lifesitenews--2020-07-09--Judge orders UK Christian adoption agency to adopt kids to Christian ‘homosexual carers’

WESTMINSTER , England , July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― An English High Court judge has told a Christian adoption and fostering agency that its stipulation that its foster carers refrain from homosexual activity is “ unlawful ” but that it may still recruit solely from evangelical Christians .
Mr. Justice Julian Knowles handed down his decision concerning Sunderland ’ s Cornerstone Adoption and Fostering Service yesterday .
“ The law requires Cornerstone to accept gay men and lesbian women as potential foster carers , ” Knowles said .
He added that he “ categorically ” rejected “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not make wonderfully loving foster and adoptive parents whether they are single or in same-sex partnerships.
” Knowles said Cornerstone “ must change its recruitment policy ” to allow homosexual carers to become “ prospective foster parents and it can not lawfully refuse to do so.
” However , Cornerstone , the only evangelical Christian agency among the 306 independent fostering agencies in England , may still exclusively recruit its foster carers from among evangelical Christians , the judge decided .
“ Cornerstone is permitted to exclusively recruit evangelical Christian carers because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sch 23 to the [ Equality Act ] 2010 for religious organisations , ” Knowles ’ judgement states .
“ Cornerstone ’ s recruitment policy does not violate Article 14 of the Convention read with Article 8 , as given effect by s 6 of the [ Human Rights Act ] 1998 , insofar as it requires carer applicants to be evangelical Christians.
” The children ’ s service sees the judgement as a victory for religious charities .
In a press release sent to LifeSiteNews , Cornerstone said the judgment “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide activities in line with their statement of faith.
” The High Court ’ s decision followed a legal battle between Cornerstone and Britain ’ s Office for Standards in Education , Children ’ s Services and Skills , colloquially known as Ofsted .
Ofsted awarded Cornerstone , which specializes in finding homes for “ hard-to-place ” children , “ Good ” in all areas until June 2019 , when the regulator suddenly downgraded the Christian institution to “ Requires Improvement.
” The reasons given were that Cornerstone is “ discriminatory ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foster and adoptive parents and that it holds to the traditional definition of marriage .
Believing the Ofsted inspector was violating laws protecting religious freedom , Cornerstone took Ofsted to court this May .
The organization was supported by the Chief Executive of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers , Harvey Gallagher , who said both that a disproportionate number of foster parents are people of faith and that people who wish to foster may choose from a “ wide range ” of agencies .
“ Cornerstone NE have been members of NAFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have found them to be a child-focused and passionate group of people .
This can be seen in their previous Ofsted inspection reports , ” he said .
“ Within foster care , people of faith are represented more than the general [ British ] population .
This makes sense when we consider the motivation of most foster carers – that being to help a child .
It also makes sense to me that we should aim to recruit more foster carers of faith .
Of course , this should be undertaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospective carers.
” “ At the same time , prospective foster carers can choose to foster for any agency , usually one who covers their location .
There is a wide range of fostering agencies .
This is important because it means that carers can choose the agency that is right for them , the one that will understand them and be best placed to support them through some tough times ahead.
” Yesterday ’ s judgement means that Ofstead will have to excise claims of discrimination from its report .
After Knowles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Cornerstone ’ s chairwoman , the Anglican Reverend Sheila Bamber , were mixed .
“ The judgment justifies our decision to pursue this legal action .
Our right to support Christian families in providing the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and young people has been upheld , ” she said .
“ But I am saddened that the fundamental place of biblically based Christian marriage in our beliefs has not been recognised .
We will carefully and prayerfully consider how to continue our vocation and work to create forever families.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defending the religious freedom of evangelical Christians in Britain , supported Cornerstone through the hearing .
Its deputy director , Simon Calvert , also had mixed feelings about the judgement .
His first , however , was pleasure in the victory against Ofsted .
“ Ofsted has failed in its attempt to turn a small , much-loved Christian agency into another outpost of its ‘ muscular liberalism ’ worldview .
Shockingly , it even argued in court that fostering was ‘ a secular act ’ and that there is no demand for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calvert added that Ofstead had tried to use human rights legislation to “ undermine ” the religious exemptions in the pro-LBGT Equality Act of 2010 aimed at protecting religious organizations like Cornerstone .
“ Cornerstone ’ s challenge should help protect churches and other religious bodies that rely for their existence on the protections afforded by the Equality Act , ” he said .
But at the same time , the Christian Institute ’ s director objects to Knowles ’ ruling that Cornerstone must change its recruitment policies to accommodate homosexuals seeking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its lawyers we believe the judge was mistaken in treating Cornerstone as if it recruits its carers on behalf of local authorities and therefore is not covered by the equality law exception allowing discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation , ” Calvert said .
“ Cornerstone is a private organization and places children with those within its existing pool of carers , ” he explained .
“ It does not recruit carers on behalf of local [ government ] .
This part of the judgment suggests the court failed to recognise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life – including sexual ethics and behaviour .
”

WESTMINSTER, England, July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― An English High Court judge has told a Christian adoption and fostering agency that its stipulation that its foster carers refrain from homosexual activity is “unlawful” but that it may still recruit solely from evangelical Christians.
Mr. Justice Julian Knowles handed down his decision concerning Sunderland’s Cornerstone Adoption and Fostering Service yesterday.
“The law requires Cornerstone to accept gay men and lesbian women as potential foster carers,” Knowles said.
He added that he “categorically” rejected “any suggestion that gay men and lesbians cannot make wonderfully loving foster and adoptive parents whether they are single or in same-sex partnerships.”
Knowles said Cornerstone “must change its recruitment policy” to allow homosexual carers to become “prospective foster parents and it cannot lawfully refuse to do so.”
However, Cornerstone, the only evangelical Christian agency among the 306 independent fostering agencies in England, may still exclusively recruit its foster carers from among evangelical Christians, the judge decided.
“Cornerstone is permitted to exclusively recruit evangelical Christian carers because of the exemption in [2] to Sch 23 to the [Equality Act] 2010 for religious organisations,” Knowles’ judgement states.
“Cornerstone’s recruitment policy does not violate Article 14 of the Convention read with Article 8, as given effect by s 6 of the [Human Rights Act] 1998, insofar as it requires carer applicants to be evangelical Christians.”
The children’s service sees the judgement as a victory for religious charities. In a press release sent to LifeSiteNews, Cornerstone said the judgment “confirms the freedom of Christian organizations to provide activities in line with their statement of faith.”
The High Court’s decision followed a legal battle between Cornerstone and Britain’s Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, colloquially known as Ofsted. Ofsted awarded Cornerstone, which specializes in finding homes for “hard-to-place” children, “Good” in all areas until June 2019, when the regulator suddenly downgraded the Christian institution to “Requires Improvement.”
The reasons given were that Cornerstone is “discriminatory” in that it works only with evangelical Christian foster and adoptive parents and that it holds to the traditional definition of marriage.
Believing the Ofsted inspector was violating laws protecting religious freedom, Cornerstone took Ofsted to court this May. The organization was supported by the Chief Executive of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers, Harvey Gallagher, who said both that a disproportionate number of foster parents are people of faith and that people who wish to foster may choose from a “wide range” of agencies.
“Cornerstone NE have been members of NAFP since 2017. During that time, I have found them to be a child-focused and passionate group of people. This can be seen in their previous Ofsted inspection reports,” he said.
“Within foster care, people of faith are represented more than the general [British] population. This makes sense when we consider the motivation of most foster carers – that being to help a child. It also makes sense to me that we should aim to recruit more foster carers of faith. Of course, this should be undertaken in line with assessment practice for all prospective carers.”
“At the same time, prospective foster carers can choose to foster for any agency, usually one who covers their location. There is a wide range of fostering agencies. This is important because it means that carers can choose the agency that is right for them, the one that will understand them and be best placed to support them through some tough times ahead.”
Yesterday’s judgement means that Ofstead will have to excise claims of discrimination from its report.
After Knowles handed down his decision, the feelings of Cornerstone’s chairwoman, the Anglican Reverend Sheila Bamber, were mixed.
“The judgment justifies our decision to pursue this legal action. Our right to support Christian families in providing the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and young people has been upheld,” she said.
“But I am saddened that the fundamental place of biblically based Christian marriage in our beliefs has not been recognised. We will carefully and prayerfully consider how to continue our vocation and work to create forever families.”
The Christian Institute, a charity dedicated to defending the religious freedom of evangelical Christians in Britain, supported Cornerstone through the hearing. Its deputy director, Simon Calvert, also had mixed feelings about the judgement. His first, however, was pleasure in the victory against Ofsted.
“Ofsted has failed in its attempt to turn a small, much-loved Christian agency into another outpost of its ‘muscular liberalism’ worldview. Shockingly, it even argued in court that fostering was ‘a secular act’ and that there is no demand for evangelical carers,” he remarked.
Calvert added that Ofstead had tried to use human rights legislation to “undermine” the religious exemptions in the pro-LBGT Equality Act of 2010 aimed at protecting religious organizations like Cornerstone.
“Cornerstone’s challenge should help protect churches and other religious bodies that rely for their existence on the protections afforded by the Equality Act,” he said.
But at the same time, the Christian Institute’s director objects to Knowles’ ruling that Cornerstone must change its recruitment policies to accommodate homosexuals seeking to foster children.
“Along with Cornerstone and its lawyers we believe the judge was mistaken in treating Cornerstone as if it recruits its carers on behalf of local authorities and therefore is not covered by the equality law exception allowing discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation,” Calvert said.
“Cornerstone is a private organization and places children with those within its existing pool of carers,” he explained.
“It does not recruit carers on behalf of local [government]. This part of the judgment suggests the court failed to recognise that Christian belief informs and shapes every area of life – including sexual ethics and behaviour.”
Cornerstone may appeal the judgement.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-09--Biden threatens to restore Obamacare birth control mandate if elected president

