lifesitenews--2020-02-28--Trudeau moves to make Canada most permissive ‘euthanasia regime’ in the world

OTTAWA , February 28 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Trudeau Liberal government ’ s euthanasia bill tabled earlier this week will give Canada the most permissive euthanasia law in the world , its critics are unanimously warning .
Introduced February 24 by Justice Minister David Lametti , Bill C-7 is the Liberal response to the Quebec court decision last September striking down the requirement that a person ’ s “ natural death be reasonably foreseeable ” to qualify for death by lethal injection .
But the federal bill expands euthanasia — legal in Canada since June 2016 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criterion the Quebec Truchon-Gladu ruling declared unconstitutional .
“ Any way you look at it , it ’ s a minefield , ” said Alex Schadenberg , executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition .
“ The language of the bill is just simply , absolutely confusing and ridiculous .
If they do pass Bill C-7 , we will become the most wide-open euthanasia regime in the world.
” Schadenberg is joined by Campaign Life Coalition , Canadian Physicians for Life , Physicians Alliance Against Euthanasia , Living With Dignity , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , in fiercely denouncing the bill .
Notably , Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto issued a strongly worded statement the day after the bill was tabled urging Canadians to oppose it .
“ This is a new chapter of death on demand , ” he wrote .
“ Canada has cast aside restrictions at a far quicker pace than any other jurisdiction in the world that has legalized euthanasia.
” ( See Cardinal Collins ’ full statement below . )
Bill C-7 will allow lethal injection of individuals who are no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with dementia , if they have issued an advance directive asking to be euthanized at a future date , Schadenberg noted in an analysis of the legislation .
“ This amendment to the law contravenes the Carter decision which required that a person be capable of consenting to die , ” he said , referring to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that struck down Canada ’ s prohibition of euthanasia as unconstitutional .
The Trudeau government “ appears to be working closely with the euthanasia lobby ” which has the “ goal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consent ’ for euthanasia , ” he observed .
Allowing euthanasia by “ prior consent ” can lead to such horrific scenarios as an elderly Dutch woman being lethally injected forcibly in 2016 as family members held her down .
In that case , the doctor was ultimately exonerated when a court ruled in September 2019 that not euthanizing the patient would have undermined the wishes she expressed four years earlier when first diagnosed with Alzheimer ’ s .
Bill C-7 specifies individuals must not be euthanized if they show they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sounds or gestures , ” but states they can be killed if these signals are deemed “ involuntary.
” The bill allows the medical practitioner who is killing the patient to be one of the two required witnesses — which is an “ insane ” conflict of interest , noted Schadenberg .
Bill C-7 waives the current 10-day waiting period for individuals deemed terminally ill so they can be lethally injected the same day they request euthanasia .
It implements a 90-day waiting period for individuals seeking euthanasia for a non-terminal condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicts is open invitation for a Charter challenge .
“ A future court decision will likely strike down the 90-day waiting period for people who are not terminally ill because this provision represents an inequality within the law , ” he says .
As for the bill ’ s purported ban on euthanasia for mental illness , “ it ’ s a smokescreen , at best , to say that ‘ mental illness ’ is not allowed because , in fact , it is , ” Schadenberg told LifeSiteNews .
When Liberals legalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ C-14 allowed euthanasia for persons at least 18 years of age who were capable of giving consent and who suffered from a “ grievous and irremediable medical condition.
” The 2016 bill defined the latter as “ a serious and incurable illness , disease or disability ” resulting in “ an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability ” and causing “ enduring physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable to them and that can not be relieved under conditions that they consider acceptable ” ( emphasis added ) .
Bill C-7 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paragraph ( 2 )  ( a ) , a mental illness is not considered to be an illness , disease or disability.
” But this does not prevent euthanasia for “ psychological reasons , since the law specifically allows it , ” Schadenberg pointed out .
Moreover , with Bill C-7 , the Liberals “ haven ’ t defined ‘ mental illness ’ and they haven ’ t amended ‘ psychological suffering ’ to exclude ‘ mental illness ’ , ” he said .
Schadenberg argues that the Liberals should set aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 2020 review of the current law .
David Cooke of Campaign Life Coalition also excoriated the bill as a “ how-to ” manual on killing Canadians in a detailed analysis here .
Among actions opposing the bill , Campaign Life has launched a petition to MPs against Bill C-7 here .
The EPC has a petition to Justice Minister Lametti and Health Minister Patty Hadju asking the Liberals to nix the bill here .
The CCCB joined Cardinal Collins in asking Canadians to oppose the bill .
To find who your MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has introduced new legislation expanding the eligibility criteria for euthanasia .
The inaccurate term , medical assistance in dying ( MAiD ) , is currently used to describe what this law would allow , but this process is more accurately called euthanasia or assisted suicide .
Pain medication and other resources and procedures can be used effectively to medically assist people who are dying , but that is not what MAiD means .
It means giving a lethal injection to people who are not dying , so that they will die .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , when it was first legalized , that once the state legally provided death for some , it would only be a matter of time before the criteria for that would be expanded .
This was dismissed as a slippery slope argument ; we were told that “ safeguards ” would protect the most vulnerable .
Now , less than four years later , we are far down the slope , and the criteria for euthanasia have been radically expanded .
There is no longer a requirement that the person receiving euthanasia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , any serious incurable illness , disease , or disability would render one eligible for euthanasia .
Additionally , without any further study or direction from the courts , the new legislation would legalize euthanasia where consent is obtained by an advance directive .
This is a new chapter of death on demand .
Canada has cast aside restrictions at a far quicker pace than any other jurisdiction in the world that has legalized euthanasia .
As our legislators and country consider the legislation presented this week in Parliament , we should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Canadians concerned about this legislation to contact their Member of Parliament to voice their concerns .
We should also take time to be truly present to those who may feel that they are on the margins in our community .
Those who feel that their life no longer has value must be assured by all of us that this is absolutely not the case – there is dignity within each human life , not just when we are young , healthy and able , but even more so , when we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to every Canadian to foster a culture of care and love for one another .
The answer is not assisted death in its many forms ; it is accompanying our family , our friends and even strangers to assist them in life , recognizing the inherent dignity of every person .

