lifesitenews--2020-07-01--As UK public Masses resume, bishops demand Communion in the hand only while standing

LONDON , June 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales ( CBCEW ) has released guidance for the resumption of the public celebration of Mass , which includes members of the congregation wearing face coverings , only allowing Holy Communion in the hand while standing , and not allowing congregational singing .
“ The government maintains that the 2m social distancing requirements should be applied where possible .
The government has said ( it ) is possible to go to ‘ 1m plus ; ’ this means you can space people more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) providing a mitigation of risk is also applied , ” the CBCEW document states .
“ In the case of our churches , this would mean the compulsory wearing of a face covering for members of the congregation .
If those on the sanctuary are sufficiently distant from the congregation , there is no need to wear face coverings.
” The bishops ’ document also insists that “ Communion must be given silently in the hand only , with the communicant standing , and avoiding any physical contact.
” The guidance gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The second of these options suggests distributing Communion after Mass has ended and says members of the congregation should “ immediately leave the Church ” after receiving Communion .
The guidance , which is published on the CBCEW website , bears the name only of Rev .
Canon Christopher Thomas , the CBCEW general secretary .
In March , the Catholic bishops of England and Wales prohibited the celebration of public Masses before the lockdown came into force and , according to their own statement , played a crucial role themselves in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be closed altogether .
Last week , Archbishops Vincent Cardinal Nichols of Westminster , Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool , Bernard Longley of Birmingham and John Wilson of Southwark released a letter anticipating the “ Resumption of Collective Worship ” in which they said Catholics “ must now rebuild what it means to be Eucharistic communities , holding fast to all that we hold dear , while at the same time exploring creative ways to meet changed circumstances.
” Catholic journalist Damian Thompson described the guidance from the bishops on Communion as “ outrageous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not about Covid .
It ’ s a power grab.
” Dr. Joseph Shaw , chairman of The Latin Mass Society Society of England & Wales , told LifeSiteNews that the CBCEW ’ s document is “ puzzling.
” “ Although introduced by a letter from the Archbishops of England and Wales , it is signed simply by Canon Chris Thomas , who is the secretary to the Bishops ' Conference , but it is not clear that he is even signing in an official capacity .
Such documents from Bishops ' Conferences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ binding , and the government guidelines on the distribution of 'consumables ' which it follows are only recommendations , not legally binding rules , ” Shaw said .
“ Priests must keep in mind the universal law of the Church , which prevents them from refusing Communion to those who wish to receive on the tongue -- and indeed this is the only way Communion may be received in the Traditional Latin Mass .
The document makes no reference to this , or the intinction method used by the Eastern Rites celebrated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It remains open to priests to pay heed to the many experts who have now said that the distribution of Holy Communion on the tongue is no more dangerous than in the hand.
” Maria Madise , director of Voice of the Family , told LifeSiteNews that when reading the guidance “ one can not help but wonder whether these have been written by a Catholic ?
” “ So much is lacking in understanding of the Holy Eucharist , which is manifest in these guidelines by ways of radically limiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Madise said .
“ Most particularly the new regulations , issued by the bishops of England and Wales , recommend that the faithful receive Holy Communion in the hand only .
Such recommendation contradicts the divine and Church law , it denies the reality of the Real Presence , and leads the faithful , albeit in most cases unintentionally , to commit serious offences against the divine life , ” she continued .
“ The faithful are being misled into believing that the responsible option is to receive Our Lord in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of losing and desecrating fragments of our Eucharistic Lord .
This can only lead to the Body of Christ being trampled on by the feet of clergy and laity in Catholic churches around the world on an unprecedented scale.
” Yesterday , the UK government published guidance “ for the safe use of places of worship from 4 July , ” which strongly advises that food or drink essential to services only be distributed into the hand .
The government ’ s guidance makes no comment on whether people should be standing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ consumables.
” The government ’ s guidance also strongly encourages faith communities to avoid singing at services and for face coverings to be worn .
The government ’ s guidance also outlines the possibility of how failure to adequately comply with regulations and the enforcement of these by local authorities could in some instances result in criminal prosecution and even prison sentences .
“ Where the enforcing authority ( your local authority ) identifies responsible individuals who are not taking action to comply with the relevant public health legislation and guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this guidance ) , they will consider taking a range of actions to improve control of risks , ” the guidance states .
“ The actions the enforcing authority can take include the provision of specific advice to employers to support them to achieve the required standard , through to issuing enforcement notices to help secure improvements .
Serious breaches and failure to comply with enforcement notices can constitute a criminal offence , with serious fines and even imprisonment for up to two years , ” the document continues .
The guidance states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks nationwide.
” A group of 25 UK Christian leaders , including Church of England bishop Michael Nazir-Ali , announced yesterday that they will continue their legal challenge against the government enforced closure of churches during the lockdown .
In an open letter published in May , Catholic clergy led by former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Cardinals Gerhard Ludwig Mueller , Joseph Zen , and Janis Pujats reminded politicians around the world that “ ( t ) he state has no right to interfere , for any reason whatsoever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This autonomy and freedom are an innate right that Our Lord Jesus Christ has given her for the pursuit of her proper ends .
For this reason , as Pastors we firmly assert the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments , just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction , such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments , ” the signatories stated .

One option is to distribute the Eucharist after Mass before congregants leave the church.
LONDON, June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) has released guidance for the resumption of the public celebration of Mass, which includes members of the congregation wearing face coverings, only allowing Holy Communion in the hand while standing, and not allowing congregational singing.
“The government maintains that the 2m social distancing requirements should be applied where possible. The government has said (it) is possible to go to ‘1m plus;’ this means you can space people more closely (with a minimum of 1m) providing a mitigation of risk is also applied,” the CBCEW document states.
“In the case of our churches, this would mean the compulsory wearing of a face covering for members of the congregation. If those on the sanctuary are sufficiently distant from the congregation, there is no need to wear face coverings.”
The bishops’ document also insists that “Communion must be given silently in the hand only, with the communicant standing, and avoiding any physical contact.”
The guidance gives two options for Communion for the congregation. The second of these options suggests distributing Communion after Mass has ended and says members of the congregation should “immediately leave the Church” after receiving Communion.
The guidance, which is published on the CBCEW website, bears the name only of Rev. Canon Christopher Thomas, the CBCEW general secretary.
In March, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales prohibited the celebration of public Masses before the lockdown came into force and, according to their own statement, played a crucial role themselves in convincing the government to require that churches be closed altogether.
Last week, Archbishops Vincent Cardinal Nichols of Westminster, Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool, Bernard Longley of Birmingham and John Wilson of Southwark released a letter anticipating the “Resumption of Collective Worship” in which they said Catholics “must now rebuild what it means to be Eucharistic communities, holding fast to all that we hold dear, while at the same time exploring creative ways to meet changed circumstances.”
Catholic journalist Damian Thompson described the guidance from the bishops on Communion as “outrageous” and said, “This is not about Covid. It’s a power grab.”
This is not about Covid. It’s a power grab. — Damian Thompson (@holysmoke) June 26, 2020
Dr. Joseph Shaw, chairman of The Latin Mass Society Society of England & Wales, told LifeSiteNews that the CBCEW’s document is “puzzling.”
“Although introduced by a letter from the Archbishops of England and Wales, it is signed simply by Canon Chris Thomas, who is the secretary to the Bishops' Conference, but it is not clear that he is even signing in an official capacity. Such documents from Bishops' Conferences are not, in any case, binding, and the government guidelines on the distribution of 'consumables' which it follows are only recommendations, not legally binding rules,” Shaw said.
“Priests must keep in mind the universal law of the Church, which prevents them from refusing Communion to those who wish to receive on the tongue — and indeed this is the only way Communion may be received in the Traditional Latin Mass. The document makes no reference to this, or the intinction method used by the Eastern Rites celebrated in England and Wales,” he continued.
“It remains open to priests to pay heed to the many experts who have now said that the distribution of Holy Communion on the tongue is no more dangerous than in the hand.”
Maria Madise, director of Voice of the Family, told LifeSiteNews that when reading the guidance “one cannot help but wonder whether these have been written by a Catholic?”
“So much is lacking in understanding of the Holy Eucharist, which is manifest in these guidelines by ways of radically limiting devotion and thanksgiving for receiving Our Lord,” Madise said.
“Most particularly the new regulations, issued by the bishops of England and Wales, recommend that the faithful receive Holy Communion in the hand only. Such recommendation contradicts the divine and Church law, it denies the reality of the Real Presence, and leads the faithful, albeit in most cases unintentionally, to commit serious offences against the divine life,” she continued.
“The faithful are being misled into believing that the responsible option is to receive Our Lord in the hand despite the very real danger of losing and desecrating fragments of our Eucharistic Lord. This can only lead to the Body of Christ being trampled on by the feet of clergy and laity in Catholic churches around the world on an unprecedented scale.”
Yesterday, the UK government published guidance “for the safe use of places of worship from 4 July,” which strongly advises that food or drink essential to services only be distributed into the hand. The government’s guidance makes no comment on whether people should be standing or kneeling when receiving what they refer to as “consumables.” The government’s guidance also strongly encourages faith communities to avoid singing at services and for face coverings to be worn.
The government’s guidance also outlines the possibility of how failure to adequately comply with regulations and the enforcement of these by local authorities could in some instances result in criminal prosecution and even prison sentences.
“Where the enforcing authority (your local authority) identifies responsible individuals who are not taking action to comply with the relevant public health legislation and guidance to control public health risks (including this guidance), they will consider taking a range of actions to improve control of risks,” the guidance states.
“The actions the enforcing authority can take include the provision of specific advice to employers to support them to achieve the required standard, through to issuing enforcement notices to help secure improvements. Serious breaches and failure to comply with enforcement notices can constitute a criminal offence, with serious fines and even imprisonment for up to two years,” the document continues.
The guidance states that “inspectors are carrying out compliance checks nationwide.”
A group of 25 UK Christian leaders, including Church of England bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, announced yesterday that they will continue their legal challenge against the government enforced closure of churches during the lockdown.
In an open letter published in May, Catholic clergy led by former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Cardinals Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, Joseph Zen, and Janis Pujats reminded politicians around the world that “(t)he state has no right to interfere, for any reason whatsoever, in the sovereignty of the church.”
“This autonomy and freedom are an innate right that Our Lord Jesus Christ has given her for the pursuit of her proper ends. For this reason, as Pastors we firmly assert the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments, just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction, such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments,” the signatories stated.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-01--What are you going to do when the mob comes for you?

