lifesitenews--2020-10-21--‘No one is saved alone’: Pope Francis calls on men to save each other

ROME , Italy , October 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pope Francis spoke twice yesterday about the importance of saving fellow human beings and not seeking to be “ saved alone.
” The context for his remarks against a selfish approach to salvation was yesterday ’ s International Meeting of Prayer for Peace , entitled “ No one is saved alone : peace and fraternity.
” The two halves of the event were simultaneous prayer services in various locations near Rome ’ s Piazza del Campidoglio , and then an interfaith ceremony within the piazza itself .
Pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven ( Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara Coeli ) .
There he gave a homily in which he reflected on those who mocked the crucified Christ by saying “ Save yourself !
” “ At the supreme moment of His sufferings and love , many of those present cruelly taunted Him with the words : ‘ Save yourself !
’ ( Mk 15:30 ) , '' the pontiff said to the Christian gathering .
“ This is a great temptation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christians .
The temptation to think only of saving ourselves and our own circle , ” he continued .
“ To focus only on our own problems and interests , as if nothing else mattered .
It is a very human instinct , but wrong .
It was the final temptation of the crucified God.
” Pope Francis stated also that “ save ” has a religious connotation , and that the scribes and pharisees who joined in the mockery thought that Jesus ’ saving of others was useless as it seemed He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mocking tone of the accusation is garbed in religious language , twice using the verb to save , ” the pontiff said .
“ But the ‘ gospel ’ of save yourself is not the Gospel of salvation .
It is the falsest of the apocryphal gospels , making others carry the cross .
Whereas the true Gospel bids us take up the cross of others.
” Pope Francis took up the theme of salvation again at the interfaith ceremony in the Piazza del Campidoglio , making it more clear he means an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosperity , security , and happiness brought about through fraternal cooperation — not eternal life .
“ How do we find a way out of intransigent and festering conflicts ?
How do we untangle the knots so many armed struggles ?
How do we prevent conflicts ?
How do we inspire thoughts of peace in warlords and those who rely on the strength of arms ?
” he asked .
“ No people , no social group , can single-handedly achieve peace , prosperity , security and happiness .
None , '' Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encyclical Fratelli tutti .
“ The lesson learned from the recent pandemic , if we wish to be honest , is ‘ the awareness that we are a global community , all in the same boat , where one person ’ s problems are the problems of all .
Once more we realized that no one is saved alone ; we can only be saved together.
’ ” The pontiff added that “ fraternity ” will help everyone understand that we can only be saved together , and concluded by saying that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ For indeed , with God 's help , it will be possible to build a world of peace , and thus , brothers and sisters , to be saved together , ” Pope Francis said .
The ambiguity of the Italian phrases Francis employed is lost in translation .
`` Nessuno si salva da solo '' can mean both “ no one is saved alone '' and `` no one saves himself alone . ''
“ E possibile costruire un mondo di pace , e così , fratelli e sorelle , salvarci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ci ) can together save ourselves by building the world of peace .
In Fratelli tutti , the sentiment “ No one is saved alone ” expressed the pontiff ’ s beliefs in the interconnectedness of all humanity : ... ( A ] ) worldwide tragedy like the Covid-19 pandemic momentarily revived the sense that we are a global community , all in the same boat , where one person ’ s problems are the problems of all .
Once more we realized that no one is saved alone ; we can only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in those days , “ the storm has exposed our vulnerability and uncovered those false and superfluous certainties around which we constructed our daily schedules , our projects , our habits and priorities … Amid this storm , the façade of those stereotypes with which we camouflaged our egos , always worrying about appearances , has fallen away , revealing once more the ineluctable and blessed awareness that we are part of one another , that we are brothers and sisters of one another.
” LifeSiteNews approached a number of theologians and philosophers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant when he talked about salvation in the context of an interfaith celebration .
“ Francis has substituted a horizontal , anthropological , one might even say psychological notion of ‘ salvation ’ for the traditional meaning of salvation in Christianity : the decisive intervention of God 's grace in the life of sinful man , converting his heart and making him a 'new man , ' ” Dr. Peter Kwasniewski told LifeSiteNews via social media .
“ This comes about by God 's gracious pleasure and by the sacrifice of Christ , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcoming him ’ or ‘ giving up selfish political ways ’ or whatever other horizontal descriptions the pope offers , '' he continued .
“ Our encounters in this life with ‘ the other ’ may very well be , and should be , occasions for God 's grace to enter our lives and the lives of others , but the way the pope is speaking seems to equate salvation with this encounter and ‘ common journey ’ of human fraternity .
The texts speak a lot about Christ and the Cross , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soteriology or about the properly theological and spiritual meaning of salvation.
” Author John Zmirak addressed the studied ambiguity of the pontiff ’ s discourses , which he described as “ a form of gaslighting.
” '' Pope Francis 's performances are episodes from 'The Objective Room ' in C.S .
Lewis ’ s apocalyptic novel That Hideous Strength , '' Zmirak told LifeSiteNews via social media .
“ They seem designed to break down our sense of normalcy , order , clarity and sanity – to make us despair of our God-given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fideistic surrender to power , ” Zmirak continued .
“ His power over the Church , the State ’ s power over us , and globalists ’ power over our governments .
We can do nothing alone , only as termites in the colony .
We are not dignified images of God , but interchangeable cells in a collective.
” Religious leaders and representatives participating in the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace included Bartholomew I , the patriarch of Constantinople ; Haïm Korsia , the Chief Rabbi of France ; Mohamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Superior General of the interfaith Higher Committee of Human Fraternity ; Zen Buddhist monk Shoten Minegishi , a Sikh representative named Karmaljit Singh Dillon ; and a Hindu representative , Divya Punchayil Prashoban .
The joint service included speeches from some of these assembled leaders and representatives , prefaced by a welcome from Andrea Riccardi , the founder of the Sant ’ Egidio Community , and a speech by the president of the Italian Republic , Sergio Mattarella .
After the speeches , a young women read aloud an “ Appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religions and nations lit a candelabra together and signed the Appeal for Peace .