Cardinal Thomas Collins denounced the Liberals' bill, saying 'This is a new chapter in death on demand.'
OTTAWA, February 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Trudeau Liberal government’s euthanasia bill tabled earlier this week will give Canada the most permissive euthanasia law in the world, its critics are unanimously warning.
Introduced February 24 by Justice Minister David Lametti, Bill C-7 is the Liberal response to the Quebec court decision last September striking down the requirement that a person’s “natural death be reasonably foreseeable” to qualify for death by lethal injection.
But the federal bill expands euthanasia — legal in Canada since June 2016 — far beyond dispensing with the terminal illness criterion the Quebec Truchon-Gladu ruling declared unconstitutional.
“Any way you look at it, it’s a minefield,” said Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
“The language of the bill is just simply, absolutely confusing and ridiculous. If they do pass Bill C-7, we will become the most wide-open euthanasia regime in the world.”
Schadenberg is joined by Campaign Life Coalition, Canadian Physicians for Life, Physicians Alliance Against Euthanasia, Living With Dignity, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, among others, in fiercely denouncing the bill.
Notably, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto issued a strongly worded statement the day after the bill was tabled urging Canadians to oppose it.
“This is a new chapter of death on demand,” he wrote.
“Canada has cast aside restrictions at a far quicker pace than any other jurisdiction in the world that has legalized euthanasia.” (See Cardinal Collins’ full statement below.)
Bill C-7 will allow lethal injection of individuals who are no longer competent to consent, such as persons with dementia, if they have issued an advance directive asking to be euthanized at a future date, Schadenberg noted in an analysis of the legislation.
“This amendment to the law contravenes the Carter decision which required that a person be capable of consenting to die,” he said, referring to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that struck down Canada’s prohibition of euthanasia as unconstitutional.
The Trudeau government “appears to be working closely with the euthanasia lobby” which has the “goal of amending the law to allow ‘advanced consent’ for euthanasia,” he observed.
Allowing euthanasia by “prior consent” can lead to such horrific scenarios as an elderly Dutch woman being lethally injected forcibly in 2016 as family members held her down.
In that case, the doctor was ultimately exonerated when a court ruled in September 2019 that not euthanizing the patient would have undermined the wishes she expressed four years earlier when first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Bill C-7 specifies individuals must not be euthanized if they show they don’t want to be “by words, sounds or gestures,” but states they can be killed if these signals are deemed “involuntary.”
The bill allows the medical practitioner who is killing the patient to be one of the two required witnesses — which is an “insane” conflict of interest, noted Schadenberg.
Bill C-7 waives the current 10-day waiting period for individuals deemed terminally ill so they can be lethally injected the same day they request euthanasia.
It implements a 90-day waiting period for individuals seeking euthanasia for a non-terminal condition, creatng a two-tier law that Schadenberg predicts is open invitation for a Charter challenge.
“A future court decision will likely strike down the 90-day waiting period for people who are not terminally ill because this provision represents an inequality within the law,” he says.
As for the bill’s purported ban on euthanasia for mental illness, “it’s a smokescreen, at best, to say that ‘mental illness’ is not allowed because, in fact, it is,” Schadenberg told LifeSiteNews.
When Liberals legalized euthanasia four years ago, its Bill C-14 allowed euthanasia for persons at least 18 years of age who were capable of giving consent and who suffered from a “grievous and irremediable medical condition.”
The 2016 bill defined the latter as “a serious and incurable illness, disease or disability” resulting in “an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability” and causing “enduring physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable to them and that cannot be relieved under conditions that they consider acceptable” (emphasis added).
Bill C-7 is explicit that “for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), a mental illness is not considered to be an illness, disease or disability.”
But this does not prevent euthanasia for “psychological reasons, since the law specifically allows it,” Schadenberg pointed out.
Moreover, with Bill C-7, the Liberals “haven’t defined ‘mental illness’ and they haven’t amended ‘psychological suffering’ to exclude ‘mental illness’,” he said.
Schadenberg argues that the Liberals should set aside Bill C-7 and concentrate on the planned June 2020 review of the current law.
David Cooke of Campaign Life Coalition also excoriated the bill as a “how-to” manual on killing Canadians in a detailed analysis here.
Among actions opposing the bill, Campaign Life has launched a petition to MPs against Bill C-7 here. The EPC has a petition to Justice Minister Lametti and Health Minister Patty Hadju asking the Liberals to nix the bill here.
The CCCB joined Cardinal Collins in asking Canadians to oppose the bill. To find who your MP is, go here.
***
Cardinal Collins’ full statement:
The federal government has introduced new legislation expanding the eligibility criteria for euthanasia. The inaccurate term, medical assistance in dying (MAiD), is currently used to describe what this law would allow, but this process is more accurately called euthanasia or assisted suicide. Pain medication and other resources and procedures can be used effectively to medically assist people who are dying, but that is not what MAiD means. It means giving a lethal injection to people who are not dying, so that they will die.
Those who oppose euthanasia expressed concern in 2016, when it was first legalized, that once the state legally provided death for some, it would only be a matter of time before the criteria for that would be expanded. This was dismissed as a slippery slope argument; we were told that “safeguards” would protect the most vulnerable. Now, less than four years later, we are far down the slope, and the criteria for euthanasia have been radically expanded.
There is no longer a requirement that the person receiving euthanasia be terminally ill. Under this legislation, any serious incurable illness, disease, or disability would render one eligible for euthanasia. Additionally, without any further study or direction from the courts, the new legislation would legalize euthanasia where consent is obtained by an advance directive. This is a new chapter of death on demand. Canada has cast aside restrictions at a far quicker pace than any other jurisdiction in the world that has legalized euthanasia.
As our legislators and country consider the legislation presented this week in Parliament, we should be mindful of the following:
In 2016, the government indicated that before any new legislation would be introduced, there would be a thorough five-year review of the impact of euthanasia in Canada – no such review has taken place. Yet the government moves forward without such critical analysis, even though it is reported that since 2016 at least 13,000 people have died from lethal injection.
Where is the political will to push forward on palliative care for all Canadians? Only 30 per cent of Canadians have access to quality palliative care even though we know that pain and loneliness are among the biggest fears of those who are suffering. Palliative care can address these issues. If all Canadians had access to quality palliative care, fewer would seek lethal injection. Instead of developing an overall culture of care, we are rushing towards death on demand. The same doctors who are trying to care for their patients will now be called on to endorse euthanasia for them.
Under the proposed legislation, disabled Canadians with no terminal illness will now be eligible for lethal injection. People with disabilities already face substantial challenges relating to employment, housing, appropriate medical care and support. Their lives matter. They should never be seen as a burden to our society. We should be alarmed that those who have struggled for decades to be treated with equality may well be pressured, whether from family, friends or even their own health care professionals, to “ease their burden” and end their lives. These people need assisted living, not assisted death.
I invite all Canadians concerned about this legislation to contact their Member of Parliament to voice their concerns. We should also take time to be truly present to those who may feel that they are on the margins in our community. Those who feel that their life no longer has value must be assured by all of us that this is absolutely not the case – there is dignity within each human life, not just when we are young, healthy and able, but even more so, when we are fragile and vulnerable.
It is up to every Canadian to foster a culture of care and love for one another. The answer is not assisted death in its many forms; it is accompanying our family, our friends and even strangers to assist them in life, recognizing the inherent dignity of every person.
Cardinal Thomas Collins
Archbishop of Toronto
February 25, 2020
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lifesitenews--2020-02-28--ABC News suspends reporter who admits network slants coverage for politics

February 28 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – “ The truth suffers ” because ABC News puts anti-Trump bias ahead of complete and accurate reporting , according to an ABC journalist caught on video by Project Veritas .
Released Wednesday , the conservative investigative group ’ s latest undercover report filmed ABC News political correspondent David Wright , who admitted , “ I would consider myself a socialist ” who believes America has “ too many billionaires.
” Nevertheless , Wright displays far greater candor about his profession than many who claim to espouse milder forms of liberalism .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in echo chambers and the truth suffers and , in an effort to compete , we ’ ve become an echo chamber ourselves , ” he said .
The mainstream media has “ to match the zippy news cycle with responding to the latest tweet and trying to keep pace with the desperate pace of it all.
” Though he thoroughly dislikes President Donald Trump , he acknowledged that the mainstream media tends to be ineffective against him because , rather than focus on issues that personally affect the average viewer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ easily distracted ” by fixating on the White House ’ s “ outrage of the day , the investigation , and of the palace intrigue of who ’ s backstabbing whom.
” “ We don ’ t hold him ( Trump ) to account .
We also don ’ t give him credit for what things he does do , ” Wright confessed .
“ I feel terrible about it .
I feel that the truth suffers , the voters are poorly informed , and people don ’ t have the opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
It ’ s like there no upside in , or our bosses don ’ t see an upside in doing the job we ’ re supposed to do , which is to speak truth to power and hold people to account.
” ABC News producer Andy Fies , who was also part of the conversation , lamented that elites of the sort who run the major networks are out of touch with the perspective of Middle America .
“ I mean people in New York are constantly , I think , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump ?
” he said .
“ How can people understand – you know , well f*** !
Cross the Hudson now and then , and come out and spend some time , and you ’ ll hear why !
You know ?
And I still think that we , we still don ’ t understand voters.
” “ So , you know , real people , you know , talk about practical issues , when they ’ re thinking about a candidate ; ‘ I want to go back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t afford childcare ’ or ‘ I need medical care for whatever , ’ ” Fies continued .
“ Those things aren ’ t TV-friendly .
We want to focus on impeachment , we want to focus on the big s*** going on , but the things that help people make up their minds are little s***.
” After the release of Project Veritas ’ report , ABC News announced it was suspending Wright for an unspecified period of time , CNN reported .
`` Any action that damages our reputation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of compromising it harms ABC News and the individuals involved , '' the statement said .
ABC added that “ to avoid any possible appearance of bias , ( Wright ) will be reassigned away from political coverage when he returns.
” “ We commend David Wright for his honesty , ” Project Veritas founder James O ’ Keefe responded .
“ No one should be suspended from their job for truth-telling .
We encourage Brave Insiders within these media organizations to come forward with any information they have , so that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside these companies.
” This latest video is Part 2 of Project Veritas ’ expose of ABC News , which began with last fall ’ s video revealing the network had spiked a report on deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein that , according to anchor Amy Robach , “ had everything .
”