July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The U.S. Supreme Court ’ s ruling this week against forcing religious entities to subsidize birth control represented a partial blow to former President Barack Obama ’ s signature policy achievement , Obamacare , and now Obama ’ s former running mate and current Democrat presidential nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden , is pledging to restore it .
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Wednesday that the Trump administration was within its rights to exempt the Little Sisters of the Poor from being forced to include contraception in their health plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion by Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch went further and said that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act ( RFRA ) actually required the exemption ; Justice Elena Kagan wrote that while the majority opinion was technically correct she believed supporters of the amendment could still sue to get it reimposed on other grounds .
“ As disappointing as the Supreme Court 's ruling is , there is a clear path to fixing it : electing a new President who will end Donald Trump 's ceaseless attempts to gut every aspect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared following the ruling , Fox News reports .
“ If I am elected , I will restore the Obama-Biden policy that existed before the Hobby Lobby ruling : providing an exemption for houses of worship and an accommodation for nonprofit organizations with religious missions.
” Biden added that , “ as a result of today 's decision , countless women are at risk of losing access to affordable , preventive care.
” “ Joe Biden ’ s decade-long war against Catholic nuns and the Little Sisters of the Poor is finally over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ali Pardo responded .
“ Today ’ s Supreme Court ruling is a landmark win for religious liberty .
Unlike Joe Biden , President Trump has been a staunch defender of religious freedom since taking office and will always fight to defend communities of faith.
” Biden ’ s latest pledge is in line with the thoroughly pro-abortion platform he ’ s running on , summarized by a healthcare plan that calls for “ codifying ” Roe v. Wade in federal law ; repealing the Hyde Amendment ( which bars direct public funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accept Medicare funding for Planned Parenthood ; reversing the Mexico City Policy ( which bars federal funds from supporting abortion overseas ) ; and directing the Justice Department to “ do everything in its power ” to block state pro-life laws as modest as parental notification requirements , ultrasound laws , and waiting periods .
During his time in the Senate , Biden generally voted in lockstep with Planned Parenthood and NARAL .
As former President Barack Obama ’ s running mate , he spent eight years in what was arguably the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during which he assured a Chinese audience he “ fully understand [ s ] ” and was “ not second-guessing ” their government ’ s practice of forcing families into abortion and sterilization .
In the early months of his presidential campaign , Biden formally jettisoned by disavowing his support for the Hyde Amendment after just a day of pressure from pro-abortion activists .
Most recently , he declared abortion to be “ essential healthcare ” that had to continue even as the COVID-19 emergency measures suspended many forms of actual healthcare .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt about how his administration would mistreat and marginalize Catholics if elected , ” Catholic Vote president Brian Burch said in response to Biden ’ s Wednesday statement .
“ From his support for taxpayer-funded pro-abortion extremism , to his pledge to continue to harass the Little Sisters of the Poor , Biden will be a wrecking ball against all things that Catholics hold dear .
All Catholics in America must speak out forcefully against these threats , lest the Catholic Church in America be trampled .
”

July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling this week against forcing religious entities to subsidize birth control represented a partial blow to former President Barack Obama’s signature policy achievement, Obamacare, and now Obama’s former running mate and current Democrat presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, is pledging to restore it. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Wednesday that the Trump administration was within its rights to exempt the Little Sisters of the Poor from being forced to include contraception in their health plans despite their religious beliefs. A concurring opinion by Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch […]
July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling this week against forcing religious entities to subsidize birth control represented a partial blow to former President Barack Obama’s signature policy achievement, Obamacare, and now Obama’s former running mate and current Democrat presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, is pledging to restore it.
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Wednesday that the Trump administration was within its rights to exempt the Little Sisters of the Poor from being forced to include contraception in their health plans despite their religious beliefs. A concurring opinion by Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch went further and said that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) actually required the exemption; Justice Elena Kagan wrote that while the majority opinion was technically correct she believed supporters of the amendment could still sue to get it reimposed on other grounds.
“As disappointing as the Supreme Court's ruling is, there is a clear path to fixing it: electing a new President who will end Donald Trump's ceaseless attempts to gut every aspect of the Affordable Care Act,” Biden declared following the ruling, Fox News reports. “If I am elected, I will restore the Obama-Biden policy that existed before the Hobby Lobby ruling: providing an exemption for houses of worship and an accommodation for nonprofit organizations with religious missions.”
Biden added that, “as a result of today's decision, countless women are at risk of losing access to affordable, preventive care.”
“Joe Biden’s decade-long war against Catholic nuns and the Little Sisters of the Poor is finally over,” Trump 2020 Deputy Communications Director Ali Pardo responded. “Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a landmark win for religious liberty. Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump has been a staunch defender of religious freedom since taking office and will always fight to defend communities of faith.”
Biden’s latest pledge is in line with the thoroughly pro-abortion platform he’s running on, summarized by a healthcare plan that calls for “codifying” Roe v. Wade in federal law; repealing the Hyde Amendment (which bars direct public funding of most abortions); forcing states to accept Medicare funding for Planned Parenthood; reversing the Mexico City Policy (which bars federal funds from supporting abortion overseas); and directing the Justice Department to “do everything in its power” to block state pro-life laws as modest as parental notification requirements, ultrasound laws, and waiting periods.
During his time in the Senate, Biden generally voted in lockstep with Planned Parenthood and NARAL. As former President Barack Obama’s running mate, he spent eight years in what was arguably the most pro-abortion administration in American history, during which he assured a Chinese audience he “fully understand[s]” and was “not second-guessing” their government’s practice of forcing families into abortion and sterilization.
In the early months of his presidential campaign, Biden formally jettisoned by disavowing his support for the Hyde Amendment after just a day of pressure from pro-abortion activists. Most recently, he declared abortion to be “essential healthcare” that had to continue even as the COVID-19 emergency measures suspended many forms of actual healthcare.
“Joe Biden has removed any remaining doubt about how his administration would mistreat and marginalize Catholics if elected,” Catholic Vote president Brian Burch said in response to Biden’s Wednesday statement. “From his support for taxpayer-funded pro-abortion extremism, to his pledge to continue to harass the Little Sisters of the Poor, Biden will be a wrecking ball against all things that Catholics hold dear. All Catholics in America must speak out forcefully against these threats, lest the Catholic Church in America be trampled.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-09--Pro-life pregnancy center opens across from Texas Planned Parenthood

DALLAS , July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The largest Planned Parenthood facility in Texas has a new neighbor in the form of a pro-life pregnancy center that will provide life-saving support and alternatives to the deaths taking place across the street .
The Prestonwood Pregnancy Center has moved to a new location in southwest Dallas , where it will offer free sonograms , ultrasounds , pregnancy tests , medical referrals , childbirth classes , and pregnancy counseling free of charge , Fox News reported .
Its new location is directly across the street from Planned Parenthood ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ An unplanned pregnancy is one of the greatest challenges a woman can face , especially during a time of economic hardship like the one we are living through , '' said Leanne Jamieson , who heads the new Prestonwood location .
`` Our mission is to meet these women where they are and let them know they are not walking this road alone . ''
“ I truly believe this relocation is the greatest opportunity we ’ ve had in our 29 years of operating to offer hope where it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better choice that leads to life instead of death and to show grace and love at the very moment when many women are their greatest need , '' added Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church , who founded the pregnancy center in 1991 .
Prestonwood currently has two permanent locations in Texas as well as several mobile clinics that offer pregnancy tests , sonograms , and referrals for further care .
The new clinic says that since opening there is already a 50 percent increase in the number of women it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to choose life – indicating that the location ’ s proximity to Planned Parenthood has made a significant difference in the number of babies and women saved .
There are more than 170 pregnancy centers offering services for alternatives to and recovery from abortion , compared with 40 Planned Parenthood locations .
Nationwide , legitimate providers of non-abortion women ’ s healthcare outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 20 to 1 .