PETITION UPDATE (3/15/21) -
Reports suggest that the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference (USCCB) is preparing a vote on what to do about pro-abortion Joe Biden (and, presumably, other abortion-promoting politicians) who continues to present himself (themselves) for Holy Communion.
Public excommunication would be a suitable response for Biden's obstinate, public and grave sin of scandalously promoting abortion.
Please continue to SIGN and SHARE this important petition.
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PETITION UPDATE (2/4/20)
Since Joe Biden was sworn-in on the 20th of January, he has wasted no time in signing Executive Orders to destroy the protections which former President Trump offered to the unborn and to the innocence and modesty of children of the United States.
In one executive order, Biden rescinded the Mexico City Policy prohibiting the federal government from spending taxpayer monies on abortion and the promotion of abortion.
And, in another executive order, Biden seeks to force girls' athletic programs, restrooms, and locker rooms to accept gender-confused males.
Since the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was shamefully silent throughout the presidential campaign on the pre-eminent issues of abortion and gender ideology, and what Biden vowed he would do as president, it is cold comfort that their pro-life office is now speaking up about this Administration's wilful disregard for human life and for God's design of human nature (i.e., two biological sexes).
Stated plainly, Joe Biden is as bad as he said he would be, and the bishop, acting in unison (as the USCCB) have an obligation to the Lord (first) and to the faithful (second) to refuse Holy Communion to this grave public sinner.
With all due respect to these bishops, they diminish the Holy Eucharist and their high office, as well as cause grave scandal to the faithful, by dialoguing with a man who is promoting mass murder of the unborn against the constant teaching of the Church.
A man who continues to use the church as a backdrop for statements about how "Catholic/religious" he is, but, at the same time, is now doing everything in his power to protect the murder of the innocent, needs to publicly repent before dialogue can begin.
The bishops should not dialogue with or congratulate someone who has publicly betrayed the Church's teaching and who is leading others astray.
It's an embarrassment and a scandal for the bishops to continue to allow him to receive Holy Communion.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition today!
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PETITION UPDATE (12/10/20)
Prior to the election on November 3, the U.S. bishops did not address Joe Biden’s anti-Catholic position regarding faith and morals as a unified body.
The USCCB, the organization to which every U.S. bishop belongs and which is staffed and led by bishops, remained disgracefully silent in the run-up to the election.
What were the bishops afraid of, losing their charitable tax status with the IRS, or being deprived of fat checks from the HHS (immigration programs) and USAID (foreign aid programs)?
Or, were they just too cowardly to clearly declare Christ's law to be above man's law and risk the ire of a Joe Biden as president?
Either way, the bishops’ lack of clarity in this regard is a terrible scandal in itself and probably greatly contributed to the possible election of a pro-abortion, anti-Catholic Catholic to the presidency.
Given the fact that exit polling shows Catholics split their vote 50-50 for Trump and Biden, even a slight deviation in the heavily-Catholic swing-states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania could have produced different results.
The bishops could have spoken out against Biden’s pro-abortion stance collectively, but, again, they were overwhelmingly and shamefully silent.
Because of this, they will be at least partly responsible for the policies advanced by a Biden administration, in the event that Biden is sworn into office.
However, the bishops can, even now, mitigate the damage done by their inaction by taking the following steps: 1) Speak with one voice, as the USCCB, and plainly condemn Biden's pro-abortion stance; 2) Publicly advise Biden not to present himself for Holy Communion because of his scandalous position on abortion and homosexual "marriage;" and, 3) Tell Biden to publicly repent of publicly promoting the wilfull murder of the preborn, sins against nature, and diminishing the natural family.
Thankfully, some individual bishops have spoken out forcefully on Biden's scandalous behavior, and his standing in the Church.
On November 9, Archbishop Strickland of Tyler, Texas tweeted: “A dark cloud has descended on this nation when the USCCB and Planned Parenthood speak in unison in support of a Biden-Harris administration that supports the slaughter of innocents by abortion for all 9 months of pregnancy.”
Additionally, Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver, Colorado and Archbishop Charles Chaput have both declared publicly that Joe Biden “should not receive Holy Communion."
But, to add insult to injury, Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C. has said that he will give Holy Communion to Biden because “it’s a matter of the responsibility that I have as the archbishop to be engaged and to be in dialogue with him, even in those areas where we obviously have some differences.”
And, Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Delaware and Bishop McElroy of San Diego also congratulated Biden in statements, but they have not indicated whether or not they would administer Holy Communion to him.
With all due respect to these bishops, they diminish the Holy Eucharist and their high office, as well as cause grave scandal to the faithful, by dialoguing with a man who is promoting mass murder of the unborn against the constant teaching of the Church.
A man who uses the church as a backdrop to make sickening political advertisements about how "Catholic/religious" he is, but, at the same time, says that he will do everything in his power to protect the murder of the innocent, needs to publicly repent before dialogue can begin.
The bishops should not dialogue with or congratulate someone who has publicly betrayed the Church's teaching and who is leading others astray.
It's an embarrassment and a scandal for the bishops to continue to allow him to receive Holy Communion.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition today!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/us-bishops-concerned-about-pro-abortion-biden-previously-hailed-him-as-second-catholic-president
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/abp-aquila-backs-call-for-pro-abortion-catholic-joe-biden-to-be-denied-holy-communion?utm_source=top_news&utm_campaign=standard
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/former-philly-archbishop-biden-not-in-full-communion-with-the-catholic-church
https://www.thesoutherncross.org/news/bishop-mcelroy-offers-prayers-and-congratulations-to-president-elect-biden/
https://www.ncronline.org/news/politics/us-catholics-weigh-mixed-reaction-biden-win
____________________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (9/29/20)
Cardinal Raymond Burke has stated that Democratic candidate Joe Biden should not receive Holy Communion because of his support for abortion.
In an interview for Thomas McKenna's Catholic Action for Faith and Family podcast, Cardinal Burke states the following (starting around 5:00):
First of all, I would tell him [Biden] not to approach to receive Holy Communion, out of charity toward him, because that would be a sacrilege and endanger the salvation of his own soul.
But, also, he should not approach to receive Holy Communion because he gives scandal to everyone, because if someone says, 'I'm a devout Catholic," and, at the same time is promoting abortion, it gives the impression to others that it's acceptable for a Catholic to be in favor of abortion.
Of course, it's absolutely not acceptable, and never has been, and never will be.
We give thanks for Cardinal Burke's frankness and clarity. And, we call on every U.S. Catholic bishop to follow Cardinal Burke's lead and call out Joe Biden for his bloody-minded hypocrisy on the issue of abortion.
To reiterate: You cannot be a Catholic and support abortion.
Thank you for continuing to sign this urgent petition.
___________________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (8/17/20)
The Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, keeps claiming to be Catholic but has said he will do everything in his power to support abortion.
And, with his pick of California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, Biden has just cemented abortion into the Democrats' 2020 presidential ticket.
Indeed, Harris is vehemently pro-abortion.
During her time as attorney general of California, Harris played a key role in defending Planned Parenthood over its sale of aborted baby parts (which violated multiple federal laws, according to undercover video of abortion industry personnel).
And, last year, Harris unveiled a plan to essentially force pro-life states to seek permission from the federal government before pro-life laws can take effect.
Additionally, Harris has dangerous views on religious liberty and freedom of speech.
Harris displayed anti-Catholic bigotry in the confirmation hearings of Judge Brian Buescher. Harris cited his membership in the “all-male society” the Knights of Columbus and its stances against abortion and same-sex “marriage” as grounds for rejecting Buescher for a federal district court in Nebraska.
And, David Daleiden, head of the pro-life investigative group Center for Medical Progress, wrote that from his firsthand experience, he considers Harris the “greatest threat to First Amendment civil rights our country has ever seen.”
Joe Biden has seriously erred by taking on Kamala Harris as his running mate, further distancing himself from the truths of the Catholic Faith, especially that every life is sacred from conception till natural death.
Please CLICK HERE to read an article which details one U.S. bishop's warning about the Biden-Harris ticket.
And, please continue to SIGN and SHARE this petition.
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Of course, these two things are incompatible: you cannot be Catholic and pro-abortion.
And, a "Catholic" politician's responsibility in this regard is absolute: On pain of serious sin, he or she can never promote abortion because abortion is the wilful murder of innocent preborn human beings, and also because doing so causes grave scandal to the Church and the faithful.
Please SIGN this urgent petition asking the bishops of the United States to refuse to give Holy Communion to Joe Biden until he publicly repents from his scandalous promotion of abortion.
Biden recently promised to “codify Roe v. Wade” as president, adding, "my Justice Department will do everything in its power to stop the rash of state laws that so blatantly violate a woman’s protected, constitutional right to choose."
And, since starting his latest run for the presidency, Biden also flip-flopped against the Hyde Amendment, saying that he would allow federal funds to be spent on abortion - a position he claimed to be against for more than 40 years.
In short, Joe Biden will do everything in his power to enable and defend the wilful murder of innocent preborn human beings.
So, this should not be a hard decision for our U.S. bishops. In fact, in another circumstance, it was already done by an Illinois bishop.
Indeed, Bishop Paprocki, of Springfield, Illinois, invoked Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law to withdraw Holy Communion from two Illinois state politicians who had worked to enact radical new abortion legislation in 2019.
Canon 915 states: "Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion."
Of course, no-one, least of all the bishops, wants anyone to be deprived of Holy Communion.
A politician who publicly and obstinately advocates for the murder of innocent preborn babies puts himself out-of-communion with the Church and her teaching.
Pro-abortion politicians should not think that they can advocate for the murder of the unborn and receive the Body of Christ at the same time. This would be to defile the Eucharist while giving scandal to the faithful.
Depriving politicians of Holy Communion is not just meant to prevent scandal; it is also designed to bring a grave public sinner to repentance. In this way, such an action is meant to be for the good of their souls, too.
Thank you for SIGNING this urgent petition which calls on the U.S. Catholic bishops to refuse to admit Joe Biden to Holy Communion until he publicly repents from his scandalous promotion of abortion.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Joe Biden: I support abortion ‘under any circumstance’ - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/joe-biden-i-support-abortion-under-any-circumstance
Catholic priest denies Joe Biden Holy Communion for pro-abortion stance - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/catholic-priest-denies-joe-biden-holy-communion-for-pro-abortion-stance
Cardinal McCarrick and the Concealing of Rome’s Position on Denying Communion - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-mccarrick-and-the-concealing-of-romes-position-on-denying-communio
**Photo Credit: Joshua Roberts / Getty Images


lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Vatican to renew secret ‘sell-out’ deal with China’s communists

VATICAN CITY , October 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Vatican Secretary of State , Cardinal Pietro Parolin , has confirmed today that the controversial secret deal between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) allegedly regarding the appointment of Catholic bishops , will be renewed .
Reuters reports that Cardinal Parolin gave the news to reporters who asked him about the renewal of the deal : “ Yes , I can anticipate to you that all will go well ...
I ’ ll leave you with a positive signal.
” Whilst the official announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated that the actual decision had been reached “ in the last few days.
” “ As far as the accord is concerned , we are content .
There are still many other problems but we never expected the accord to resolve all the problems.
” The deal allegedly recognizes the state-approved church and allows the Chinese Communist Party to appoint the bishops .
The Pope apparently maintains a veto power although in practice it is the CCP who have control .
It also allegedly allows for the removal of legitimate bishops to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The actual precise terms of the deal , however , remain a closely guarded secret .
Cardinal Zen , the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong , said that through the deal “ the Vatican is selling out the Catholic Church in China.
” Cardinal Parolin recently stated that the deal had been initially approved in a draft form by Pope Benedict XVI .
However , Cardinal Zen swiftly responded and called the comments “ a series of lies.
” Catholic lawyers and professors released an open letter to the Pope at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would cause the faithful “ confusion and pain , and schism would be created in the Church in China.
” They urged the Pope to “ Please rethink the current agreement , and stop making an irreversible and regrettable mistake.
” U.S Secretary of State , Mike Pompeo , warned recently that “ The Vatican endangers its moral authority , should it renew the deal.
” He linked to an article he penned on the subject , in which he stated that “ it ’ s clear that the Sino-Vatican agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s depredations .
”

