t matter , but for Trump , Melania Trump , it matters , and on the other side , Trump says something , misinformation , you ’ re gon na delete that because it ’ s illegal under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader says that , then you ’ re gon na leave it like that , so I ’ m like … You are just plain and simple trying to play God , ” he added .
With regards to YouTube , a company owned by Google ( Alphabet ) , Lakhkar affirmed , “ We play God with that too … But if it ’ s freedom of speech , both sides need to get their opinion.
” In a curious exchange , Lakhkar expressed his moral reservations regarding outsourcing American jobs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being “ surveilled ” by the Chinese during his transpacific travel .
“ I can ’ t keep doing this , ” he said .
“ Go and teach Chinese people how to do American jobs and come back and get surveilled on the way.
” When the Project Veritas journalist expressed his hope that surveillance similar to China ’ s doesn ’ t happen in the U.S. , Lakhkar agreed , and affirmed that collaboration in such an endeavor “ with China could happen and no one would know about it.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company in the world , ” Lakhkar affirmed he would still like to leave the California-based company because , as he stated , “ morally and ethically , I disagree [ with censorship ] ” which , he states , is “ one of the reasons I feel suffocated at Google.
” While confirming the facts of the first video , stating Google could “ censor out news ” from their search engine in order to suppress conservatives , the second video provides evidence for an additional means by which the tech giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time through their advertising sales apparatus .
Using a hidden camera , the Project Veritas reporter visited with Google advertising manager Adriano Amaduzzi , who explained that the organization “ can offer free credits , free advertising credits , to Democratic parties for advertising , ” and actually stop “ right-wing parties from advertising.
” And if it is not possible to deny such advertising , they can still pursue their objectives by “ reducing the exposure of their ads.
” Finally , though identifying himself as a mere “ pawn ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bragged about how he declined selling advertising to a representative of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom who had contacted him , since that group supports Brexit .
Laughing , he explained , “ You ’ re telling an Italian that lives in London that you want to advertise Brexit .
It ’ s like , seriously ?
… I didn ’ t help him .
”

PETITION UPDATE (12/11/2020)
Right before Thanksgiving, YouTube deleted a LifeSite video of a distinguished Canadian physician protesting the "unfounded public hysteria" over COVID-19 and accused us of spreading "medical misinformation."
Our account was suspended, and we were prohibited from posting videos on our YouTube channel for one week. And, while that may not seem like a big deal, it's a huge deal for a news organization like LifeSite.
Then, earlier this week, YouTube again suspended our account – this time for two weeks – over an episode of The Bishop Strickland Show wherein Bishop Strickland said he would not take an unethical COVID-19 vaccine.
We were able to appeal the suspension, and our request was granted.
This means that in YouTube's three-strikes-and-you're-out content-policing, idea-cleansing scheme, we are back down to one strike. But, we still face the threat of losing our account permanently.
And, we're not the only ones.
In a recent turn of events, YouTube just announced that it will remove videos alleging widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
But, what is YouTube afraid of? The truth???
Thankfully, however, there is a one, big bright spot on the horizon: 48 states filed suit against Facebook just this week.
And, although this seems like a step in the right direction, the draconian measures which YouTube just rolled out, which are already wielded by Twitter, are an assault against free speech.
So, the fight for freedom of speech against Big Tech goes on. And, we must do everything we can to protect it!
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition today!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-youtube-reverses-ban-on-lifesitenews?
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/youtube-bans-lifesite-over-video-of-bp-strickland-refusing-to-take-corona-vaccine
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lifesites-channel-was-suspended-by-youtube-heres-how-you-can-still-watch-our-videos
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/youtube-starts-removing-videos-that-contain-allegations-of-mass-voter-fraud
https://tennesseestar.com/2020/12/10/facebook-sued-by-48-states-federal-trade-commission-over-allegations-of-monopolistic-practices/
________________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (11/18/2020)
Everyone thought the censorship by Big Tech corporations would decrease after the 2020 election, but the truth is that censorship is being felt just as much as it was before the election.
And, given the election outcome, perhaps Big Tech censorship now is even more consequential than it was before the election!
The two biggest social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter, and other Big Tech companies, are still censoring and suppressing stories and posts favorable to conservatives, and especially anything that has to do with election fraud.
Here are a few recent examples:
Women for America First organized the March for Trump on November 14, which was shut down by Facebook, MailChimp and Eventbrite. Despite Big Tech’s best efforts to cancel the event, the march went on and gathered a huge crowd.
Twitter has been suppressing a large number of President Trump’s Tweets. Most of his Tweets have been flagged arbitrarily with a warning stating: “This claim about election fraud is disputed."
Please READ this recent article about Big Tech's attempt to choke information conerning the recent Million MAGA March in Washington, DC: '5 things mainstream media won’t tell you about massive DC ‘Stop the Steal’ rally'
Then, please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition, which calls on the Congress, the president, and governors to defend freedom of speech as Big Tech continues their rampant censorship.