Political correspondent David Wright, a socialist, said, 'Our bosses don’t see an upside in doing the job we’re supposed to do, which is to speak truth ... '
February 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – “The truth suffers” because ABC News puts anti-Trump bias ahead of complete and accurate reporting, according to an ABC journalist caught on video by Project Veritas.
Released Wednesday, the conservative investigative group’s latest undercover report filmed ABC News political correspondent David Wright, who admitted, “I would consider myself a socialist” who believes America has “too many billionaires.” Nevertheless, Wright displays far greater candor about his profession than many who claim to espouse milder forms of liberalism.
“We live in a moment where people live in echo chambers and the truth suffers and, in an effort to compete, we’ve become an echo chamber ourselves,” he said. The mainstream media has “to match the zippy news cycle with responding to the latest tweet and trying to keep pace with the desperate pace of it all.”
Though he thoroughly dislikes President Donald Trump, he acknowledged that the mainstream media tends to be ineffective against him because, rather than focus on issues that personally affect the average viewer’s life, networks like ABC are “easily distracted” by fixating on the White House’s “outrage of the day, the investigation, and of the palace intrigue of who’s backstabbing whom.”
“We don’t hold him (Trump) to account. We also don’t give him credit for what things he does do,” Wright confessed. “I feel terrible about it. I feel that the truth suffers, the voters are poorly informed, and people don’t have the opportunity to tune into whatever they want to here. It’s like there no upside in, or our bosses don’t see an upside in doing the job we’re supposed to do, which is to speak truth to power and hold people to account.”
ABC News producer Andy Fies, who was also part of the conversation, lamented that elites of the sort who run the major networks are out of touch with the perspective of Middle America.
“I mean people in New York are constantly, I think, fascinated by: how can people like Donald Trump?” he said. “How can people understand – you know, well f***! Cross the Hudson now and then, and come out and spend some time, and you’ll hear why! You know? And I still think that we, we still don’t understand voters.”
“So, you know, real people, you know, talk about practical issues, when they’re thinking about a candidate; ‘I want to go back to the workforce,’ or ‘I can’t afford childcare’ or ‘I need medical care for whatever,’” Fies continued. “Those things aren’t TV-friendly. We want to focus on impeachment, we want to focus on the big s*** going on, but the things that help people make up their minds are little s***.”
After the release of Project Veritas’ report, ABC News announced it was suspending Wright for an unspecified period of time, CNN reported.
“Any action that damages our reputation for fairness and impartiality or gives the appearance of compromising it harms ABC News and the individuals involved,” the statement said. ABC added that “to avoid any possible appearance of bias, (Wright) will be reassigned away from political coverage when he returns.”
“We commend David Wright for his honesty,” Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe responded. “No one should be suspended from their job for truth-telling. We encourage Brave Insiders within these media organizations to come forward with any information they have, so that the public knows what is really going on inside these companies.”
This latest video is Part 2 of Project Veritas’ expose of ABC News, which began with last fall’s video revealing the network had spiked a report on deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein that, according to anchor Amy Robach, “had everything.”
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lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Pro-gay priest James Martin: ‘Lent is a time to engage more deeply with LGBT people’

March 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Pro-homosexual Jesuit priest James Martin redefined the meaning of Lent in an interview for the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) , the powerhouse LGBT lobbying organization in Washington , D.C. Martin said that Lent is a time to prepare for Easter and to understand the sufferings of Christ , but then quickly switched gears and suggested that the lives of LGBT persons reflect the suffering of Christ .
“ So one of the invitations for Catholics ( during Lent ) is to unite yourself with people who are suffering , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lent is “ a time for people to engage more deeply with LGBT people , ” he declared .
The remainder of the published interview focused not on a Christocentric understanding of Lent but on how homosexual and the gender-confused people can be made to feel more comfortable about continuing their self-proclaimed sexual/gender identities and activities within the Catholic Church .
The Jesuit suggested Lenten “ spiritual exercises ” in the form of questions for Catholics , focusing not on their relationship with Jesus Christ , but on their relationships with LGBT persons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is a virtue during Lent , and listen to people that you might not understand ?
” said Martin , pushing the idea that any negative impressions about the goodness of homosexuality and transgenderism are nothing more than “ misunderstanding ” based on “ old stereotypes.
” He also suggested that God might want to reveal himself to Catholics through homosexuals .
“ Can you be open to the fact that God may want to meet you through this LGBT person ?
” asked Martin , adding , “ the person you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who reveals God to you.
” As for “ LGBT Catholics , ” Martin pointed out that Jesus healed many people , and what he wants to do in the lives of self-identified homosexuals and the transgendered today is not to heal their proclivities or find God-given strength to master their same-sex inclinations , which the Church teaches are “ disordered , ” but to have them feel like they are no longer “ on the margins ” of the Church .
“ I hope … that the LGBTQ community can feel welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded .
In two essays , prominent Catholic priests have pushed back at Fr .
Martin ’ s ministry .
Canon Lawyer and member of EWTN ’ s Papal Posse , Fr .
Gerald Murray , said Martin ’ s recent presentation to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities was “ in plain contradiction of Catholic teaching on the nature and purpose of God ’ s gift of human life.
” Martin had claimed that “ The four years spent in college is an important experience for all students , but especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only discovering their identity and navigating their relationship with parents but hoping to discover their own value.
” Murray wrote that Martin is wrong to assert that there are a variety of “ identities ” other than identity of being a male or a female , made by God , one for the other : The alternative identity he posits is actually a variety of identities : there are those males and females made by God for the purpose of engaging in homosexual sodomy ( lesbians and gays ) ; there are those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaging in both marital relations and homosexual sodomy ( bisexuals ) ; and there are those made by God to rebel against their natural condition of being male or female in order to re-classify and present themselves , through various bodily mutilations , as being the opposite of what , in fact , they are : this is the category of men who insist they are women and women who insist they are men ( transsexuals ) .
Fr .
Martin ’ s extended project is to change the way the Church approaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in our society .
It is based on the erroneous conceit that the Church ’ s teaching on the nature of God ‘ s creation and his law are subject to revision by human beings who , unhappy with the way God made them and with how he commands them to act , discover a new “ identity ” founded upon God ’ s supposed alternate plan , for some people .
The human dignity of all persons is promoted by obedience to what God has established .
That dignity is wounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s plan and purpose for humanity .
The just and loving way to help people who affirm an imaginary LGBT identity is to guide them away from this mistaken idea and towards an appreciation of the true nature of who they are in the sight of the Good God .
Fr .
John M. McDermott , a fellow Jesuit and former member of the Vatican ’ s International Theological Commission who now teaches theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit , identified Martin as a “ minor churchman.
” “ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cross and with free resolve follow Jesus , ” wrote McDermott in a lengthy essay for Homiletic & Pastoral Review Magazine , adding that Martin apparently believes “ they should not be confronted with negative prescriptions condemning homosexual behavior.
” “ If she were to follow Fr .
Martin ’ s recommendations , one wonders how long the Church must hold off informing such people of the Gospel ’ s prohibition of homosexual acts , ” said McDermott .
“ Even more one fears lest silence be taken to imply consent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ great dangers in our sensualist society if they are deprived of the complete Gospel message , which is a message of freedom and self-mastery under grace.
” Especially in our era of unleashed sensuality , the truth of the Gospel ’ s call to conversion should resound from the Church ’ s ministers .
For such warning belongs to the essence of their vocation .
Otherwise sinners will not be helped to recognize the grounds of their deep dissatisfaction and will remain in their guilt .
However much Fr .
Martin emphasizes compassion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not consist in approving sinful behavior .
That would only confirm people in their misery and not let them recognize that the homosexual lifestyle is the very reason for their distress .
True compassion involves suffering with Christ , crucifying one ’ s own flesh and bearing recriminations and scorn from those who do not want now to be converted in the prayerful hope that one ’ s witness to the truth will ultimately be accepted by one ’ s enemies .
Christian compassion entails suffering with Jesus crucified for the sake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salvation ( Col 1:24 ) .
HRC has promised to make available a video version of Fr .
Martin ’ s interview .