June 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – To all the wealthy , liberal elites who are cheering on the protests and riots , a word of warning is in order .
The same holds true for the conservative Christians who are lining up to show their support for the BLM movement .
To each of you I say : Do not be deceived .
The cancel culture will soon be coming for you .
A few weeks ago , I read about a TV sports journalist who tweeted his support for rioters in a nearby city .
“ Burn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , ” he tweeted with glee .
Later that same day , as the mob marched towards his private neighborhood , his tone had changed .
He called them animals and – get this – noted how the crowds scattered when the police arrived .
How ironic !
The cry to defund the police lasts only so long .
Amazon ’ s Jeff Bezos is the latest to face the wrath of the mob .
As Breitbart reported , “ According to a number of videos posted to social media , protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos ’ Washington complex .
A flyer for the event stated ‘ End the abuse and profiteering .
Abolish the police , the prisons , and Amazon.
’ ” And note that , “ Alongside the guillotine [ was ] a sign reading ‘ support our poor communities , not our wealthy men.
’ ” Oh , yes the guillotine once again .
As in off with your head .
As in CHOP .
( See here for a sobering article , along with an even more sobering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drew Hernandez posted another video in which a D.C. protester said , “ when they become threatened , and we have no voice , the knives come out.
” And the protester delivered these comments while standing in front of the guillotine .
All clear on the meaning of “ knives ” !
It ’ s true that Bezos has come under attack for allegedly taking advantage of Amazon employees .
But Bezos is also famously liberal .
He is the owner of the leftist Washington Post .
In 2012 , he pledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage ” in Washington State .
And the award-winning transgender comedy series , Transparent , was produced by and aired on Amazon .
But Bezos is also rich .
Very rich .
And that makes him a target .
After “ defund the police , ” it will probably be “ defund the rich.
” Jemele Hill has also felt the wrath of the culture-cancelling mob .
( Hill formerly worked for ESPN and is now a writer for the Atlantic . )
But 10 years ago – yes , a decade ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were considered “ transphobic ” and “ homophobic.
” Yet as Breibart notes , “ This is the same Jemele Hill who several years later went hammer and tong against Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader for racist and homophobic tweets he posted when he was a kid in high school.
” “ In her screed against Hader and those who supported him in 2018 , Hill sneered , ‘ Realize that when you chalk Hader ’ s remarks up to youth and immaturity or worse , and give him an over-the-top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re simultaneously telling the people hurt by his remarks that their feelings of resentment and skepticism don ’ t matter.
’ ” Now , Hill is being targeted by the Twitter crowd , with comments like this : “ Time 's up .
We are coming for every last one of you [ expletives ] right now .
No more playing nice , we played by your rules , now you get to , and I 've been waiting for this one for a long time now .
# CancelJemele # CancelJemeleHill.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Animal Farm .
What goes around , comes around .
You cancel one day , you get canceled the next .
This is especially important for conservative Christians to grasp , since we want to be on the front lines of racial reconciliation and since we reject racism as sin .
And , understanding the significance of the phrase to our black brothers and sisters , we want to shout out , “ Yes , black lives do matter.
” Many black Christians also want to stand arm in arm with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the BLM movement .
But that movement is , at base , a Marxist-driven , “ queer-affirming , ” anti-Christian movement .
And if you will not affirm transgender activism and march for Queer Pride , the knives will soon come out for you .
I mean that both figuratively and literally .
You have been forewarned .
I find it even more disturbing when Christian leaders across the nation fall over each other in their zeal to prove their wokeness .
They fail to realize that some of the very people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same ones who will turn on them in an instant the moment they take a strong stand for biblical values .
To repeat : You have been forewarned .

Eventually, the leftist mob always turns on its own. You're been warned.
June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – To all the wealthy, liberal elites who are cheering on the protests and riots, a word of warning is in order. The same holds true for the conservative Christians who are lining up to show their support for the BLM movement. To each of you I say: Do not be deceived. The cancel culture will soon be coming for you.
A few weeks ago, I read about a TV sports journalist who tweeted his support for rioters in a nearby city. “Burn that s— down. Burn it all down,” he tweeted with glee.
Later that same day, as the mob marched towards his private neighborhood, his tone had changed. He called them animals and – get this – noted how the crowds scattered when the police arrived. How ironic! The cry to defund the police lasts only so long.
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is the latest to face the wrath of the mob.
As Breitbart reported, “According to a number of videos posted to social media, protesters in DC placed a model guillotine in front of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Washington complex. A flyer for the event stated ‘End the abuse and profiteering. Abolish the police, the prisons, and Amazon.’”
And note that, “Alongside the guillotine [was] a sign reading ‘support our poor communities, not our wealthy men.’”
Oh, yes the guillotine once again. As in off with your head. As in CHOP. (See here for a sobering article, along with an even more sobering video clip.)
Conservative web host Drew Hernandez posted another video in which a D.C. protester said, “when they become threatened, and we have no voice, the knives come out.” And the protester delivered these comments while standing in front of the guillotine.
All clear on the meaning of “knives”!
It’s true that Bezos has come under attack for allegedly taking advantage of Amazon employees.
But Bezos is also famously liberal. He is the owner of the leftist Washington Post. In 2012, he pledged $2.5 million to support same-sex “marriage” in Washington State. And the award-winning transgender comedy series, Transparent, was produced by and aired on Amazon.
But Bezos is also rich. Very rich. And that makes him a target. After “defund the police,” it will probably be “defund the rich.”
Jemele Hill has also felt the wrath of the culture-cancelling mob. (Hill formerly worked for ESPN and is now a writer for the Atlantic.) But 10 years ago – yes, a decade ago – she cracked some jokes on Twitter that were considered “transphobic” and “homophobic.”
Yet as Breibart notes, “This is the same Jemele Hill who several years later went hammer and tong against Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader for racist and homophobic tweets he posted when he was a kid in high school.”
“In her screed against Hader and those who supported him in 2018, Hill sneered, ‘Realize that when you chalk Hader’s remarks up to youth and immaturity or worse, and give him an over-the-top applause for God knows what, you’re simultaneously telling the people hurt by his remarks that their feelings of resentment and skepticism don’t matter.’”
Now, Hill is being targeted by the Twitter crowd, with comments like this: “Time's up. We are coming for every last one of you [expletives] right now. No more playing nice, we played by your rules, now you get to, and I've been waiting for this one for a long time now. #CancelJemele #CancelJemeleHill.”
Sounds like a scene straight out of Animal Farm. What goes around, comes around. You cancel one day, you get canceled the next.
This is especially important for conservative Christians to grasp, since we want to be on the front lines of racial reconciliation and since we reject racism as sin. And, understanding the significance of the phrase to our black brothers and sisters, we want to shout out, “Yes, black lives do matter.”
Many black Christians also want to stand arm in arm with their friends and colleagues who have joined together with the BLM movement.
But that movement is, at base, a Marxist-driven, “queer-affirming,” anti-Christian movement. And if you will not affirm transgender activism and march for Queer Pride, the knives will soon come out for you. I mean that both figuratively and literally.
You have been forewarned.
I find it even more disturbing when Christian leaders across the nation fall over each other in their zeal to prove their wokeness. They fail to realize that some of the very people they are trying to impress are the same ones who will turn on them in an instant the moment they take a strong stand for biblical values.
To repeat: You have been forewarned.
Follow Michael Dr. Brown is the author of more than 35 books, including Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, which has been translated into more than twelve languages, the highly acclaimed five-volume series, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, a commentary on Jeremiah (part of the revised edition of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary), and several books on revival and the Jesus revolution. His most recent book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?
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lifesitenews--2020-07-01--Time to stop making excuses for Vatican II and the New Mass