The Prestonwood Pregnancy Center reports a 50 percent increase in visits, and 90 percent of those women have decided to continue their pregnancies.
DALLAS, July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The largest Planned Parenthood facility in Texas has a new neighbor in the form of a pro-life pregnancy center that will provide life-saving support and alternatives to the deaths taking place across the street.
The Prestonwood Pregnancy Center has moved to a new location in southwest Dallas, where it will offer free sonograms, ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, medical referrals, childbirth classes, and pregnancy counseling free of charge, Fox News reported. Its new location is directly across the street from Planned Parenthood’s largest abortion center in the state.
“An unplanned pregnancy is one of the greatest challenges a woman can face, especially during a time of economic hardship like the one we are living through,” said Leanne Jamieson, who heads the new Prestonwood location. “Our mission is to meet these women where they are and let them know they are not walking this road alone.”
“I truly believe this relocation is the greatest opportunity we’ve had in our 29 years of operating to offer hope where it’s been lost, to offer a better choice that leads to life instead of death and to show grace and love at the very moment when many women are their greatest need,” added Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church, who founded the pregnancy center in 1991.
Prestonwood currently has two permanent locations in Texas as well as several mobile clinics that offer pregnancy tests, sonograms, and referrals for further care.
The new clinic says that since opening there is already a 50 percent increase in the number of women it has seen, 90 percent of whom ultimately decided to choose life – indicating that the location’s proximity to Planned Parenthood has made a significant difference in the number of babies and women saved.
There are more than 170 pregnancy centers offering services for alternatives to and recovery from abortion, compared with 40 Planned Parenthood locations. Nationwide, legitimate providers of non-abortion women’s healthcare outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 20 to 1.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-09--Cardinal Müller addresses problems with Communism, Indian theology

July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In a new interview with the German author Lothar C. Rilinger , Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller , the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , presents the network of relationships between church and state , faith and politics .
As he says , the governing principle is the Christian conception of man , the Catholic social doctrine , and faith in Jesus Christ .
The goal of history is the communion of saints , not class struggle .
Against this background , he discusses here topics such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In introductory words during the interview he says : “ I am for example not against Communism in the sense of the counter-ideology from the point of view of Manchester capitalism or fascism , but because of the Christian conception of man and the Catholic social doctrine.
” In this light , the German cardinal discusses with Mr. Rilinger in a critical way also certain movements within the Church such as Liberation Theology and Indian theology .
But he explicitly does not do this in order to speak out for the sake of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sake of extreme capitalism , which has no interest in human suffering .
In some introductory words to the interview , Cardinal Müller explains the original concern of Liberation Theology before it was instrumentalized : “ The original concern of Liberation Theology was to speak of the love of God in view of the oppression and suffering of millions .
My discriminating or warning references that are also meant to further the debate ( also where Liberation Theology has been overturned into an inner-worldly doctrine of salvation or is being abused ) do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the exploiters and super billionaires of the Forbes list.
” The following interview discussion starts with questions which , although mainly related to German conditions , can be applied to the Universal Church at the same time .
It is about the ethical role that the Church should play in states , but without interfering in party politics .
In addition , Cardinal Müller discusses a Liberation Theology without Marxism , as well as an Indian theology , “ which says that , regardless of the unique and ultimate Revelation of God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based on the thinking or myths of the natives , a whole new approach to understanding the world .
In my opinion , this is completely exaggerated and essentially theologically wrong.
” Cardinal Müller also clearly rejects Marxism and refers to the complex situation in China which he describes as having “ the most abstruse combination of extreme capitalism and extreme communism.
” Lothar C. Rilinger is a German lawyer who has authored several books ; the latest book – to which Cardinal Müller wrote a foreword – is dedicated to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Rome .
Church and politics .
An Interview with Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller by Lothar C. Rilinger At least in the western world we can observe that church and politics are becoming increasingly alien to each other .
Even if the separation of church and state was accomplished by the Enlightenment , it is questionable whether it is justified to speak out simultaneously for a strict separation of church and politics .
Politics can not by itself form the basis from which political decisions are made ; it needs the preconditions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The German Constitution has indeed established a separation of church and state .
But this separation is not complete .
The German constitutional law on state-church-relations is rather based on a 'limping ' separation , so that there is still an interweaving which can not be removed solely because of the social commitment of the churches .
The question addressed to Cardinal Müller is : “ To what extent should the Roman Catholic Church influence the political process in view of the loose intertwining of state and church ?
” Cardinal Müller answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Church – understood as a community of the faithful and not only that of the bishops – should exert great influence , but mainly through the laity who are involved in politics , in society , in science .
The bishops and priests can not participate in party politics.
” Even if a commitment of the clergy in the realm of party politics is excluded – which was laid down in the Concordat of 1933 concluded between the Holy See and the German Reich – the question arises nevertheless whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervene in the political discourse ?
The German cardinal responds to this question in a clarifying manner : “ The Church is called to stress the ethical basis of politics , but not to formulate politics as such .
We must do everything possible to prevent people from drowning in the Mediterranean , but the Church 's Magisterium , the bishops , can not simply say that we must now approve a certain policy of exchanging populations .
We can also criticize the fact that Africa is being depopulated and deprived of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reconstruction there if these people come to us , are not integrated , are uprooted from their homeland and remain disintegrated here .
Here , one can certainly ask critical questions about a certain policy.
” So one could probably say that by participating in the ethical discussion , the Church removes the strict separation between religion and politics and in this way tries to bring religious content into politics .
Here we can think of Marxism .
The ethics of Christianity is sometimes thought to be compatible with Marxism .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dissolution of private property , which was propagated in early Christianity , is found in the economic ideas of Karl Marx , and therefore Christianity and Marxism complement each other .
The question is put to Cardinal Müller : “ Can therefore the recourse to Marxism be the basis of a political recommendation on the part of the Church ?
” For Cardinal Müller it is clear that “ Marxism in its historical manifestations has brought only misfortune ” – and this “ exclusively because it is based on a false anthropology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is deeply connected , through its materialistic view , with the capitalists against whom it fights.
” The Cardinal continues : “ We have therefore in China the most abstruse combination of extreme capitalism and extreme communism .
China , dictatorially ruled by Communism , is the complete self-refutation of Marxism .
One takes practice as a criterion for theory , but the practice shows that the theory is wrong .
From some Marxist analyses of society , one certainly might be able to learn something ; there are class antagonisms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the dialectical result of class struggles , since history as a whole is not accepted by us as a struggle of one against the other .
That would be a wrong attitude .
The battle rhetoric should actually be overcome .
We do not have the class struggle as the driving force and goal of history , but the Communio sanctorum , the communion of saints .
The goal of history is , in God 's Providence , to overcome our sinfulness and find our perfection in love.
” Even if Marxism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems that Liberation Theology is not always free of echoes of the class struggle ideology .
So we asked Cardinal Müller to what extent he saw Marxist tendencies in Liberation Theology .
He presents the Catholic social teachings as the point of orientation .
“ One can de facto state that there is a class struggle in some societies , ” the German Praelat replies , “ but it is something different whether one recognizes class struggle as a principle of historical development or whether one takes the view that class differences must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidarity in the sense of Catholic social teaching .
Consequently , it is our task to overcome class struggle thinking and class thinking .
St. Paul says that in the Body of Christ , there is no conflict between rich and poor , or between Greeks and Gentiles , men and women .
In the theological and , as a consequence , in the sociological sense we are all 'one ' in Christ ( Gal 3:28 ) .
The Early Church , according to the Acts , had everything in common , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of goods .
The rich did not think of their goods exclusively for themselves , but also for others .
All took part in everything .
In Catholic social teaching we have the goal of creating a strong middle class and overcoming the contrast between rich and poor or between a socially isolated class of the oligarchy or aristocracy and the people , as we have seen in the French corporative state or feudalism , for example .
This approach was quite successful in the Federal Republic of Germany after the war .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which do not want to have anything to do with each other and whose members would not marry among themselves .
One can and should work for a more just society without falling into class struggle .
Cardinal Müller continues : “ There will never be a total balance in society in this world , but the greatest inequalities can be overcome .
Liberation Theology wants to be theology .
It asks theologically , how can one preach about the love of God in the face of the great suffering in this world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect , the Church as a whole , including the hierarchy , i.e.
, bishops and priests , in cooperation with Christian politicians , must work for the practice of a just social system , so that false and divisive boundaries can be overcome .
Consequently , theology can also support politics without the theological point of view becoming the basis of an absolutist social doctrine.
” These remarks lead us on to the next question to Cardinal Müller : “ From your words we can see that you do not see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that excludes the rich .
Consequently , does Liberation Theology understand itself as a theology for all the faithful ?
Does it therefore include the poor and the rich ?
” To this the Cardinal replies : “ The proclamation of the Faith , the transmission of grace refers to every person , rich or poor .
But what does rich mean ?
In our country the citizens are rich in relation to the people in the so-called Third World – they are rich , but not in the sense that they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country , such as , to give examples , the gold mines or the mineral resources , and that they use the profits from their businesses exclusively for their own luxury , while they withhold the just wages of their employees or do not provide for them in case of illness or old age .
In this sense , we , the Church , must also change society , but not in the sense of Marxism .
We do not have to build a new society from scratch , which , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other than the reflection of a finite mind , which , incidentally , Karl Marx also merely possessed .
He could not grasp the whole of existence , he is not the author , not the creator of the world and man , and he did not know the deeper plan of history , which is known to us only in the light of the Word of God as God 's Will for the salvation of all men.
” Next to Liberation Theology , Indian Theologia ( Theologia india ) is also being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overcome the economic inequalities there on this basis .
So the question arises whether Cardinal Müller thinks that this theology could show a practicable way to this end ?
But Cardinal Müller does not consider this theology to be theologically correct : “ There is a so-called Theologia india , which has already been critically judged by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith .
This is not a theology that takes into account the special situations of the indigenous people of the Amazon , but one that says that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or myths of the natives , a whole new approach to understanding the world .
In my opinion , this is completely exaggerated and essentially theologically wrong.
” Discussing further this problematic theology , the Cardinal adds : “ It is even said that they did not need Jesus Christ there at all .
Before the missionaries arrived 500 years ago , God had already been there .
Indeed , God was already there , but in the sense that the Creator , in His Being , manifested himself to the world and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Divinity ( Rom 1:20 ; 2:16 ) ; but this does not in any way replace the historical mediation of the Gospel in Jesus Christ , which leads to the Incarnate Word of God .
It is in the light of Christ that we first come to the universal understanding of God .
Surely , one can not say that the ancient Greeks , through Homer and the Iliad , mythologically had already had an encounter with God that then replaced the Revelation of God through Jesus Christ or made the whole history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – apart from the fact that the mythical opening up of reality by Greek philosophy , by reason and the Logos , had been overcome long before .
We do not deny that myths and fairy tales also reflect general existential experiences .
But this can not be a substitute for a rational grasping of visible , empirical reality or even of the Revelation of the Word or of the meaning of being itself .
One can not derive a legal system from myths and recommend oneself to the goodwill or revenge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end , Cardinal Müller once again states very clearly what is for us the basis of faith : “ The only foundation we have is the Word of God which , made Flesh in Jesus Christ , the Word of the Father , entered into the context of all history .
Here is the fullness of time .
This is the only foundation .
'No one can lay any foundation other than the one that is laid : Jesus Christ ' ( 1 Cor 3:11 ) .
”

PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In a new interview with the German author Lothar C. Rilinger, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presents the network of relationships between church and state, faith and politics. As he says, the governing principle is the Christian conception of man, the Catholic social doctrine, and faith in Jesus Christ. The goal of history is the communion of saints, not class struggle. Against this background, he discusses here topics such as liberation theology and Indian theology.
In introductory words during the interview he says: “I am for example not against Communism in the sense of the counter-ideology from the point of view of Manchester capitalism or fascism, but because of the Christian conception of man and the Catholic social doctrine.”
In this light, the German cardinal discusses with Mr. Rilinger in a critical way also certain movements within the Church such as Liberation Theology and Indian theology. But he explicitly does not do this in order to speak out for the sake of the other side – here for the sake of extreme capitalism, which has no interest in human suffering.
In some introductory words to the interview, Cardinal Müller explains the original concern of Liberation Theology before it was instrumentalized: “The original concern of Liberation Theology was to speak of the love of God in view of the oppression and suffering of millions. My discriminating or warning references that are also meant to further the debate (also where Liberation Theology has been overturned into an inner-worldly doctrine of salvation or is being abused) do not want to play into the hands of the exploiters and super billionaires of the Forbes list.”
The following interview discussion starts with questions which, although mainly related to German conditions, can be applied to the Universal Church at the same time. It is about the ethical role that the Church should play in states, but without interfering in party politics.
In addition, Cardinal Müller discusses a Liberation Theology without Marxism, as well as an Indian theology, “which says that, regardless of the unique and ultimate Revelation of God in Jesus Christ, we could establish, based on the thinking or myths of the natives, a whole new approach to understanding the world. In my opinion, this is completely exaggerated and essentially theologically wrong.”
Cardinal Müller also clearly rejects Marxism and refers to the complex situation in China which he describes as having “the most abstruse combination of extreme capitalism and extreme communism.”
Lothar C. Rilinger is a German lawyer who has authored several books; the latest book – to which Cardinal Müller wrote a foreword – is dedicated to the theme of the presence of German culture in Rome.
***
Church and politics. An Interview with Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller
by Lothar C. Rilinger
At least in the western world we can observe that church and politics are becoming increasingly alien to each other. Even if the separation of church and state was accomplished by the Enlightenment, it is questionable whether it is justified to speak out simultaneously for a strict separation of church and politics. Politics cannot by itself form the basis from which political decisions are made; it needs the preconditions that are developed in the social discourse.
The German Constitution has indeed established a separation of church and state. But this separation is not complete. The German constitutional law on state-church-relations is rather based on a 'limping' separation, so that there is still an interweaving which cannot be removed solely because of the social commitment of the churches. The question addressed to Cardinal Müller is: “To what extent should the Roman Catholic Church influence the political process in view of the loose intertwining of state and church?”
Cardinal Müller answers with the words: “I believe that the Church – understood as a community of the faithful and not only that of the bishops – should exert great influence, but mainly through the laity who are involved in politics, in society, in science. The bishops and priests cannot participate in party politics.”
Even if a commitment of the clergy in the realm of party politics is excluded – which was laid down in the Concordat of 1933 concluded between the Holy See and the German Reich – the question arises nevertheless whether the Church should at least in ethical questions intervene in the political discourse?
The German cardinal responds to this question in a clarifying manner: “The Church is called to stress the ethical basis of politics, but not to formulate politics as such. We must do everything possible to prevent people from drowning in the Mediterranean, but the Church's Magisterium, the bishops, cannot simply say that we must now approve a certain policy of exchanging populations. We can also criticize the fact that Africa is being depopulated and deprived of its youth. How can there ever be a reconstruction there if these people come to us, are not integrated, are uprooted from their homeland and remain disintegrated here. Here, one can certainly ask critical questions about a certain policy.”
So one could probably say that by participating in the ethical discussion, the Church removes the strict separation between religion and politics and in this way tries to bring religious content into politics.
Here we can think of Marxism. The ethics of Christianity is sometimes thought to be compatible with Marxism. Some claim that the idea of poverty and the dissolution of private property, which was propagated in early Christianity, is found in the economic ideas of Karl Marx, and therefore Christianity and Marxism complement each other. The question is put to Cardinal Müller: “Can therefore the recourse to Marxism be the basis of a political recommendation on the part of the Church?”
For Cardinal Müller it is clear that “Marxism in its historical manifestations has brought only misfortune” – and this “exclusively because it is based on a false anthropology, represents a false view of history and is deeply connected, through its materialistic view, with the capitalists against whom it fights.”
The Cardinal continues: “We have therefore in China the most abstruse combination of extreme capitalism and extreme communism. China, dictatorially ruled by Communism, is the complete self-refutation of Marxism. One takes practice as a criterion for theory, but the practice shows that the theory is wrong. From some Marxist analyses of society, one certainly might be able to learn something; there are class antagonisms, that is true, but history is not the dialectical result of class struggles, since history as a whole is not accepted by us as a struggle of one against the other. That would be a wrong attitude. The battle rhetoric should actually be overcome. We do not have the class struggle as the driving force and goal of history, but the Communio sanctorum, the communion of saints. The goal of history is, in God's Providence, to overcome our sinfulness and find our perfection in love.”
Even if Marxism has proven itself ad absurdum, it seems that Liberation Theology is not always free of echoes of the class struggle ideology. So we asked Cardinal Müller to what extent he saw Marxist tendencies in Liberation Theology. He presents the Catholic social teachings as the point of orientation.
“One can de facto state that there is a class struggle in some societies,” the German Praelat replies, “but it is something different whether one recognizes class struggle as a principle of historical development or whether one takes the view that class differences must be overcome. A society must show solidarity in the sense of Catholic social teaching. Consequently, it is our task to overcome class struggle thinking and class thinking. St. Paul says that in the Body of Christ, there is no conflict between rich and poor, or between Greeks and Gentiles, men and women. In the theological and, as a consequence, in the sociological sense we are all 'one' in Christ (Gal 3:28). The Early Church, according to the Acts, had everything in common, but not in the sense of a community of goods. The rich did not think of their goods exclusively for themselves, but also for others. All took part in everything. In Catholic social teaching we have the goal of creating a strong middle class and overcoming the contrast between rich and poor or between a socially isolated class of the oligarchy or aristocracy and the people, as we have seen in the French corporative state or feudalism, for example. This approach was quite successful in the Federal Republic of Germany after the war. There are no longer such isolated groups which do not want to have anything to do with each other and whose members would not marry among themselves.
One can and should work for a more just society without falling into class struggle. Cardinal Müller continues:
“There will never be a total balance in society in this world, but the greatest inequalities can be overcome. Liberation Theology wants to be theology. It asks theologically, how can one preach about the love of God in the face of the great suffering in this world and the material exploitation? In this respect, the Church as a whole, including the hierarchy, i.e., bishops and priests, in cooperation with Christian politicians, must work for the practice of a just social system, so that false and divisive boundaries can be overcome. Consequently, theology can also support politics without the theological point of view becoming the basis of an absolutist social doctrine.”
These remarks lead us on to the next question to Cardinal Müller: “From your words we can see that you do not see the option for the poor as a struggle that excludes the rich. Consequently, does Liberation Theology understand itself as a theology for all the faithful? Does it therefore include the poor and the rich?”
To this the Cardinal replies: “The proclamation of the Faith, the transmission of grace refers to every person, rich or poor. But what does rich mean? In our country the citizens are rich in relation to the people in the so-called Third World – they are rich, but not in the sense that they are in possession of all the economic resources of the country, such as, to give examples, the gold mines or the mineral resources, and that they use the profits from their businesses exclusively for their own luxury, while they withhold the just wages of their employees or do not provide for them in case of illness or old age. In this sense, we, the Church, must also change society, but not in the sense of Marxism. We do not have to build a new society from scratch, which, after all, cannot be anything other than the reflection of a finite mind, which, incidentally, Karl Marx also merely possessed. He could not grasp the whole of existence, he is not the author, not the creator of the world and man, and he did not know the deeper plan of history, which is known to us only in the light of the Word of God as God's Will for the salvation of all men.”
Next to Liberation Theology, Indian Theologia (Theologia india) is also being developed in South America, in order to overcome the economic inequalities there on this basis. So the question arises whether Cardinal Müller thinks that this theology could show a practicable way to this end?
But Cardinal Müller does not consider this theology to be theologically correct: “There is a so-called Theologia india, which has already been critically judged by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This is not a theology that takes into account the special situations of the indigenous people of the Amazon, but one that says that we could establish, based on the thinking or myths of the natives, a whole new approach to understanding the world. In my opinion, this is completely exaggerated and essentially theologically wrong.”
Discussing further this problematic theology, the Cardinal adds: “It is even said that they did not need Jesus Christ there at all. Before the missionaries arrived 500 years ago, God had already been there. Indeed, God was already there, but in the sense that the Creator, in His Being, manifested himself to the world and to the conscience of men in His Divinity (Rom 1:20; 2:16); but this does not in any way replace the historical mediation of the Gospel in Jesus Christ, which leads to the Incarnate Word of God. It is in the light of Christ that we first come to the universal understanding of God. Surely, one cannot say that the ancient Greeks, through Homer and the Iliad, mythologically had already had an encounter with God that then replaced the Revelation of God through Jesus Christ or made the whole history of salvation in the Old Testament superfluous – apart from the fact that the mythical opening up of reality by Greek philosophy, by reason and the Logos, had been overcome long before. We do not deny that myths and fairy tales also reflect general existential experiences. But this cannot be a substitute for a rational grasping of visible, empirical reality or even of the Revelation of the Word or of the meaning of being itself. One cannot derive a legal system from myths and recommend oneself to the goodwill or revenge of the gods.”
So, in the end, Cardinal Müller once again states very clearly what is for us the basis of faith:
“The only foundation we have is the Word of God which, made Flesh in Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father, entered into the context of all history. Here is the fullness of time. This is the only foundation. 'No one can lay any foundation other than the one that is laid: Jesus Christ' (1 Cor 3:11).”
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-09--Victory: US Navy reverses unlawful order banning troops from indoor Mass, religious services