PETITION UPDATE (10/15/2020)
In a remarkable development, Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham have announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will be issuing subpoenas to Twitter's Jack Dorsey and Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg for their company's suppression of two critical expose news stories about how Hunter Biden and the Biden Family allegedly profited from business deals made because of Joe Biden's position as Vice President.
Please WATCH LifeSite's exclusive video of the announcement by Senator Ted Cruz below.
According to the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Lindsey Graham, the subpoenas will be issued next Tuesday, for hearings to be held on Friday of next week.
This is a MASSIVE development, and should be welcomed by those who champion freedom of speech.
Again, this is all happening because Twitter and Facebook refuse to allow their members to share stories which would be favorable to conservatives.
Here's the timeline:
Yesterday, Twitter and Facebook suppressed a NY Post story about how Hunter Biden allegedly profited from introducing a Ukrainian businessman to his then-Vice President father, Joe Biden. The story also alleges that Vice President Biden then subsequently pressured Ukrainian authorities to fire a prosecutor who was investigating the businessman's company.
And, just this morning, Twitter suppressed another expose by the NY Post alleging that the Biden Family improperly profitted from deals made with one of the largest Chinese energy companies because of Vice President Biden's position in government.
But, right after the story broke, Senator Cruz tried to share the latest story on Twitter and was blocked. Twitter says that they are blocking the stories because they claim that the information was obtained illegally. However, Twitter showed no problem allowing illegally obtained information about President Trump's tax returns to be shared.
Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition, which calls on the Congress, the president, and governors to defend freedom of speech as Big Tech continues their rampant censorship.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'GOP senators decry Big Tech censorship of NY Post story exposing Biden corruption' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/gop-senators-decry-big-tech-censorship-of-ny-post-story-exposing-biden-corruption
___________________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (9/17/2020)
Big Tech is out to kill free speech. LifeSite is out to protect it!
LifeSite has been digging deep into the many claims of liberal bias and selective censorship of pro-life, pro-family, and conservative voices on social media.
And, we are now launching our new series 'Uncensored: Big Tech vs. Free Speech', which will unpack how the actions of Big Tech censors actually affect conservative and Christian organization and individuals.
Please WATCH the first video in our series featuring Brigitte Gabriel, the Founder of ACT For America, one of the nation's premier national security grassroots organizations.
Ms. Gabriel's organization, ACT For America, has been targeted by Big Tech especially in the manipulation of search results.
Big Tech “think[s] they are God and they are exercising their godly power over everybody else,” Gabriel explained. "Because in today's world, anytime you want to find out any information about somebody, what do you do? Google. You go to the internet to find out some information about them. When you research anything about somebody, the first thing that comes up [in the search results] is the Southern Poverty Law Center’s labeling of ‘hate groups.’”
“And who are the ‘hate groups’? Family Research Council is a hate group because they are pro-family. American Family Radio is a hate group…LifeSiteNews is a hate group. My organization is a hate group because we sound the alarm about terrorism and protecting our constitutional freedom. And so they try to character assassinate you. And they control the language.”
LifeSite's research shows that Facebook, Google, YouTube, Twitter, and others have become far too dangerous for democracy.
They can and do sway elections and public opinion in whatever direction they want, primarily by manipulating search results, tracking our online behavior, and by blocking truthful content from their platforms.
Today, LifeSite is starting to fight back, with facts and with stories of conservatives and Christians who are being negatively impacted by Big Tech's liberal bias.
Please continue to follow our 'Big Tech vs. Free Speech' series which aims to launch a new video each week for the next eight weeks.
And, please sign our petition demanding that Big Tech monopolies are broken up. Thank you!
__________________________________________________________________________
ORIGINAL PETITION BACKGROUND TEXT:
The outrageous erasing of the White Coat Summit from the internet is only the latest in a long series of brazen acts of censorship against conservatives and all those who support legitimate free speech.
You may agree or disagree with the efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine against the coronavirus, but everyone should agree on this point:
No Big Tech company should have the power to erase from the internet the medical opinions of licensed practicing doctors simply because they do not like what they have to say about the coronavirus or their experience treating it. Americans and other free peoples do not need leftist computer programmers deciding what the best course of medical treatment is for them.
Google/Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Apple and their Big Tech friends want to control what you see, what you read, what you think, and ultimately, how you vote. Not only do they spend hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbying congress and buttering up big Washington DC think tanks, but now they brazenly and directly censor any content they don't want you to see.
Big Tech, like other interest groups, aggressively lobby to help their businesses thrive, but increasingly, Big Tech is using blatant internet censorship to impose its radical world view over those they consider to be "deplorables."
This must stop, but it won't unless we demand it as forcefully as legally possible. We believe that we have reached the point were Big Tech must be broken up if legitimate free speech is going to survive and continue to thrive on the internet.
Please sign our petition to demand real consequences for Big Tech's suppression of legitimate free speech.
In 2016, emails revealed by Fox News' Tucker Carlson proved that Google tried to influence the election by affecting voter turnout. Thankfully they failed. But they didn't give up. Instead, they have been preparing and testing how to manipulate information to continue to abuse their monopolistic power.