Editor ’ s note : The following article comes from an anonymous priest .
June 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — In several recent statements , culminating in an interview with Philip Lawler , Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has traced the evils that afflict the Church today back to their root within the Second Vatican Council ( 1962–65 ) and the New Order of the Mass ( 1969 ) .
In this he has rendered a service to all Catholics , for while no problem can be solved until people will admit its existence , hardly anyone in authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to admit that some evil spirit entered the Church by means of this council and the subsequent liturgical revolution .
Not being an exorcist , I do not know the proper name of this spirit , unless perhaps it is Apollyon ( Apoc .
9:11 ) .
Developing a suggestion of Archbishop Viganò , we might however call it “ the spirit of rupture.
” It established itself in the Church in two main ways : first by persuading a great ecumenical council to promulgate documents that would favor heresy , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; secondly , by persuading a pope to break with all preceding tradition and promulgate a new Mass , and new rites for all the sacraments , which would be more acceptable to Protestants and to others who do not hold the Catholic faith .
Either of these events would have been gravely harmful to the Church .
Together , they have caused what Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Society of St Pius X has called “ a disaster without a name.
” Many good authors have told the tragic story well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an almost miraculously objective survey of the changes in the Church caused by the council fathers and their heirs .
Michael Davies ’ s works , especially Pope John ’ s Council and Pope Paul ’ s New Mass , offer a clear and even entertaining , as well as scrupulously accurate , account of how the thing was done .
Dietrich von Hildebrand , in The Devastated Vineyard , shows us the supernatural spirit in which Catholics should respond .
Marcel Lefebvre ’ s Open Letter to Confused Catholics and Bishop Bernard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its author reveal indirectly the malice of the spirit of rupture by showing what happened to a Catholic bishop who resisted .
Roberto de Mattei ’ s Vatican II : An untold story and Paolo Pasqualucci ’ s The Parallel Council are scholarly accounts of the maneuvers by which those who are euphemistically called the innovators took the upper hand .
Nor is this list complete .
It is perhaps impossible , also , to give a complete list of all the dogmas that have been undermined in the minds of clergy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the act of replacing the Catholic liturgy with a new liturgy .
One could mention these : the absence of salvation outside the Church ; the evil of heresy ; the retributive justice of God and our need to expiate our sins ; the existence of an eternal Hell ; the substantial and abiding presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament ; the propitiatory sacrifice of the Mass ; the inerrancy of the entirety of Scripture ; the desirability of Christendom ; and the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salvation .
More fundamentally , though , it is the very idea of revealed truth and unchanging dogmas that has been shaken .
That is why we speak of the invasion of the Church by “ neo-modernism.
” Modernism is the heresy that denies the existence of unchanging truths , once revealed by God to the prophets and the apostles , and to be handed on with the same meaning by the successors of the apostles until Christ returns .
What is the way forward ?
I do not think it is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents promulgated by the Second Vatican Council , and everything in the new liturgy promulgated afterward , can be read in an orthodox fashion .
That has been done , and it has not succeeded in exorcising the evil .
Something else must be tried .
The way up and the way down are one and the same , said an ancient sage .
It does not seem likely that the evil spirit will be expunged until the bishops shall have assembled again in council and anathematized by name each of the errors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the successor of St Peter shall have declared the ancient rites of Mass and sacrament to be now and forever the proper liturgy of the Roman Church .
It would seem also wise to join to these definitions a further anathema against those who would use any of the documents of the last council to support the errors that this new one would condemn .
After the poison had thus been drawn , theologians could consider at their leisure whether there were statements within those earlier documents that could not in any way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , I believe I am more sanguine than Archbishop Vigano and Bishop Schneider .
That great day is still in the future , and divine providence alone knows when it will come .
In the meantime , there is no divine or human law that forbids individual bishops from working for it , by two actions .
First , any diocesan bishop of the Latin church may begin to say the ancient Latin Mass exclusively , in his cathedral and in the parishes he inspects .
Secondly , he may draw up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been condemned by the Church , taken for example from the Syllabus of Errors , from the anti-modernist oath and Lamentabili of Pope St. Pius X , and from various 20th-century encyclicals , and require clergy and catechists to swear that they disavow them .
If several diocesan bishops took those actions , it could unstop a flow of grace too strong to be resisted .
Five bishops , including Cardinal Raymond Burke and Cardinal Janis Pujats , have already done something that foreshadows the second of these two actions , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the principal errors of our time .
Unfortunately , of these five bishops , only one , Archbishop Tomasz Peta , governs a diocese .
What is needed is for a similar group of diocesan bishops , on their own initiative , to unite their presbyterates to them in the great work of restoring orthodoxy .
The frequent recitation , at least in private , by bishops and priests of the Leonine Prayer of Exorcism against Satan and the apostate angels would be helpful here .
What of the laity ?
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiness according to the duties of their state in life .
But in past years , it sometimes happened that laymen took the initiative in resisting some heresy .
In the 5th century , when the patriarch of Constantinople preached against calling Mary the mother of God , a layman called Eusebius interrupted him and protested , and thus began the movement that led to the great Council of Ephesus .
Of course , one has to be sure of one ’ s ground , but the grace of confirmation gives everyone the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Faith whenever silence would mean consent to error .
If a bishop , even a bishop in some great patriarchal see , has taught heresy , the faithful need not take it lying down .