WASHINGTON , D.C. , July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The United States Navy has revised its policy prohibiting active service members from attending in-person religious services .
Those who disobeyed and attended church services had risked court-martial .
The move is seen as an important victory on behalf of religious liberty by Navy personnel affected by the previously enacted ban , and by those who fought on their behalf .
The change comes just days after First Liberty Institute sent a letter on behalf of active duty officer Daniel Schultz and several other service members affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grant an accommodation so that he could attend indoor religious services .
The rollback also comes after LifeSiteNews launched a petition on June 30 which quickly garnered more than 18,000 signatures asking President Donald Trump – who had previously declared religious services to be essential – to intervene .
Archbishop Timothy Broglio , Archbishop for the Military Services , USA , issued a statement on July 5 in which he called the ban “ odious to Catholics.
” On June 24 , the Navy issued an order banning troops from attending indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as using mass transit , hosting social gatherings of any size , and participation in protests were all permitted .
The order specifically stated that “ service members are prohibited from visiting , patronizing , or engaging in ... indoor religious services.
” The Navy has now walked back the order , which religious liberty advocates said was a most egregious overstepping of military personnels ’ freedom to worship .
A memo from Acting Undersecretary of the Navy Gregory Slavonic sent to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stating that nothing contained in previous instructions “ should be construed to restrict attendance at places of worship where attendees are able to appropriately apply COVID-19 transmission mitigation measures , specifically social distancing and use of face covering.
” “ I am directing you … to inform Commanders to incorporate this clarification allowing attendance at religious services where COVID-19 transmission mitigation measures may be appropriately applied , ” added Slavonic .
“ This is a huge victory , ” Mike Berry , First Liberty Institute General Counsel , told LifeSiteNews .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brave service members will be able to safely and freely exercise their religious beliefs.
” “ This goes to show that , as we ’ ve been saying all along , there is no pandemic exception to the First Amendment .
This proves that , ” said Berry .
“ When our service members join the military they obviously give up some of their freedoms , but religious freedom is not one of the things they give up .
This also demonstrated that.
” “ We are thrilled with this victory for religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I commend the Navy leadership and the Commander-in-Chief , President Trump , for ensuring religious freedom continues to be a priority within our military , ” added Berry .
“ We ’ re glad the Navy followed his lead on that.
” “ The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty commends the Under Secretary of the Navy for taking bold leadership and righting the ship to allow Navy personnel to worship , ” Col. Ron Crews , U.S. Army ( ret . )
, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance told LifeSiteNews .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect religious liberty , ” said Crews .
“ They should be able to exercise those rights as well .
”

