lifesitenews--2020-04-15--‘Brilliant and brave’: Pro-life leaders praise Trump for halting World Health Org funding

April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Pro-life leaders around the world have expressed their joy following President Donald Trump ’ s suspension of American funding of the World Helath Organization .
In London , England , John Smeaton , Director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ( SPUC ) , told LifeSiteNews that the decision was “ brilliant and brave.
” “ This is a brilliant and brave move from President Trump , ” Smeaton said via email .
“ Not only has the World Health Organisation been planning for years to promote abortion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abundantly clear even to the secular world that the WHO is serving the world ’ s most corrupt power structures rather than the common good.
” Smeaton noted that British media and researchers have also noted that the WHO ’ s flawed response to the Chinese outbreak of the virus cost lives .
“ As The Times leader stated ( 9 April ) , the WHO ‘ is failing in testing times… Taiwanese officials , who are ignored by the WHO at China 's behest , sounded the alarm on December 31 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to human .
Two weeks later , under pressure from Beijing , the WHO stated the opposite to be true .
A declaration of a global pandemic even then would have saved lives but it took another week to announce an emergency on January 30 .
The University of Southampton suggested that cases might have been reduced by 95 % had China acted three weeks earlier , ’ ” Smeaton recalled .
Also in London , Maria Madise , SPUC ’ s International Director , told LifeSiteNews that Trump had shown “ real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that WHO had been using the tragedy to push its anti-life , anti-family agenda .
“ This is a brilliant and most welcome move by the U.S. President , ” Madise said via email .
“ Apart from WHO 's scandalous delay in reporting on the extent of the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan followed by giving inconsistent advice , WHO has used this crisis to aggressively advance its attacks on the inviolable rights of life and the family under the guise of tackling the pandemic , ” she continued .
“ Prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classifying abortion as an ‘ essential health service ’ so that abortion could go on under lockdown .
Drugs used in medical abortion were already listed as ‘ essential medications ’ by WHO in 2017 .
Now , in light of restrictions with entering health facilities , they promote home abortions with these drugs , which is terrible and deadly advice that some governments have sadly followed in their guidance.
” Madise reminded LifeSiteNews that WHO ’ s executive director of emergencies program , Mike Ryan , had revealed that WHO officials might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are sick .
“ Since WHO 's first director , Dr Brock Chisholm , wrote in 1948 : ‘ Children have to be freed from… religious and other cultural “ prejudices ” forced upon them by parents and religious authorities , ’ WHO ’ s anti-life and anti-family track record has not improved , ” she said .
“ Policies against life and the family are inevitably policies against health and should not be funded by countries who value life and the family .
The U.S. has been the biggest donor to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the hundreds of millions of American taxpayers ’ money that WHO has been receiving could be put to a much better use . ''
Father Frank Pavone of Titusville , Florida ’ s Priests for Life also paid tribute to Trump ’ s action , saying it was a contrast to the “ failed leadership ” of a Democrat rival .
“ President Trump ’ s withholding of funds from the WHO is yet another in a long series of decisive , courageous decisions in dealing with [ COVID-19 ] and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp contrast to the failed leadership of Joe Biden , ” Pavone told LifeSiteNews .
“ The President is a strong believer in fairness and accountability .
Whether it is trade deals , NATO membership , or funding of the WHO , he insists that those who pay know what they are getting into , that other nations have to do their fair share and not take unfair advantage of America , and that other nations and national bodies have to be able to answer for their actions to those who support them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO receives between 400 and 500 million of our taxpayer dollars , as compared with about a tenth of that coming from China .
America is the largest contributor by far .
Therefore , it is only right that the President has decided that while a review is done of how the WHO has handled this coronavirus , America should withhold the funds at least until there is more clarity.
” Pavone said that Biden , by contrast , “ has cozied up to China , and even criticized President Trump as ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act that saved many thousands of lives , President Trump did what had never been done and closed off travel from China at the end of January to protect Americans from the virus.
” “ Thank God that the one making these difficult and life-saving decisions is President Trump and not Mr. Biden , ” Pavone concluded .
Head of WHO ‘ very connected to Western pro-abortion elites ’ Dr. Susan Yoshihara of the Center for Family and Human Rights ( C-FAM ) in New York told LifeSiteNews that she believes the defunding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity for pro-lifers.
” “ The latest crisis shows that what WHO has failed to do is focus on basic healthcare , ” she said , and mentioned in particular the WHO ’ s failure to honor commitments to solve the problem of high numbers of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in countries that lack basic health care .
Currently 2.6 million children are stillborn every year , and 2.5 million die soon after birth .
Some of the WHO committees that are ignoring the stillbirth tragedy are the same ones that promote abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that C-FAM was “ very wary ” of Tedros Adhanom , the current Director-General of the WHO , from the beginning “ because he used his position in Ethiopia to promote abortion ” and was not surprised when he continued to promote abortion within the WHO .
“ Teodros is very connected to Western pro-abortion elites , ” Yoshihara explained .
As for political action regarding WHO , she said that there should be an international response .
“ I think we need politicians all over the world to take the opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Hugh Brown , Executive Director of the American Life League in Stafford , Virginia , also stressed the pro-abortion leanings of the WHO .
“ The WHO states on their website : ‘ Access to legal and safe abortion is essential… ’ for women and the protection of their reproductive rights .
An organization that claims to support the health and well being of people around the world is simply just another arm of the global demonic apparatus that lusts for the death of babies in the womb , ” Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drew a connection between the WHO and the Chinese government .
“ The WHO has also now clearly shown itself to be an organizational lackey for the evil Chinese Communist regime and bears tremendous culpability for the spread of Covid-19 and the resulting death and suffering of people around the world , ” he wrote .
“ The American Life League applauds our courageous President for stripping them of every single United States tax dollar , ” he continued .
“ The WHO does not deserve a dime from the American citizenry and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no nonsense leader in the White House for such a time as this.
” Not everyone is thrilled with Trump ’ s decision .
Today pro-abortion billionaire Bill Gates tweeted : “ Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds .
Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them .
The world needs @ WHO now more than ever .
”