Cardinal Zen, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, has said that through the deal the Vatican is 'selling out the Catholic Church in China'
VATICAN CITY, October 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has confirmed today that the controversial secret deal between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) allegedly regarding the appointment of Catholic bishops, will be renewed.
Reuters reports that Cardinal Parolin gave the news to reporters who asked him about the renewal of the deal: “Yes, I can anticipate to you that all will go well … I’ll leave you with a positive signal.”
Whilst the official announcement is not due until tomorrow, Parolin stated that the actual decision had been reached “in the last few days.”
“As far as the accord is concerned, we are content. There are still many other problems but we never expected the accord to resolve all the problems.”
The deal allegedly recognizes the state-approved church and allows the Chinese Communist Party to appoint the bishops. The Pope apparently maintains a veto power although in practice it is the CCP who have control. It also allegedly allows for the removal of legitimate bishops to be replaced by CCP approved bishops. The actual precise terms of the deal, however, remain a closely guarded secret.
Cardinal Zen, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, said that through the deal “the Vatican is selling out the Catholic Church in China.”
Cardinal Parolin recently stated that the deal had been initially approved in a draft form by Pope Benedict XVI. However, Cardinal Zen swiftly responded and called the comments “a series of lies.”
Catholic lawyers and professors released an open letter to the Pope at the time of the original deal, warning him that it would cause the faithful “confusion and pain, and schism would be created in the Church in China.”
They urged the Pope to “Please rethink the current agreement, and stop making an irreversible and regrettable mistake.”
U.S Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, warned recently that “The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal.” He linked to an article he penned on the subject, in which he stated that “it’s clear that the Sino-Vatican agreement has not shielded Catholics from the Party’s depredations.”
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lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Trump admin promises nursing homes free COVID vaccine once developed

FORT MYERS , Florida , October 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government will partner with CVS and Walgreens to “ deliver ” a free COVID-19 vaccine to the elderly in nursing homes , despite no coronavirus vaccine having yet been approved by Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) .
This partnership is part of the U.S. government ’ s “ Operation Warp Speed.
” President Trump has repeatedly said the military will distribute the vaccine .
According to the U. S. Department of Defense ’ s news release , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is aimed at quickly and efficiently providing vaccinations for residents of long-term care homes .
“ Today I ’ m thrilled to announce we have just finalized a partnership with CVS and Walgreens…to immediately deliver the vaccine directly to nursing homes at no cost to our seniors , ” the president said .
“ Once you have those vaccines , these are very effective , once you have those vaccines , you can open the doors and say ‘ Here I am !
’ ” he continued .
The goal of Operation Warp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine by January 2021 .
The government ’ s program has been criticized by John Paul II Medical Research Institute founder , Dr. Alan Moy , as being too rushed to offer a safe , reliable , and ethical vaccine .
In an August 26 article for LifeSiteNews , he wrote that the initiative “ is placing all of its financial resources towards vaccine approaches that lack a track record of success.
” He also expressed concern that animal trials are not required for vaccines developed under the program , noting that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed a more serious pneumonia with SARS vaccines when subsequently challenged with a live SARS virus than in non-vaccinated animals.
” Further , the four vaccines funded through Operation Warp Speed that are currently furthest along in clinical trials make use of cell lines derived from aborted babies at some stage of their development and testing .
AstraZeneca and Janssen Research , a division of Johnson & Johnson , both used aborted fetal cells in all stages of their vaccine ’ s development .
Moderna and Pfizer ’ s vaccine has used them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these four companies have received about $ 7 billion from Operation Warp Speed funding .
Recently , Janssen research suspended its phase 3 trials due to “ a serious medical complication in one of its participants , ” while AstraZeneca has resumed trials after pausing its trials when a participant fell ill .
In addition to the noting the unethical use of aborted fetal tissue of the front-running vaccines , Moy expressed scepticism about their potential efficacy , especially for the old and immunocompromised .
He emphasized that they are they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that patients will likely have to receive boosters .
“ If boosters are required , adenovirus-based vaccines , like those sponsored by Janssen and AstraZeneca , can not be re-administered because prior exposure to the adenovirus vaccine will elicit an immune rejection against the vaccine , thereby deeming it ineffective , ” he wrote .
Why rushing a COVID vaccine will likely fail to provide a safe and effective immunity Another COVID vaccine using aborted baby cell line pauses trials after participant ’ s ‘ unexplained illness ’ Trials of UK COVID vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after participant falls ill

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


lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Pope Francis calls for homosexual civil unions, bashes Trump in new film