In 2018, Google/Youtube et. al. succeeded in manipulating the Irish abortion referendum by blacklisting pro-life videos, manipulating pro-life search terms and results and intentionally withholding pro-life information. Again, this is not an opinion or a conspiracy theory, Project Veritas obtained first hand information proving the intentional censorship by Big Tech.
And the Coronavirus has just made things worse. You see, scared people are more easily manipulated into giving up their freedom of speech. Children are being kept from going to school, tens of millions of Americans are out of work, and rioting has broken out in most major American cities.
Now, more than ever, freedom of speech is necessary to secure all of our freedoms. Freedom of speech is crucial to truly exercise the freedom to vote for the person that best represents one's own views, or the freedom to decide what course of medical treatment to accept - especially the decision to control what vaccines are administered to our children.
Some experts, like Dr. Robert Epstein, a behavioral psychologist who has testified before congress against Big Tech believes that we may already be too late to control Big Tech's tyrannical control over information.
President Trump took a step in the right direction with his Executive Order calling for increased regulation of Big Tech. But much more can be done and needs to be done right now.
In an era where almost everything is polarized, there is an overwhelming support for breaking up the Big Tech monopolies. A recent Pew poll found that 75% of Americans believe that Big Tech companies have too much influence.
It is time to bring serious accountability to Big Tech for their attempts to use their monopolies to kill free speech.
It is time to break up Big Tech.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Google, Facebook, Twitter shut down ‘frontline’ US doctors who promote ‘cure for COVID’ - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/google-facebook-twitter-shut-down-frontline-us-doctors-who-promote-cure-for-covid?utm_source=featured&utm_campaign=standard
Americans overwhelmingly agree Big Tech has too much power: Pew poll - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/americans-overwhelmingly-agree-big-tech-has-too-much-power-pew-poll
Leaked Google employee's email reveals effort to boost Latino vote, surprise that some voted for Trump - https://www.foxnews.com/tech/leaked-google-employees-email-reveals-effort-to-boost-latino-vote-surprise-that-some-voted-for-trump
Undercover video proves Google interfered in Irish abortion referendum - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/americans-overwhelmingly-agree-big-tech-has-too-much-power-pew-poll


lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Senate Judiciary Committee advances Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to final vote

WASHINGTON , D.C. , October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to advance Judge Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate , leaving only one hurdle to go next week .
Every Republican on the committee voted for Barrett , President Donald Trump ’ s selection to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , while every committee Democrat boycotted the vote , CNBC reports .
Widely regarded as a pro-life originalist , Barrett was a member of Notre Dame ’ s Faculty for Life group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by Becket Law criticizing the Obama administration ’ s contraception mandate , and signed a 2006 ad declaring “ we ... oppose abortion on demand and support the right to life from fertilization to natural death.
” She has also written multiple articles critical of the stare decisis doctrine , which grants weight to past rulings ’ status as precedent , regardless of whether they were rightly decided .
“ We will not grant this process any further legitimacy by participating in a committee markup of this nomination just twelve days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already underway , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) declared before the vote .
In their chairs , Democrats left posters of Americans they claim would be harmed by the invalidation of the Affordable Care Act ( Obamacare ) , the constitutionality of which is at issue in a case the Supreme Court will hear on November 10 .
“ We are not going to allow them to take over the committee , ” said Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , chairman of the Judiciary Committee .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is a great day .
Our team has worked tirelessly throughout this election cycle to meet people where they are so that we can advocate for a society in which the lives of human beings are protected from conception to natural death , ” Students for Life of America president Kristan Hawkins said .
“ Today ’ s vote in the Judiciary Committee is a great reminder of why millions of Americans vote pro-life first.
” “ Today ’ s vote is an historic milestone for the pro-life movement , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one step closer toward a seat on the nation ’ s highest court , ” said Marjorie Dannenfelser , president of the Susan B. Anthony List .
“ In last week ’ s hearings , Judge Barrett ’ s formidable intellect and principled constitutionalist philosophy shone throughout hours of questioning .
In the face of pro-abortion Democrats ’ fearmongering and their media allies ’ attacks on her Catholic faith , she showed grace and dignity .
There is no question Barrett is exceptionally qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.
” The final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slated for Monday , October 26 , though many Republicans expect Democrats to attempt some sort of last-minute maneuver to derail the vote .
The GOP believed to have enough votes to confirm Barrett , even if up to three liberal Republicans defect and oppose her .

Judge Amy Coney Barrett Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images
PETITION UPDATE (10/26//2020)
In a resounding victory for supporters of life, family and freedom, the U.S. Senate has just confirmed Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States!
Justice Barrett was sworn-in by Justice Clarence Thomas and will swiftly fill the vacant seat and immediately begin participating in Supreme Court hearings.
The petitions signed by many of you - there are now over 40,000 signatures - supporting Judge Amy Coney Barrett were sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as to the Officers of the USCCB.
Thank you for signing these petitions. As you can see, your signature really does make a difference!
We also know that many of you also made calls to your U.S. senators to encourage them to vote for Judge Barrett. Thank you!
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PETITION UPDATE (10/22/2020)
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee just voted to advance Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate, leaving only one hurdle to go next week.