'Policies against life and the family are inevitably policies against health and should not be funded by countries who value life and the family.'
PETITION: Thank President Trump for halting U.S. funding to pro-abortion World Health Organization Sign the petition here.
April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Pro-life leaders around the world have expressed their joy following President Donald Trump’s suspension of American funding of the World Helath Organization.
In London, England, John Smeaton, Director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), told LifeSiteNews that the decision was “brilliant and brave.”
“This is a brilliant and brave move from President Trump,” Smeaton said via email.
“Not only has the World Health Organisation been planning for years to promote abortion in a COVID-19-type pandemic, it has become abundantly clear even to the secular world that the WHO is serving the world’s most corrupt power structures rather than the common good.”
Smeaton noted that British media and researchers have also noted that the WHO’s flawed response to the Chinese outbreak of the virus cost lives.
“As The Times leader stated (9 April), the WHO ‘is failing in testing times… Taiwanese officials, who are ignored by the WHO at China's behest, sounded the alarm on December 31 that the virus could be transmitted from human to human. Two weeks later, under pressure from Beijing, the WHO stated the opposite to be true. A declaration of a global pandemic even then would have saved lives but it took another week to announce an emergency on January 30. The University of Southampton suggested that cases might have been reduced by 95% had China acted three weeks earlier,’” Smeaton recalled.
Also in London, Maria Madise, SPUC’s International Director, told LifeSiteNews that Trump had shown “real political courage and leadership.” She added that WHO had been using the tragedy to push its anti-life, anti-family agenda.
“This is a brilliant and most welcome move by the U.S. President,” Madise said via email.
“Apart from WHO's scandalous delay in reporting on the extent of the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan followed by giving inconsistent advice, WHO has used this crisis to aggressively advance its attacks on the inviolable rights of life and the family under the guise of tackling the pandemic,” she continued.
“Prompted by COVID-19, WHO is working on classifying abortion as an ‘essential health service’ so that abortion could go on under lockdown. Drugs used in medical abortion were already listed as ‘essential medications’ by WHO in 2017. Now, in light of restrictions with entering health facilities, they promote home abortions with these drugs, which is terrible and deadly advice that some governments have sadly followed in their guidance.”
Madise reminded LifeSiteNews that WHO’s executive director of emergencies program, Mike Ryan, had revealed that WHO officials might begin entering homes to remove family members who are sick.
“Since WHO's first director, Dr Brock Chisholm, wrote in 1948: ‘Children have to be freed from… religious and other cultural “prejudices” forced upon them by parents and religious authorities,’ WHO’s anti-life and anti-family track record has not improved,” she said.
“Policies against life and the family are inevitably policies against health and should not be funded by countries who value life and the family. The U.S. has been the biggest donor to WHO and President Trump is absolutely right that the hundreds of millions of American taxpayers’ money that WHO has been receiving could be put to a much better use.”
Father Frank Pavone of Titusville, Florida’s Priests for Life also paid tribute to Trump’s action, saying it was a contrast to the “failed leadership” of a Democrat rival.
“President Trump’s withholding of funds from the WHO is yet another in a long series of decisive, courageous decisions in dealing with [COVID-19] and in protecting Americans and their families, in sharp contrast to the failed leadership of Joe Biden,” Pavone told LifeSiteNews.
“The President is a strong believer in fairness and accountability. Whether it is trade deals, NATO membership, or funding of the WHO, he insists that those who pay know what they are getting into, that other nations have to do their fair share and not take unfair advantage of America, and that other nations and national bodies have to be able to answer for their actions to those who support them,” he continued.
“The WHO receives between 400 and 500 million of our taxpayer dollars, as compared with about a tenth of that coming from China. America is the largest contributor by far. Therefore, it is only right that the President has decided that while a review is done of how the WHO has handled this coronavirus, America should withhold the funds at least until there is more clarity.”
Pavone said that Biden, by contrast, “has cozied up to China, and even criticized President Trump as ‘xenophobic’; when, in an act that saved many thousands of lives, President Trump did what had never been done and closed off travel from China at the end of January to protect Americans from the virus.”
“Thank God that the one making these difficult and life-saving decisions is President Trump and not Mr. Biden,” Pavone concluded.
Head of WHO ‘very connected to Western pro-abortion elites’
Dr. Susan Yoshihara of the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM) in New York told LifeSiteNews that she believes the defunding of the WHO is a “great opportunity for pro-lifers.”
“The latest crisis shows that what WHO has failed to do is focus on basic healthcare,” she said, and mentioned in particular the WHO’s failure to honor commitments to solve the problem of high numbers of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in countries that lack basic health care.
Currently 2.6 million children are stillborn every year, and 2.5 million die soon after birth. Some of the WHO committees that are ignoring the stillbirth tragedy are the same ones that promote abortion, Yoshihara told LifeSiteNews.
Yoshihara said that C-FAM was “very wary” of Tedros Adhanom, the current Director-General of the WHO, from the beginning “because he used his position in Ethiopia to promote abortion” and was not surprised when he continued to promote abortion within the WHO.
“Teodros is very connected to Western pro-abortion elites,” Yoshihara explained.
As for political action regarding WHO, she said that there should be an international response.
“I think we need politicians all over the world to take the opportunity to promote basic health care,” she said.
Hugh Brown, Executive Director of the American Life League in Stafford, Virginia, also stressed the pro-abortion leanings of the WHO.
“The WHO states on their website: ‘Access to legal and safe abortion is essential…’ for women and the protection of their reproductive rights. An organization that claims to support the health and well being of people around the world is simply just another arm of the global demonic apparatus that lusts for the death of babies in the womb,” Brown told LifeSiteNews by email.
Brown also drew a connection between the WHO and the Chinese government.
“The WHO has also now clearly shown itself to be an organizational lackey for the evil Chinese Communist regime and bears tremendous culpability for the spread of Covid-19 and the resulting death and suffering of people around the world,” he wrote.
“The American Life League applauds our courageous President for stripping them of every single United States tax dollar,” he continued.
“The WHO does not deserve a dime from the American citizenry and we thank the Lord for placing a no nonsense leader in the White House for such a time as this.”
Jeff Gunnarson of Campaign Life Coalition, based in Toronto, Canada, called for the WHO to be “shuttered.”
“We are heartened to hear of the possible de-funding, by the US government, of the mother of all abortion supporters, the World Health Organization (WHO),” he told LifeSiteNews by email.
“When a health organization that is designed to monitor the physical well being of the globe's citizens but ignores the cries of the unborn, it's critical that not only should they be defunded but shuttered,” Gunnarson continued.
“The world would be a much better, safer and healthier planet if we re-booted this politically-correct, corrupted, bureaucratic institution and instead build a morally cohesive group consisting of practicing doctors, scientists and medical researchers who all at once are motivated by love of God and neighbour and strive to uphold the dignity of every human being from conception to natural death.”
“Then it may reach its intent to hold to its mission of ‘the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health,’” he concluded.
Not everyone is thrilled with Trump’s decision. Today pro-abortion billionaire Bill Gates tweeted: “Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds. Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Federal judge allows abortions in Arkansas despite ban on elective surgeries

LITTLE ROCK , Arkansas , April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that abortions may still be committed in Arkansas amid the COVID-19 pandemic , even though elective surgeries are banned .
District Judge Kristine G. Baker , who was nominated by President Barack Obama during his first term , prohibited the authorities from enforcing the state ’ s provisions “ against any providers of surgical abortions in Arkansas to bar all surgical abortions.
” On April 3 , the Arkansas Department of Health had issued a directive “ on Elective Surgeries.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visits that can be safely postponed shall be rescheduled to an appropriate future date , ” the directive stated .
Exceptions to this rule were essentially only “ a threat to the patient ’ s life , ” as well as “ a risk that the patient ’ s condition will rapidly deteriorate.
” A week later , on April 10 , Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge clarified that the April 3 directive included abortion centers .
“ All medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures , including abortions , must be postponed until after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violate the Department of Health ’ s directive will be met with decisive action , and my office will forcefully defend the State officials involved in keeping Arkansans safe , ” Rutledge said .
Not long after , on April 13 , the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) announced it was taking “ emergency legal action … on behalf of Little Rock Family Planning Services and its patients to prevent the state from using the guise of the COVID-19 crisis to prevent people from obtaining abortion care.
” Within a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Eastern District of Arkansas had agreed with ACLU ’ s reasoning , arguing that the directive of the state Department of Health appears to “ unconstitutionally restrict pre-viability abortions and , therefore , [ is ] facially unconstitutional.
” Arkansas is not the only state where federal courts have overturned the state governments ’ directives banning elective surgeries , including abortions , as part of an effort to conserve scarce medical resources in the fight against the coronavirus .
On Monday , the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals effectively ruled that Oklahoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s emergency suspension of non-essential medical services to elective abortions during the coronavirus crisis .
Prior to that , the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma blocked Oklahoma from applying its emergency suspension to elective abortions , whether chemical or surgical .
District Judge Charles B. Goodwin , who had been nominated by President Donald Trump , ruled that the state had “ imposed an ‘ undue burden ’ on abortion access – in imposing requirements that effectively deny a right of access to abortion.
” In Alabama , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injunction preventing the state of Alabama from banning abortions during the COVID-19 crisis , ” the Alabama Political Reporter wrote .
District Judge Myron Thompson argued that “ for some group of women , a mandatory postponement will make a lawful abortion literally impossible .
Under Alabama law , a woman ’ s window for seeking a lawful abortion is limited : abortion becomes illegal when the probable post fertilization age of the fetus is at least 20 weeks.
” He continued , saying “ it is substantially likely that the medical restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions necessary to protect the life and health of the mother , are unconstitutional.
” In Texas , medication abortions ( the “ abortion pill ” ) are possible again following federal appeals court ruling .
“ Hundreds of abortions in Texas have been canceled since state officials barred the procedure , except when the woman ’ s health is at risk , as the novel coronavirus spreads , ” reported The Texas Tribune .
“ The prohibition is meant to preserve personal protective equipment , like masks and gloves , that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up bed space as hospitals prepare for a possible surge in COVID-19 patients.
” The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( AAPLOG ) as well as other groups representing over 30,000 pro-life doctors also pointed out that “ [ c ] ontinuing to perform elective abortions during a pandemic is medically irresponsible.
” “ Elective abortion , ” the statement continued , “ is neither ‘ essential ’ nor ‘ urgent , ’ but it does consume critical resources such as masks , gloves , and other personal protective equipment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogens .
”

PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that abortions may still be committed in Arkansas amid the COVID-19 pandemic, even though elective surgeries are banned.
District Judge Kristine G. Baker, who was nominated by President Barack Obama during his first term, prohibited the authorities from enforcing the state’s provisions “against any providers of surgical abortions in Arkansas to bar all surgical abortions.”
On April 3, the Arkansas Department of Health had issued a directive “on Elective Surgeries.”
“Procedures, testing, and office visits that can be safely postponed shall be rescheduled to an appropriate future date,” the directive stated. Exceptions to this rule were essentially only “a threat to the patient’s life,” as well as “a risk that the patient’s condition will rapidly deteriorate.”
A week later, on April 10, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge clarified that the April 3 directive included abortion centers.
“All medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortions, must be postponed until after this crisis has ended. Those who violate the Department of Health’s directive will be met with decisive action, and my office will forcefully defend the State officials involved in keeping Arkansans safe,” Rutledge said.
Not long after, on April 13, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced it was taking “emergency legal action … on behalf of Little Rock Family Planning Services and its patients to prevent the state from using the guise of the COVID-19 crisis to prevent people from obtaining abortion care.”
Within a day, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas had agreed with ACLU’s reasoning, arguing that the directive of the state Department of Health appears to “unconstitutionally restrict pre-viability abortions and, therefore, [is] facially unconstitutional.”
Arkansas is not the only state where federal courts have overturned the state governments’ directives banning elective surgeries, including abortions, as part of an effort to conserve scarce medical resources in the fight against the coronavirus.
On Monday, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals effectively ruled that Oklahoma officials may not apply the state’s emergency suspension of non-essential medical services to elective abortions during the coronavirus crisis.
Prior to that, the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma blocked Oklahoma from applying its emergency suspension to elective abortions, whether chemical or surgical. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin, who had been nominated by President Donald Trump, ruled that the state had “imposed an ‘undue burden’ on abortion access – in imposing requirements that effectively deny a right of access to abortion.”
In Alabama, a federal judge “issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state of Alabama from banning abortions during the COVID-19 crisis,” the Alabama Political Reporter wrote.
District Judge Myron Thompson argued that “for some group of women, a mandatory postponement will make a lawful abortion literally impossible. Under Alabama law, a woman’s window for seeking a lawful abortion is limited: abortion becomes illegal when the probable post fertilization age of the fetus is at least 20 weeks.”
He continued, saying “it is substantially likely that the medical restrictions, when interpreted to allow only those abortions necessary to protect the life and health of the mother, are unconstitutional.”
In Texas, medication abortions (the “abortion pill”) are possible again following federal appeals court ruling.
“Hundreds of abortions in Texas have been canceled since state officials barred the procedure, except when the woman’s health is at risk, as the novel coronavirus spreads,” reported The Texas Tribune. “The prohibition is meant to preserve personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves, that is in short supply nationwide and to free up bed space as hospitals prepare for a possible surge in COVID-19 patients.”
The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) as well as other groups representing over 30,000 pro-life doctors also pointed out that “[c]ontinuing to perform elective abortions during a pandemic is medically irresponsible.”
“Elective abortion,” the statement continued, “is neither ‘essential’ nor ‘urgent,’ but it does consume critical resources such as masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment, and unnecessarily exposes patients and physicians to pathogens.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Is secession looming on the American Horizon?

As political tensions rise , the idea of secession begins to creep into the news and the minds of Americans @ @ @ @ @ and political philosopher Francis H Buckley , aka FH Buckley , posits that the idea @ @ @ @ @ so far-fetched .
In today ’ s episode of The Van Maren Show , FH @ @ @ @ @ to discuss the current political situation in America and how secession could be looming on @ @ @ @ @ s newest book American Secession : The Looming Threat of a National Breakup , details @ @ @ @ @ tensions being faced by Americans might just culminate in something we have n't seen since @ @ @ @

As political tensions rise, the idea of secession begins to creep into the news and the minds of Americans. Professor, author, and political philosopher Francis H Buckley, aka FH Buckley, posits that the idea of secession may not be so far-fetched.
In today’s episode of The Van Maren Show, FH Buckley joins Jonathon Van Maren to discuss the current political situation in America and how secession could be looming on the horizon. Buckley’s newest book American Secession: The Looming Threat of a National Breakup, details the current division and high tensions being faced by Americans might just culminate in something we haven't seen since the civil war.


lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Cardinals, bishops ask pope to dogmatically declare Mary ‘spiritual Mother’ in face of pandemic

April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Cardinals and bishops representing each continent begged Pope Francis in an Easter letter to dogmatically proclaim Mary as “ Spiritual Mother of all Peoples ” as the world faces the “ historic ” coronavirus pandemic .
The letter states that the signatories made this same request of the Holy Father in August 2019 , but felt the “ pastoral and moral imperative ” to appeal to him again as the “ world faces exponentially greater disaster on personal , social , political , economic , and humanitarian aspects ” because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ehind all these external events , a spiritual battle is taking place , more than ever , between good and evil , light and darkness , in the hearts of humanity , ” they state .
“ Here , the real battle must be fought .
Humanity is in great need of conversion , and of supernatural help which can only come from the Lord Jesus , and from his Mother.
” The two cardinals and six bishops who signed the letter believe God is waiting for the Church “ to dogmatically proclaim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Peoples ’ , in a solemn declaration of her unique cooperation with Jesus in the Redemption , and her consequential roles in the distribution of grace and intercession for humanity , for which he will respond with a historic new outpouring of his Holy Spirit and the eventual grace of world peace.
” “ Our Lord gave Peter the keys of the kingdom .
We ask you , dear Holy Father , to use them now , ” the letter stated , “ to crown the Blessed Virgin Mary by proclaiming the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s plan of Redemption , accomplished by the Risen Christ who we celebrate now in Easter .
Surely , it will release great graces for today !
” The full text of the Easter letter to the Holy Father can be found here .
It was signed by : Mexico ’ s Cardinal Juan Sandoval , representing Central America ; Nigeria ’ s Archbishop Felix Job , representing Africa ; India ’ s Cardinal Telesphore Toppo , representing India and Asia ; Scotland ’ s Bishop John Keenan , representing Europe ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representing North America ; Argentina ’ s Bishop Antonio Baseotto representing South America ; Archbishop Denys Raboula Antoine Beylouni , representing Syriac Catholics ; and Lebanon ’ s Archbishop Chucrallah-Nabil E Hage , representing Maronite Catholics .
The request is significant because only when the pope dogmatically declares Mary as Mother of all Peoples will she be free to fully intercede for suffering humanity under that title , mariologist Dr. Mark Miravalle told LifeSiteNews .
Moreover , this dogma will recognize the three roles the Church traditionally understands as integral to Mary ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graces , Advocate , and Co-redemptrix , he said .
“ We desperately need it .
...
I know many of the bishops who wrote this .
It ’ s beautiful and appropriate , ” added Miravalle , who holds the St. John Paul II Chair of Mariology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville , and is also a professor of mariology at Ave Maria University in Florida .
“ There ’ s a solid tradition that whenever the Church is in a crisis , it goes to Mary , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now in a historic way .
And we ’ re not going to get it unless we acknowledge her titles.
” A dogma is a solemn proclamation of a doctrine and its purpose is to “ bring greater appreciation and clarity ” to that doctrine , explained Miravalle .
“ In this case , it holds an even greater significance because her ‘ titles are her functions ’ , ” he said .
“ These are not just honorary titles ; these are functions of how Mary is mother to us , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary to fully exercise these functions.
” The Church has proclaimed four Marian dogmas : that she is Mother of God , her perpetual virginity , her Immaculate Conception , and her bodily Assumption into heaven .
The dogmatic declaration of Mary as Mother of All Peoples would include recognition of her three “ critical ” roles : Mediatrix , “ where she distributes all graces ” ; Advocate , “ her role of intercession and protection , ” and Co-redemptrix , “ where she suffers with Jesus for us , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are part of “ ordinary magisterial teaching , ” Mary ’ s title of Co-redemptrix remains controversial .
“ Some have mistaken it to imply [ Mary ’ s ] equality [ with God ] , but that would be both heresy and blasphemy , ” Miravalle said .
In fact , however , the title dates back to the fourteenth century , and refers to Mary ’ s “ unique role ” in Christ ’ s suffering , and that “ what Jesus suffered in His body , Mary suffered in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Teresa of Calcutta and St. Padre Pio are among the saints who referred to Mary as Co-redemptrix , Pope Saint John Paul II used the title seven times , and Pope Benedict XV said , “ It is right to say that Mary together with Christ redeemed the human race , ” Miravalle told LifeSiteNews .
Moreover , Mary ’ s recognition as the “ perfect model for human suffering ” is urgently needed today , he said .
“ Mary ’ s unique role in the redemption needs to be acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the redemption importance , ” he said .
“ Not that we ’ re ever on the same level as Our Lady , but we ’ re going through intense suffering right now , on many fronts , in the Church and in the world .
We have to be reminded that suffering is redemptive , and Our Lady ’ s title of Co-redemptrix really underscores that , ” Miravalle said .
“ So if the Pope were to dogmatically declare that , it would help the world to know the uniquely Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just divine suffering — is redemptive , ” he said .
Catholic laity can follow the example of the prelates who sent this Easter letter , and write the Holy Father directly , Miravalle told LifeSiteNews .
It ’ s “ classic Catholic precedence ” for laity to petition the pope , he said , noting that from 1849 to 1950 , 8,000,000 Catholics petitioned for the declaration of dogma of the Assumption .
Eight million have likewise petitioned for the dogma of spiritual motherhood in the last decades , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility , as the people of God , the vox populi , to bring this to the attention of the Holy Father , out of respect in humility , to crown Our Lady , ” added Miravalle .
To sign a petition to Pope Francis asking for the proclamation of this fifth Marian dogma , go here .