March 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Pro-homosexual Jesuit priest James Martin redefined the meaning of Lent in an interview for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the powerhouse LGBT lobbying organization in Washington, D.C.
Martin said that Lent is a time to prepare for Easter and to understand the sufferings of Christ, but then quickly switched gears and suggested that the lives of LGBT persons reflect the suffering of Christ.
“So one of the invitations for Catholics (during Lent) is to unite yourself with people who are suffering, including LGBT people,” Martin said.
Lent is “a time for people to engage more deeply with LGBT people,” he declared.
The remainder of the published interview focused not on a Christocentric understanding of Lent but on how homosexual and the gender-confused people can be made to feel more comfortable about continuing their self-proclaimed sexual/gender identities and activities within the Catholic Church.
The Jesuit suggested Lenten “spiritual exercises” in the form of questions for Catholics, focusing not on their relationship with Jesus Christ, but on their relationships with LGBT persons.
“Can you exercise humility, which is a virtue during Lent, and listen to people that you might not understand?” said Martin, pushing the idea that any negative impressions about the goodness of homosexuality and transgenderism are nothing more than “misunderstanding” based on “old stereotypes.”
He also suggested that God might want to reveal himself to Catholics through homosexuals.
“Can you be open to the fact that God may want to meet you through this LGBT person?” asked Martin, adding, “the person you thought was other is actually the person who reveals God to you.”
As for “LGBT Catholics,” Martin pointed out that Jesus healed many people, and what he wants to do in the lives of self-identified homosexuals and the transgendered today is not to heal their proclivities or find God-given strength to master their same-sex inclinations, which the Church teaches are “disordered,” but to have them feel like they are no longer “on the margins” of the Church.
“I hope … that the LGBTQ community can feel welcome in their own church,” he concluded.
Recent backlash to Martin’s ministry from prominent priests
In two essays, prominent Catholic priests have pushed back at Fr. Martin’s ministry.
Canon Lawyer and member of EWTN’s Papal Posse, Fr. Gerald Murray, said Martin’s recent presentation to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities was “in plain contradiction of Catholic teaching on the nature and purpose of God’s gift of human life.”
Martin had claimed that “The four years spent in college is an important experience for all students, but especially for LGBT youth, who are not only discovering their identity and navigating their relationship with parents but hoping to discover their own value.”
Murray wrote that Martin is wrong to assert that there are a variety of “identities” other than identity of being a male or a female, made by God, one for the other:
The alternative identity he posits is actually a variety of identities: there are those males and females made by God for the purpose of engaging in homosexual sodomy (lesbians and gays); there are those made by God for the purpose of engaging in both marital relations and homosexual sodomy (bisexuals); and there are those made by God to rebel against their natural condition of being male or female in order to re-classify and present themselves, through various bodily mutilations, as being the opposite of what, in fact, they are: this is the category of men who insist they are women and women who insist they are men (transsexuals).
He continued:
Fr. Martin’s extended project is to change the way the Church approaches the phenomenon of homosexuality in our Church and in our society. It is based on the erroneous conceit that the Church’s teaching on the nature of God‘s creation and his law are subject to revision by human beings who, unhappy with the way God made them and with how he commands them to act, discover a new “identity” founded upon God’s supposed alternate plan, for some people. The human dignity of all persons is promoted by obedience to what God has established. That dignity is wounded and obscured by any rejection of God’s plan and purpose for humanity. The just and loving way to help people who affirm an imaginary LGBT identity is to guide them away from this mistaken idea and towards an appreciation of the true nature of who they are in the sight of the Good God.
Fr. John M. McDermott, a fellow Jesuit and former member of the Vatican’s International Theological Commission who now teaches theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, identified Martin as a “minor churchman.”
“There is no salvation unless wounded people accept the cross and with free resolve follow Jesus,” wrote McDermott in a lengthy essay for Homiletic & Pastoral Review Magazine, adding that Martin apparently believes “they should not be confronted with negative prescriptions condemning homosexual behavior.”
“If she were to follow Fr. Martin’s recommendations, one wonders how long the Church must hold off informing such people of the Gospel’s prohibition of homosexual acts,” said McDermott. “Even more one fears lest silence be taken to imply consent. Young people especially will be exposed to great dangers in our sensualist society if they are deprived of the complete Gospel message, which is a message of freedom and self-mastery under grace.”
McDermott continued:
Especially in our era of unleashed sensuality, the truth of the Gospel’s call to conversion should resound from the Church’s ministers. For such warning belongs to the essence of their vocation. Otherwise sinners will not be helped to recognize the grounds of their deep dissatisfaction and will remain in their guilt. However much Fr. Martin emphasizes compassion, it should be clear that compassion cannot consist in approving sinful behavior. That would only confirm people in their misery and not let them recognize that the homosexual lifestyle is the very reason for their distress. True compassion involves suffering with Christ, crucifying one’s own flesh and bearing recriminations and scorn from those who do not want now to be converted in the prayerful hope that one’s witness to the truth will ultimately be accepted by one’s enemies. Christian compassion entails suffering with Jesus crucified for the sake of converting others from sin for their salvation (Col 1:24).
HRC has promised to make available a video version of Fr. Martin’s interview.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Why seeing abortion is necessary to stopping it

March 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – I remember vividly the first time I saw a victim of abortion with my own eyes .
It would be wrong to say I saw the tiny human being face to face , for she no longer had a face .
What had once been a perfectly formed person had been reduced to a bloody smear on a blue terrycloth , and the only body part still identifiable after being suctioned through a plastic tube was a single , translucent arm .
The arm was probably no more than half or three-quarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember , exactly—and the fingers were perfectly splayed .
I remember thinking she seemed to be waving , and felt somehow reproached .
I thought of that little arm and the person it had belonged to again after reading a magnificent piece from the Irish journalist John Waters in First Things .
Titled “ Don ’ t Sanitize Abortion , ” Waters explains why he believes that people must often see abortion before they will reject it—and he describes his own reaction after seeing a video of a child who had been aborted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a child of perhaps two months ’ gestation .
The child had survived a botched abortion and been born alive .
The still living body is in a petri dish and two women inspect it .
One of them prods and mauls the child ’ s body with white-gloved fingers while the child seeks to evade them , moving his hands to cover his face as if already suspecting everything of the evil of the world .
Rarely has Kahlil Gibran ’ s evocation of “ Life ’ s longing for itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I felt watching it was not merely horror or pity , but a sense of metaphysical affront at having to observe a fellow human being in this unspeakable situation .
Waters is right : Once you see abortion , you can never think about it the same way again .
The word will forever conjure up horrible images of murdered children , children who reproach us by their obvious innocence and our glaring failure to protect them .
It is why people so badly want to keep photographs of abortion victims out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hidden , they can continue to perpetuate the fiction that this is a discussion about “ reproductive rights ” or the elimination of “ clumps of cells.
” Waters ’ moving essay reminded me of a scene in last year ’ s award-winning documentary One Child Nation , which examines China ’ s One Child Policy .
As a result of this policy , millions upon millions of babies were aborted , often forcibly .
One stomach-twisting picture of a shattered mother with her butchered baby lying next to her on the bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled him from her womb , summarizes the whole bloody affair with brutal succinctness .
The filmmaker also spoke with a Chinese artist named Peng Wang , who placed an aborted baby he found in the garbage in a jar of formaldehyde .
The cameraman zoomed in on the jar , with the baby resting almost peacefully in the chemical solution .
The child was ethereal , and looked as if he might wake up at any moment , as if he was both there and not there at the same time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and his chubby feet looked just like baby ’ s feet should .
“ He was a beautiful baby , ” Wang said , gazing at the child .
“ But he was dead .
A smile was still on his face .
I was wondering : Why would he smile like that after being aborted and killed ?
It ’ s as if he knew it ’ d be miserable to be alive in China , and he was happy to have avoided it.
” It is impossible to truly understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their absence from the discussion often turns the entire debate into a fruitless semantic shouting match .
But when the victims show their beautiful , awful , bloody faces—then everything changes .
I have seen the angriest abortion activist stunned into silence by a photograph of one of the victims .
These photographs often bring up unanswerable questions that we can not help but ask .
I had the privilege of being on a discussion panel last summer in Michigan with my friend Dr. Monica Miller , who has retrieved thousands of abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreword to my book Seeing is Believing : Why Our Culture Must Face the Victims of Abortion . )
Someone in the audience asked her what she would say to help someone really understand what abortion has taken from us .
She paused for a moment , and then responded : “ What do you do with sixty-five million bodies ?
” That is a question that should haunt us for as long as the killing lasts .

March 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – I remember vividly the first time I saw a victim of abortion with my own eyes. It would be wrong to say I saw the tiny human being face to face, for she no longer had a face. What had once been a perfectly formed person had been reduced to a bloody smear on a blue terrycloth, and the only body part still identifiable after being suctioned through a plastic tube was a single, translucent arm. The arm was probably no more than half or three-quarters of an inch long—it is hard to remember, exactly—and the fingers were perfectly splayed. I remember thinking she seemed to be waving, and felt somehow reproached.
I thought of that little arm and the person it had belonged to again after reading a magnificent piece from the Irish journalist John Waters in First Things. Titled “Don’t Sanitize Abortion,” Waters explains why he believes that people must often see abortion before they will reject it—and he describes his own reaction after seeing a video of a child who had been aborted:
Someone recently sent me a video of a child of perhaps two months’ gestation. The child had survived a botched abortion and been born alive. The still living body is in a petri dish and two women inspect it. One of them prods and mauls the child’s body with white-gloved fingers while the child seeks to evade them, moving his hands to cover his face as if already suspecting everything of the evil of the world. Rarely has Kahlil Gibran’s evocation of “Life’s longing for itself” been so heartbreakingly illustrated. What I felt watching it was not merely horror or pity, but a sense of metaphysical affront at having to observe a fellow human being in this unspeakable situation.
Waters is right: Once you see abortion, you can never think about it the same way again. The word will forever conjure up horrible images of murdered children, children who reproach us by their obvious innocence and our glaring failure to protect them. It is why people so badly want to keep photographs of abortion victims out of the debate: Because with the victims hidden, they can continue to perpetuate the fiction that this is a discussion about “reproductive rights” or the elimination of “clumps of cells.”
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
Waters’ moving essay reminded me of a scene in last year’s award-winning documentary One Child Nation, which examines China’s One Child Policy. As a result of this policy, millions upon millions of babies were aborted, often forcibly. One stomach-twisting picture of a shattered mother with her butchered baby lying next to her on the bed, killed by the state officials who pulled him from her womb, summarizes the whole bloody affair with brutal succinctness. The filmmaker also spoke with a Chinese artist named Peng Wang, who placed an aborted baby he found in the garbage in a jar of formaldehyde.
The cameraman zoomed in on the jar, with the baby resting almost peacefully in the chemical solution. The child was ethereal, and looked as if he might wake up at any moment, as if he was both there and not there at the same time. Perfect fingers curled around a perfect thumb, and his chubby feet looked just like baby’s feet should. “He was a beautiful baby,” Wang said, gazing at the child. “But he was dead. A smile was still on his face. I was wondering: Why would he smile like that after being aborted and killed? It’s as if he knew it’d be miserable to be alive in China, and he was happy to have avoided it.”
It is impossible to truly understand abortion without seeing the victims, and their absence from the discussion often turns the entire debate into a fruitless semantic shouting match. But when the victims show their beautiful, awful, bloody faces—then everything changes. I have seen the angriest abortion activist stunned into silence by a photograph of one of the victims. These photographs often bring up unanswerable questions that we cannot help but ask.
I had the privilege of being on a discussion panel last summer in Michigan with my friend Dr. Monica Miller, who has retrieved thousands of abortion victims from dumpsters (and wrote the foreword to my book Seeing is Believing: Why Our Culture Must Face the Victims of Abortion.) Someone in the audience asked her what she would say to help someone really understand what abortion has taken from us. She paused for a moment, and then responded: “What do you do with sixty-five million bodies?”
That is a question that should haunt us for as long as the killing lasts.


lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Pro-life, pro-marriage candidate barred from running for Canadian Conservative leadership

MONTREAL , Québec , March 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Conservative party of Canada barred pro-life and pro-family advocate Richard Décarie from running as a candidate for the party ’ s leadership .
Over the weekend , Décarie took to Twitter to announce that he was disallowed by the “ unelected ” Conservative Party of Canada ’ s Leadership Election Organizing Committee ( LEOC ) , to run as a leadership candidate .
Pro-life organization Campaign Life Coalition ( CLC ) says Saturday ’ s disqualification of Décarie as a conservative party leadership candidate , “ reeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ positively outraged ” about the “ undemocratic actions ” of the selection committee .
Jack Fonseca , CLC ’ s senior political strategist , likened the disqualification of Décarie by the LEOC to the old soviet style voting process .
“ This is something akin to communistic , soviet systems where you had elections , but the party decided who you were allowed to vote for , ” said Fonseca to LifeSiteNews .
“ This reeks of corruption by the members of LEOC and is a total disdain for representative democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of LEOC who voted to disqualify Décarie should be called out for their undemocratic actions .
They are not conservative.
” Décarie , a former Stephen-Harper-staffer , said via his Twitter page in English and French over the weekend that no reason was given for being disallowed to run in the leadership race , despite meeting all of the criteria .
“ It seems my candidacy was viewed as a threat to the establishment of the CPC and to the kind of leader THEY want to select , ” he said .
Décarie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” with traditional values , are a “ major force ” in the party , even without him being in the running .
Support for Décarie came swiftly from many of his followers , including two pro-life candidates who were approved to run in the leadership race , rookie conservative Member of Parliament Derek Sloan , and Jim Karahalios .
“ Outrageous @ RichardDECARIE not allowed in CPC leadership race .
As a founding member of this party , and a principled conservative , Décarie deserves to be in this race , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sloan then added : “ @ RichardDECARIE is a pro-life stalwart and a leader of social conservatism not just in Quebec but across Canada .
Looks like the CPC 's LEOC is adopting @ PeterMacKay `` albatross '' position , one by one.
” Karahalios echoed Décarie in calling LEOC in a series of tweets : “ This is supposed to be an election .
Not a top down Red Tory coronation .
How does a small group of unelected individuals get to overrule the voice of @ CPC_HQ members that endorsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CPC_HQ is not a private club.
” Aspiring contenders had until February 27 in which to submit 1,000-member nomination signatures along with a total of $ 25,000 to be registered and vetted by the LEOC .
A total of eight candidates met the first deadline and were approved to run by the LEOC .
Marilyn Gladu , Rudy Husny , Jim Karahalios , Leslyn Lewis , Peter MacKay , Erin O ’ Toole , Rick Peterson , and Derek Sloan .
Of these candidates , only Lewis , Karahalios , and Sloan have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beliefs .
Fonseca in comments to LifeSiteNews noted that the constitution of the conservative party has nothing in it that gives LEOC the power to disqualify candidates in the manner that was done to Décarie .
He said that their role is to solely set-up a leadership contest “ and that ’ s about it , ” adding that Décarie met the main requirement of adhering to the principles of the party .
The National Post reported that according to a “ party official with direct knowledge of the matter ” who spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was related to his “ application as a whole ” and not due to his pro-life remarks and support of marriage as between one man and one woman .
The mainstream media favorite pro-abortion Peter MacKay , along with MP Marilyn Gladu , and MP Erin O ’ Toole , all said they will march in the June Toronto pride event .
The current leader of the Conservative Party , Andrew Scheer , announced in the fall that he will be stepping aside , which prompted the leadership race .
During the 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a close second place to pro-abortion Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .
Décarie caused a media firestorm when he said that homosexuality is a “ choice , ” and that abortion is not health care .
He also said that the party should return to the definition of marriage as the “ union of a man and a woman.
” His remarks were met with a severe backlash from those in the conservative party who maintained that his socially conservative views did not belong , claiming he should be barred from the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email to his followers over the weekend said that he is grateful for all of the support he has received and that he will continue to work with all “ True Blue ” conservatives regardless of how it makes the unelected “ Red Tory elite ” feel .
In an exclusive interview for LifeSiteNews in early February with Georges Buscemi of Campagne Quebéc-Vie , he reiterated his strong pro-life and pro-family messaging .
The next deadline for the conservative candidates is March 25 .
They must submit an additional 2000 signatures along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The leader will be announced at the June 27 party convention in Toronto .
Fonseca said that there are now three strong pro-life and pro-family candidates running for the leadership .
He added that CLC will continue the fight to get a pro-life candidate elected as leader , stressing that this is a strong possibility .
He mentioned that pro-life Brad Trost ’ s fourth-place showing in the 2017 leadership race , out of 14 candidates , shows this is feasible .
“ We believe that it ’ s entirely possible there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of our three remaining social conservative candidates .
Our database has grown since 2017 , and we have become better at our jobs , ” said Fonseca .
“ This is a race we can win , and I would caution all pro-lifers to not be discouraged or give up by this unethical disqualification of Décarie.
” March 5 is the deadline to join or renew membership in the Conservative Party .
CLC is urging Canadian citizens or landed immigrants , who are 14-years of age or older , to sign up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need the help to get pro-life candidates Karahalios , and Sloan , over the threshold of signatures required .
Lewis , the other pro-life candidate has noted already that she has her 3000 signatures .
CLC is asking that after joining or renewing the conservative party membership , to send your signed nomination forms and confirmation of party membership by email to : [ email protected ] .