Every Republican on the committee voted for Barrett, President Donald Trump’s selection to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, while every committee Democrat boycotted the vote, CNBC reports.
Please READ the latest LifeSite article about the Senate Committee's vote here.
As you read above, Judge Barrett has one more hurdle next Monday. Of course, it's the BIGGEST hurdle.
So, if you haven't already, could we ask you to please call your U.S. senators to politely voice your support for Judge Barrett?
After SIGNING this petition, please scroll down the page, where you will find the list of all U.S. senators' contact details.
Let's keep working and praying so that we can see a pro-life judge sit on the Supreme Court.
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PETITION UPDATE (10/15/20)
The fourth day of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Senate confirmation hearing for the open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court is going on now.
Please CLICK HERE to go to the livestream of the hearings.
Please watch and read EXCLUSIVE LifeSite videos and articles about Judge Amy Coney Barrett's hearings:
YouTube Videos:
'We are people of faith, the true body of Christ': Christians pray for SCOTUS confirmation hearings'
'"That's your job": Judge Barrett responds to relevance of Obamacare to SCOTUS confirmation'
Articles:
'Senator who badgered Barrett about Catholicism in 2017 presses her on abortion at confirmation hearing'
'Hawley, Barrett dismantle religious tests for office at Supreme Court hearing'
'Ted Cruz at Barrett hearing warns Democrats want to ‘erase’ religious liberty'
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Conservatives and Christians asked President Trump to deliver a proven constitutional originalist with a solid pro-life background, and he did.
Now, let's not be outdone by Leftist organizations which will be mobilizing their forces to write, call and visit their senators' constituency offices.
Please SIGN this urgent petition - to Senate Leadership - asking them to quickly confirm Barrett as the next Supreme Court justice.
Then, please take a couple of minutes to CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS using their numbers below, and politely urge them to confirm Barrett.
When Amy Coney Barrett's senate confirmation hearing begins on Monday, October 12th, the mother of seven and devout Catholic is expected to face fierce opposition.
Of course, the anticipated attacks have nothing to do with Barrett's legal credentials, which are uniformly top-notch.
Instead, they have to do with her faith in Jesus and with her belief that life begins at conception.
This is nothing short of anti-Christian bigotry which cannot be tolerated.
The fact is, Amy Coney Barrett is the best candidate for the job, and she urgently needs our support.
By signing the petition, we can unite to powerfully speak with one voice. But, by calling your senators, you can ensure that they know their local constituents are concerned and interested enough to telephone their offices.
This is our time to get active! We must voice our support for Amy Coney Barrett at this crucial moment in our nation's history.
Please SIGN this petition, and then please use the contact details below to CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS right-away! Thank you!
U.S. SENATORS' CONTACT DETAILS:
SENATORS AND PHONE NUMBERS - https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact
ALABAMA SENATORS
Doug Jones – (202) 224-4124
Richard C. Shelby – (202) 224-5744
ALASKA SENATORS
Lisa Murkowski – (202) 224-6665
Dan Sullivan – (202) 224-3004
ARIZONA SENATORS
Martha McSally – (202) 224-2235
Kyrsten Sinema – (202) 224-4521
ARKANSAS SENATORS
John Boozman – (202) 224-4843
Tom Cotton – (202) 224-2353
CALIFORNIA SENATORS
Dianne Feinstein – (202) 224-3841
Kamala D. Harris – (202) 224-3553
COLORADO SENATORS
Michael F. Bennett – (202) 224-5852
Cory Gardner – (202) 224-5941
CONNECTICUT SENATORS
Richard Blumenthal – (202) 224-2823
Christopher Murphy – (202) 224-4041
DELAWARE SENATORS
Thomas R. Carper – (202) 224-2441
Christopher A. Coons – (202) 224-5042
FLORIDA SENATORS
Marco Rubio – (202) 224-3041
Rick Scott – (202) 224-5274
GEORGIA SENATORS
Kelly Loeffler – (202) 224-3643
David Perdue – (202) 224-3521
HAWAII SENATORS
Mazie K. Hirono – (202) 224-6361
Brian Schatz – (202) 224-3934
IDAHO SENATORS
Mike Crapo – (202) 224-6142
James E. Risch – (202) 224-2752
ILLINOIS SENATORS
Dick Durbin – (202) 224-2152
Tammy Duckworth – (202) 224-2854
INDIANA SENATORS
Mike Braun – (202) 224-4814
Todd Young – (202) 224-5623
IOWA SENATORS
Joni Ernst – (202) 224-3254
Chuck Grassley – (202) 224-3774
KANSAS SENATORS
Jerry Moran – (202) 224-6521
Pat Roberts – (202) 224-4744
KENTUCKY SENATORS
Mitch McConnell – (202) 224-2541
Rand Paul – (202) 224-4343
LOUISIANA SENATORS
Bill Cassidy – (202) 224-5824
John Kennedy – (202) 224-4623