Mary should be declared 'Mother of all Peoples' to release grace on humanity, they write.
PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinals and bishops representing each continent begged Pope Francis in an Easter letter to dogmatically proclaim Mary as “Spiritual Mother of all Peoples” as the world faces the “historic” coronavirus pandemic.
The letter states that the signatories made this same request of the Holy Father in August 2019, but felt the “pastoral and moral imperative” to appeal to him again as the “world faces exponentially greater disaster on personal, social, political, economic, and humanitarian aspects” because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“[B]ehind all these external events, a spiritual battle is taking place, more than ever, between good and evil, light and darkness, in the hearts of humanity,” they state.
“Here, the real battle must be fought. Humanity is in great need of conversion, and of supernatural help which can only come from the Lord Jesus, and from his Mother.”
The two cardinals and six bishops who signed the letter believe God is waiting for the Church “to dogmatically proclaim Mary as the ‘Spiritual Mother of all Peoples’, in a solemn declaration of her unique cooperation with Jesus in the Redemption, and her consequential roles in the distribution of grace and intercession for humanity, for which he will respond with a historic new outpouring of his Holy Spirit and the eventual grace of world peace.”
“Our Lord gave Peter the keys of the kingdom. We ask you, dear Holy Father, to use them now,” the letter stated, “to crown the Blessed Virgin Mary by proclaiming the great role that she played in God’s plan of Redemption, accomplished by the Risen Christ who we celebrate now in Easter. Surely, it will release great graces for today!”
The full text of the Easter letter to the Holy Father can be found here.
It was signed by: Mexico’s Cardinal Juan Sandoval, representing Central America; Nigeria’s Archbishop Felix Job, representing Africa; India’s Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, representing India and Asia; Scotland’s Bishop John Keenan, representing Europe; America’s Bishop David Ricken, representing North America; Argentina’s Bishop Antonio Baseotto representing South America; Archbishop Denys Raboula Antoine Beylouni, representing Syriac Catholics; and Lebanon’s Archbishop Chucrallah-Nabil E Hage, representing Maronite Catholics.
The request is significant because only when the pope dogmatically declares Mary as Mother of all Peoples will she be free to fully intercede for suffering humanity under that title, mariologist Dr. Mark Miravalle told LifeSiteNews.
Moreover, this dogma will recognize the three roles the Church traditionally understands as integral to Mary’s spiritual motherhood: Mediatrix of all graces, Advocate, and Co-redemptrix, he said.
“We desperately need it. … I know many of the bishops who wrote this. It’s beautiful and appropriate,” added Miravalle, who holds the St. John Paul II Chair of Mariology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and is also a professor of mariology at Ave Maria University in Florida.
“There’s a solid tradition that whenever the Church is in a crisis, it goes to Mary,” he said. “We need her full intercession now in a historic way. And we’re not going to get it unless we acknowledge her titles.”
A dogma is a solemn proclamation of a doctrine and its purpose is to “bring greater appreciation and clarity” to that doctrine, explained Miravalle.
“In this case, it holds an even greater significance because her ‘titles are her functions’,” he said. “These are not just honorary titles; these are functions of how Mary is mother to us, so when they are solemnly proclaimed it allows Mary to fully exercise these functions.”
The Church has proclaimed four Marian dogmas: that she is Mother of God, her perpetual virginity, her Immaculate Conception, and her bodily Assumption into heaven.
The dogmatic declaration of Mary as Mother of All Peoples would include recognition of her three “critical” roles: Mediatrix, “where she distributes all graces”; Advocate, “her role of intercession and protection,” and Co-redemptrix, “where she suffers with Jesus for us,” he told LifeSiteNews.
But while all three are part of “ordinary magisterial teaching,” Mary’s title of Co-redemptrix remains controversial.
“Some have mistaken it to imply [Mary’s] equality [with God], but that would be both heresy and blasphemy,” Miravalle said.
In fact, however, the title dates back to the fourteenth century, and refers to Mary’s “unique role” in Christ’s suffering, and that “what Jesus suffered in His body, Mary suffered in her heart,” he pointed out.
St. Teresa of Calcutta and St. Padre Pio are among the saints who referred to Mary as Co-redemptrix, Pope Saint John Paul II used the title seven times, and Pope Benedict XV said, “It is right to say that Mary together with Christ redeemed the human race,” Miravalle told LifeSiteNews.
Moreover, Mary’s recognition as the “perfect model for human suffering” is urgently needed today, he said.
“Mary’s unique role in the redemption needs to be acknowledged too because it gives our role in the redemption importance,” he said.
“Not that we’re ever on the same level as Our Lady, but we’re going through intense suffering right now, on many fronts, in the Church and in the world. We have to be reminded that suffering is redemptive, and Our Lady’s title of Co-redemptrix really underscores that,” Miravalle said.
“So if the Pope were to dogmatically declare that, it would help the world to know the uniquely Christian message that suffering— human suffering, not just divine suffering — is redemptive,” he said.
Catholic laity can follow the example of the prelates who sent this Easter letter, and write the Holy Father directly, Miravalle told LifeSiteNews.
It’s “classic Catholic precedence” for laity to petition the pope, he said, noting that from 1849 to 1950, 8,000,000 Catholics petitioned for the declaration of dogma of the Assumption. Eight million have likewise petitioned for the dogma of spiritual motherhood in the last decades, he said.
“It’s part of their responsibility, as the people of God, the vox populi, to bring this to the attention of the Holy Father, out of respect in humility, to crown Our Lady,” added Miravalle.
To sign a petition to Pope Francis asking for the proclamation of this fifth Marian dogma, go here.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Planned Parenthood brags about helping mom abort at home ‘with her children running around’

April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – As the abortion industry copes with the suspension of elective surgical abortions as part of battling COVID-19 , a Planned Parenthood official recently boasted that their abortion pill business has grown so much that they dispensed at least one chemical abortion “ to a mother who was at home with her children running around behind her.
” Breitbart highlighted the comments by Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic ’ s chief medical officer , Dr. Meera Shah , to the Associated Press .
She said the abortion giant is expanding its chemical abortion services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We provided a medication abortion to an EMT while she was sitting in her ambulance , ” she said .
“ We provided abortion care to a mother who was at home with her children running around behind her.
” The comments come as Planned Parenthood is planning to roll out telehealth abortions in all fifty states this month .
In these so-called “ webcam abortions , ” doctors dispense abortion pills long-distance , eliminating the “ need ” to leave the house and pick up the pills after an in-person medical consultation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country are forced to accept all manner of constraints on their freedoms , Planned Parenthood insists that “ you can still have a safe , healthy sex life.
” For weeks , left-wing activists and Democrat attorneys general have called on the federal government to loosen regulations on abortion pills , which the Trump administration has refused to do .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ’ s ( FDA ’ s ) Office of Medical Affairs says that “ certain restrictions , known as a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy ( REMS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used for medical termination of early pregnancy in order to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks.
” Pro-life medical experts such as the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( AAPLOG ) note that , in addition to being non-essential , abortion “ generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened emergency rooms.
” “ Most abortion providers instruct women to go to an emergency room if they have any concerning symptoms after the abortion , ” AAPLOG notes .
“ Approximately five percent of women who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency room , most commonly for hemorrhage .
Surgical abortions can also result in hemorrhage .
Emergency room personnel – who are already struggling to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be further strained to provide care to these women.
” Pro-lifers further argue that abortion pills are n't truly safe for women even when “ properly taken , ” and administering them without full medical supervision only increases the danger .
Although they “ can not with certainty be causally attributed to mifepristone , ” the FDA warns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , there were reports of 24 deaths of women associated with Mifeprex since the product was approved in September 2000 , including two cases of ectopic pregnancy resulting in death ; and several cases of severe systemic infection ( also called sepsis ) , including some that were fatal.
” Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world .

'We provided abortion care to a mother who was at home with her children running around behind her'
PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – As the abortion industry copes with the suspension of elective surgical abortions as part of battling COVID-19, a Planned Parenthood official recently boasted that their abortion pill business has grown so much that they dispensed at least one chemical abortion “to a mother who was at home with her children running around behind her.”
Breitbart highlighted the comments by Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic’s chief medical officer, Dr. Meera Shah, to the Associated Press. She said the abortion giant is expanding its chemical abortion services in response to increased demand.
“We provided a medication abortion to an EMT while she was sitting in her ambulance,” she said. “We provided abortion care to a mother who was at home with her children running around behind her.”
The comments come as Planned Parenthood is planning to roll out telehealth abortions in all fifty states this month. In these so-called “webcam abortions,” doctors dispense abortion pills long-distance, eliminating the “need” to leave the house and pick up the pills after an in-person medical consultation.
While scores of people across the country are forced to accept all manner of constraints on their freedoms, Planned Parenthood insists that “you can still have a safe, healthy sex life.”
For weeks, left-wing activists and Democrat attorneys general have called on the federal government to loosen regulations on abortion pills, which the Trump administration has refused to do.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Office of Medical Affairs says that “certain restrictions, known as a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), are necessary for mifepristone when used for medical termination of early pregnancy in order to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks.”
Pro-life medical experts such as the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) note that, in addition to being non-essential, abortion “generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened emergency rooms.”
“Most abortion providers instruct women to go to an emergency room if they have any concerning symptoms after the abortion,” AAPLOG notes. “Approximately five percent of women who undergo medication abortions will require evaluation in an emergency room, most commonly for hemorrhage. Surgical abortions can also result in hemorrhage. Emergency room personnel – who are already struggling to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be further strained to provide care to these women.”
Pro-lifers further argue that abortion pills aren't truly safe for women even when “properly taken,” and administering them without full medical supervision only increases the danger.
Although they “cannot with certainty be causally attributed to mifepristone,” the FDA warns that “as of December 31, 2018, there were reports of 24 deaths of women associated with Mifeprex since the product was approved in September 2000, including two cases of ectopic pregnancy resulting in death; and several cases of severe systemic infection (also called sepsis), including some that were fatal.”
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--130+ congressmen urge Trump to keep ban on aborted fetal tissue research in race for COVID-19 cure