MONTREAL, Québec, March 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Conservative party of Canada barred pro-life and pro-family advocate Richard Décarie from running as a candidate for the party’s leadership.
Over the weekend, Décarie took to Twitter to announce that he was disallowed by the “unelected” Conservative Party of Canada’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC), to run as a leadership candidate.
Pro-life organization Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) says Saturday’s disqualification of Décarie as a conservative party leadership candidate, “reeks of corruption,” adding that it is “positively outraged” about the “undemocratic actions” of the selection committee.
Jack Fonseca, CLC’s senior political strategist, likened the disqualification of Décarie by the LEOC to the old soviet style voting process.
“This is something akin to communistic, soviet systems where you had elections, but the party decided who you were allowed to vote for,” said Fonseca to LifeSiteNews.
“This reeks of corruption by the members of LEOC and is a total disdain for representative democracy. In my view, every member of LEOC who voted to disqualify Décarie should be called out for their undemocratic actions. They are not conservative.”
Décarie, a former Stephen-Harper-staffer, said via his Twitter page in English and French over the weekend that no reason was given for being disallowed to run in the leadership race, despite meeting all of the criteria.
“It seems my candidacy was viewed as a threat to the establishment of the CPC and to the kind of leader THEY want to select,” he said.
Décarie then added that “True Blue Conservatives” with traditional values, are a “major force” in the party, even without him being in the running.
Support for Décarie came swiftly from many of his followers, including two pro-life candidates who were approved to run in the leadership race, rookie conservative Member of Parliament Derek Sloan, and Jim Karahalios.
“Outrageous @RichardDECARIE not allowed in CPC leadership race. As a founding member of this party, and a principled conservative, Décarie deserves to be in this race,” said Sloan via his Twitter page.
Sloan then added: “@RichardDECARIE is a pro-life stalwart and a leader of social conservatism not just in Quebec but across Canada. Looks like the CPC's LEOC is adopting @PeterMacKay “albatross” position, one by one.”
Karahalios echoed Décarie in calling LEOC in a series of tweets: “This is supposed to be an election. Not a top down Red Tory coronation. How does a small group of unelected individuals get to overrule the voice of @CPC_HQ members that endorsed @RichardDECARIE’s candidacy? The @CPC_HQ is not a private club.”
Aspiring contenders had until February 27 in which to submit 1,000-member nomination signatures along with a total of $25,000 to be registered and vetted by the LEOC.
A total of eight candidates met the first deadline and were approved to run by the LEOC. Marilyn Gladu, Rudy Husny, Jim Karahalios, Leslyn Lewis, Peter MacKay, Erin O’Toole, Rick Peterson, and Derek Sloan.
Of these candidates, only Lewis, Karahalios, and Sloan have the backing of CLC for their pro-life beliefs.
Fonseca in comments to LifeSiteNews noted that the constitution of the conservative party has nothing in it that gives LEOC the power to disqualify candidates in the manner that was done to Décarie.
He said that their role is to solely set-up a leadership contest “and that’s about it,” adding that Décarie met the main requirement of adhering to the principles of the party.
The National Post reported that according to a “party official with direct knowledge of the matter” who spoke with them, Décarie’s disqualification was related to his “application as a whole” and not due to his pro-life remarks and support of marriage as between one man and one woman.
The mainstream media favorite pro-abortion Peter MacKay, along with MP Marilyn Gladu, and MP Erin O’Toole, all said they will march in the June Toronto pride event.
The current leader of the Conservative Party, Andrew Scheer, announced in the fall that he will be stepping aside, which prompted the leadership race. During the 2019 Canadian Federal Election, he came in a close second place to pro-abortion Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Décarie caused a media firestorm when he said that homosexuality is a “choice,” and that abortion is not health care. He also said that the party should return to the definition of marriage as the “union of a man and a woman.”
His remarks were met with a severe backlash from those in the conservative party who maintained that his socially conservative views did not belong, claiming he should be barred from the race for his views.
Décarie in an email to his followers over the weekend said that he is grateful for all of the support he has received and that he will continue to work with all “True Blue” conservatives regardless of how it makes the unelected “Red Tory elite” feel.
In an exclusive interview for LifeSiteNews in early February with Georges Buscemi of Campagne Quebéc-Vie, he reiterated his strong pro-life and pro-family messaging.
The next deadline for the conservative candidates is March 25. They must submit an additional 2000 signatures along with $300,000 to stay in the race. The leader will be announced at the June 27 party convention in Toronto.
Fonseca said that there are now three strong pro-life and pro-family candidates running for the leadership. He added that CLC will continue the fight to get a pro-life candidate elected as leader, stressing that this is a strong possibility.
He mentioned that pro-life Brad Trost’s fourth-place showing in the 2017 leadership race, out of 14 candidates, shows this is feasible.
“We believe that it’s entirely possible there is a clear path to victory for one of our three remaining social conservative candidates. Our database has grown since 2017, and we have become better at our jobs,” said Fonseca.
“This is a race we can win, and I would caution all pro-lifers to not be discouraged or give up by this unethical disqualification of Décarie.”
March 4 is the deadline to join or renew membership in the Conservative Party. CLC is urging Canadian citizens or landed immigrants, who are 14-years of age or older, to sign up before the deadline.
Fonseca notes that they need the help to get pro-life candidates Karahalios, and Sloan, over the threshold of signatures required.
Lewis, the other pro-life candidate has noted already that she has her 3000 signatures.
CLC is asking that after joining or renewing the conservative party membership, to send your signed nomination forms and confirmation of party membership by email to: [email protected].
Contact information:
Conservative Party of Canada
1720-130 Albert St. Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
1-866-808-8407
https://www.conservative.ca/contact/
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lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Gay ‘married’ Pete Buttigieg quits presidential bid, Biden expected to benefit

March 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pete Buttigieg , the openly homosexual and pro-abortion former Mayor of South Bend , Indiana , has dropped out of the running to win the Democratic nomination for President .
Buttigieg , who has been “ married ” to another man since 2018 , claimed that his campaigning for president with “ his husband at his side ” had “ sent a message ” to children across America .
“ We sent a message to every kid out there wondering if whatever marks them as different means that they are somehow destined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ To see that someone who once felt that exact same way can become a leading American presidential candidate with his husband at his side.
” Buttigieg announced his decision to withdraw from the race at a press conference yesterday evening in South Bend .
He was introduced by his “ husband ” Chasten , who he kissed and embraced before delivering his speech .
Buttigieg said that his reasons for running had been to defeat President Trump and to “ usher in a new kind of politics.
” Explaining his reasoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ truth ” was one of his “ guiding values ” and that “ the truth is that the path has narrowed to a close for our candidacy.
” He said that he felt a “ responsibility to consider the effect of remaining in this race ” and that he believes that stepping aside is the best way “ to defeat Donald Trump and to win the era for our values.
” Buttigieg told his supporters that the Democratic Party needs a “ broad-based agenda that can truly deliver for the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ideology , ” in a comment which is likely to be perceived as a criticism of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders .
While apparently condemning a political vision that “ gets lost in ideology ” , Buttigieg also stated that politics at its best is “ soul craft.
” During his speech he took another dig at President Trump on religious grounds , asserting that Trump “ cloaks in religious language an administration whose actions harm the least among us , ” having said at a recent presidential town hall event that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way this president conducts himself and anything I find in Scripture.
” Buttigieg has repeatedly refused to condemn late-term or partial-birth abortion and has even tried to justify abortion on religious grounds , claiming in September “ there ’ s a lot of parts of the Bible that talk about how life begins with breath.
” He had pledged to appoint pro-abortion judges to the Supreme Court and make the abortion drug RU-486 available over the counter .
As mayor , he vetoed Women ’ s Care Center ’ s re-zoning application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the site of a proposed abortion center , and he has largely dodged questions about the discovery of thousands of babies ’ corpses on the property of a deceased area abortionist .
Buttigieg also indicated during a recent town-hall that if elected he would cut federal funding from any foster and adoption programs that “ discriminates against LGBT communities.
” Although Buttigieg is yet to endorse any of the remaining candidates , it is thought likely that much of his support will be picked up by former Vice President Joe Biden , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal as “ the first break in the logjam in the center of the party ” which “ benefits Biden tremendously.
” In a further potential boost for Biden ’ s campaign , Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar withdrew from the race today , with the mainstream media touting the move as another “ moderate ” candidate withdrawing in order to support Biden .
Two Klobuchar campaign officials have reportedly informed The Guardian newspaper that she plans to endorse the former Vice President .
Billionaire late-entry , Tom Steyer , also withdrew from the @ @ @ @ @

Buttigieg said that his campaign with his 'husband' at his side sent a 'message to every kid out there'
March 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Pete Buttigieg, the openly homosexual and pro-abortion former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has dropped out of the running to win the Democratic nomination for President.
Buttigieg, who has been “married” to another man since 2018, claimed that his campaigning for president with “his husband at his side” had “sent a message” to children across America.
“We sent a message to every kid out there wondering if whatever marks them as different means that they are somehow destined to be less-than,” Buttigieg said. “To see that someone who once felt that exact same way can become a leading American presidential candidate with his husband at his side.”
Buttigieg announced his decision to withdraw from the race at a press conference yesterday evening in South Bend. He was introduced by his “husband” Chasten, who he kissed and embraced before delivering his speech.
Buttigieg said that his reasons for running had been to defeat President Trump and to “usher in a new kind of politics.”
Explaining his reasoning for ending his campaign, Buttigieg stated that “truth” was one of his “guiding values” and that “the truth is that the path has narrowed to a close for our candidacy.”
He said that he felt a “responsibility to consider the effect of remaining in this race” and that he believes that stepping aside is the best way “to defeat Donald Trump and to win the era for our values.”
Buttigieg told his supporters that the Democratic Party needs a “broad-based agenda that can truly deliver for the American people, not one that gets lost in ideology,” in a comment which is likely to be perceived as a criticism of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders.
While apparently condemning a political vision that “gets lost in ideology”, Buttigieg also stated that politics at its best is “soul craft.” During his speech he took another dig at President Trump on religious grounds, asserting that Trump “cloaks in religious language an administration whose actions harm the least among us,” having said at a recent presidential town hall event that he “cannot find any compatibility between the way this president conducts himself and anything I find in Scripture.”
Buttigieg has repeatedly refused to condemn late-term or partial-birth abortion and has even tried to justify abortion on religious grounds, claiming in September “there’s a lot of parts of the Bible that talk about how life begins with breath.”
He had pledged to appoint pro-abortion judges to the Supreme Court and make the abortion drug RU-486 available over the counter. As mayor, he vetoed Women’s Care Center’s re-zoning application to build a pro-life pregnancy center near the site of a proposed abortion center, and he has largely dodged questions about the discovery of thousands of babies’ corpses on the property of a deceased area abortionist.
Buttigieg also indicated during a recent town-hall that if elected he would cut federal funding from any foster and adoption programs that “discriminates against LGBT communities.”
Although Buttigieg is yet to endorse any of the remaining candidates, it is thought likely that much of his support will be picked up by former Vice President Joe Biden, with one political commentator describing Buttigieg’s withdrawal as “the first break in the logjam in the center of the party” which “benefits Biden tremendously.”
In a further potential boost for Biden’s campaign, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar withdrew from the race today, with the mainstream media touting the move as another “moderate” candidate withdrawing in order to support Biden. Two Klobuchar campaign officials have reportedly informed The Guardian newspaper that she plans to endorse the former Vice President. Billionaire late-entry, Tom Steyer, also withdrew from the race over the weekend.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Trudeau’s plan to control free press scares the ‘hell out of me’: Conservative politician