Many good authors have told the tragic story well. Now it is time for clergy and laity both to do something about it.
Editor’s note: The following article comes from an anonymous priest.
June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — In several recent statements, culminating in an interview with Philip Lawler, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has traced the evils that afflict the Church today back to their root within the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) and the New Order of the Mass (1969). In this he has rendered a service to all Catholics, for while no problem can be solved until people will admit its existence, hardly anyone in authority in the Church has been willing publicly to admit that some evil spirit entered the Church by means of this council and the subsequent liturgical revolution.
Not being an exorcist, I do not know the proper name of this spirit, unless perhaps it is Apollyon (Apoc. 9:11). Developing a suggestion of Archbishop Viganò, we might however call it “the spirit of rupture.” It established itself in the Church in two main ways: first by persuading a great ecumenical council to promulgate documents that would favor heresy, at least by silence, ambiguity, or style; secondly, by persuading a pope to break with all preceding tradition and promulgate a new Mass, and new rites for all the sacraments, which would be more acceptable to Protestants and to others who do not hold the Catholic faith.
Either of these events would have been gravely harmful to the Church. Together, they have caused what Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Society of St Pius X has called “a disaster without a name.”
Many good authors have told the tragic story well. Romano Amerio’s Iota Unum is an almost miraculously objective survey of the changes in the Church caused by the council fathers and their heirs. Michael Davies’s works, especially Pope John’s Council and Pope Paul’s New Mass, offer a clear and even entertaining, as well as scrupulously accurate, account of how the thing was done. Dietrich von Hildebrand, in The Devastated Vineyard, shows us the supernatural spirit in which Catholics should respond. Marcel Lefebvre’s Open Letter to Confused Catholics and Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais’s biography of its author reveal indirectly the malice of the spirit of rupture by showing what happened to a Catholic bishop who resisted. Roberto de Mattei’s Vatican II: An untold story and Paolo Pasqualucci’s The Parallel Council are scholarly accounts of the maneuvers by which those who are euphemistically called the innovators took the upper hand. Nor is this list complete.
It is perhaps impossible, also, to give a complete list of all the dogmas that have been undermined in the minds of clergy and laity by the prudential judgments that underlie the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the act of replacing the Catholic liturgy with a new liturgy. One could mention these: the absence of salvation outside the Church; the evil of heresy; the retributive justice of God and our need to expiate our sins; the existence of an eternal Hell; the substantial and abiding presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament; the propitiatory sacrifice of the Mass; the inerrancy of the entirety of Scripture; the desirability of Christendom; and the need to evangelize Jews and pagans for their salvation.
More fundamentally, though, it is the very idea of revealed truth and unchanging dogmas that has been shaken. That is why we speak of the invasion of the Church by “neo-modernism.” Modernism is the heresy that denies the existence of unchanging truths, once revealed by God to the prophets and the apostles, and to be handed on with the same meaning by the successors of the apostles until Christ returns.
What is the way forward? I do not think it is to write scholarly commentaries showing how all the documents promulgated by the Second Vatican Council, and everything in the new liturgy promulgated afterward, can be read in an orthodox fashion. That has been done, and it has not succeeded in exorcising the evil. Something else must be tried.
The way up and the way down are one and the same, said an ancient sage. It does not seem likely that the evil spirit will be expunged until the bishops shall have assembled again in council and anathematized by name each of the errors circulating in the Church, and until the successor of St Peter shall have declared the ancient rites of Mass and sacrament to be now and forever the proper liturgy of the Roman Church. It would seem also wise to join to these definitions a further anathema against those who would use any of the documents of the last council to support the errors that this new one would condemn. After the poison had thus been drawn, theologians could consider at their leisure whether there were statements within those earlier documents that could not in any way be reconciled with orthodoxy. On this point, I believe I am more sanguine than Archbishop Vigano and Bishop Schneider.
That great day is still in the future, and divine providence alone knows when it will come. In the meantime, there is no divine or human law that forbids individual bishops from working for it, by two actions. First, any diocesan bishop of the Latin church may begin to say the ancient Latin Mass exclusively, in his cathedral and in the parishes he inspects. Secondly, he may draw up a list of the errors that have already been condemned by the Church, taken for example from the Syllabus of Errors, from the anti-modernist oath and Lamentabili of Pope St. Pius X, and from various 20th-century encyclicals, and require clergy and catechists to swear that they disavow them. If several diocesan bishops took those actions, it could unstop a flow of grace too strong to be resisted.
Five bishops, including Cardinal Raymond Burke and Cardinal Janis Pujats, have already done something that foreshadows the second of these two actions, by publishing last year a Declaration of Truths against the principal errors of our time. Unfortunately, of these five bishops, only one, Archbishop Tomasz Peta, governs a diocese. What is needed is for a similar group of diocesan bishops, on their own initiative, to unite their presbyterates to them in the great work of restoring orthodoxy. The frequent recitation, at least in private, by bishops and priests of the Leonine Prayer of Exorcism against Satan and the apostate angels would be helpful here.
What of the laity? They can assist the Church greatly by pursuing holiness according to the duties of their state in life. But in past years, it sometimes happened that laymen took the initiative in resisting some heresy. In the 5th century, when the patriarch of Constantinople preached against calling Mary the mother of God, a layman called Eusebius interrupted him and protested, and thus began the movement that led to the great Council of Ephesus. Of course, one has to be sure of one’s ground, but the grace of confirmation gives everyone the right and duty to witness to the Faith whenever silence would mean consent to error. If a bishop, even a bishop in some great patriarchal see, has taught heresy, the faithful need not take it lying down.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-30--Navy bans troops from indoor religious services while allowing protests, house parties

WASHINGTON , D.C. , June 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The U.S. Navy is facing backlash after issuing a directive banning personnel from attending off-base religious services due to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases while greenlighting participation in protests and parties .
“ In open defiance of the Commander in Chief , who recently declared churches as essential to America , the U.S. Navy has threatened to court-martial service members if they go to church , ” said Mike Berry , First Liberty Institute general counsel .
First Liberty , a legal organization dedicated to defending religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is seeking religious accommodation .
“ It is absolutely outrageous that our troops can ’ t go to church , but they can attend a protest or host house parties of any size , ” said Berry in a statement .
“ On June 24 , the Navy issued an order that banned troops from attending indoor religious services , although other activities such as using mass transit , hosting social gatherings of any size , and participation in protests are all permitted , ” explains First Liberty .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members are prohibited from visiting , patronizing , or engaging in ... indoor religious services.
” “ The Navy ’ s orders apply to everyone assigned to Navy units and vessels including , ironically , its chaplains .
Sailors returning from duty are not permitted to leave their ship until they agree to abide by official U.S. Navy orders preventing them from attending ‘ indoor religious services.
’ Service members who fail to abide by the Navy ’ s orders may be prosecuted via court-martial , ” the First Liberty statement explains .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately rescinded “ This order is unlawful and immoral , and President Trump should immediately demand its removal , ” said Berry .
“ The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 ( ‘ RFRA ’ ) , prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening an individual ’ s sincerely held religious beliefs without a compelling interest that is furthered by the least restrictive means , ” wrote Berry in a letter to the U.S. Navy .
“ We are stunned that the Navy would issue this unlawful order , ” said chaplain Col. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty , which represents 2,700 active-duty chaplains serving the Armed Forces .
“ Our chaplains have fought , bled , and even died for the right of every service member to enjoy religious freedom wherever they are , at home and abroad , ” Crews told Fox News .
“ For the Navy to strip away that freedom in this manner is unconscionable.
” “ As the peer organization for nearly every chaplain endorser to the US Armed Forces , the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( NCMAF ) is gravely concerned with this order , which we understand was not vetted by the Navy ’ s senior chaplain leadership , ” said Bishop Derek Jones , chairman of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces , in the same Fox News report .
“ This order affects millions of service members who are willing to risk their lives for the very freedom that has been taken away from them , ” he added .
A concerned member of the U.S. Navy stationed at an East Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reached out to LifeSiteNews : Our sailors ... are now expected to go into harm ’ s way without the sacraments .
( Yes this includes confession . )
We are being asked to potentially die for our nation , yet our nation is withholding the graces we will need to battle .
They have stranded our souls to the wolves .
This sounds like the beginning of those stories we hear of superior armies losing battles , why ?
Because they have abandoned God .
LifeSiteNews reached out to Archbishop Timothy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Military Services ( AMS ) .
Spokesperson Taylor Henry explained that some of the orders “ have already been rescinded and the AMS is working to see all of them rescinded.
” “ The AMS is following the situation closely and always advocates to protect the rights of the faithful recognized by the First Amendment that the men and women of the military swear to uphold , ” said Henry .
LifeSiteNews also reached out to secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for comment but received @ @ @ @ @ @