ROME , October 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In perfect time to affect the U.S. presidential election , a new film will premier in North America on Sunday that represents in dramatic fashion Pope Francis ’ s attack on President Trump as “ not a Christian ” for the President ’ s building of the border wall .
In the documentary , which premiered in Rome today , Pope Francis has made his most clear statements contradicting Catholic Church teaching by calling for homosexual civil unions to be legalized .
Speaking of homosexual civil unions , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a civil union law .
That way they are legally covered .
I stood up for that.
” The film Francesco is a fawning and dramatic treatment of Pope Francis , painting the pontiff as a liberator of humanity pushing on many of the hot-button issues dear to the Democrat left .
It is not the first time Pope Francis has contravened Church teaching in the matter of homosexuality , but it is one of his clearest statements contravening established Church teaching .
In 2003 , in a document by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ordered published by Pope St. John Paul II , the Church issued specific guidance on the need to reject homosexual civil union proposals .
The document called “ Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons , ” states that “ all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions.
” The Catholic Church teaches , moreover , that homosexual acts are “ intrinsically disordered ” and that respect for homosexuals “ can not lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Agency reported that the film includes the “ story of the pontiff encouraging two Italian men in a same-sex relationship to raise their children in their parish church.
” Speaking of his pastoral approach in an interview with filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky , the Pope said , “ Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family .
They ’ re children of God and have a right to a family .
Nobody should be thrown out , or be made miserable because of it.
” LifeSite has contacted the Vatican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but has not yet received responses .
While some may be surprised to see Pope Francis advocating for homosexual civil unions when such a position contradicts perennial Church teaching , the Pope ’ s move comes as no surprise to those who have closely followed him on this issue : • Pope Francis has promoted the notoriously pro-homosexual Jesuit Fr .
James Martin – who was made a Vatican consultant during this pontificate and a speaker at the World Meeting of Families in Ireland and met with him personally in an audience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis has gone out of his way to appoint “ gay-friendly ” bishops and cardinals in the Catholic Church .
• In July 2018 , Pope Francis sent a three-page letter “ blessing ” and endorsing a Catholic ethics conference co-organized by Jesuit Father James Keenan , a public promoter of same-sex “ marriage.
” The conference featured many feminist and pro-LGBT speakers .
• In March 2018 , a French priest announced in a televised interview that Pope Francis approved of his blessing of homosexual couples .
• In February , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisor cardinals suggested that spiritual encouragement of homosexual couples should be undertaken and blessings for homosexual couples should not be ruled out .
• In a book-length interview in September 2017 , Pope Francis signaled support for legal recognition of same-sex civil unions .
“ Let us call things by their names , ” he said .
“ Matrimony is between a man and a woman .
This is the precise term .
Let us call the same-sex union a ‘ civil union.
’ ” • On October 2 , 2016 , Pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sex-change operation as a “ man.
” He referred to her as having “ married ” another woman and admitted to inviting them to and receiving them at the Vatican in 2015 , describing the couple as “ happy.
” Clarifying his use of pronouns , the pope said , “ He that was her but is he.
” • Despite the avalanche of evidence of harm to the Church from the Pope ’ s “ who am I to judge ” remark on his first plane interview in 2013 , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misrepresenting the Catechism on homosexuality .
• In 2014 , Pope Francis appointed Bishop Blase Cupich as Archbishop of Chicago despite his reputation for telling priests not to join 40 Days for Life .
After he demonstrated his dissent from Catholic teaching on homosexuality , saying homosexual couples should be given Holy Communion , Cupich was , nevertheless , named a cardinal .
• When the United States nuncio had pro-family hero Kim Davis meet with Pope Francis at the nunciature during his USA papal visit , Davis was refused permission to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media asked the Vatican about the meeting they first refused to confirm it , and after some time said that “ the only real audience granted by the Pope at the nunciature ( embassy ) was with one of his former students and his family.
” The Pope ’ s former student , Yayo Grassi , was there with his sister , mother , and his homosexual partner .
They took not only photos but also video in which Pope Francis can be seen embracing Grassi and his homosexual partner .
• In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with and kissed the hand of a leading homosexual activist priest campaigning for changes in the Church ’ s teaching on homosexuality .
• Cardinal Godfried Danneels , the archbishop emeritus of Brussels , was a personal appointment by Pope Francis to the Synods of Bishops on the family in 2014 and 2015 .
In addition to wearing rainbow liturgical vestments and being caught on tape concealing clergy homosexual sex abuse , Danneels said in 2013 of the passage of gay “ marriage ” : “ I think it ’ s a positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up civil marriage for gays if they want.
” In a now-famous 2016 in-flight press conference , Pope Francis showed his willingness to engage in political interference in the U.S. electoral process by commenting during the Presidential primaries that Trump was “ not a Christian ” because he was for building the border wall .
In that same in-flight press conference in 2016 , the Pope was asked to comment on same-sex union legislation going on in Italy , to which he replied , “ The Pope doesn ’ t get mixed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everybody and he can ’ t insert himself in the specific internal politics of a country .
”

Remarks attributed to Pope Francis (and, not denied by the Vatican) in support of homosexual civil unions have caused grave scandal to the faithful.
Please SIGN this urgent petition which asks Pope Francis to clarify and rectify these heterodox and scandalous remarks on homosexual civil unions, and which will be delivered both to the Vatican and to the Papal Nuncio of the United States (the Pope's official representative in the U.S.).
As the last guarantor of the Faith, the Pope should clarify and rectify these remarks, which go against the perennial teaching of the Church, even including the teaching of his living predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
"What we have to create is a law of civil coexistence [meaning civil union law, for homosexuals]...," Pope Francis is reported to have remarked, in what is arguably his clearest statement of public support for a practice morally prohibited by official Catholic Church teaching.
In fact, the Church has been crystal clear in Her opposition to homosexual unions.
Just in 2003, Pope Saint John Paul II approved a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, titled 'Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons' and written by Cardinal Ratzinger (now, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), which concludes with the following:
"The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions. The common good requires that laws recognize, promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, the primary unit of society. Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behaviour, with the consequence of making it a model in present-day society, but would also obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity. The Church cannot fail to defend these values, for the good of men and women and for the good of society itself."
It could not be more clear: the Church is calling people to repentance, not to be left to indulge in grave sin.
Since becoming public, several senior prelates as well as other notable Catholic figures have voiced their opposition to these remarks attributed to the Pontiff.
Cardinal Raymond Burke stated: "It is a source of deepest sadness and pressing pastoral concern that the private opinions reported with so much emphasis by the press and attributed to Pope Francis do not correspond to the constant teaching of the Church, as it is expressed in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition."
Cardinal Gerhard Müller commented: "Where there is tension between the plain and obvious Word of God and the infallible interpretation on the one hand, and private expressions of opinion even by the highest church authorities on the other, the principle always applies: in dubio pro DEO [When in doubt, be in favor of God]."
And, Catholic theologian and apologist Scott Hahn, without directly quoting Pope Francis, shared on Facebook the 'Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons,' published by the CDF in 1986, with the statement: "Holy Father, respectfully and humbly, I beg to differ... if that is indeed what you said. In any case, please clarify and rectify your statement, especially in view of the official teaching of our Lord through the magisterium of His Church."
But, the silence from the Vatican has been deafening, with no clarification forthcoming.
We must, therefore, ask the Pope for clarification in this serious matter.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition which asks Pope Francis to clarify and rectify remarks attributed to him in support of homosexual civil unions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'Cdl. Burke: Pope’s homosexual civil union remarks ‘contrary’ to Scripture, Tradition' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/cardinal-burke-on-popes-homosexual-civil-union-remarks-contrary-to-the-teaching-of-sacred-scripture-and-sacred-tradition
'Cardinal says Catholics ‘can and should’ disagree with Pope’s ‘opinion’ on gay civil unions' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/cdl.mueller-popes-words-on-gay-civil-unions-purely-private-expression-of-opinion-which-every-catholic-can-and-should-freely-contradict
'Archbishop Vigano, Bishops Tobin and Strickland respond to Pope’s approval of homosexual civil unions' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/archbishop-vigano-and-bishops-tobin-strickland-respond-to-popes-approval-of-homosexual-civil-unions
'Pope’s comments on gay civil unions cause shockwaves around the world' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/deepest-sadness-cardinal-burke-condemns-pope-franciss-remarks-supporting-civil-unions


lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Plenty of evidence suggests Trump is fulfilling prophecy, leading America back to God

John-Henry interviews some of the most well-known clergy and laity in the Church while offering commentary on the most important @ @ @ @ @ around the world .

John-Henry shares the many examples of how President Trump is fulfilling the prophecy made about him in the 1980s leading America back to God. Listen in for the full details!
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lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Our preemie baby died in our arms hours after birth. Here’s how we fought to respect her life until

Our preemie baby died in our arms hours after birth. Here’s how we fought to respect her life until the end

October 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – On the feast of St. Joseph in the year 2016 , my wife and I held our baby for the last time .
She had been born that morning by caesarian section and immediately placed on ventilation .
We only saw her a few times that day in the NICU .
My wife nearly passed out the first time we had gone down there after the c-section , so she was not with me when Crescentia was baptized and confirmed by the hospital chaplain .
We knew the little one was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only at 24 weeks gestation when she went into labor after having spent 3 weeks in the hospital due to preterm premature rupture of membranes ( PPROM ) at 21 weeks .
Those 3 weeks , the doctors told us , were crucial for our baby ’ s lung development .
Amniotic fluid plays a crucial role in this development , and our baby was in short supply .
Early in the afternoon of that day dedicated to the patron saint of a happy death , our daughter began to suffer complications .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the ventilator , dying in our arms within minutes .
We buried her a few days later , on the Wednesday of the most sorrowful Holy Week we have ever experienced .
We were consoled that our Crescentia Anastasia was increasing to everlasting life ( which is the meaning of the name ) .
I often recall this sorrowful time in my life not only as a bereaved father , but also as a philosopher who has specialized in bioethics .
I recall that despite my extensive academic formation in Catholic bioethics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evaluate the options the doctors presented to us in the first days of our hospital stay .
The anxiety , sadness , and desire for the ordeal just to be over were very intense , and quite ruled out calm reflection .
As it turns out , some of the things we were being advised were contrary to sound principles of Catholic bioethics .
This was not surprising , since the hospital was not a Catholic one .
But this kind of situation can arise even in that context .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who — God forbid !
— may find themselves in a similar situation , discussing only a couple of moral issues they may encounter .
The first moral issue that faces women who experience PPROM is responding to the almost reflexive offer of some health care providers to induce labor .
This option is attractive , as it ends the suffering both mother and father experience in this kind of situation .
It is not , however , always called for .
In fact , unless there is a serious infection of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their immediate removal , inducing labor in a PPROM situation is the same thing as a procured abortion .
In the case of a serious infection , inducing labor is the means employed to remove the diseased organ of the woman , with the foreseen result that the child will perish .
In other words , it is an action with two effects , one of which is good , the other of which is evil .
There are several conditions that need to be met to justify such an action ( principle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the act we plan to do must be good or indifferent in itself .
Once this condition is satisfied ( in this case , removal of an infected organ threatening the woman ’ s life ) , we can move on to the second : the good we hope to achieve can not be brought about by means of the evil effect .
In this case , a change is introduced into the woman ’ s body , causing the uterine contractions by means of which the membranes will be expelled .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well , but the child ’ s death is not the cause of the expulsion of the membranes ; the uterine contractions are .
The third condition that now needs to be met is that the good to be achieved is proportionate to the evil effect .
In general , moralists judge the good of saving the mother ’ s life proportionate to the evil of the death of her child .
So , it would be licit , but not necessarily obligatory , to have recourse to early induction of labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my wife and I were not facing this kind of situation .
Yes , her membranes had ruptured , but there was no infection present .
Induction of labor was not medically indicated .
The only effect of inducing labor at that point would the expulsion and death of our lovely daughter .
So , on the third day of our hospital stay , these considerations came to mind , and I was able to articulate to myself , to the nurses , and to the doctors why we would not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by aborting our child .
This stability of mind came just in time to hear more bad news .
There was too little amniotic fluid for our little girl ’ s lungs to develop properly .
They would do what they could , but the prognosis was bleak .
It was time now to talk about ordinary and extraordinary lifesaving means , as well as palliative care .
While a person is obliged to make use of ordinary means to keep himself ( or others ) alive , it is morally licit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means extraordinary or “ disproportionate ” ?
The Ethical and Religious Directives of the U.S. bishops say that “ [ d ] isproportionate means are those that in the patient ’ s judgment do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit or entail an excessive burden , or impose excessive expense on the family or the community.
” Our daughter was likely to have very weak and brittle lungs when she was born .
The NICU team explained clearly to us what they would do to help our baby survive , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment usually ended up bursting the lungs of little preemies , who would then die in greater pain than if left untreated .
We determined that we would stop short of such treatment , recognizing that how they were using the term “ heroic ” is what Catholic theologians mean by extraordinary or disproportionate treatment .
We determined that if treatment proceeded to that point , we would ensure our baby ’ s comfort by means of palliative care .
The palliative care doctor we consulted with was professional and compassionate , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value of our baby ’ s life .
During those first days of inner turmoil , I really could not think straight .
I had been completing my doctoral dissertation on the ethics of embryo adoption and embryo rescue that year , and yet I found myself at a loss when confronting a personal crisis .
I remember that at some point I decided to look on the website of the National Catholic Bioethics Center , many of whose materials I was using in my research , to see if I could clarify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Fr .
Tad Pacholczyk that pulled me back to myself .
His series of articles on issues in bioethics is a great resource for those who find themselves in difficult medical circumstances .
I was finally able to thank him in person for his work a year later ; he was the external reader for my dissertation defense .
When asked how many children I have , I still find myself hesitating between saying eight or nine .
We just welcomed our eighth ( or ninth ) child into the world at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still find it uncomfortable to write about this difficult event in my family ’ s life , I hope that it provides someone , somewhere , with a bit more clarity if they are offered an easy way out of a distressing medical situation .
Suffering is not easy , but it is a part of life , and is a test of how much conviction we have in giving witness to its value .