OTTAWA , March 02 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Canadian conservative politician says the Trudeau government ’ s report recommending a “ media registry ” for news outlets in Canada scares the “ hell out of me.
” Martin Shields , a Conservative member of Parliament for Bow River , Alberta , told the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage during a February 26 meeting that parts of the report are opposed to current Canadian law .
Shields is a member of the committee .
“ From the Broadcast telecommunications report there are words in there : fair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ ... ] those words scare the hell out of me .
They ’ re subjective , and they ’ re in that report in a number of places , ” said Shields in comments ( listen to audio track at minute 16:33:13 ) directed to Heritage Minister of Canada Steven Guilbeault in questions about the controversial Liberal government report , titled , “ Canada 's communications future : Time to act.
” “ What ’ s your response to those kind of words in that report ?
” said Shields .
Guilbeault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shields queries , saying that the report was “ independent , ” reiterating that they are looking at all of the recommendations of the report and that anything done would “ have to pass the test of the law.
” Shields replied that “ those kind of subjective words don ’ t fit in the law .
They ’ re not there.
” At the start of the committee meeting , Guilbeault began his address promising to bring forth recommended legislation this spring , saying “ urgent action ” is needed to update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that the Liberal government has no plans to regulate news media , saying that it wants to , “ preserve a strong and independent information sector , ” and an open internet .
Nevertheless , after the meeting , the committee agreed to , “ undertake a study of the creation and implementation of new measures for online media platforms and internet service providers.
” The committee said that online media and internet service providers should be required “ to monitor , address and remove content that constitutes hate speech and remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada or prohibited by the Criminal Code.
” The committee said this includes “ incitement of violence , incitement of genocide , creation or distribution of terrorist propaganda and exploitation of children.
” It went onto say that this action must be made in a “ timely manner , ” and that the committee holds at least four meetings a year about this subject , and then report its findings to the House .
Lisa D.S .
Bildy , a lawyer for the Canada-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms , told LifeSiteNews that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to gain an acceptable foothold into the regulation of online content , including news media , by starting with the elimination of the most egregious and criminal content out there , such as the incitement to violence and genocide , terrorist propaganda and the exploitation of children.
” “ But they don ’ t stop there , ” she said .
Bildy said that the Heritage Committee ’ s study of the proposal shows that they are looking at wanting online media platforms and internet service providers to monitor and remove not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter which they feel constitutes “ hate speech.
” She added the Liberal government under Trudeau is looking for a type of subjective “ open-ended power , ” that can , “ easily be abused and broadened to remove content that someone finds objectionable , but that does n't rise to the very high threshold of being criminal.
” The Trudeau Liberals put together a broadcasting expert panel chaired by Janet Yale .
Their task was to advise the Liberal government on how to overhaul Canada ’ s purportedly old broadcasting laws .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which contains a host of recommendations such as : “ We recommend the Broadcasting Act be amended to ensure the CRTC can by regulation , condition of license or condition of registration impose codes of conduct.
” The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ( CRTC ) is the agency in charge of regulating and supervising all Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications .
Another part of the report called for increasing funding by a total of $ 1.2 billion to the state-owned and leftist Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ( CBC ) , going as far to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role to play ” in shutting down supposed fake news websites .
The Trudeau government has tried to censor independent media in Canada before .
In late 2019 they went against social media companies to combat “ misinformation ” .
Guilbeault recently caused a flurry of controversy about the report when in an interview on CTV News , he suggested that all media in Canada would indeed require licenses .
He later backtracked from those words , but many did not buy it , such as True North ’ s Andrew Lawton .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for walking back his comments about licensing media .
All he said today is that he wo n't require licenses from `` news organizations . ''
He did n't rule out imposing a licensing regime for other media platforms , ” he said in a tweet .
When Lawton heard of Shield 's comments from Wednesday ’ s meeting , he said via Twitter “ here it comes.
” News of a potential “ media registry ” in Canada has also caught the attention of the Media Research Center ( MRC ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The organization told LifeSiteNews that the report behind the Trudeau government ’ s call for requiring news websites and social media to obtain a government license to operate in Canada was “ terrifying.
” Justin Trudeau - Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa , ON K1A 0A2 Fax : 613-941-6900 [ email protected ] https : //pm.gc.ca/en/connect/contact

Conservative MP Martin Shields said that words in the report like 'trusted, accurate, reliable' are subjective and have no place in Canadian law.
OTTAWA, March 02, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Canadian conservative politician says the Trudeau government’s report recommending a “media registry” for news outlets in Canada scares the “hell out of me.”
Martin Shields, a Conservative member of Parliament for Bow River, Alberta, told the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage during a February 26 meeting that parts of the report are opposed to current Canadian law. Shields is a member of the committee.
“From the Broadcast telecommunications report there are words in there: fair, reasonable, trusted, accurate, reliable […] those words scare the hell out of me. They’re subjective, and they’re in that report in a number of places,” said Shields in comments (listen to audio track at minute 16:33:13) directed to Heritage Minister of Canada Steven Guilbeault in questions about the controversial Liberal government report, titled, “Canada's communications future: Time to act.”
“What’s your response to those kind of words in that report?” said Shields.
Guilbeault did not offer a direct answer to Shields queries, saying that the report was “independent,” reiterating that they are looking at all of the recommendations of the report and that anything done would “have to pass the test of the law.”
Shields replied that “those kind of subjective words don’t fit in the law. They’re not there.”
At the start of the committee meeting, Guilbeault began his address promising to bring forth recommended legislation this spring, saying “urgent action” is needed to update Canada’s media laws.
Guilbeault claimed that the Liberal government has no plans to regulate news media, saying that it wants to, “preserve a strong and independent information sector,” and an open internet. Nevertheless, after the meeting, the committee agreed to, “undertake a study of the creation and implementation of new measures for online media platforms and internet service providers.”
The committee said that online media and internet service providers should be required “to monitor, address and remove content that constitutes hate speech and remove any other content which is illegal in Canada or prohibited by the Criminal Code.”
The committee said this includes “incitement of violence, incitement of genocide, creation or distribution of terrorist propaganda and exploitation of children.”
It went onto say that this action must be made in a “timely manner,” and that the committee holds at least four meetings a year about this subject, and then report its findings to the House.
Lisa D.S. Bildy, a lawyer for the Canada-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, told LifeSiteNews that “it seems that the government is trying to gain an acceptable foothold into the regulation of online content, including news media, by starting with the elimination of the most egregious and criminal content out there, such as the incitement to violence and genocide, terrorist propaganda and the exploitation of children.”
“But they don’t stop there,” she said.
Bildy said that the Heritage Committee’s study of the proposal shows that they are looking at wanting online media platforms and internet service providers to monitor and remove not just criminal content, but any subject matter which they feel constitutes “hate speech.”
She added the Liberal government under Trudeau is looking for a type of subjective “open-ended power,” that can, “easily be abused and broadened to remove content that someone finds objectionable, but that doesn't rise to the very high threshold of being criminal.”
The Trudeau Liberals put together a broadcasting expert panel chaired by Janet Yale. Their task was to advise the Liberal government on how to overhaul Canada’s purportedly old broadcasting laws.
The result is a government report, which contains a host of recommendations such as: “We recommend the Broadcasting Act be amended to ensure the CRTC can by regulation, condition of license or condition of registration impose codes of conduct.”
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is the agency in charge of regulating and supervising all Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications.
Another part of the report called for increasing funding by a total of $1.2 billion to the state-owned and leftist Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), going as far to say the CBC has a “critical role to play” in shutting down supposed fake news websites.
The Trudeau government has tried to censor independent media in Canada before. In late 2019 they went against social media companies to combat “misinformation”.
Guilbeault recently caused a flurry of controversy about the report when in an interview on CTV News, he suggested that all media in Canada would indeed require licenses.
He later backtracked from those words, but many did not buy it, such as True North’s Andrew Lawton.
“Don't give Minister Guilbeault credit for walking back his comments about licensing media. All he said today is that he won't require licenses from “news organizations.” He didn't rule out imposing a licensing regime for other media platforms,” he said in a tweet.
When Lawton heard of Shield's comments from Wednesday’s meeting, he said via Twitter “here it comes.”
News of a potential “media registry” in Canada has also caught the attention of the Media Research Center (MRC), a media watchdog in the United States. The organization told LifeSiteNews that the report behind the Trudeau government’s call for requiring news websites and social media to obtain a government license to operate in Canada was “terrifying.”
Contact information:
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault – Minister of Canadian Heritage
15 Eddy Street, 12th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5
Telephone: 819-997-7788
Email: [email protected]
Justin Trudeau – Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
[email protected]
https://pm.gc.ca/en/connect/contact
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lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Movie on miracles of Fatima hits US theaters this spring