'The U.S. Navy has threatened to court-martial service members if they go to church.'
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The U.S. Navy is facing backlash after issuing a directive banning personnel from attending off-base religious services due to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases while greenlighting participation in protests and parties.
“In open defiance of the Commander in Chief, who recently declared churches as essential to America, the U.S. Navy has threatened to court-martial service members if they go to church,” said Mike Berry, First Liberty Institute general counsel.
First Liberty, a legal organization dedicated to defending religious freedom, is representing Major Daniel Schultz, who is seeking religious accommodation.
“It is absolutely outrageous that our troops can’t go to church, but they can attend a protest or host house parties of any size,” said Berry in a statement.
“On June 24, the Navy issued an order that banned troops from attending indoor religious services, although other activities such as using mass transit, hosting social gatherings of any size, and participation in protests are all permitted,” explains First Liberty. “But the order specifically states that “service members are prohibited from visiting, patronizing, or engaging in … indoor religious services.”
PETITION: Urge President Trump to rescind Navy order prohibiting attendance at religious services
“The Navy’s orders apply to everyone assigned to Navy units and vessels including, ironically, its chaplains. Sailors returning from duty are not permitted to leave their ship until they agree to abide by official U.S. Navy orders preventing them from attending ‘indoor religious services.’ Service members who fail to abide by the Navy’s orders may be prosecuted via court-martial,” the First Liberty statement explains.
President Trump should demand the ban be immediately rescinded
“This order is unlawful and immoral, and President Trump should immediately demand its removal,” said Berry.
“The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (‘RFRA’), prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening an individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs without a compelling interest that is furthered by the least restrictive means,” wrote Berry in a letter to the U.S. Navy.
“We are stunned that the Navy would issue this unlawful order,” said chaplain Col. Ron Crews, U.S. Army (ret.), executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, which represents 2,700 active-duty chaplains serving the Armed Forces.
“Our chaplains have fought, bled, and even died for the right of every service member to enjoy religious freedom wherever they are, at home and abroad,” Crews told Fox News. “For the Navy to strip away that freedom in this manner is unconscionable.”
“As the peer organization for nearly every chaplain endorser to the US Armed Forces, the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF) is gravely concerned with this order, which we understand was not vetted by the Navy’s senior chaplain leadership,” said Bishop Derek Jones, chairman of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, in the same Fox News report.
“This order affects millions of service members who are willing to risk their lives for the very freedom that has been taken away from them,” he added.
A concerned member of the U.S. Navy stationed at an East Coast base, alarmed at the troubling directive, reached out to LifeSiteNews:
Our sailors … are now expected to go into harm’s way without the sacraments. (Yes this includes confession.) We are being asked to potentially die for our nation, yet our nation is withholding the graces we will need to battle. They have stranded our souls to the wolves. This sounds like the beginning of those stories we hear of superior armies losing battles, why? Because they have abandoned God.
LifeSiteNews reached out to Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who heads the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS). Spokesperson Taylor Henry explained that some of the orders “have already been rescinded and the AMS is working to see all of them rescinded.”
“The AMS is following the situation closely and always advocates to protect the rights of the faithful recognized by the First Amendment that the men and women of the military swear to uphold,” said Henry.
LifeSiteNews also reached out to secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for comment but received no response by press time.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-30--Heralded orchestra conductor traces musical gifts to training in the womb

HAMILTON , Ontario , June 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – World renowned Canadian conductor explained that his musical career began “ before birth ” when he heard music from inside his mother ’ s womb .
During a radio interview , recounted in Dr. Thomas Verny ’ s book , The Secret Life of the Unborn Child , Boris Brott , the conductor of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario , was asked how he had become interested in music .
“ You know this might sound strange , ” Brott answered , “ but music has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ As a young man , ” he continued , “ I was mystified by this unusual ability I had -- to play certain pieces sight unseen .
I 'd be conducting a score for the first time and , suddenly , the cello line would jump out at me ; I 'd know the flow of the piece even before I turned the page of the score.
” “ One day , I mentioned this to my mother , who is a professional cellist .
I thought she 'd be intrigued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was so distinct in my mind , ” Brott recalled .
“ She was ; but when she heard what the pieces were , the mystery quickly solved itself .
All the scores I knew sight unseen were the ones she had played while she was pregnant with me.
” Brott heard the music while in his mother ’ s womb and , remarkably , remembered it well enough to conduct an orchestra years later .
Brott ’ s prenatal story demonstrates the intelligence of babies in the womb .
An unborn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 weeks .
In addition to identifying his mother ’ s voice , a newborn baby is often calmed by his father ’ s voice , demonstrating the child ’ s memory from hearing soothing sounds in the womb .
A microphone placed inside a pregnant mother ’ s womb revealed that sounds are clearly heard by the baby .
While words are difficult to distinguish , voice patterns and tones are easily recognized .
Music is also clearly heard in the womb .
Womb Songs , an online company , helps mothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them a song in the womb .
“ This Womb Songs website and the Sound Beginning program are designed to change the direction of the emotional consciousness of mankind into a more trusting peaceful calm and loving state of mind , ” stated Dr. Brian Satt , the founder of Womb Songs .
The scientific technique is called musical bonding ; it consists of teaching your unborn baby a song and using it as a bonding and calming tool before and after birth .
“ This experience , ” the website reads , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that their babies can be born into a loving , safe , trusting environment , where babies rarely cry at birth and instead are calm , making eye contact and listening to their womb song !
” Boris Brott ’ s prenatal experience happened accidently and developed into a lifelong love of music ; now the opportunity to expose their unborn babies to the joy of music is open to all parents .

Conductor Boris Brott remembers pieces his cellist mother played while she was pregnant with him.
HAMILTON, Ontario, June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – World renowned Canadian conductor explained that his musical career began “before birth” when he heard music from inside his mother’s womb.
During a radio interview, recounted in Dr. Thomas Verny’s 1982 book, The Secret Life of the Unborn Child, Boris Brott, then-conductor of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario, was asked how he had become interested in music.
“You know this might sound strange,” Brott answered, “but music has been a part of me since before birth.”
“As a young man,” he continued, “I was mystified by this unusual ability I had — to play certain pieces sight unseen. I'd be conducting a score for the first time and, suddenly, the cello line would jump out at me; I'd know the flow of the piece even before I turned the page of the score.”
“One day, I mentioned this to my mother, who is a professional cellist. I thought she'd be intrigued because it was always the cello line that was so distinct in my mind,” Brott recalled.
“She was; but when she heard what the pieces were, the mystery quickly solved itself. All the scores I knew sight unseen were the ones she had played while she was pregnant with me.”
Brott heard the music while in his mother’s womb and, remarkably, remembered it well enough to conduct an orchestra years later. Brott’s prenatal story demonstrates the intelligence of babies in the womb.
An unborn baby begins to hear outside noises at 18 weeks. In addition to identifying his mother’s voice, a newborn baby is often calmed by his father’s voice, demonstrating the child’s memory from hearing soothing sounds in the womb.
A microphone placed inside a pregnant mother’s womb revealed that sounds are clearly heard by the baby. While words are difficult to distinguish, voice patterns and tones are easily recognized. Music is also clearly heard in the womb.
Womb Songs, an online company, helps mothers bond with their unborn children by singing them a song in the womb.
“This Womb Songs website and the Sound Beginning program are designed to change the direction of the emotional consciousness of mankind into a more trusting peaceful calm and loving state of mind,” stated Dr. Brian Satt, the founder of Womb Songs.
The scientific technique is called musical bonding; it consists of teaching your unborn baby a song and using it as a bonding and calming tool before and after birth.
“This experience,” the website reads, “has been showing mothers for decades that their babies can be born into a loving, safe, trusting environment, where babies rarely cry at birth and instead are calm, making eye contact and listening to their womb song!”
Boris Brott’s prenatal experience happened accidently and developed into a lifelong love of music; now the opportunity to expose their unborn babies to the joy of music is open to all parents.
Correction: This article originally indicated Brott was the current conductor of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. However he left that role in 1989, and currently serves as director of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and the Brott Music Festival.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-30--President of Vatican’s new Amazon study ‘conference’ supports married priests