MAINE SENATORS
Susan M. Collins – (202) 224-2523
Angus S. King – (202) 224-5344
MARYLAND SENATORS
Benjamin L. Cardin – (202) 224-4524
Chris Van Hollen – (202) 224-4654
MASSACHUSETS SENATORS
Edward J. Markey – (202) 224-2742
Elizabeth Warren – (202) 224-4543
MICHIGAN
Gary C. Peters – (202) 224-6221
Debbie Stabenow – (202) 224-4822
MINNESOTA
Amy Klobuchar – (202) 224-3244
Tina Smith – (202) 224-5641
MISSISSIPPI
Cindy Hyde-Smith – (202) 224-5054
Roger F. Wicker – (202) 224-6253
MISSOURI
Roy Blunt – (202) 224-5721
Josh Hawley – (202) 224-6154
MONTANA
Steve Daines – (202) 224-2651
Jon Tester – (202) 224-2644
NEBRASKA
Deb Fischer – (202) 224-6551
Ben Sasse – (202) 224-4224
NEVADA
Catherine Cortez Masto – (202) 224-3542
Jacky Rosen – (202) 224-6244
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Margaret Wood Hassan – (202) 224-3324
Jeanne Shaheen – (202) 224-2841
NEW JERSEY
Cory A. Booker – (202) 224-3224
Robert Menendez – (202) 224-4744
NEW MEXICO
Martin Heinrich – (202) 224-5521
Tom Udall – (202) 224-6621
NEW YORK
Kirsten E. Gillibrand – (202) 224-4451
Charles E. Schumer – (202) 224-6542
NORTH CAROLINA
Richard Burr – (202) 224-3154
Thom Tillis – (202) 224-6342
NORTH DAKOTA
Kevin Cramer – (202) 224-2043
John Hoeven – (202) 224-2551
OHIO
Sherrod Brown – (202) 224-2315
Rob Portman – (202) 224-3353
OKLAHOMA
James M. Inhofe – (202) 224-4721
James Lankford – (202) 224-5754
OREGON
Jeff Merkley – (202) 224-3753
Ron Wyden – (202) 224-5244
PENNSYLVANIA
Robert P. Casey, Jr. – (202) 224-6324
Patrick J. Toomey, Jr. – (202) 224-4254
RHODE ISLAND
Jack Reed – (202) 224-4642
Sheldon Whitehouse – (202) 224-2921
SOUTH CAROLINA
Lindsey Graham – (202) 224-5972
Tim Scott – (202) 224-6121
SOUTH DAKOTA
Mike Rounds – (202) 224-5842
John Thune – (202) 224-2321
TENNESSEE
Lamar Alexander – (202) 224-4944
Marsha Blackburn – (202) 224-3344
TEXAS
John Cornyn – (202) 224-2934
Ted Cruz – (202) 224-5922
UTAH
Mike Lee – (202) 224-5444
Mitt Romney – (202) 224-5251
VERMONT
Patrick J. Leahy – (202) 224-4242
Bernard Sanders – (202) 224-5141
VIRGINIA
Tim Kaine – (202) 224-4024
Mark R. Warner – (202) 224-2023
WASHINGTON
Maria Cantwell – (202) 224-3441
Patty Murray – (202) 224-2621
WEST VIRGINIA
Shelley Moore Capito – (202) 224-6472
Joe Manchin III – (202) 224-3954
WISCONSIN
Tammy Baldwin – (202) 224-5653
Ron Johnson – (202) 224-5323
WYOMING
John Barrasso – (202) 224-6441
Michael B. Enzi – (202) 224-3424


lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Cdl. Burke: Pope’s homosexual civil union remarks ‘contrary’ to Scripture, Tradition

October 22 , 2020 ( CardinalBurke.com ) – The worldwide communications media have reported with strong emphasis , as a change of course , the news that Pope Francis has declared that persons in the homosexual condition , as children of God , “ have a right to have a family ” and that “ no one should be thrown out or be made unhappy because of it.
” Moreover , they write that he has declared : “ What we have to create is a civil union .
In this way they will be legally covered .
I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview with Evgeny Afineevsky , director of a documentary , “ Francesco , ” premiered on October 21 , 2020 , on the occasion of the Rome Film Festival ( Festa del Film di Roma ) .
Such declarations generate great bewilderment and cause confusion and error among Catholic faithful , inasmuch as they are contrary to the teaching of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition , and of the recent Magisterium by which the Church guards , protects and interprets the whole deposit of faith contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding the Church ’ s teaching among people of good will , who sincerely wish to know what the Catholic Church teaches .
They impose upon pastors of souls the duty of conscience to make fitting and necessary clarifications .
First of all , the context and the occasion of such declarations make them devoid of any magisterial weight .
They are rightly interpreted as simple private opinions of the person who made them .
These declarations do not bind , in any manner , the consciences of the faithful who are rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition , and the ordinary Magisterium of the Church teach on the matter in question .
In particular , the following are to be noted .
1 .
“ Basing itself on Sacred Scripture , which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity , Tradition has always declared that “ homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered ” ( Catechism of the Catholic Church , no .
2357 ; Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , Persona humana , “ Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , inasmuch as they are contrary to the natural law , closed to the gift of life and void of a true affective and sexual complementarity .
Therefore , they can not be approved .
2 .