WASHINGTON , DC , April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – More than 130 members of Congress urged President Donald Trump “ to maintain your current fetal tissue research policy and to redirect funds toward ethical , successful alternatives to combat COVID-19.
” The pro-life representatives , including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , thanked Trump in an April 14 letter for his “ decisive actions to protect human life and human dignity on every front , ” praising him for having brought “ great hope to our nation.
” In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by some that Trump ’ s ban on aborted fetal tissue research by government scientists is thwarting efforts to find a remedy for the disease .
“ A senior scientist at a government biomedical research laboratory has been thwarted in his efforts to conduct experiments on possible treatments for the new coronavirus because of the Trump administration ’ s restrictions on research with human fetal tissue , ” the Washington Post claimed in March .
Several of the leading COVID-19 vaccine developments , however , are using aborted fetal cells .
15 state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 26 , stating that the use of aborted fetal tissue could help “ accelerate vaccine development to combat COVID-19 , ” as well as “ study the impact to pregnant women and children.
” “ We ask you to end your Fetal Tissue Ban to allow our top scientists the ability to solve this global health crisis , ” the Attorneys General concluded .
The more than 130 pro-life members of Congress responded to the allegations brought forward by proponents of aborted fetal tissue research , pointing out that they “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many years have touted the utility of aborted fetal tissue in research , including the claim that aborted fetal tissue has been used to create many vaccines.
” The signers of the April 14 letter stressed that fetal tissue “ from ongoing abortions … has never been used in production of a single vaccine.
” Instead , “ a few old cell lines ” from abortions performed in the 1960s and 1970s are used “ for a small handful of vaccines.
” More importantly , “ most vaccines today use more efficient , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the members of Congress explained .
Also , “ the few attempted transplants of aborted fetal tissue have resulted in making most patients worse , not better , ” they added .
The members of Congress showed that scientific progress and ethical behavior can go hand in hand .
“ The focus of the current appeals for taxpayer money to buy fetal tissue is the supposed necessity of using aborted baby body parts to construct humanized mice to test drugs .
Yet , this antiquated technology has been surpassed by a plethora @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been thoroughly described and cited in Congressional testimony.
” Accusing the proponents of aborted fetal tissue research of exploiting the current situation for their own benefit , the pro-life representatives said that “ holding the line ethically gives us the ability to put resources toward better , more promising science that is already showing potential ” against COVID-19 .
First , they pointed to “ humanized ” mice that already exist , but are not based on aborted fetal tissue .
Then , they talked about “ [ r ] epurposing already-approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus patients .
At the end of March , the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) authorized experimental coronavirus treatments using anti-malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine .
Finally , they emphasized the “ great potential ” of adult stem cells , “ derived without destroying embryos and without abortion.
” One specific type of human adult stem cell , they said , “ has been shown to generate new lung tissue and heal damaged lungs , essential for repair of lungs damaged by respiratory viruses.
” Another was successful in improving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the coronavirus .
Instrumental in drafting the letter was Congressman Lawrence Lamborn , representing Colorado ’ s 5th congressional district since 2007 .
“ During this crisis , the last thing anyone should do is try and advance the left ’ s radical abortion agenda , ” Lamborn said .
“ Life is precious at all stages and any claim to the contrary is unconscionable.
” He is convinced that a cure for COVID-19 will be found , “ but using tissue from aborted babies to do so is unethical and wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has taken such a strong stand for life , and I ’ m confident a solution can be found while also maintaining the sanctity of life.
” Marjorie Dannenfelser , president of pro-life Susan B. Anthony List , praised the letter in a statement on Wednesday .
“ As millions of Americans work together to fight the coronavirus outbreak , the profit-driven abortion industry and their allies exploit fears surrounding the pandemic to promote an extreme abortion agenda , ” she noted .
Abortion supporters “ insist that unethical experiments involving aborted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cure for the coronavirus , ignoring the wide variety of ethical options already available and under development , ” she continued .
“ We are greatly encouraged by the strong leadership of Sen. Wicker , Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith , Rep. Lamborn , Rep. Latta , and all our pro-life allies in Congress who are fighting back against the abortion industry ’ s attempts to exploit this national pandemic to advance their dangerous agenda .
”

Using tissue from aborted babies to find a cure is 'unethical and wrong'
PETITION: Pres. Trump don't give federal funds to COVID-19 vaccines made from aborted baby cells Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, DC, April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – More than 130 members of Congress urged President Donald Trump “to maintain your current fetal tissue research policy and to redirect funds toward ethical, successful alternatives to combat COVID-19.”
The pro-life representatives, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, thanked Trump in an April 14 letter for his “decisive actions to protect human life and human dignity on every front,” praising him for having brought “great hope to our nation.”
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, it has been argued by some that Trump’s ban on aborted fetal tissue research by government scientists is thwarting efforts to find a remedy for the disease.
“A senior scientist at a government biomedical research laboratory has been thwarted in his efforts to conduct experiments on possible treatments for the new coronavirus because of the Trump administration’s restrictions on research with human fetal tissue,” the Washington Post claimed in March.
Several of the leading COVID-19 vaccine developments, however, are using aborted fetal cells.
15 state Attorneys General had written to President Trump on March 26, stating that the use of aborted fetal tissue could help “accelerate vaccine development to combat COVID-19,” as well as “study the impact to pregnant women and children.”
“We ask you to end your Fetal Tissue Ban to allow our top scientists the ability to solve this global health crisis,” the Attorneys General concluded.
The more than 130 pro-life members of Congress responded to the allegations brought forward by proponents of aborted fetal tissue research, pointing out that they “repeat false claims and narratives which for many years have touted the utility of aborted fetal tissue in research, including the claim that aborted fetal tissue has been used to create many vaccines.”
The signers of the April 14 letter stressed that fetal tissue “from ongoing abortions … has never been used in production of a single vaccine.” Instead, “a few old cell lines” from abortions performed in the 1960s and 1970s are used “for a small handful of vaccines.”
More importantly, “most vaccines today use more efficient, modern cell lines and production techniques,” the members of Congress explained.
Also, “the few attempted transplants of aborted fetal tissue have resulted in making most patients worse, not better,” they added.
The members of Congress showed that scientific progress and ethical behavior can go hand in hand.
“The focus of the current appeals for taxpayer money to buy fetal tissue is the supposed necessity of using aborted baby body parts to construct humanized mice to test drugs. Yet, this antiquated technology has been surpassed by a plethora of modern, ethical techniques, as has been thoroughly described and cited in Congressional testimony.”
Accusing the proponents of aborted fetal tissue research of exploiting the current situation for their own benefit, the pro-life representatives said that “holding the line ethically gives us the ability to put resources toward better, more promising science that is already showing potential” against COVID-19.
They specifically mentioned three projects.
First, they pointed to “humanized” mice that already exist, but are not based on aborted fetal tissue.
Then, they talked about “[r]epurposing already-approved drugs” also showing potential in treating coronavirus patients. At the end of March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized experimental coronavirus treatments using anti-malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.
Finally, they emphasized the “great potential” of adult stem cells, “derived without destroying embryos and without abortion.” One specific type of human adult stem cell, they said, “has been shown to generate new lung tissue and heal damaged lungs, essential for repair of lungs damaged by respiratory viruses.” Another was successful in improving the health of people suffering from pneumonia induced by the coronavirus.
Instrumental in drafting the letter was Congressman Doug Lamborn, representing Colorado’s 5th congressional district since 2007.
“During this crisis, the last thing anyone should do is try and advance the left’s radical abortion agenda,” Lamborn said. “Life is precious at all stages and any claim to the contrary is unconscionable.”
He is convinced that a cure for COVID-19 will be found, “but using tissue from aborted babies to do so is unethical and wrong. I’m thankful that President Trump has taken such a strong stand for life, and I’m confident a solution can be found while also maintaining the sanctity of life.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, praised the letter in a statement on Wednesday.
“As millions of Americans work together to fight the coronavirus outbreak, the profit-driven abortion industry and their allies exploit fears surrounding the pandemic to promote an extreme abortion agenda,” she noted.
Abortion supporters “insist that unethical experiments involving aborted baby body parts are necessary to find a cure for the coronavirus, ignoring the wide variety of ethical options already available and under development,” she continued.
“We are greatly encouraged by the strong leadership of Sen. Wicker, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Rep. Lamborn, Rep. Latta, and all our pro-life allies in Congress who are fighting back against the abortion industry’s attempts to exploit this national pandemic to advance their dangerous agenda.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--‘Protesting is a non-essential activity’: COVID-19 crackdowns continue (live updates)