June 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Eight months after the conclusion of the Amazon Synod in the Vatican , bishops and other Catholic leaders from across the Amazon region on Friday have founded the Amazon Ecclesial Conference .
Cardinal Cláudio Hummes , who is a supporter of having married priests , was elected as president of the new organization .
While not much is known yet about the goals of the Amazon Ecclesial Conference , newly elected president Hummes , from Brazil , shortly after the publication of Querida Amazonia , stated that the discussion of married priests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also the head of REPAM and was a member of the drafting committee of the synod ’ s final document calling for female deacons and married priests .
According to the Spanish edition of Vatican News , the conference ’ s approach “ highlights two orientations , following the apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia : the ecclesial and ministerial incarnation ” according to section 85 of the document and the development in the Church of the capacity “ to be open to the Spirit ’ s boldness , to trust in , and concretely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific ecclesial culture that is distinctively lay .
The challenges in the Amazon region demand of the Church a special effort to be present at every level , and this can only be possible through the vigorous , broad and active involvement of the laity ( QA 94 ) .
” Hummes said on Friday , “ This conference is part of the new paths that the Special Synod of Bishops for the Amazon proposed .
It is our responsibility to constitute this Conference , encouraged by our beloved Pope Francis .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first meeting of the Amazon Ecclesial Conference , several representatives of the Vatican were present , albeit only virtually due to coronavirus restrictions around the globe .
Among them were Cardinal Baldisseri , secretary general of the Synod of Bishops ; Cardinal Ouellet of the Congregation for Bishops ; Cardinal Tagle of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples ; and Cardinal Czerny , under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development .
The creation of the Amazon Ecclesial Conference is an outgrowth of the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the same as Pope Francis ’ s post-synodal apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia .
The final document had proposed “ the creation of a Bishops ’ organism that promotes synodality among the churches of the region , helps to express the Amazonian face of this Church and continues the task of finding new paths for the evangelizing mission , especially incorporating the proposal of integral ecology , thus strengthening the physiognomy of the Church in the Amazon.
” According to the document , “ [ i ] t would be a permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ synodality in the Amazon region , connected with CELAM , with its own structure , in a simple organization and also connected with REPAM.
” CELAM is the Latin American Episcopal Council , created in 1955 .
REPAM , on the other hand , is the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network , founded in 2014 to “ bring to the world ’ s attention the fragile situation of indigenous people in the Amazon and the critical importance of the Amazon biome to the planet — our common home.
” According to Cardinal Gerhard Müller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doctrine of the Faith ( CDF ) , the body was “ tasked with the preparation ” of the working document ahead of the Amazon Synod , adding it “ was founded for that very reason in 2014.
” The Vatican also signaled in comments to the National Catholic Register that REPAM ’ s purpose was to help draft the preparatory and working documents for the October synod .
REPAM and key figures from the Vatican ’ s Secretariat for the Synod were behind the private pre-synod “ study-meeting ” held in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included a push for married priests and a reconsideration of the female diaconate .
Cardinal Walter Kasper , Bishop Erwin Kräutler , and Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck also participated in the private meeting .
Cardinal Müller has described REPAM as a “ closed group ” made up of “ absolutely like-minded people , as can easily be gleaned from the list of participants at pre-synodal meetings in Washington and Rome , and it includes a disproportionately large number of mostly German-speaking Europeans.
” The newly constituted Amazon Ecclesial Conference was envisioned by the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the effective instrument in the territory of the Latin American and Caribbean Church for taking up many of the proposals that emerged in this Synod .
It would be the nexus for developing Church and socio-environmental networks and initiatives at the continental and international levels.
” The apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia does not mention the idea of creating an ecclesial conference .
However , Pope Francis said he “ would like to officially present the Final Document , which sets forth the conclusions of the Synod , which profited from the participation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself or the Roman Curia the problems and issues of the Amazon region , since they live there , they experience its suffering and they love it passionately.
” Observers have taken this to mean that the Holy Father did not want to take anything off the table that was proposed in the final document but not taken up by Querida Amazonia – specifically the ideas of female deacons and married priests .

The Amazon Ecclesial Conference was formed to 'be open to the Spirit's boldness' regarding the implementation of Pope Francis's post–Amazon Synod exhortation.
June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Eight months after the conclusion of the Amazon Synod in the Vatican, bishops and other Catholic leaders from across the Amazon region on Friday have founded the Amazon Ecclesial Conference. Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, who is a supporter of having married priests, was elected as president of the new organization.
While not much is known yet about the goals of the Amazon Ecclesial Conference, newly elected president Hummes, from Brazil, shortly after the publication of Querida Amazonia, stated that the discussion of married priests has not been closed. Hummes is also the head of REPAM and was a member of the drafting committee of the synod’s final document calling for female deacons and married priests.
According to the Spanish edition of Vatican News, the conference’s approach “highlights two orientations, following the apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia: the ecclesial and ministerial incarnation” according to section 85 of the document and the development in the Church of the capacity “to be open to the Spirit’s boldness, to trust in, and concretely to permit, the growth of a specific ecclesial culture that is distinctively lay. The challenges in the Amazon region demand of the Church a special effort to be present at every level, and this can only be possible through the vigorous, broad and active involvement of the laity (QA 94).”
Hummes said on Friday, “This conference is part of the new paths that the Special Synod of Bishops for the Amazon proposed. It is our responsibility to constitute this Conference, encouraged by our beloved Pope Francis. He himself suggested the name.”
At the first meeting of the Amazon Ecclesial Conference, several representatives of the Vatican were present, albeit only virtually due to coronavirus restrictions around the globe. Among them were Cardinal Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops; Cardinal Ouellet of the Congregation for Bishops; Cardinal Tagle of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; and Cardinal Czerny, under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
The creation of the Amazon Ecclesial Conference is an outgrowth of the final document of the Amazon Synod, which is not the same as Pope Francis’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia. The final document had proposed “the creation of a Bishops’ organism that promotes synodality among the churches of the region, helps to express the Amazonian face of this Church and continues the task of finding new paths for the evangelizing mission, especially incorporating the proposal of integral ecology, thus strengthening the physiognomy of the Church in the Amazon.”
According to the document, “[i]t would be a permanent and representative Bishops’ organism that promotes synodality in the Amazon region, connected with CELAM, with its own structure, in a simple organization and also connected with REPAM.”
CELAM is the Latin American Episcopal Council, created in 1955. REPAM, on the other hand, is the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network, founded in 2014 to “bring to the world’s attention the fragile situation of indigenous people in the Amazon and the critical importance of the Amazon biome to the planet — our common home.”
According to Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the body was “tasked with the preparation” of the working document ahead of the Amazon Synod, adding it “was founded for that very reason in 2014.” The Vatican also signaled in comments to the National Catholic Register that REPAM’s purpose was to help draft the preparatory and working documents for the October synod.
REPAM and key figures from the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Synod were behind the private pre-synod “study-meeting” held in the summer of 2019, whose final report included a push for married priests and a reconsideration of the female diaconate. Cardinal Walter Kasper, Bishop Erwin Kräutler, and Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck also participated in the private meeting.
Cardinal Müller has described REPAM as a “closed group” made up of “absolutely like-minded people, as can easily be gleaned from the list of participants at pre-synodal meetings in Washington and Rome, and it includes a disproportionately large number of mostly German-speaking Europeans.”
The newly constituted Amazon Ecclesial Conference was envisioned by the final document of the Amazon Synod to be “the effective instrument in the territory of the Latin American and Caribbean Church for taking up many of the proposals that emerged in this Synod. It would be the nexus for developing Church and socio-environmental networks and initiatives at the continental and international levels.”
The apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia does not mention the idea of creating an ecclesial conference. However, Pope Francis said he “would like to officially present the Final Document, which sets forth the conclusions of the Synod, which profited from the participation of many people who know better than myself or the Roman Curia the problems and issues of the Amazon region, since they live there, they experience its suffering and they love it passionately.”
Observers have taken this to mean that the Holy Father did not want to take anything off the table that was proposed in the final document but not taken up by Querida Amazonia – specifically the ideas of female deacons and married priests.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-30--Cardinal Zen contradicts Hong Kong cardinal: China’s new national security law will hurt freedom of

Cardinal Zen contradicts Hong Kong cardinal: China’s new national security law will hurt freedom of religion

HONG KONG , June 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― China has imposed a new security law on Hong Kong that Cardinal Joseph Zen believes will have a deleterious effect on religious freedom .
In a Cantonese video produced by the “ Catholic Faithful Watching the Hong Kong National Security Law , ” Cardinal Zen , 88 , said the national security law imposed upon Hong Kong by the mainland government can not guarantee “ true ” religious freedom .
In doing so , he directly contradicted Cardinal John Tong Hon , 80 , the Apostolic Administrator of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hon is known to be a booster of the unpublished agreement between the Holy See and China and recently voiced support for the new law .
“ Cardinal Hon is very confident ( in the law ) ; I have no confidence , ” Zen said .
“ Our religious freedom means that the affairs of the Church are handled by ourselves without the need to involve the government , ” he said .
Cardinal Zen stated that Hon had disappointed many people by supporting the mainland government ’ s new law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ there will be a lot of trouble ” for the Church if Hon didn ’ t play along .
Zen said the Hong Kong government ’ s liaison office had had a meeting with Hong Kong religious leaders on June 21 , which he characterized not as a “ rational discussion ” but as a lecture in which the leaders were told they should thank the mainland authorities and support the new law .
“ We are not even informed of the details of the law , and we already have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interview , Zen said the Vatican ’ s concordat with China has not brought positive change to the beleaguered Church ’ s plight in the communist country .
“ The Vatican signed the secret agreement with China two years ago already , ” he remarked .
“ We can see no benefit , no true religious freedom.
” Zen observed that on the mainland , the Chinese government appoints the Catholic bishops .
The Holy See says the pope has the right to remove inappropriate candidates , but Zen said he doubted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also referred to the government ’ s attempts to make Catholicism “ more Chinese ” and even to rewrite the Bible , something he finds particularly inappropriate .
“ The interpretation of the Bible should be left to the Church , ” he said .
He also stressed it was the Church ’ s “ right and responsibility ” to choose bishops , noting that the Chinese government doesn ’ t know what makes a good bishop .
Zen stated that “ even His Eminence Cardinal Hon ” has to admit that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mainland China and brought up the spectre of the ersatz government-approved “ Catholic ” church set up by Chinese government in 1957 .
“ Please ask His Eminence this question , ” he said to his interviewers .
“ What is he going to do if one day they set up a Chinese Patriotic Association in Hong Kong ?
Do you believe that Chinese patriotic associations can comply with the traditions of our Catholic faith ?
” Cardinal Zen said there was no reason for the Vatican to remain silent on injustices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not have an economy that profits from doing business with the dictatorship .
“ I have no idea why the Vatican remains silent ; perhaps she hopes to establish diplomatic relations with ( China ) , ” he said .
“ ( But ) why establish diplomatic ties if one has to obey the other afterwards ?
” Cardinal Zen believes that the new law will “ destroy Hong Kong , ” something he says will not benefit the mainland in any way .
“ Perhaps they are truly insane , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” China has just imposed its new law upon Hong Kong .
According to the BBC , the still-secret law will “ criminalize secession , subversion and collusion with foreign forces.
” It will also “ effectively curtail protests and freedom of speech.
” The law is expected to undermine the freedoms that Hong Kong took for granted before it was returned to Chinese rule from Britain on July 1,1997 .
Between the handover and today , “ one country , two systems ” was a constitutional principle of China ’ s governance @ @ @ @ @