'This proves' that 'there is no pandemic exception to the First Amendment,' said Mike Berry, First Liberty Institute General Counsel.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The United States Navy has revised its policy prohibiting active service members from attending in-person religious services. Those who disobeyed and attended church services had risked court-martial.
The move is seen as an important victory on behalf of religious liberty by Navy personnel affected by the previously enacted ban, and by those who fought on their behalf.
The change comes just days after First Liberty Institute sent a letter on behalf of active duty officer Daniel Schultz and several other service members affected by the order, asking the U.S. Navy to grant an accommodation so that he could attend indoor religious services.
The rollback also comes after LifeSiteNews launched a petition on June 30 which quickly garnered more than 18,000 signatures asking President Donald Trump – who had previously declared religious services to be essential – to intervene.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, issued a statement on July 5 in which he called the ban “odious to Catholics.”
On June 24, the Navy issued an order banning troops from attending indoor religious services, although other activities such as using mass transit, hosting social gatherings of any size, and participation in protests were all permitted.
The order specifically stated that “service members are prohibited from visiting, patronizing, or engaging in … indoor religious services.”
The Navy has now walked back the order, which religious liberty advocates said was a most egregious overstepping of military personnels’ freedom to worship.
A memo from Acting Undersecretary of the Navy Gregory Slavonic sent to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations offered new guidance concerning the order stating that nothing contained in previous instructions “should be construed to restrict attendance at places of worship where attendees are able to appropriately apply COVID-19 transmission mitigation measures, specifically social distancing and use of face covering.”
“I am directing you … to inform Commanders to incorporate this clarification allowing attendance at religious services where COVID-19 transmission mitigation measures may be appropriately applied,” added Slavonic.
“This is a huge victory,” Mike Berry, First Liberty Institute General Counsel, told LifeSiteNews. “This memo means tens of thousands of our brave service members will be able to safely and freely exercise their religious beliefs.”
“This goes to show that, as we’ve been saying all along, there is no pandemic exception to the First Amendment. This proves that,” said Berry. “When our service members join the military they obviously give up some of their freedoms, but religious freedom is not one of the things they give up. This also demonstrated that.”
“We are thrilled with this victory for religious freedom,” declared Berry.
“I commend the Navy leadership and the Commander-in-Chief, President Trump, for ensuring religious freedom continues to be a priority within our military,” added Berry. “We’re glad the Navy followed his lead on that.”
“The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty commends the Under Secretary of the Navy for taking bold leadership and righting the ship to allow Navy personnel to worship,” Col. Ron Crews, U.S. Army (ret.), executive director of the Chaplain Alliance told LifeSiteNews.
“Our sailors and marines offer their lives to protect religious liberty,” said Crews. “They should be able to exercise those rights as well.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-09--The coronavirus lockdown is an infringement of our human freedoms

To help keep this and other programs on the air , please donate here .
Watch Mother Miriam 's Live @ @ @ @ @ retired on 7.9.2020 .
In today ’ s episode , Mother speaks about the petition @ @ @ @ @ world to reinstate masses and our other human freedoms .
This petition was signed by @ @ @ @ @ , Cardinal Sarah , and Bishop Schneider .
The petition outlines the ways in which @ @ @ @ @ human freedoms .
You can read more about the petition here .
You can tune @ @ @ @ @ EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page .

To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate here.
Watch Mother Miriam's Live originally aired on 5/8/2020 and retired on 7.9.2020. In today’s episode, Mother speaks about the petition to the Church and the world to reinstate masses and our other human freedoms. This petition was signed by Archbishop Vigano, Cardinal Zen, Cardinal Sarah, and Bishop Schneider.
The petition outlines the ways in which the lockdown is ignoring innate human freedoms. You can read more about the petition here.
You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page.
Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live here.


lifesitenews--2020-07-09--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

July 9 , 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 If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this rosary , you can access them via this PDF .
This document also includes a brief F.A.Q .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Fr .
Pillari .
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 ( 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
Join us today !
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(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--2020-07-09--Thousands rally behind Louisiana Catholic priest who criticized LGBT ‘Pride’ celebrations

LAFAYETTE , Louisiana , July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Supporters of a Catholic priest who stood by his criticism of the New Orleans Saints for celebrating the “ gay rights movement ” have launched a petition in his defense after a separate petition called for his removal .
Fr .
Andre Metrejean , parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath , in the Lafayette diocese , recently responded to a Facebook post by the New Orleans Saints that publicized the team having lit up its stadium with the “ Pride ” rainbow colors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We want to support you .
But this kinda of stunt hurts society and souls .
Do n't bow down to these pressure groups .
Kids have rights .
Children deserve to have a dad and a mom .
Plz dont support immorality .
Cancel the PC Culture , '' the parish ’ s post stated .
The post by the parish attracted more than 500 comments , many of which were negative and accusing the parish of “ hatefulness ” and “ bigotry.
” Parish priest Fr .
Metrejean has now removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criticism by posting a recorded statement , as well as sharing a documentary produced by Courage International , an apostolate that encourages Catholics who experience same-sex attractions to find happiness through greater closeness to Christ and in chaste friendships .
“ In light of a recent petition launched by Ashlie Langlinais requesting that the Diocese of Lafayette remove Fr .
Andre Metrejean from his pastorship of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath , LA , because of alleged homophobic and racist comments , this counter-petition intends to correct the slander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate that the majority of Christians in his parish and beyond uphold perennial Church teaching and stand behind this bold leader of the People of God , ” the petition in Metrejean ’ s support reads .
At the time of publication , in just over 24 hours , almost 3,000 people have signed the petition in support of Fr .
Metrejean , whereas fewer than 400 have signed the petition calling for his removal , despite it having been launched five days ago .
As well as receiving criticism on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the focus of local news coverage .
PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
The Lafayette Daily Advertiser claimed that in his statement defending his post , Fr .
Metrejean “ took aim at same-sex couples in a social media post , suggesting they represent ‘ immorality ’ and those who disagree are like the devil who ‘ twists the truth.
’ ” In fact , Fr .
Metrejean said that the devil encourages people to think the Church is full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homosexual acts .
The Lafayette Daily Advertiser published in full the quote it was referring to farther down in its article .
“ What does the devil do ?
The devil always takes truth and enters lies with it .
The devil twists the truth .
And so the devil is going to say , ‘ Since the church teaches and preaches against same sex sexual expression ... that the church is full of hate , ’ ” he said .
“ In fact , when people accuse us of hate or disdain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Gods plan for it , they are lying .
It ’ s a bully tactic .
This is what bullies do .
They accuse you of something you are in fact not guilty of , ” Fr .
Metrejean said .
“ My parish , my Church , my Bible , my Catholic tradition , my Lord , we don ’ t hate you , we love you .
That ’ s why we preach what we do .
This is not about exclusion , this is not about judging others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people the power of the blood of Christ , ” he added .
“ Though Fr .
Metrejean surely counts it a blessing to be persecuted in the name of Christ in accord with the Beatitudes , we as Christians can not stand idly by as a just man is unjustly torn down , ” the petitioners conclude .
“ We especially can not remain silent when our own Father , a true Father who has done so much for the people of Erath , is calumniated by the media.
” Catholic priest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ‘ This is about saving souls ’

'We especially cannot remain silent when our own Father, a true Father who has done so much for the people of Erath, is calumniated by the media.'
LAFAYETTE, Louisiana, July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Supporters of a Catholic priest who stood by his criticism of the New Orleans Saints for celebrating the “gay rights movement” have launched a petition in his defense after a separate petition called for his removal.
Fr. Andre Metrejean, parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath, in the Lafayette diocese, recently responded to a Facebook post by the New Orleans Saints that publicized the team having lit up its stadium with the “Pride” rainbow colors.
“Come on NOLA Saints. We want to support you. But this kinda of stunt hurts society and souls. Don't bow down to these pressure groups. Kids have rights. Children deserve to have a dad and a mom. Plz dont support immorality. Cancel the PC Culture,” the parish’s post stated.
The post by the parish attracted more than 500 comments, many of which were negative and accusing the parish of “hatefulness” and “bigotry.”
Parish priest Fr. Metrejean has now removed the post, but he responded to the criticism by posting a recorded statement, as well as sharing a documentary produced by Courage International, an apostolate that encourages Catholics who experience same-sex attractions to find happiness through greater closeness to Christ and in chaste friendships.
“In light of a recent petition launched by Ashlie Langlinais requesting that the Diocese of Lafayette remove Fr. Andre Metrejean from his pastorship of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath, LA, because of alleged homophobic and racist comments, this counter-petition intends to correct the slander unjustly thrust upon this faithful priest and demonstrate that the majority of Christians in his parish and beyond uphold perennial Church teaching and stand behind this bold leader of the People of God,” the petition in Metrejean’s support reads.
At the time of publication, in just over 24 hours, almost 3,000 people have signed the petition in support of Fr. Metrejean, whereas fewer than 400 have signed the petition calling for his removal, despite it having been launched five days ago.
As well as receiving criticism on social media, Fr. Metrejean has also been the focus of local news coverage.
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
The Lafayette Daily Advertiser claimed that in his statement defending his post, Fr. Metrejean “took aim at same-sex couples in a social media post, suggesting they represent ‘immorality’ and those who disagree are like the devil who ‘twists the truth.’”
In fact, Fr. Metrejean said that the devil encourages people to think the Church is full of hate because of its teaching on homosexual acts. The Lafayette Daily Advertiser published in full the quote it was referring to farther down in its article.
“What does the devil do? The devil always takes truth and enters lies with it. The devil twists the truth. And so the devil is going to say, ‘Since the church teaches and preaches against same sex sexual expression … that the church is full of hate,’” he said. “In fact, when people accuse us of hate or disdain because we preach the truth about sexuality and Gods plan for it, they are lying. It’s a bully tactic. This is what bullies do. They accuse you of something you are in fact not guilty of,” Fr. Metrejean said.
“My parish, my Church, my Bible, my Catholic tradition, my Lord, we don’t hate you, we love you. That’s why we preach what we do. This is not about exclusion, this is not about judging others, this is about saving souls and bringing people the power of the blood of Christ,” he added.
“Though Fr. Metrejean surely counts it a blessing to be persecuted in the name of Christ in accord with the Beatitudes, we as Christians cannot stand idly by as a just man is unjustly torn down,” the petitioners conclude.
“We especially cannot remain silent when our own Father, a true Father who has done so much for the people of Erath, is calumniated by the media.”
Related
Catholic priest defends criticism of ‘pride’ celebrations: ‘This is about saving souls’
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lifesitenews--2020-07-09--Cardinal Pell: ‘My Catholic faith sustained me’ during time in prison