LifeSite ’ s previous ( and future ) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE .
Police in Raleigh , North Carolina turned up at a protest to re-open the state and arrested one person .
The city ’ s police department has come under fire for tweeting , “ Protesting is a non-essential activity ” ( screenshot here ) , a statement many say flies in the face of the First Amendment .
The department has since defended its tweet , saying it ’ s simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 4:25 p.m. EST : Breitbart has released videos showing a “ vehicle protest ” in Michigan demanding the state be reopened .
Its Democrat governor has imposed some of the most draconian measures in the country .
April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Over Easter weekend , there was no shortage of coronavirus news and no shortage of clashes between the state and Americans trying to exercise their constitutionally-protected rights .
In a scathing opinion on Saturday , Judge Justin Walker of the United States District Court for the Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order allowing On Fire Christian Church to hold a “ drive-in ” Easter worship service in a parking lot .
“ On Holy Thursday , an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter , ” Walker wrote .
“ That sentence is one that this Court never expected to see outside the pages of a dystopian novel , or perhaps the pages of The Onion.
” By prohibiting drive-in worship services , Walker stressed , “ Louisville has targeted religious worship … while not prohibiting a multitude of other non-religious drive-ins and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive-through liquor stores .
Moreover , Louisville has not prohibited parking in parking lots more broadly – including , again , the parking lots of liquor stores.
” On Holy Saturday , the Kansas Supreme Court met by video and sided with the state ’ s Governor Laura Kelly , a Democrat , who had banned church services of more than 10 people .
Last night , President Trump announced he is freezing funding to the World Health Organization while the U.N. entity ’ s “ role in severely mismanaging and covering up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studied .
On Monday , during his daily coronavirus briefing , Trump blasted the media for being “ so fake ” and showed a video highlighting the media ’ s early downplaying of the threat of the virus .
After initially mocking Trump for touting hydroxychloroquine as an effective coronavirus treatment , the media and Democrat governors seem to have begun acknowledging its value .
They seem to be doing their best not to give any credit to Trump .
The U.K. ’ s National Health Service ( NHS ) has been criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that discriminates against disabled patients .
A story many Catholics have found touching is one of a prison chaplain in Canada who , rather than abandon his flock , volunteered to be incarcerated along with them .
An army field hospital that was set up in Seattle to help coronavirus patients left after nine days and not seeing a single patient .
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation has produced an analysis and timeline of the Chinese Communist Party ’ s lies to the world about the coronavirus and how it has used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instrument of propaganda.
” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer – who has forbidden stores in her state from selling vegetable seeds during the pandemic – has revised her “ stay-at-home ” order to clarify that pro-lifers are still allowed to engage in First Amendment activity protesting abortion .
Other recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes : • New York Gov Cuomo : We flattened coronavirus curve – ‘ God did not do that ’ • Over 70 healthcare professionals urge Indiana Gov to halt abortion during pandemic And stories relating to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • Pope in Easter message : Pandemic should spur ‘ humanist and ecological conversion ’ • The coronavirus outbreak shows just how liberal Pope Francis really is • The good surprises of God and the coronavirus crisis • German bishop criticizes Catholics for being ‘ fixated only on the Eucharist ’

Live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to pro-life issues, faith, and freedom.
LifeSite’s previous (and future) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE.
Police in Raleigh, North Carolina turned up at a protest to re-open the state and arrested one person. The city’s police department has come under fire for tweeting, “Protesting is a non-essential activity” (screenshot here), a statement many say flies in the face of the First Amendment. The department has since defended its tweet, saying it’s simply following orders.
April 17, 2020, 9:09 a.m. EST: Below are some of LifeSite’s coronavirus-related stories from yesterday:
April 16, 2020, 2:39 p.m. EST: Yesterday, in a stunning interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy admitted he “wasn’t thinking of the Bill of Rights” when he prohibited large gatherings of more than 50 people, including religious gatherings, in his state. He also claimed liquor stores are remaining open for “mental health” reasons.
April 16, 2020, 12:16 p.m. EST: A judge has ordered the McHenry County, Illinois, Health Department to provide police with the names of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
April 15, 2020, 9:29 p.m. EST: An NPR article on the protest in Michigan says the event “drew out militias, conservatives, small business owners, and ardent supporters of President Donald Trump, who characterize the Governor's stay-at-home order as an unjust power-grab.”
“At least 200 people broke the instructions of organizers, getting out of their cars to congregate around the steps of the capitol building, flouting social-distancing guidelines to remain 6-feet apart, and not wearing masks,” the liberal, taxpayer-funded outlet reported with a hint of contempt.
A quarter of Michigan’s workforce has now filed for unemployment.
One of the Michigan protest organizers told FOX, “Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people. Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people.”
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that in New South Wales, “Anyone…who leaves their house without a ‘reasonable excuse’ could spend up to six months in prison and face an $11,000 fine under an emergency ministerial directive” enacted at the end of March.
In the U.S., 43 percent of small businesses say they will have to permanently close within six months unless economic conditions improve.
In Ontario, a family was fined $880 for rollerblading in an empty parking lot.
And NBC reported April 8 that healthcare workers in Massachusetts, Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina are providing police with the addresses of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus . A LifeSiteNews article about this is forthcoming.
April 15, 2020, 8:45 p.m. EST: Below are some more of today’s LifeSiteNews articles on the coronavirus crisis.
April 15, 2020, 8:42 P.M. EST: The first Catholic bishop in the U.S., Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, New Mexico, has reinstated public Masses, provided they follow government health directives that allow only a total of five people in a church during Mass. Outdoor Masses can have more people than that, provided people stand six feet apart.
April 15, 2020, 8:38 p.m. EST: FOX News reports:
There is increasing confidence that COVID-19 likely originated in a Wuhan laboratory not as a bioweapon, but as part of China's effort to demonstrate that its efforts to identify and combat viruses are equal to or greater than the capabilities of the United States, multiple sources who have been briefed on the details of early actions by China's government and seen relevant materials tell Fox News. This may be the “costliest government coverup of all time,” one of the sources said. The sources believe the initial transmission of the virus was bat-to-human, and that “patient zero” worked at the laboratory, then went into the population in Wuhan.
It continues:
Asked by Fox News' John Roberts about the reporting, President Trump remarked at Wednesday's coronavirus press briefing, “More and more we're hearing the story…we are doing a very thorough examination of this horrible situation.” Documents detail early efforts by doctors at the lab and early efforts at containment. The Wuhan wet market initially identified as a possible point of origin never sold bats, and the sources tell Fox News that blaming the wet market was an effort by China to deflect blame from the laboratory, along with the country's propaganda efforts targeting the U.S. and Italy. U.S. Embassy officials warned in January 2018 about inadequate safety at the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab and passed on information about scientists conducting risky research on coronavirus from bats, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
April 15, 2020, 4:25 p.m. EST: Breitbart has released videos showing a “vehicle protest” in Michigan demanding the state be reopened. Its Democrat governor has imposed some of the most draconian measures in the country.
April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Over Easter weekend, there was no shortage of coronavirus news and no shortage of clashes between the state and Americans trying to exercise their constitutionally protected rights.
In a scathing opinion on Saturday, Judge Justin Walker of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky granted a temporary restraining order allowing On Fire Christian Church to hold a “drive-in” Easter worship service in a parking lot.
“On Holy Thursday, an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter,” Walker wrote. “That sentence is one that this Court never expected to see outside the pages of a dystopian novel, or perhaps the pages of The Onion.”
By prohibiting drive-in worship services, Walker stressed, “Louisville has targeted religious worship … while not prohibiting a multitude of other non-religious drive-ins and drive-throughs – including, for example, drive-through liquor stores. Moreover, Louisville has not prohibited parking in parking lots more broadly – including, again, the parking lots of liquor stores.”
On Holy Saturday, the Kansas Supreme Court met by video and sided with the state’s Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, who had banned church services of more than 10 people.
Last night, President Trump announced he is freezing funding to the World Health Organization while the U.N. entity’s “role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus” is studied.
On Monday, during his daily coronavirus briefing, Trump blasted the media for being “so fake” and showed a video highlighting the media’s early downplaying of the threat of the virus. After initially mocking Trump for touting hydroxychloroquine as an effective coronavirus treatment, the media and Democrat governors seem to have begun acknowledging its value. They seem to be doing their best not to give any credit to Trump.
The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) has been criticized for a “coronavirus scoring system” that discriminates against disabled patients.
A story many Catholics have found touching is one of a prison chaplain in Canada who, rather than abandon his flock, volunteered to be incarcerated along with them.
An army field hospital that was set up in Seattle to help coronavirus patients left after nine days and not seeing a single patient.
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation has produced an analysis and timeline of the Chinese Communist Party’s lies to the world about the coronavirus and how it has used the World Health Organization “as an instrument of propaganda.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer – who has forbidden stores in her state from selling vegetable seeds during the pandemic – has revised her “stay-at-home” order to clarify that pro-lifers are still allowed to engage in First Amendment activity protesting abortion.
Other recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes:
And stories relating to the coronavirus crisis and the Catholic Church include:
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Join our daily live worldwide rosary HERE