The particular and sometimes deep-seated tendencies of persons , men and women , in the homosexual condition , which are for them a trial , although they may not in themselves constitute a sin , represent nonetheless an objectively disordered inclination ( Catechism of the Catholic Church , no .
2358 ; Congregation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons , ” no .
3 [ 2 ] ) .
They are , therefore , to be received with respect , compassion and sensitivity , avoiding any unjust discrimination .
The Catholic faith teaches the faithful to hate sin but to love the sinner .
3 .
The faithful , and , in particular , Catholic politicians are held to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions ( Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Unions between Homosexual Persons , Diverse questioni concernenti l ’ omosessualità , n. 10 [ 3 ] ) .
The right to form a family is not a private right to vindicate but must correspond to the plan of the Creator Who has willed the human being in sexual difference , “ male and female He created them ” ( Gen 1 , 27 ) , thus calling man , male and female , to the transmission of life .
“ Because married couples ensure the succession of generations and are therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law grants them institutional recognition .
Homosexual unions , on the other hand , do not need specific attention from the legal standpoint since they do not exercise this function for the common good.
” ( Ibidem , no .
9 [ 4 ] ) .
To speak of a homosexual union , in the same sense as the conjugal union of the married , is , in fact , profoundly misleading , because there can be no such union between persons of the same sex .
In what regards the administration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as all citizens , can always make use of the provisions of law to safeguard their private rights .
It is a source of deepest sadness and pressing pastoral concern that the private opinions reported with so much emphasis by the press and attributed to Pope Francis do not correspond to the constant teaching of the Church , as it is expressed in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition , and is guarded , protected and interpreted by the Magisterium .
Equally sad and concerning is the turmoil , confusion , and error @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as is the scandal they cause , in general , by giving the totally false impression that the Catholic Church has had a change of course , that is , has changed its perennial teaching regarding such fundamental and critical questions .
[ 4 ] “ Poiché le coppie matrimoniali svolgono il ruolo di garantire l ’ ordine delle generazioni e sono quindi di eminente interesse pubblico , il diritto civile conferisce loro un riconoscimento istituzionale .
Le unioni omosessuali invece non esigono una specifica attenzione da parte dell ’ ordinamento giuridico , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ il bene comune.
” Ibid.
, 47 , n. 9 .
English translation : Ibid.
, p. 5 , no .
9 .
Also published at the Daily Compass , October 22 , 2020 .

October 22, 2020 (CardinalBurke.com) – The worldwide communications media have reported with strong emphasis, as a change of course, the news that Pope Francis has declared that persons in the homosexual condition, as children of God, “have a right to have a family” and that “no one should be thrown out or be made unhappy because of it.” Moreover, they write that he has declared: “What we have to create is a civil union. In this way they will be legally covered. I have defended this.” The declarations were made in an interview with Evgeny Afineevsky, director of a documentary, “Francesco,” premiered on October 21, 2020, on the occasion of the Rome Film Festival (Festa del Film di Roma).
Such declarations generate great bewilderment and cause confusion and error among Catholic faithful, inasmuch as they are contrary to the teaching of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and of the recent Magisterium by which the Church guards, protects and interprets the whole deposit of faith contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. They cause wonderment and error regarding the Church’s teaching among people of good will, who sincerely wish to know what the Catholic Church teaches. They impose upon pastors of souls the duty of conscience to make fitting and necessary clarifications.
First of all, the context and the occasion of such declarations make them devoid of any magisterial weight. They are rightly interpreted as simple private opinions of the person who made them. These declarations do not bind, in any manner, the consciences of the faithful who are rather obliged to adhere with religious submission to what Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and the ordinary Magisterium of the Church teach on the matter in question. In particular, the following are to be noted.
1. “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, Tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2357; Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Persona humana, “Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics, no. VIII[1]), inasmuch as they are contrary to the natural law, closed to the gift of life and void of a true affective and sexual complementarity. Therefore, they cannot be approved.
2. The particular and sometimes deep-seated tendencies of persons, men and women, in the homosexual condition, which are for them a trial, although they may not in themselves constitute a sin, represent nonetheless an objectively disordered inclination (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2358; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Homosexualitatis problema, “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons,” no. 3[2]). They are, therefore, to be received with respect, compassion and sensitivity, avoiding any unjust discrimination. The Catholic faith teaches the faithful to hate sin but to love the sinner.
3. The faithful, and, in particular, Catholic politicians are held to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Considerations Regarding Proposals To Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons, Diverse questioni concernenti l’omosessualità, n. 10[3]). The right to form a family is not a private right to vindicate but must correspond to the plan of the Creator Who has willed the human being in sexual difference, “male and female He created them” (Gen 1, 27), thus calling man, male and female, to the transmission of life. “Because married couples ensure the succession of generations and are therefore eminently within the public interest, civil law grants them institutional recognition. Homosexual unions, on the other hand, do not need specific attention from the legal standpoint since they do not exercise this function for the common good.” (Ibidem, no. 9[4]). To speak of a homosexual union, in the same sense as the conjugal union of the married, is, in fact, profoundly misleading, because there can be no such union between persons of the same sex. In what regards the administration of justice, persons in the homosexual condition, as all citizens, can always make use of the provisions of law to safeguard their private rights.