HOLLYWOOD , California , March 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A blockbuster film about Our Lady of Fatima will hit cinemas across America in April .
The official trailer was released last week .
FATIMA will tell the real-life story of three children from rural Portugal , Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto , who experienced apparitions of a beautiful lady eventually identified as Mary , the mother of God .
As the trailer reveals , the children suffered many hardships because of their visions .
They were accused of lying by their parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into custody by police .
However , they are believed by many of their neighbors and by thousands of pilgrims who come to Fatima in the hopes of witnessing a miracle .
“ The key inspiration for the movie was Sr. Lucia ’ s memoirs , which details the experiences of the last remaining Seer , and her relationships , from her point of view , ” producer Natasha Howes told LifeSiteNews via email .
“ There are artistic liberties taken in some of the key story elements that differ from the documented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primarily found in the characters and their function in the dramatic arc .
For example , Manuel , Lucia ’ s brother , did not serve in the First World War ; however , his role in the film is to firmly place the contemporary political climate into the local and emotional experience.
” Howes told LifeSiteNews that “ authenticity is a key quality of the FATIMA movie ’ s aesthetic.
” Most of the actors are from Portugal .
“ And so presenting a community of people that look Portuguese was crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she explained .
“ The majority of the actors that appear in the movie are from Portugal , including Lucia Moniz ( Maria , Lucia ’ s mother ) and Joaquim de Almeida ( Father Ferreira ) , who are well-known and recognized internationally.
” “ The lead roles of the Children of Fatima were cast out of Madrid , and all three of the young actors are Spanish .
The most recognizable stars , including Harvey Keitel , Sonia Braga , Goran Visnjic and Joaquim de Almeida , are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the filming , ” Lowes continued .
The film was entirely shot in Portugal .
Lowes explained : Fatima today is very different to how it was in 1917 , although much of Portugal retains its rurality .
The City of Fatima has been built around the original site of the Apparitions and Miracle , which was a rocky mountainous field .
We filmed those scenes in a National Park , called Tapada de Mafra , which was confirmed by the Shrine of Fatima , who visited set one day , to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iria , where Our Lady appeared .
We built the Santos home in studio in Lisbon , and filmed in various locations throughout Portugal , including : Sesimbra , Tomar , Coimbra , which is the original convent home of Sr. Lucia , and a village in the North of Portugal as Aljustrel , where the Children of Fatima lived .
At over 1,564,625 Facebook views by press time , the trailer has already gone viral .
FATIMA stars Stephanie Gil ( Terminator : Dark Fate ) , Lúcia Moniz ( Colin Firth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Actually ) , Joaquim de Almeida ( “ Queen of the South ” ) and Goran Visnjic ( Beginners ) , with Sonia Braga ( Aquarius ) , and Harvey Keitel ( The Irishman , The Piano ) .
It was directed by Marco Pontecorvo .
Pontecorvo wrote the film with Valerio D ’ Annunzio and Barbara Nicolosi .
FATIMA also features the original song “ Gratia Plena ” ( “ Full of Grace ” ) , performed by Andrea Bocelli and composed by Paolo Buonvino .
The film will be released across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tickets are now available for various cinemas , including AMC , Cinemark , Harkins and Regal .
FATIMA has been endorsed by a spokesperson for the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima in Portugal , who said , “ Inspired by the story of Our Blessed Virgin Mary ’ s appearances to three children , the movie ... shows why it is still possible for humanity to believe in divine intervention , even in our contemporary world .
The film leads us to reflect that 100 years later , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shined upon Francisco , Jacinta and Lucia still lights the way for those who commit to a life of faith in the Gospel .
”

'The key inspiration for the movie was Sr. Lucia’s memoirs, which details the experiences of the last remaining Seer, and her relationships, from her point of view,' the film's producer told LifeSiteNews.
HOLLYWOOD, California, March 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A blockbuster film about Our Lady of Fatima will hit cinemas across America in April. The official trailer was released last week.
FATIMA will tell the real-life story of three children from rural Portugal, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who experienced apparitions of a beautiful lady eventually identified as Mary, the mother of God.
As the trailer reveals, the children suffered many hardships because of their visions. They were accused of lying by their parents and Church authorities and were even taken into custody by police. However, they are believed by many of their neighbors and by thousands of pilgrims who come to Fatima in the hopes of witnessing a miracle.
“The key inspiration for the movie was Sr. Lucia’s memoirs, which details the experiences of the last remaining Seer, and her relationships, from her point of view,” producer Natasha Howes told LifeSiteNews via email. “There are artistic liberties taken in some of the key story elements that differ from the documented history of Fatima, and those are primarily found in the characters and their function in the dramatic arc. For example, Manuel, Lucia’s brother, did not serve in the First World War; however, his role in the film is to firmly place the contemporary political climate into the local and emotional experience.”
Howes told LifeSiteNews that “authenticity is a key quality of the FATIMA movie’s aesthetic.” Most of the actors are from Portugal.
“And so presenting a community of people that look Portuguese was crucial to the historical accuracy of the film,” she explained. “The majority of the actors that appear in the movie are from Portugal, including Lucia Moniz (Maria, Lucia’s mother) and Joaquim de Almeida (Father Ferreira), who are well-known and recognized internationally.”
“The lead roles of the Children of Fatima were cast out of Madrid, and all three of the young actors are Spanish. The most recognizable stars, including Harvey Keitel, Sonia Braga, Goran Visnjic and Joaquim de Almeida, are all U.S.-based, and travelled to Portugal for the filming,” Lowes continued.
The film was entirely shot in Portugal. Lowes explained:
Fatima today is very different to how it was in 1917, although much of Portugal retains its rurality. The City of Fatima has been built around the original site of the Apparitions and Miracle, which was a rocky mountainous field. We filmed those scenes in a National Park, called Tapada de Mafra, which was confirmed by the Shrine of Fatima, who visited set one day, to be identical in topography to the Cova da Iria, where Our Lady appeared. We built the Santos home in studio in Lisbon, and filmed in various locations throughout Portugal, including: Sesimbra, Tomar, Coimbra, which is the original convent home of Sr. Lucia, and a village in the North of Portugal as Aljustrel, where the Children of Fatima lived.
At over 1,564,625 Facebook views by press time, the trailer has already gone viral.
FATIMA stars Stephanie Gil (Terminator: Dark Fate), Lúcia Moniz (Colin Firth’s love interest in Love, Actually), Joaquim de Almeida (“Queen of the South”) and Goran Visnjic (Beginners), with Sonia Braga (Aquarius), and Harvey Keitel (The Irishman, The Piano). It was directed by Marco Pontecorvo.
Pontecorvo wrote the film with Valerio D’Annunzio and Barbara Nicolosi. FATIMA also features the original song “Gratia Plena” (“Full of Grace”), performed by Andrea Bocelli and composed by Paolo Buonvino.
The film will be released across the U.S. on April 24, and tickets are now available for various cinemas, including AMC, Cinemark, Harkins and Regal.
FATIMA has been endorsed by a spokesperson for the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima in Portugal, who said, “Inspired by the story of Our Blessed Virgin Mary’s appearances to three children, the movie … shows why it is still possible for humanity to believe in divine intervention, even in our contemporary world. The film leads us to reflect that 100 years later, the light of God that the Virgin Mary shined upon Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia still lights the way for those who commit to a life of faith in the Gospel.”
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