AUSTRALIA , July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Cardinal Pell says he was once spat on in prison , but his Catholic sustained him during the thirteen months he spent behind bars before he was unanimously acquitted by the Australian High Court of historic sex abuse charges .
“ For many , time in prison is an opportunity to ponder and confront basic truths .
Prison life removed any excuse that I was too busy to pray , and my regular schedule of prayer sustained me , ” Pell explained in an article for First Things .
Pell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass only five times during his time in prison and that he had never been allowed to celebrate Mass , something he said he particularly lamented at Christmas and Easter .
He was , however , able to receive Communion each week and to pray from a breviary .
“ My Catholic faith sustained me , especially the understanding that my suffering need not be pointless but could be united with Christ Our Lord ’ s , ” the cardinal explained .
“ I never felt abandoned , knowing that the Lord was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t understand what he was doing for most of the thirteen months .
For many years , I had told the suffering and disturbed that the Son of God , too , had trials on this earth , and now I myself was consoled by this fact .
So , I prayed for friends and foes , for my supporters and my family , for the victims of sexual abuse , and for my fellow prisoners and the warders.
” Pell has previously said that he “ never felt forsaken ” during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ something like 4,000 letters.
” The Australian cardinal says he experienced “ kindness and friendship ” from fellow prisoners but that on one occasion , he was spat on .
“ I was in isolation for my own protection , as those convicted of the sexual abuse of children , especially clergy , are vulnerable to physical attacks and abuse in prison , ” he explained .
“ I was threatened in this manner only once , when I was in one of two adjacent exercise areas separated by a high wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As I walked around the perimeter , someone spat at me through the fly wire of the open aperture and began condemning me .
It was a total surprise , so I returned furious to the window to confront my assailant and rebuke him .
He bolted from the front line out of my sight but continued to condemn me , as a ‘ black spider ’ and other less-than-complimentary terms.
” PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
Pell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 2019 until April this year after a jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault against a child on December 11 , 2018 .
He always denied the charges , which hinged on the uncorroborated testimony of one person .
Last year , the Victorian Court of Appeal upheld the initial guilty verdict .
In April , he was unanimously acquitted after Australia ’ s top court held two days of an appeal hearing , in which Pell ’ s prosecutors , led by Victorian director of public prosecutions Kerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key evidence relating to Pell ’ s alleged sexual assault of two choirboys after Sunday Mass at St. Patrick ’ s Cathedral in Melbourne .
News of the charges broke in 2017 , when Pell was in Rome serving as the Vatican ’ s Secretariat for the Economy .
Pell is believed by many to have been working to reform the Vatican 's finances , including reportedly opposing a 50-million-Euro loan to help the Vatican purchase a scandal-ridden hospital in Rome .
In order to face the charges , Pell voluntarily returned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time : “ I ’ m innocent of these charges .
They are false .
The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.
” Shortly after being released from prison , Pell told Sky News Australia that senior people in Rome believe that his conviction and imprisonment in Australia were related to the trouble he was causing to “ corrupt officials in the Vatican ” as he led the financial reforms .
During that same interview Pell said regular prayer , as well as good practical habits , helped him during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed the advice I ’ ve often given to priests when they ’ re in a bit of trouble .
Keep up your prayers ; get out of bed at a good time ; eat properly ; exercise every day and try to sleep at night , ” he explained .
Cdl .
Pell unanimously acquitted of sex abuse charge by Australian High Court , will be freed Cardinal Pell : ‘ What I am really looking forward to is celebrating a private Mass ’ Cardinal Pell : ‘ Senior people in Rome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprisonment ‘ I never felt forsaken ’ : Cdl Pell opens up about 4,000 letters of support he received in jail

'I never felt abandoned,' the vindicated cardinal said, 'knowing that the Lord was with me — even as I didn't understand what he was doing for most of the thirteen months.'
AUSTRALIA, July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal Pell says he was once spat on in prison, but his Catholic sustained him during the thirteen months he spent behind bars before he was unanimously acquitted by the Australian High Court of historic sex abuse charges.
“For many, time in prison is an opportunity to ponder and confront basic truths. Prison life removed any excuse that I was too busy to pray, and my regular schedule of prayer sustained me,” Pell explained in an article for First Things.
Pell said he had been able to attend Mass only five times during his time in prison and that he had never been allowed to celebrate Mass, something he said he particularly lamented at Christmas and Easter. He was, however, able to receive Communion each week and to pray from a breviary.
“My Catholic faith sustained me, especially the understanding that my suffering need not be pointless but could be united with Christ Our Lord’s,” the cardinal explained.
“I never felt abandoned, knowing that the Lord was with me — even as I didn’t understand what he was doing for most of the thirteen months. For many years, I had told the suffering and disturbed that the Son of God, too, had trials on this earth, and now I myself was consoled by this fact. So, I prayed for friends and foes, for my supporters and my family, for the victims of sexual abuse, and for my fellow prisoners and the warders.”
Pell has previously said that he “never felt forsaken” during his time in prison as he received “something like 4,000 letters.”
The Australian cardinal says he experienced “kindness and friendship” from fellow prisoners but that on one occasion, he was spat on.
“I was in isolation for my own protection, as those convicted of the sexual abuse of children, especially clergy, are vulnerable to physical attacks and abuse in prison,” he explained.
“I was threatened in this manner only once, when I was in one of two adjacent exercise areas separated by a high wall, with an opening at head height. As I walked around the perimeter, someone spat at me through the fly wire of the open aperture and began condemning me. It was a total surprise, so I returned furious to the window to confront my assailant and rebuke him. He bolted from the front line out of my sight but continued to condemn me, as a ‘black spider’ and other less-than-complimentary terms.”
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
Pell, 79, was in prison from February 2019 until April this year after a jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault against a child on December 11, 2018. He always denied the charges, which hinged on the uncorroborated testimony of one person. Last year, the Victorian Court of Appeal upheld the initial guilty verdict.
In April, he was unanimously acquitted after Australia’s top court held two days of an appeal hearing, in which Pell’s prosecutors, led by Victorian director of public prosecutions Kerry Judd QC, shifted their position on key evidence relating to Pell’s alleged sexual assault of two choirboys after Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne.
News of the charges broke in 2017, when Pell was in Rome serving as the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy. Pell is believed by many to have been working to reform the Vatican's finances, including reportedly opposing a 50-million-Euro loan to help the Vatican purchase a scandal-ridden hospital in Rome. In order to face the charges, Pell voluntarily returned to Australia from Rome, saying at the time: “I’m innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”
Shortly after being released from prison, Pell told Sky News Australia that senior people in Rome believe that his conviction and imprisonment in Australia were related to the trouble he was causing to “corrupt officials in the Vatican” as he led the financial reforms.
During that same interview Pell said regular prayer, as well as good practical habits, helped him during his time in prison.
“I followed the advice I’ve often given to priests when they’re in a bit of trouble. Keep up your prayers; get out of bed at a good time; eat properly; exercise every day and try to sleep at night,” he explained.
Related
Cdl. Pell unanimously acquitted of sex abuse charge by Australian High Court, will be freed
Cardinal Pell: ‘What I am really looking forward to is celebrating a private Mass’
Cardinal Pell: ‘Senior people in Rome’ believe Vatican officials linked to my imprisonment
‘I never felt forsaken’: Cdl Pell opens up about 4,000 letters of support he received in jail
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lifesitenews--2020-07-09--It’s good when celebrities say pro-life things, but don’t make them icons