April 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite has begun livestreaming a daily rosary at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around the planet are aching for Mass and the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

April 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In response to the coronavirus crisis, LifeSite has begun livestreaming a daily rosary at 12:00 noon EST. The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari, an American priest currently in Italy.
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak, while thousands more have been sickened.
And, across the world, business has come to a grinding halt, resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession.
If there ever was a time for prayer, this is it. Catholics around the planet are aching for Mass and the Sacraments, but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops’ orders or government restrictions.
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time, but especially during this time of global calls for “sheltering-in-place” and quarantine.
“The rosary is the weapon for these times,” St. Padre Pio said. Through prayer, we can shape history, change the world, and bring this painful crisis to an end. Join us today!
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying the rosary with Father Pillari to [email protected]
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Health officials who banned drive-in Easter service accused of violating Canadian rights, freedoms

April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Health authorities from a central Canadian province banned a drive-in Easter Sunday service at a small-town Canadian church , saying it would have constituted a “ mass gathering ” in violation of its coronavirus health orders .
As a result of the church service ban , the Canada based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( JCFF ) served a legal warning to the Saskatchewan Health Authority yesterday , saying it violated the rights and freedoms of worshipers from the Nipawin Apostolic Church .
“ We write to express our concern with recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have unjustifiably violated citizens ’ Charter freedoms of peaceful assembly , association and religion , ” says the JCFF legal warning .
The Nipawin church , located in northern Saskatchewan , had planned to host a drive-in style Easter Sunday service to let their faithful gather while following public health guidelines put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Saskatchewan Health Authority threatened steep fines to anyone in attendance if the event were to go ahead .
The Saskatchewan public health order says that no more than 10 people can gather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The head Pastor of the church , Jordan Gadsby , said that the church service had the approval of the town , but after health authorities got wind of the service , they quickly shut it down declaring it a “ mass gathering ” in violation of the provincial health order .
Gadsby said in a local media report that he had followed all the recommended health guidelines to ensure that attendees would stay in their vehicles .
Worshippers were to use their car radios to listen in , and everyone would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with car lights being flashed to say “ amen.
” '' It 's really disappointing .
We were excited about it , ” Gadsby was quoted as saying in a local media report .
`` We wanted to provide a safe way for them to celebrate Easter when often people would be around family and doing all kinds of more social things.
” Regarding the incident , it was reported Tuesday afternoon that the Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe , has demanded that the Saskatchewan Health Authority explain why they banned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we must remain vigilant in observing physical distancing , we should also encourage innovative and unique ideas that support the ability of Saskatchewan residents to pull together while staying apart , ” Moe ’ s office said in a statement .
The JCCF legal warning mentioned that over this past Easter weekend , many drive-in style church services took place in Canada without incident , like a service held at an Edmonton church .
In a news release about the case sent out yesterday , the JCCF said that the Saskatchewan Health Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , “ ostensibly based on an unfounded concern that attendees would leave their vehicles and engage in personal interactions without social distancing.
” “ If the Health Authority consistently applied this same rationale equally to the entire province , it would lead to a ban on all public parking during the Covid-19 outbreak , ” said the JCCF news release .
Jay Cameron , a lawyer for the JCCF , noted that this type of action directly violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms .
“ The Covid-19 outbreak does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , ” said Cameron in the JCCF release .
“ This restriction of public religious gatherings , in which people exclusively occupy their personal vehicles on a parking lot while worshipping , is irrational , unnecessary and a clear violation of Charter rights.
” The JCCF legal letter is asking the Saskatchewan Health Authority to immediately respond to them , confirming that they will rescind their decision to classify “ drive-in religious services ” as a violation of their public health order .
Last week , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being trampled as a result of reports that some provinces , such as Alberta , are toying with the idea of using people ’ s cell phones to track one ’ s whereabouts in the name of combating the coronavirus “ Monitoring someone ’ s whereabouts using their cell phones is , of course , a search , ” said Cameron in a LifeSiteNews report .
Pro-abortion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in late March that , “ all options are on the table , ” when it comes to combating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open to the possibility of tracking Canadians cell phones either via a dedicated app , or through one ’ s cell phone provider .
Saskatchewan has a population of just under 1.2 million people .
It has so far recorded 4 deaths from the virus with 300 confirmed cases .
Canada has been in a nationwide lockdown since March , with all public schools , churches , sporting events , sit-down restaurants , and most stores deemed non-essential , shut .
As of today , Canada has registered under 27,000 cases with 898 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like in parts of Canada this past weekend , drive-in church services , including Mass at Catholic churches , have been tolerated in various States .
However , like in Nipawin , there have been instances of church services being shut down , as was recently the case in Kentucky .
Some prominent Catholic leaders have said that with the right precautions taken , there is no reason Mass can not be held for the faithful .
In a message last month , Cardinal Raymond Burke said that if health precautions are followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not minister to the faithful .
“ We can provide more opportunities for the Holy Mass and devotions at which a number of faithful can participate without violating necessary precautions against the spread of contagion .
Many of our churches and chapels are very large .
They permit a group of the faithful to gather for prayer and worship without violating the requirements of ‘ social distance .
’ ”

'The Covid-19 outbreak does not suspend our freedoms as protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms'
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock Sign the petition here.
April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Health authorities from a central Canadian province banned a drive-in Easter Sunday service at a small-town Canadian church, saying it would have constituted a “mass gathering” in violation of its coronavirus health orders.
As a result of the church service ban, the Canada based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCFF) served a legal warning to the Saskatchewan Health Authority yesterday, saying it violated the rights and freedoms of worshipers from the Nipawin Apostolic Church.
“We write to express our concern with recent actions of the Saskatchewan Health Authority which have unjustifiably violated citizens’ Charter freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and religion,” says the JCFF legal warning.
The Nipawin church, located in northern Saskatchewan, had planned to host a drive-in style Easter Sunday service to let their faithful gather while following public health guidelines put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority threatened steep fines to anyone in attendance if the event were to go ahead. The Saskatchewan public health order says that no more than 10 people can gather in either public or private settings.
The head Pastor of the church, Jordan Gadsby, said that the church service had the approval of the town, but after health authorities got wind of the service, they quickly shut it down declaring it a “mass gathering” in violation of the provincial health order.
Gadsby said in a local media report that he had followed all the recommended health guidelines to ensure that attendees would stay in their vehicles. Worshippers were to use their car radios to listen in, and everyone would have been told to leave vehicle windows closed, with car lights being flashed to say “amen.”
“It's really disappointing. We were excited about it,” Gadsby was quoted as saying in a local media report.
“We wanted to provide a safe way for them to celebrate Easter when often people would be around family and doing all kinds of more social things.”
Regarding the incident, it was reported Tuesday afternoon that the Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe, has demanded that the Saskatchewan Health Authority explain why they banned the service from taking place.
“While we must remain vigilant in observing physical distancing, we should also encourage innovative and unique ideas that support the ability of Saskatchewan residents to pull together while staying apart,” Moe’s office said in a statement.
The JCCF legal warning mentioned that over this past Easter weekend, many drive-in style church services took place in Canada without incident, like a service held at an Edmonton church.
In a news release about the case sent out yesterday, the JCCF said that the Saskatchewan Health Authority decision to force the church service cancellation was, “ostensibly based on an unfounded concern that attendees would leave their vehicles and engage in personal interactions without social distancing.”
“If the Health Authority consistently applied this same rationale equally to the entire province, it would lead to a ban on all public parking during the Covid-19 outbreak,” said the JCCF news release.
Jay Cameron, a lawyer for the JCCF, noted that this type of action directly violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“The Covid-19 outbreak does not suspend our freedoms as protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” said Cameron in the JCCF release.
“This restriction of public religious gatherings, in which people exclusively occupy their personal vehicles on a parking lot while worshipping, is irrational, unnecessary and a clear violation of Charter rights.”
The JCCF legal letter is asking the Saskatchewan Health Authority to immediately respond to them, confirming that they will rescind their decision to classify “drive-in religious services” as a violation of their public health order.
Last week, the JCCF warned that Canadian’s rights are being trampled as a result of reports that some provinces, such as Alberta, are toying with the idea of using people’s cell phones to track one’s whereabouts in the name of combating the coronavirus
“Monitoring someone’s whereabouts using their cell phones is, of course, a search,” said Cameron in a LifeSiteNews report.
Pro-abortion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in late March that, “all options are on the table,” when it comes to combating the coronavirus. This includes leaving the door open to the possibility of tracking Canadians cell phones either via a dedicated app, or through one’s cell phone provider.
Saskatchewan has a population of just under 1.2 million people. It has so far recorded 4 deaths from the virus with 300 confirmed cases.
Canada has been in a nationwide lockdown since March, with all public schools, churches, sporting events, sit-down restaurants, and most stores deemed non-essential, shut. As of today, Canada has registered under 27,000 cases with 898 deaths.
In the United States, like in parts of Canada this past weekend, drive-in church services, including Mass at Catholic churches, have been tolerated in various States.
However, like in Nipawin, there have been instances of church services being shut down, as was recently the case in Kentucky.
Some prominent Catholic leaders have said that with the right precautions taken, there is no reason Mass cannot be held for the faithful.
In a message last month, Cardinal Raymond Burke said that if health precautions are followed, there is no reason the church cannot minister to the faithful.
“We can provide more opportunities for the Holy Mass and devotions at which a number of faithful can participate without violating necessary precautions against the spread of contagion. Many of our churches and chapels are very large. They permit a group of the faithful to gather for prayer and worship without violating the requirements of ‘social distance.’”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Pro-life ‘Hercules’ actor blasts gov’t for saying abortions are essential, church is not