It is a source of deepest sadness and pressing pastoral concern that the private opinions reported with so much emphasis by the press and attributed to Pope Francis do not correspond to the constant teaching of the Church, as it is expressed in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and is guarded, protected and interpreted by the Magisterium. Equally sad and concerning is the turmoil, confusion, and error they cause among the Catholic faithful, as is the scandal they cause, in general, by giving the totally false impression that the Catholic Church has had a change of course, that is, has changed its perennial teaching regarding such fundamental and critical questions.
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
Rome, October 22, 2020
Footnotes
[1] “… suapte intrinseca natura esse inordinatos.” Sacra Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei, Declaratio, Persona humana, “De quibusdam quaestionibus ad sexualem ethicam spectantibus,” 29 Decembris 1975, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 68 (1976) 85, n. 8. English Translation, p. 5, VIII.
[2] Cf. Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei, Epistula, Homosexualitatis problema, “Ad universos catholicae Ecclesiae episcopos de pastorali personarum homosexualium cura,” 1 Octobris 1986, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (1987) 544, n. 3. English Translation, pp. 1-2, no. 3.
[3] Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei, Nota, Diverse quaestioni concernenti l’omosessualità, “De contubernalibus eiusdem sexus quoad iuridica a consectaria contubernii,” 3 Iunii 2003, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 96 (2004) 48, n. 10. English translation: English Translation, pp. 5-6, no. 10.
[4] “Poiché le coppie matrimoniali svolgono il ruolo di garantire l’ordine delle generazioni e sono quindi di eminente interesse pubblico, il diritto civile conferisce loro un riconoscimento istituzionale. Le unioni omosessuali invece non esigono una specifica attenzione da parte dell’ordinamento giuridico, perché non rivestono il suddetto ruolo per il bene comune.” Ibid., 47, n. 9. English translation: Ibid., p. 5, no. 9.
Also published at the Daily Compass, October 22, 2020.
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lifesitenews--2020-10-22--Fauci: Barrett nomination ‘superspreader,’ no comment on pro-abortion mass gathering

WASHINGTON , D.C. , October 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Dr. Anthony Fauci , a lead member of President Trump ’ s White House Coronavirus Task Force , has remained silent about the potential spread of COVID-19 during Saturday ’ s Women ’ s March featuring tens of thousands of pro-abortion feminists in the nation ’ s capital .
Previously , Fauci had called the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett , with fewer than 300 people in attendance , a superspreader event .
A super-spreader has been defined as referring to “ a propensity to infect a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nor is the term confined to individuals with a propensity to spread infectious disease : it can potentially be used to describe events , policies or settings.
” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) simply wrote , “ Superspreader events , in which one infectious person infects many others , can lead to explosive growth at the beginning of an outbreak and facilitate sustained transmission later in an outbreak.
” Fauci , the long-time director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , openly criticized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 26 , when the president officially nominated Barett ’ s to the Supreme Court , as a “ superspreader.
” In fact , just a few days after the event , Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and spent several days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
A number of the people in attendance tested positive , as well , including Sens .
Mike Lee ( R-UT ) and Thom Tillis ( R-NC ) .
At the same time , many others , including Vice President Mike Pence and most senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LaPook asked Fauci in a 60 Minutes interview if he was surprised that Trump got sick .
Fauci responded , “ Absolutely not .
I was worried that he was going to get sick when I saw him in a completely precarious situation of crowded , no separation between people , and almost nobody wearing a mask .
When I saw that on TV , I said , ‘ Oh my goodness .
Nothing good can come out of that , that ’ s got to be a problem.
’ And then sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a superspreader event.
” If an assemblage of 300 people celebrating the nomination of Barrett is a “ precarious situation of crowded … people ” and a superspreader event , how much more is a gathering of tens of thousands protesting it ?
The Washington Examiner reached out to Fauci with that exact question , but has not received a response .
The 4th annual Women ’ s March event was held in Washington , D.C. on Saturday , with many other gatherings across the nation under the same banner .
ABC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up at what turned out to be 438 # CountonUs marches across all 50 states.
” Fauci is not the only one inconsistent in applying “ superspreader ” terminology to political events .
CNN called Barrett ’ s nomination a “ nexus for contagion , ” but then ran an article last Saturday on the Women ’ s March to protest Trump and his Supreme Court , without mentioning COVID-19 as a potential problem , at all .
When Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci in July about COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing in the House of Representatives , Fauci said , “ Crowding together , particularly when you ’ re not wearing a mask , contributes to the spread of the virus .
”


lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Coronavirus vaccine trial volunteer dies in Brazil

The Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency ( Anvisa ) is currently investigating “ data received ” on the vaccine trial volunteer ’ s death .
While Anvisa declared that “ data on clinical research volunteers must be kept confidential , ” the Brazilian newspaper O Globo that the volunteer is a recently graduated doctor who “ worked on the front line of combating COVID-19 in three hospitals in Rio de Janeiro.