October 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – On the feast of St. Joseph in the year 2016, my wife and I held our baby for the last time. She had been born that morning by caesarian section and immediately placed on ventilation. We only saw her a few times that day in the NICU. My wife nearly passed out the first time we had gone down there after the c-section, so she was not with me when Crescentia was baptized and confirmed by the hospital chaplain.
We knew the little one was not likely to survive. My wife was only at 24 weeks gestation when she went into labor after having spent 3 weeks in the hospital due to preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) at 21 weeks. Those 3 weeks, the doctors told us, were crucial for our baby’s lung development. Amniotic fluid plays a crucial role in this development, and our baby was in short supply.
Early in the afternoon of that day dedicated to the patron saint of a happy death, our daughter began to suffer complications. She was given palliative sedation and removed from the ventilator, dying in our arms within minutes. We buried her a few days later, on the Wednesday of the most sorrowful Holy Week we have ever experienced. We were consoled that our Crescentia Anastasia was increasing to everlasting life (which is the meaning of the name).
I often recall this sorrowful time in my life not only as a bereaved father, but also as a philosopher who has specialized in bioethics. I recall that despite my extensive academic formation in Catholic bioethics, I didn’t know how to evaluate the options the doctors presented to us in the first days of our hospital stay. The anxiety, sadness, and desire for the ordeal just to be over were very intense, and quite ruled out calm reflection.
As it turns out, some of the things we were being advised were contrary to sound principles of Catholic bioethics. This was not surprising, since the hospital was not a Catholic one. But this kind of situation can arise even in that context. So, I write this piece for other parents who — God forbid! — may find themselves in a similar situation, discussing only a couple of moral issues they may encounter.
Principle of double effect
The first moral issue that faces women who experience PPROM is responding to the almost reflexive offer of some health care providers to induce labor. This option is attractive, as it ends the suffering both mother and father experience in this kind of situation. It is not, however, always called for.
In fact, unless there is a serious infection of the woman’s mucous membranes that demands their immediate removal, inducing labor in a PPROM situation is the same thing as a procured abortion. In the case of a serious infection, inducing labor is the means employed to remove the diseased organ of the woman, with the foreseen result that the child will perish. In other words, it is an action with two effects, one of which is good, the other of which is evil.
There are several conditions that need to be met to justify such an action (principle of double effect).
First, the act we plan to do must be good or indifferent in itself.
Once this condition is satisfied (in this case, removal of an infected organ threatening the woman’s life), we can move on to the second: the good we hope to achieve cannot be brought about by means of the evil effect. In this case, a change is introduced into the woman’s body, causing the uterine contractions by means of which the membranes will be expelled. The death of the child follows on this as well, but the child’s death is not the cause of the expulsion of the membranes; the uterine contractions are.
The third condition that now needs to be met is that the good to be achieved is proportionate to the evil effect. In general, moralists judge the good of saving the mother’s life proportionate to the evil of the death of her child. So, it would be licit, but not necessarily obligatory, to have recourse to early induction of labor in this kind of situation.
However, my wife and I were not facing this kind of situation. Yes, her membranes had ruptured, but there was no infection present. Induction of labor was not medically indicated. The only effect of inducing labor at that point would the expulsion and death of our lovely daughter.
So, on the third day of our hospital stay, these considerations came to mind, and I was able to articulate to myself, to the nurses, and to the doctors why we would not be accepting their offer to alleviate our suffering by aborting our child.
Ordinary and extraordinary means to save a life
This stability of mind came just in time to hear more bad news. There was too little amniotic fluid for our little girl’s lungs to develop properly. They would do what they could, but the prognosis was bleak. It was time now to talk about ordinary and extraordinary lifesaving means, as well as palliative care.
While a person is obliged to make use of ordinary means to keep himself (or others) alive, it is morally licit to decline extraordinary means. What makes a means extraordinary or “disproportionate”? The Ethical and Religious Directives of the U.S. bishops say that “[d]isproportionate means are those that in the patient’s judgment do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit or entail an excessive burden, or impose excessive expense on the family or the community.”
Our daughter was likely to have very weak and brittle lungs when she was born. The NICU team explained clearly to us what they would do to help our baby survive, but that in their experience, “heroic” treatment usually ended up bursting the lungs of little preemies, who would then die in greater pain than if left untreated.
We determined that we would stop short of such treatment, recognizing that how they were using the term “heroic” is what Catholic theologians mean by extraordinary or disproportionate treatment.
We determined that if treatment proceeded to that point, we would ensure our baby’s comfort by means of palliative care. The palliative care doctor we consulted with was professional and compassionate, and expressed appreciation at our witness to the value of our baby’s life.
During those first days of inner turmoil, I really could not think straight. I had been completing my doctoral dissertation on the ethics of embryo adoption and embryo rescue that year, and yet I found myself at a loss when confronting a personal crisis.
I remember that at some point I decided to look on the website of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, many of whose materials I was using in my research, to see if I could clarify my mind.
It was an article by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk that pulled me back to myself. His series of articles on issues in bioethics is a great resource for those who find themselves in difficult medical circumstances. I was finally able to thank him in person for his work a year later; he was the external reader for my dissertation defense.
When asked how many children I have, I still find myself hesitating between saying eight or nine. We just welcomed our eighth (or ninth) child into the world at the end of September.
While I still find it uncomfortable to write about this difficult event in my family’s life, I hope that it provides someone, somewhere, with a bit more clarity if they are offered an easy way out of a distressing medical situation. Suffering is not easy, but it is a part of life, and is a test of how much conviction we have in giving witness to its value.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Fr. Altman’s ‘You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat’ video now available in Spanish