'We can see no benefit, no true religious freedom' from the Vatican's deal with China two years ago, Cardinal Zen says.
HONG KONG, June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― China has imposed a new security law on Hong Kong that Cardinal Joseph Zen believes will have a deleterious effect on religious freedom.
In a Cantonese video produced by the “Catholic Faithful Watching the Hong Kong National Security Law,” Cardinal Zen, 88, said the national security law imposed upon Hong Kong by the mainland government cannot guarantee “true” religious freedom.
In doing so, he directly contradicted Cardinal John Tong Hon, 80, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Hong Kong since January 2019. Hon is known to be a booster of the unpublished agreement between the Holy See and China and recently voiced support for the new law.
“Cardinal Hon is very confident (in the law); I have no confidence,” Zen said.
“Our religious freedom means that the affairs of the Church are handled by ourselves without the need to involve the government,” he said.
Cardinal Zen stated that Hon had disappointed many people by supporting the mainland government’s new law for Hong Kong, but also that “there will be a lot of trouble” for the Church if Hon didn’t play along.
Zen said the Hong Kong government’s liaison office had had a meeting with Hong Kong religious leaders on June 21, which he characterized not as a “rational discussion” but as a lecture in which the leaders were told they should thank the mainland authorities and support the new law.
“We are not even informed of the details of the law, and we already have to agree,” he said.
“This is wrong.”
In the interview, Zen said the Vatican’s concordat with China has not brought positive change to the beleaguered Church’s plight in the communist country.
“The Vatican signed the secret agreement with China two years ago already,” he remarked.
“We can see no benefit, no true religious freedom.”
Zen observed that on the mainland, the Chinese government appoints the Catholic bishops. The Holy See says the pope has the right to remove inappropriate candidates, but Zen said he doubted that this is the case. He also referred to the government’s attempts to make Catholicism “more Chinese” and even to rewrite the Bible, something he finds particularly inappropriate.
“The interpretation of the Bible should be left to the Church,” he said.
He also stressed it was the Church’s “right and responsibility” to choose bishops, noting that the Chinese government doesn’t know what makes a good bishop.
Zen stated that “even His Eminence Cardinal Hon” has to admit that there is “no true religious freedom” in mainland China and brought up the spectre of the ersatz government-approved “Catholic” church set up by Chinese government in 1957.
“Please ask His Eminence this question,” he said to his interviewers.
“What is he going to do if one day they set up a Chinese Patriotic Association in Hong Kong? Do you believe that Chinese patriotic associations can comply with the traditions of our Catholic faith?”
Cardinal Zen said there was no reason for the Vatican to remain silent on injustices perpetrated by China, as the Vatican does not have an economy that profits from doing business with the dictatorship.
“I have no idea why the Vatican remains silent; perhaps she hopes to establish diplomatic relations with (China),” he said.
“(But) why establish diplomatic ties if one has to obey the other afterwards?”
Cardinal Zen believes that the new law will “destroy Hong Kong,” something he says will not benefit the mainland in any way.
“Perhaps they are truly insane,” he said. “Who knows?”
China has just imposed its new law upon Hong Kong. According to the BBC, the still-secret law will “criminalize secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces.” It will also “effectively curtail protests and freedom of speech.” The law is expected to undermine the freedoms that Hong Kong took for granted before it was returned to Chinese rule from Britain on July 1,1997. Between the handover and today, “one country, two systems” was a constitutional principle of China’s governance of the island nation.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-30--President Trump will ‘lead America back to God,’ according to 1983 prophecy

June 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — What if I told you that there was someone who prophesied in the early 1980s that Donald Trump would bring America back to God ?
The other day a close friend came over and mentioned such a prophecy .
It was actually contained in a somewhat viral video from a few years ago done by a Catholic priest .
That video was viewed over half a million times , and it recounted the story of this Catholic priest ’ s visit with a holy Catholic man in Loreto , Italy .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The prophecy about Trump , however , was told not directly to the priest by the hermit , but to the priest ’ s friend — and he relayed it in his video .
When I heard this , I remembered the story and actually thought we already covered it at LifeSite at the time .
When I looked in our archives , we hadn ’ t .
Now , when I reviewed the video I noticed that it was secondhand information .
And , as things happen sometimes , the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t publish a story on it .
In the wake of the historic letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò to President Trump and the president ’ s own recognition of it , that prophecy has taken on new significance .
As Providence would have it , I was able to speak with the original source of the story — Dr. Claude Curran ( more on him in a minute ) .
In 1997 , a video by Fr .
Giacomo Capoverde from Rhode Island went viral with over half a million views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about his friend Dr. Claude Curran , a psychiatrist who encouraged him when he was going on a visit to Rome to travel to Loreto , Italy to meet a holy man who spent all his life praying in churches .
And in the video , he told the story related to him by Dr. Curran about the holy man ’ s prediction about Donald Trump .
That video was posted on February 17 , 2017 .
A few weeks later , on March 6 , 2017 , there was an intriguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An American living in Loreto working as a tour guide was barraged with emails asking him to check out the veracity of the story .
So Bret Thoman , who runs St. Francis Pilgrimages , began an investigation , since he had never heard of the so-called “ holy man ” — whose real name is Tom Zimmer , a World War II veteran .
The tour guide , although a devout Catholic , described his reaction to the video as “ somewhere between skepticism and suspicion.
” Knowing the friars who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to have spent almost all his time , Thoman spoke to one of the friars who remembered him as “ L ’ Americano ” ( the American ) .
Thoman recounts that the friars “ found him to be courteous and polite , if not a little ‘ particular.
’ ” Tom purportedly attended upwards of four or five Masses every day and spent the rest of his time praying .
Thoman was directed to another friar — Fr .
Sanatarelli , who had been at Loreto for decades — and as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who prayed , Fr .
Sanaterelli cut him off , saying “ Ah sì , Thomas Zimmer , si chiamava ... certo che mi ricordo ... ” ( “ Ah yes , Thomas Zimmer was his name , of course I remember him ... ” ) .
He went on to say everyone in Loreto knew of him .
Although Fr .
Sanatarelli didn ’ t know anything about the Trump prophecy made by Tom , he could confirm that Tom was in Loreto going to Mass and praying most of the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The friar actually had a photo of Tom Zimmer , which he showed Bret Thoman , who included it in his blog post .
Bret Thoman concluded his investigation into Tom Zimmer this way : “ I have no reason to doubt Fr .
Capoverdi ’ s statements that Thomas Zimmer communicated to his friend that he received a ‘ premonition ’ that Donald Trump would ‘ lead America back to God.
’ ” With regard to the Trump prophecy ’ s accuracy , he said , that remains to be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Claude Curran , the original source of the information Fr .
Capoverde shared in his video .
Dr. Curran is still a practicing psychiatrist in Fall River , Massachusetts .
He too is a devout Catholic with five children .
Dr. Curran met Tom Zimmer while in St. Peter ’ s Square when John Paul II was elected pope .
Several years later , in 1983 , Tom told Dr. Curran in St. Peter ’ s that “ right now , in the United States , there ’ s a man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has the I.Q .
of a genius .
And a first-class education .
And everything he approaches he attacks with blinding efficiency ... his name is Donald Trump.
” Dr. Curran informed Tom that the man he was speaking about was actually known to be a high-flying , jetsetting millioniare who dated models .
“ No , Claude , ” he said , “ I ’ m telling you , the hand of God is on him , and God is going to use him in the future.
” “ Claude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m telling you , ” Tom continued , “ that I have bought a memorial brick for Donald J. Trump , I put his name on it , and he will now benefit from all the masses and prayers in the Vatican for as long as that brick remains in the Holy Door.
” In 2017 , Fr .
Capoverde already believed that the prophecy of Tom Zimmer was fulfilled in President Trump because Melania Trump led a huge public meeting by praying the Lord ’ s prayer .
Just think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen Trump bring America back to God since then .
And there is no one better to describe that than the former apostolic nuncio — that is , papal representative to the United States of America — Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò .
At LifeSite , we were privileged to be asked by Archbishop Viganò to publish his open letter to President Trump , and when the president himself retweeted it and spoke of his thanks and admiration for Archibhsop Viganò , it was tremendous .
It is in fact in the archbishop ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fulfillment of that 1983 prophecy of Tom Zimmer can be seen even more clearly .
Tom Zimmer was real , and saintly .
He did make that prophecy about President Trump in 1983 , and , if it has at least in part been fulfilled already , maybe with Tom ’ s intercession for America — his homeland — and for President Trump , we ’ ll see the president do even more to bring America back to God in the future .
The John-Henry Westen Show is available by video on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here on my LifeSite blog .
It is also available in audio format on platforms such as Spotify , Soundcloud , and ACast .
We are awaiting approval for iTunes and Google Play as well .
To subscribe to the audio version on various channels , visit the ACast webpage here .
We ’ ve created a special email list for the show so that we can notify you every week when we post a new episode .
Please sign up now by clicking here .
You can also subscribe to the YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified by YouTube when there is new content .
You can send me feedback , or ideas for show topics by emailing [ email protected ] .