” Reuters said that according to “ a source familiar with the matter , ” “ the trial would have been suspended if the volunteer who died had received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was part of the control group that was given a meningitis vaccine.
” However , there are conflicting reports .
According to Leoleli Schwartz , writing for MedScape Medical News , a report in O Globo said the volunteer received a dose of the AZDI222 vaccine — the vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 — in late July .
It is unclear whether the volunteer received the COVID-19 vaccine or the placebo .
Reuters reported that according to CNN Brasil , the volunteer died from COVID-19 complications .
A spokesperson for the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping coordinate Phase 3 clinical trials in Brazil , said , “ It is up to an independent review board to decide whether trials will continue .
”


lifesitenews--2020-10-23--El diccionario Webster altera la definición de la palabra para que coincida con el discurso pro-LGBT

El diccionario Webster altera la definición de la palabra para que coincida con el discurso pro-LGBT de la senador

`` No una sino dos veces usó el término 'preferencia sexual ' para describir a aquellos en la comunidad LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ Y permítanme aclarar : 'preferencia sexual ' es un término ofensivo y desactualizado .
Es @ @ @ @ @ sugerir que la orientación sexual es una elección .
No lo es .
La orientación @ @ @ @ @ de la identidad de una persona .
Que la orientación sexual es una expresión normal @ @ @ @ @ inmutable fue una parte clave de la opinión de la mayoría en Obergefell , con @ @ @ @ @ , Scalia no estaba de acuerdo . ''

14 de octubre de 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Después de que la senadora de Hawái Mazie Hirono (D) atacara a la jueza Amy Coney Barrett por usar el término “preferencia sexual” para hacer referencia a la homosexualidad, alegando que era “ofensivo” y “desactualizado,” Webster's Dictionary rápidamente cambió la definición en línea de la palabra.
“No una sino dos veces usó el término 'preferencia sexual' para describir a aquellos en la comunidad LGBTQ,” dijo. “Y permítanme aclarar: 'preferencia sexual' es un término ofensivo y desactualizado. Es utilizado por activistas anti-LGBTQ para sugerir que la orientación sexual es una elección. No lo es. La orientación sexual es una parte clave de la identidad de una persona. Que la orientación sexual es una expresión normal de la sexualidad humana e inmutable fue una parte clave de la opinión de la mayoría en Obergefell, con la que, por cierto, Scalia no estaba de acuerdo.”
“Con solo dos palabras, Amy Coney Barrett reveló cuán parcial es ella contra las personas LGBTQ,” gritaba un titular de LGBTQNation, que sugería que “Barrett usó la frase ofensiva 'preferencia sexual,' un silbato de derecha que sugiere que las personas LGBTQ puede ser curadas.”
Más tarde ese mismo día, el Diccionario Webster modificó su definición de “preferencia” para indicar que el término es “ofensivo” cuando se usa para referirse a la orientación sexual.
El cambio, y su oportunidad, no pasó desapercibido por mucho tiempo.
“Tan recientemente como el mes pasado, el Diccionario Webster incluyó una definición de 'preferencia' como 'orientación' o 'preferencia sexual,'” tuiteó Steve Krakuaer. “HOY lo cambiaron y agregaron la palabra 'ofensivo.'”
“Una locura. Acabo de revisar Wayback Machine y es real,” agregó.
Definición del diccionario Webster más temprano en el día de ayer (izquierda), y después del cambio de anoche (derecha).
Evidentemente, hasta ayer, sólo la senadora Hirono había pensado que “preferencia” era un término ofensivo.
El candidato presidencial demócrata Joe Biden pronunció recientemente las palabras “preferencia sexual.” “Biden usó el término en mayo de este año,” observó AGHamilton29 (AG). “Según algunos demócratas de hoy, eso debería descalificarlo para un cargo público.”
“¿Alguien va a preguntarle a Mazie Hirono sobre esto?”
Yes, Biden used the term in May of this year. According to some Democrats today, that should disqualify him from public office. Anyone going to ask @maziehirono about this?https://t.co/mYJJGsa3A2 — ) (@AGHamilton29) October 14, 2020
“Cómico,” exclamó AG en un tweet posterior. “Aquí está The Advocate Magazine que usó el término” preferencia sexual “hace 3 semanas. Justo antes de que se volviera ofensivo.”
Hilarious. Here is @TheAdvocateMag using the term “sexual preference” 3 weeks ago. Right before it became offensive. (h/t @auchizad)https://t.co/owPhl0UKAG — ) (@AGHamilton29) October 14, 2020
“Salir de esa historia para poder ahora, como director, contar estas historias … sobre jóvenes que simplemente se sienten cómodos con quienes son, sin importar cuál sea su preferencia sexual,” tuiteó The Advocate, la revista nacional principal de publicación LGBT. “Es simplemente glorioso y muy satisfactorio.”
“To come from that history to be able to now, as a director, be telling these stories […] about young people who are just comfortable with who they are, no matter what their sexual preference is. It's just glorious and so satisfying.” @KennyOrtegaBlog https://t.co/Q98JgJaLc8 — The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) September 25, 2020
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