April 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – American pro-life actor Kevin Sorbo said that the fact churches have been shut while abortions are considered an “ essential ” service during the coronavirus lockdown shows “ the morbid condition of America.
” Sorbo made the comments via his Twitter page on April 9 .
He blasted the “ government bureaucrats ” who have deemed abortion facilities as “ essential ” alongside liquor and cannabis stores , while at the same time judging church services to bet “ non-essential.
” “ In a nation where liquor stores , marijuana dispensaries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ by government bureaucrats during the coronavirus outbreak , and church attendance is judged non-essential , we don ’ t have to study long to diagnose the morbid condition of America , ” said Sorbo ’ s Twitter message .
Sorbo is a practicing Christian known for starring as “ Hercules ” on television in the 1990s , as well as more recently for his work in the Christian film “ God 's Not Dead.
” His comments come at a time when most churches , schools , sit-down restaurants , and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut due to the health orders imposed by government authorities in the name of fighting the coronavirus .
In addition to this , U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams and the Centers for Disease Control told all healthcare facilities across the U.S. that non-urgent or essential surgeries should be rescheduled , so that resources could be focussed on the virus .
Some states such as Texas , Alaska , and Ohio have halted abortions because of the coronavirus .
Planned Parenthood launched a lawsuit against the state of Texas demanding it be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was thrown out by an appeals court , and it is anticipated that the U.S. Supreme Court will intervene in the matter .
In Canada , abortions have continued unabated in all provinces and territories , even though provincial health authorities across the nation , like in the U.S. , have postponed all non-essential surgeries due to the virus ’ potential strain on the health care system .
Recently , 30,000 pro-life doctors concluded that elective abortions are not “ essential ” or “ urgent ” at a time when resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abortion facilities remaining open in the U.S. and Canada contrasts with the fact that that some Christians have been fined for attending “ drive-in ” church services .
In other cases , drive-in services have been canceled in the U.S .
In Canada , an Easter Sunday drive in-service in a small town in the province of Saskatchewan was prevented from taking place .
The local health authorities said that the planned drive-in service constituted a “ mass gathering .
”

PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
April 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – American pro-life actor Kevin Sorbo said that the fact churches have been shut while abortions are considered an “essential” service during the coronavirus lockdown shows “the morbid condition of America.”
Sorbo made the comments via his Twitter page on April 9. He blasted the “government bureaucrats” who have deemed abortion facilities as “essential” alongside liquor and cannabis stores, while at the same time judging church services to bet “non-essential.”
In a nation where liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries, and abortion clinics are deemed “essential” by government bureaucrats during the coronavirus outbreak, and church attendance is judged non-essential, we don’t have to study long to diagnose the morbid condition of America — Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) April 9, 2020
“In a nation where liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries, and abortion clinics are deemed ‘essential’ by government bureaucrats during the coronavirus outbreak, and church attendance is judged non-essential, we don’t have to study long to diagnose the morbid condition of America,” said Sorbo’s Twitter message.
Sorbo is a practicing Christian known for starring as “Hercules” on television in the 1990s, as well as more recently for his work in the Christian film “God's Not Dead.”
His comments come at a time when most churches, schools, sit-down restaurants, and many other businesses around the world have been shut due to the health orders imposed by government authorities in the name of fighting the coronavirus.
In addition to this, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and the Centers for Disease Control told all healthcare facilities across the U.S. that non-urgent or essential surgeries should be rescheduled, so that resources could be focussed on the virus.
Some states such as Texas, Alaska, and Ohio have halted abortions because of the coronavirus.
Planned Parenthood launched a lawsuit against the state of Texas demanding it be allowed to continue aborting babies during the pandemic. This was thrown out by an appeals court, and it is anticipated that the U.S. Supreme Court will intervene in the matter.
In Canada, abortions have continued unabated in all provinces and territories, even though provincial health authorities across the nation, like in the U.S., have postponed all non-essential surgeries due to the virus’ potential strain on the health care system.
Recently, 30,000 pro-life doctors concluded that elective abortions are not “essential” or “urgent” at a time when resources are needed to combat the coronavirus.
Abortion facilities remaining open in the U.S. and Canada contrasts with the fact that that some Christians have been fined for attending “drive-in” church services. In other cases, drive-in services have been canceled in the U.S.
In Canada, an Easter Sunday drive in-service in a small town in the province of Saskatchewan was prevented from taking place. The local health authorities said that the planned drive-in service constituted a “mass gathering.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-15--Govt authorities force church to cancel approved drive-in Easter service

SASKATOON , Saskatchewan , April 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( jccf.ca ) issued a warning on Tuesday to the Saskatchewan Health Authority after a church was prohibited from holding a drive-in church service during the coronavirus pandemic where attendees would listen on car stereos without exiting their vehicles .
The Nipawin Apostolic Church had planned a drive-in Easter service for Sunday morning in the same format as a drive-in movie , ensuring that social distancing would be observed .
The church asked attendees to stay in their vehicles and listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windows were to remain closed , and lights could be flashed instead of saying “ Amen.
” In planning the service , the church followed provincial guidelines and obtained approval from municipal officials .
But while similar Easter services occurred without incident across Canada this past weekend , the Health Authority deemed the church ’ s drive-in Easter service a “ mass gathering ” in violation of Saskatchewan ’ s Public Health Order .
The church was forced to cancel the planned drive-in church service or face the risk of steep fines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authority ’ s decision was ostensibly based on a concern that attendees would leave their vehicles to engage in personal interactions without social distancing .
The organization said that if the Health Authority consistently applied the same rationale throughout the province , it would lead to a ban on all public parking during the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ The COVID-19 outbreak does not suspend our freedoms as protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , ” stated Jay Cameron , litigation manager for the Justice Centre .
“ This restriction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusively occupy their personal vehicles on a parking lot while worshipping , is irrational , unnecessary and a clear violation of Charter rights.
” In a letter to the Health Authority , the Justice Centre requested an immediate response confirming that the Health Authority has rescinded its decision to deem drive-in religious services a violation of the Public Health Order .

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, April 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (jccf.ca) issued a warning on Tuesday to the Saskatchewan Health Authority after a church was prohibited from holding a drive-in church service during the coronavirus pandemic where attendees would listen on car stereos without exiting their vehicles.
The Nipawin Apostolic Church had planned a drive-in Easter service for Sunday morning in the same format as a drive-in movie, ensuring that social distancing would be observed. The church asked attendees to stay in their vehicles and listen to the service on their radios. Car windows were to remain closed, and lights could be flashed instead of saying “Amen.”
In planning the service, the church followed provincial guidelines and obtained approval from municipal officials. But while similar Easter services occurred without incident across Canada this past weekend, the Health Authority deemed the church’s drive-in Easter service a “mass gathering” in violation of Saskatchewan’s Public Health Order. The church was forced to cancel the planned drive-in church service or face the risk of steep fines.
The Justice Centre believes that the Health Authority’s decision was ostensibly based on a concern that attendees would leave their vehicles to engage in personal interactions without social distancing. The organization said that if the Health Authority consistently applied the same rationale throughout the province, it would lead to a ban on all public parking during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The COVID-19 outbreak does not suspend our freedoms as protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” stated Jay Cameron, litigation manager for the Justice Centre.
“This restriction of public religious gatherings, in which people exclusively occupy their personal vehicles on a parking lot while worshipping, is irrational, unnecessary and a clear violation of Charter rights.”
In a letter to the Health Authority, the Justice Centre requested an immediate response confirming that the Health Authority has rescinded its decision to deem drive-in religious services a violation of the Public Health Order.
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