Tom Zimmer said in 1983 that 'right now, in the United States, there’s a man who has the hand of God on him...and God is going to use him in the future...his name is Donald Trump.'
June 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — What if I told you that there was someone who prophesied in the early 1980s that Donald Trump would bring America back to God?
The other day a close friend came over and mentioned such a prophecy.
It was actually contained in a somewhat viral video from a few years ago done by a Catholic priest.
That video was viewed over half a million times, and it recounted the story of this Catholic priest’s visit with a holy Catholic man in Loreto, Italy. He called him the “hermit of Loreto.”
The prophecy about Trump, however, was told not directly to the priest by the hermit, but to the priest’s friend — and he relayed it in his video.
When I heard this, I remembered the story and actually thought we already covered it at LifeSite at the time. When I looked in our archives, we hadn’t.
Now, when I reviewed the video I noticed that it was secondhand information. And, as things happen sometimes, the news cycle moved on, and we didn’t publish a story on it.
In the wake of the historic letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò to President Trump and the president’s own recognition of it, that prophecy has taken on new significance.
As Providence would have it, I was able to speak with the original source of the story — Dr. Claude Curran (more on him in a minute).
In 1997, a video by Fr. Giacomo Capoverde from Rhode Island went viral with over half a million views.
The video is Fr. Capoverde talking about his friend Dr. Claude Curran, a psychiatrist who encouraged him when he was going on a visit to Rome to travel to Loreto, Italy to meet a holy man who spent all his life praying in churches.
And in the video, he told the story related to him by Dr. Curran about the holy man’s prediction about Donald Trump.
That video was posted on February 17, 2017.
A few weeks later, on March 6, 2017, there was an intriguing confirmation of some aspects of the story.
An American living in Loreto working as a tour guide was barraged with emails asking him to check out the veracity of the story.
So Bret Thoman, who runs St. Francis Pilgrimages, began an investigation, since he had never heard of the so-called “holy man” — whose real name is Tom Zimmer, a World War II veteran.
The tour guide, although a devout Catholic, described his reaction to the video as “somewhere between skepticism and suspicion.”
Knowing the friars who run the Church where Tom Zimmer was said to have spent almost all his time, Thoman spoke to one of the friars who remembered him as “L’Americano” (the American).
Thoman recounts that the friars “found him to be courteous and polite, if not a little ‘particular.’”
Tom purportedly attended upwards of four or five Masses every day and spent the rest of his time praying.
Thoman was directed to another friar — Fr. Sanatarelli, who had been at Loreto for decades — and as soon as Thoman began describing the American who prayed, Fr. Sanaterelli cut him off, saying “Ah sì, Thomas Zimmer, si chiamava…certo che mi ricordo…” (“Ah yes, Thomas Zimmer was his name, of course I remember him…”).
He went on to say everyone in Loreto knew of him.
Although Fr. Sanatarelli didn’t know anything about the Trump prophecy made by Tom, he could confirm that Tom was in Loreto going to Mass and praying most of the day before he returned to America in 2008.
The friar actually had a photo of Tom Zimmer, which he showed Bret Thoman, who included it in his blog post.
Bret Thoman concluded his investigation into Tom Zimmer this way: “I have no reason to doubt Fr. Capoverdi’s statements that Thomas Zimmer communicated to his friend that he received a ‘premonition’ that Donald Trump would ‘lead America back to God.’”
With regard to the Trump prophecy’s accuracy, he said, that remains to be seen.
I was able to track down Dr. Claude Curran, the original source of the information Fr. Capoverde shared in his video.
Dr. Curran is still a practicing psychiatrist in Fall River, Massachusetts. He too is a devout Catholic with five children.
Dr. Curran met Tom Zimmer while in St. Peter’s Square when John Paul II was elected pope.
Several years later, in 1983, Tom told Dr. Curran in St. Peter’s that “right now, in the United States, there’s a man who has the hand of God on him. He has the I.Q. of a genius. And a first-class education. And everything he approaches he attacks with blinding efficiency…his name is Donald Trump.”
Dr. Curran informed Tom that the man he was speaking about was actually known to be a high-flying, jetsetting millioniare who dated models.
“No, Claude,” he said, “I’m telling you, the hand of God is on him, and God is going to use him in the future.”
“Claude, I am so convincd about what I’m telling you,” Tom continued, “that I have bought a memorial brick for Donald J. Trump, I put his name on it, and he will now benefit from all the masses and prayers in the Vatican for as long as that brick remains in the Holy Door.”
In 2017, Fr. Capoverde already believed that the prophecy of Tom Zimmer was fulfilled in President Trump because Melania Trump led a huge public meeting by praying the Lord’s prayer.
Just think how much more see we’ve seen Trump bring America back to God since then.
And there is no one better to describe that than the former apostolic nuncio — that is, papal representative to the United States of America — Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò.
At LifeSite, we were privileged to be asked by Archbishop Viganò to publish his open letter to President Trump, and when the president himself retweeted it and spoke of his thanks and admiration for Archibhsop Viganò, it was tremendous.
It is in fact in the archbishop’s letter to President Trump that the fulfillment of that 1983 prophecy of Tom Zimmer can be seen even more clearly.
Archbishop Viganò wrote:
For the first time, the United States has in you a President who courageously defends the right to life, who is not ashamed to denounce the persecution of Christians throughout the world, who speaks of Jesus Christ and the right of citizens to freedom of worship. Your participation in the March for Life, and more recently your proclamation of the month of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, are actions that confirm which side you wish to fight on. And I dare to believe that both of us are on the same side in this battle, albeit with different weapons. Mr. President, my prayer is constantly turned to the beloved American nation, where I had the privilege and honor of being sent by Pope Benedict XVI as Apostolic Nuncio. In this dramatic and decisive hour for all of humanity, I am praying for you and also for all those who are at your side in the government of the United States. I trust that the American people are united with me and you in prayer to Almighty God.
Tom Zimmer was real, and saintly. He did make that prophecy about President Trump in 1983, and, if it has at least in part been fulfilled already, maybe with Tom’s intercession for America — his homeland — and for President Trump, we’ll see the president do even more to bring America back to God in the future.
The John-Henry Westen Show is available by video on the show’s YouTube channel and right here on my LifeSite blog.
It is also available in audio format on platforms such as Spotify, Soundcloud, and ACast. We are awaiting approval for iTunes and Google Play as well. To subscribe to the audio version on various channels, visit the ACast webpage here.
We’ve created a special email list for the show so that we can notify you every week when we post a new episode. Please sign up now by clicking here. You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel, and you’ll be notified by YouTube when there is new content.
You can send me feedback, or ideas for show topics by emailing [email protected].
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