October 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews.com ) The famous video of Fr .
James Altman of La Crosse , Wisconsin , which has reached over one million views to date , is now available in Spanish .
The priest ’ s bold and much-needed message is now easily accessible for America ’ s Latino population .
Pew Research Center states that 68 % of Hispanic voters identify as Democrats or lean Democratic .
It further reports that while two-thirds of Catholic registered voters are White , a quarter are Hispanic , according to data collected in 2018 and 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ video the priest exhorts the faithful against voting for a pro-abortion party .
“ Here ’ s a memo to clueless baptized Catholics out there .
You can not be Catholic and be a Democrat .
Period , ” Fr .
Altman says .
“ Their party platform is absolutely against everything the Catholic Church teaches ... Repent of your support of that party and its platform or face the fires of hell .
Yes , Virginia , there is a hell.
” Bishop William Callahan , Fr .
Altman ’ s bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video by issuing a statement of his own in a formal letter from the Diocese of La Crosse .
“ It is not only the underlying truth that needs to be evaluated but also the manner of delivery and the tone of his message ... canonical penalties are not far away if my attempts at fraternal correction do not work , ” Bishop Callahan said .
Fr .
Altman ’ s message came with a sting for at least half of White American Catholics .
When it comes to party affiliation , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Pew Research Center .
With the translation of the video , Altman ’ s crucial message will spread further .
When it comes to abortion Hispanics are culturally and avidly pro-family and pro-life .
Yet there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to following that conviction through politically .
Hopefully Fr .
Altman ’ s videos will help connect the dots between faith and politics for many Latino voters in the U.S. before election day in November .


lifesitenews--2020-10-21--Toronto doctors: Lockdowns more harmful than COVID for young people

TORONTO , ON , October 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Four female Canadian physicians have added their voices to thousands of medical professionals who oppose the prevailing COVID-19 response policies in the west and across the globe .
The authors , who identify themselves as mothers , daughters , and physicians who care for coronavirus patients , suggest in an op-ed in the Toronto Sun , that government policies apparently intended to mitigate the dangerous effects of this virus are actually “ causing irreparable harm , including more deaths , to our children.
” In an environment where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , ” and “ almost all universities are offering only online classes , ” the physicians write .
“ However , it is with increasing distress that we have watched Canadian decision-makers de-prioritize the legitimate needs of our youth.
” With a tone of maternal care they emphasize that they are writing “ out of love and to remind everybody ” of their responsibility to create “ a society that values the health of all , and especially … of the young , ” whom as parents , they “ have pledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect.
” Focusing on the data , the physicians affirm “ that the young are not at risk from COVID-19.
” As an example , they offer that “ influenza claimed the lives of 10 children in Canada under the age of 10 during the 2018-19 flu season .
In comparison , COVID-19 has been associated with two deaths under the age of 20 and nine deaths among those between 20 and 29 .
Further , it ’ s not clear how many of those deaths were due to COVID , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an incidental finding.
” “ In fact , the risk of dying of COVID for the young is hundreds of times less than dying of other things , ” including the conditions caused by the policy response to the virus , they state .
With the “ increased distress associated with loss of social structure and educational opportunity , ” the physicians point out that the number of suicides and opioid overdoses , just to cite two examples , are “ predicted to substantially increase.
” “ Even a 1 % increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people , which is four times more than COVID has claimed , ” they state .
“ In June 2020 more young Canadians died in one month alone from opioid overdoses than in the entire province of B.C .
( British Columba ) from COVID-19 , ” they continue .
The physicians further point out that lockdown policies have resulted in the inability of many to access medical care , as well as other consequences , such as growths in “ anxiety and depression ” due to “ isolation ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ around 80 % of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in nursing homes , ” the authors reject the argument that imposed restrictions on the young are necessary to prevent infections from percolating “ to the elderly , causing deaths.
” Such situations can be easily avoided , they say , “ by improving care in nursing homes , ensuring people avoid visiting the elderly when sick , and ensuring that those caring for them have sufficient security that they are not incentivized to come to work while ill. ” “ There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our children have what they need while also providing excellent care for our elders , ” they conclude .
Instead they propose that “ we do both by ensuring adequate funding for elder care and carefully considering how important it is to ensure the mental , physical and emotional health ” of young people .
These physicians join a growing consensus of medical and public health scientists and practitioners who are speaking out against the predominant approaches in COVID-19 response policies .
Tens of thousands of such professionals have signed the Great Barrington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Declaration expresses “ grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies ” and recommends an approach they refer to as “ Focused Protection.
” Like our four physicians above , “ Focused Protection , ” emphasizes vigilance in protecting the vulnerable , especially the elderly , and calls for allowing “ those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus … while better protecting those who are at highest risk.
” The declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other things , producing “ worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes , fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health.
” The declaration goes on to say that it is “ a grave injustice ” to keep kids out of school , because for them , “ COVID-19 is less dangerous than many other harms , including influenza.
” Deaths by drug overdoses nearly double in Ohio county thanks to coronavirus lockdown 9,000 medical professionals criticize lockdowns , argue for ‘ focused protection ’ and return to normal life Closing schools hindered herd immunity , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new study