Update July 9 , 2020 , 10:28 A.M. EDT : Kanye West tweeted and then deleted a screenshot of a Google search for “ what does a 6 month fetus look like.
” Along with the now deleted image , he wrote , “ These souls deserve to live.
” July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — I ’ ve always been skeptical of the “ pro-life celebrity.
” Not because I don ’ t think that celebrities who sincerely oppose abortion don ’ t exist , but because I believe celebrities are both unreliable and often undesirable advocates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion while creating sexually-charged entertainment that contributes to the degradation of our culture , for example .
Or , as in the case of pop stars like Selena Gomez ( who swapped her purity ring for abortion bling ) they discard their previous views due to industry pressures or peers .
Pro-life celebrities generally fall into two categories .
First , there are those oppose abortion for profoundly personal reasons .
Jack Nicholson , for example , discovered later in life that his “ mother ” was actually his grandmother and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mother , who had been pressured to abort him .
As a result , he noted in one interview when asked about abortion , “ I ’ m positively against it .
I don ’ t have the right to any other view.
” Similarly , singer Celine Dion was her mother ’ s fourteenth child , and initially considered an abortion before being talked out of it .
Justin Bieber ’ s mother was also pressured to abort him , and he has stated that he thinks abortion is “ like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wife was conceived through rape , a fact which he has referenced with regard to his anti-abortion views .
Despite this , Sheen is a dedicated Democrat , and it is important to note that many “ pro-life celebrities ” still vocally support pro-abortion politicians .
Discovering just how close one came to becoming what Christopher Hitchens has referred to as a “ forgotten whoosh ” often makes it impossible for people to regard abortion as a simple matter of rights or healthcare .
A near miss can be morally clarifying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of a larger worldview .
Patricia Heaton , who often shares pro-life content on social media , is a Catholic .
So is Mel Gibson , who has shared his pro-life views in interviews ( and has also contributed financially to pro-life work in the past . )
Hollywood ’ s handful of conservatives are generally pro-life as well , including Jon Voight , Tom Selleck , and Chuck Norris .
Conservatives , of course , are becoming even rarer in Hollywood in the wake of the Great Awokening , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even liberal sentiments .
And then there is Kanye West , a man who defies all categories .
On Independence Day , he announced that he is off the Trump Train and running for president of the United States , although thus far no campaign has materialized ( he says he will be running for “ the Birthday Party , ” because “ when we win it ’ s everybody ’ s birthday.
” ) Back in 2011 , West tweeted that “ An abortion can cost a ballin ’ n**ga up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ b**** be getting pregnant on purpose , ” later clarifying that “ it ain ’ t happen to me but I know people.
” Then , an interview for his latest album , he criticized the Democrats for “ making us abort our children.
” Last week he expanded on those views , telling Forbes that “ Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil ’ s work , ” a reference to the racist and eugenicist history of the American abortion giant .
“ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word of the Bible , ” he added .
Planned Parenthood ’ s director of Black Leadership and Engagement responded by stating that the “ real threat to Black communities ’ safety , health , and lives stems , ” among other things , from “ the criminalization of reproductive healthcare by anti-abortion opposition.
” It is unquestionably good for the pro-life cause that a man with such an enormous platform is using it to call out the American abortion industry , as West reaches an audience that pro-lifers have often had difficulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would do well to be cautious .
West is notoriously erratic , and a lot of his ramblings can end up being pretty weird .
In a culture obsessed with celebrity , there is a huge temptation to immediately promote and embrace any famous person saying some of the right things .
While encouraging and affirming those things is essential , we shouldn ’ t give these folks the status of moral leadership overnight .
West in particular has gone on a roller-coaster with regard to many of his different views , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains to be seen .
We should not make celebrities — even those going after the abortion industry — into our heroes .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In his latest episode , Abigail Shrier , the author of Irreversible Damage : The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters , join Jonathon to discuss the explosion of teenage girls identifying as transgender .
They also discuss how the trans movement is destroying an entire generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spread so quickly .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

In a culture obsessed with celebrity, there is a huge temptation to immediately promote and embrace any famous person saying some of the right things.
Update July 9, 2020, 10:28 A.M. EDT: Kanye West tweeted and then deleted a screenshot of a Google search for “what does a 6 month fetus look like.” Along with the now deleted image, he wrote, “These souls deserve to live.”
July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — I’ve always been skeptical of the “pro-life celebrity.” Not because I don’t think that celebrities who sincerely oppose abortion don’t exist, but because I believe celebrities are both unreliable and often undesirable advocates. An artist or actor may oppose abortion while creating sexually-charged entertainment that contributes to the degradation of our culture, for example. Or, as in the case of pop stars like Selena Gomez (who swapped her purity ring for abortion bling) they discard their previous views due to industry pressures or peers.
Pro-life celebrities generally fall into two categories. First, there are those oppose abortion for profoundly personal reasons. Jack Nicholson, for example, discovered later in life that his “mother” was actually his grandmother and that the woman he thought was his sister was his mother, who had been pressured to abort him. As a result, he noted in one interview when asked about abortion, “I’m positively against it. I don’t have the right to any other view.” Similarly, singer Celine Dion was her mother’s fourteenth child, and initially considered an abortion before being talked out of it.
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
Justin Bieber’s mother was also pressured to abort him, and he has stated that he thinks abortion is “like killing a baby.” Martin Sheen’s wife was conceived through rape, a fact which he has referenced with regard to his anti-abortion views. Despite this, Sheen is a dedicated Democrat, and it is important to note that many “pro-life celebrities” still vocally support pro-abortion politicians.
Discovering just how close one came to becoming what Christopher Hitchens has referred to as a “forgotten whoosh” often makes it impossible for people to regard abortion as a simple matter of rights or healthcare. A near miss can be morally clarifying.
There are also those who are pro-life as part of a larger worldview. Patricia Heaton, who often shares pro-life content on social media, is a Catholic. So is Mel Gibson, who has shared his pro-life views in interviews (and has also contributed financially to pro-life work in the past.) Hollywood’s handful of conservatives are generally pro-life as well, including Jon Voight, Tom Selleck, and Chuck Norris. Conservatives, of course, are becoming even rarer in Hollywood in the wake of the Great Awokening, which is accompanied by purges of those with even liberal sentiments.
And then there is Kanye West, a man who defies all categories. On Independence Day, he announced that he is off the Trump Train and running for president of the United States, although thus far no campaign has materialized (he says he will be running for “the Birthday Party,” because “when we win it’s everybody’s birthday.”) Back in 2011, West tweeted that “An abortion can cost a ballin’ n**ga up to 50gs maybe 100. Gold diggin’ b**** be getting pregnant on purpose,” later clarifying that “it ain’t happen to me but I know people.” Then, an interview for his latest album, he criticized the Democrats for “making us abort our children.”
Last week he expanded on those views, telling Forbes that “Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil’s work,” a reference to the racist and eugenicist history of the American abortion giant. “I am pro-life because I’m following the word of the Bible,” he added. Planned Parenthood’s director of Black Leadership and Engagement responded by stating that the “real threat to Black communities’ safety, health, and lives stems,” among other things, from “the criminalization of reproductive healthcare by anti-abortion opposition.”
It is unquestionably good for the pro-life cause that a man with such an enormous platform is using it to call out the American abortion industry, as West reaches an audience that pro-lifers have often had difficulty reaching. With that said, pro-lifers would do well to be cautious. West is notoriously erratic, and a lot of his ramblings can end up being pretty weird.
In a culture obsessed with celebrity, there is a huge temptation to immediately promote and embrace any famous person saying some of the right things. While encouraging and affirming those things is essential, we shouldn’t give these folks the status of moral leadership overnight. West in particular has gone on a roller-coaster with regard to many of his different views, and his reliability, despite hopeful indicators, remains to be seen. We should not make celebrities — even those going after the abortion industry — into our heroes.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, Abigail Shrier, the author of Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, join Jonathon to discuss the explosion of teenage girls identifying as transgender. They also discuss how the trans movement is destroying an entire generation of girls and how this sinister ideology has spread so quickly.
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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