lifesitenews--2020-08-18--Swiss bishop rebukes Germans: Laity cannot replace priests in running parishes

CHUR , Switzerland , August 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Following the publication of a Vatican instruction in July that emphasizes that only priests can lead a parish , numerous German bishops criticized the document and vowed to disregard it .
Bishop Marian Eleganti from Switzerland , where he serves as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Chur , in turn wrote a response to the German bishops ( reproduced in full below ) , explaining that the laity can only assist the priest , but not replace him .
“ The priest ’ s private person is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christ , in whose place he stands and whose voice he is , ” Eleganti wrote .
From this it follows that the priest is the image of Christ.
” He emphasized that priests are essential by pointing out that “ there is no living parish without the Holy Eucharist , and there is no Holy Eucharist without priests.
” Pope John Paul II had already addressed similar questions of lay leadership in parishes and the role of the priest , according to Eleganti .
“ The term ‘ pastor ’ is reserved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the indispensable and inevitable condition for this , ” the bishop said .
“ Certainly , the faithful ( and charisms ) can assist him as collaborators , but they can not replace him as Pastor , because , as John Paul II points out here , they have not received the ordained ministry.
” Eleganti , referring to the Second Vatican Council , explained that the sacramental priesthood of any ordained priest “ differs ontologically and not only in degree from the common priesthood of the faithful .
It must therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( functions can be delegated and transferred at will , but not the priesthood ) .
” Pointing to the distinct roles , responsibilities , and duties of priests and laity , Eleganti concluded , “ Unfortunately , it must be said that since the Council , these fundamental ecclesiological truths connected with the priesthood and the sacramental structure of the Church have been widely offended against throughout the world.
” Indeed , many German bishops issued statements saying they will not comply with the Vatican ’ s instruction , prepared and published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as explicitly approved by Pope Francis .
Among others , Bishop Franz-Josef Bode , vice president of the German Bishops ’ Conference , admitted that the instruction allows lay people leading a parish “ only as a temporary ‘ emergency decree.
’ ” He added , “ I am of the opinion that this emergency will be permanent in some places.
” His diocese of Osnabrück already employs five lay people as leaders of parishes .
Bode failed to explain that there are fewer than 80 parishes in his diocese and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priests already retired .
“ Unfortunately this ‘ instruction ’ is such a strong brake on the motivation and appreciation of the ministries of lay people that I am very concerned about how we are to find new committed Christians under such conditions and how we can continue to accompany and support our pastoral workers well , ” Body said .
“ We are in a time in which there are notoriously too few priests who can be pastors also under today ’ s conditions , ” he continued .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who have been baptized and confirmed .
Otherwise there can be no conversion to evangelization and mission.
” For Bishop Eleganti , the attitude exemplified by Bishop Bode and others is “ fatal for the priesthood , for the sacramental nature of the Church as universal sacrament of salvation , and for priestly vocations.
” Lay people can assist the priest , but they can not replace him The clericalization of the laity is not a solution but the core of the problem A statement on the recent instruction of the Congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in persona Christi.
” So says the Second Vatican Council in Lumen gentium ( LG 10 ) and in Presbyterorum Ordinis ( PO 2 ) .
[ 1 ] St. Ambrose writes : “ … but at the moment he prepares to celebrate the venerable sacrament , the priest no longer uses his own words , but makes use of the words of Christ : it is therefore the word of Christ which brings forth this sacrament ” ( De Sacramentis IV/14 : SC 35 ) .
The priest ’ s private person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Christ , in whose place he stands and whose voice he is .
From this it follows that the priest is the image of Christ .
“ By virtue of the sacrament of Orders … they are consecrated in the image of Christ ” ( LG 28 ) .
The Council speaks in PO 2 of a special , indelible mark and in LG 10 of a difference in nature – and not only in degree – with regard to the lay faithful .
“ The ecclesial community has an absolute need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Head and Shepherd present in her.
” [ 2 ] The latest instruction of the Congregation for the Clergy is therefore a defense of the sacramentality of the Church and has nothing to do with regression and clericalism .
The accusation of being centered on the priest misses the essence of the matter , because there is no living parish without the Holy Eucharist , and there is no Holy Eucharist without priests .
Priests exercise the ministry of Christ , Head and Shepherd , according to their share of authority .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they gather together the family of God , which , as a community of brothers and sisters , desires unity , and lead them in the Spirit through Christ to God the Father .
“ So we are ambassadors for Christ , God making his appeal through us .
We beseech you on behalf of Christ , be reconciled to God ” ( 2 Cor 5:20 ) .
“ This is how one should regard us , as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God ” ( 1 Cor 4:1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his address to the Congregation for the Clergy already quoted , emphasized in 2001 that it is fundamental for the parish to have a priest as its own pastor .
[ 3 ] The term “ pastor ” is reserved for the priest , because the ordination is the indispensable and inevitable condition for this .
Certainly , the faithful ( and charisms ) can assist him as collaborators , but they can not replace him as Pastor , because , as John Paul II points out here , they have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] It is therefore a question of making Christ , the Good Shepherd , present .
The Church is built around the bishop , the parish around the priest , who are in close communion with one another , as already Ignatius of Antioch tirelessly emphasized in his farewell letters .
“ The priest ’ s relation to the Church is inscribed in the very relation which the priest has to Christ , such that the ‘ sacramental representation ’ to Christ serves as the basis and inspiration for the relation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dabo vobis 16 ) .
The ecclesial community needs the priesthood so that Christ may remain present in it as High Priest , Head , Shepherd , Teacher and Bridegroom .
Without Christ ’ s presence , which the priest communicates in his person and through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist , the parish would not be a complete ecclesial community , according to John Paul II .
This fundamental relationship which the priest has with Christ ( because he is his sacramental presence ) constitutes the priest ’ s special profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ontologically and not only in degree from the common priesthood of the faithful .
It must therefore not be understood in purely functional terms ( functions can be delegated and transferred at will , but not the priesthood ) .
This means it is a sacrament : a real symbol and reality .
Already John Paul II warned against the dangerous error of giving in to the difficulties caused by a lack of priests and pretending to be prepared for a future without priests .
The priest is definitely not a phase-out model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Church , in other words , of the presence of Christ in the Church .
The priest is irreplaceable .
Even if the priest can be surpassed individually by other non-ordained faithful in many things ( intelligence , eloquence , leadership qualities , personal charisma , etc . )
, what remains unaffected by this is that he and only he can be the sacramental presence of Christ , Head and Shepherd .
This is shown above all in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist , but not only .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , namely to guide , to teach , and to sanctify .
Everything that undermines or fragments this unity and leaves only a sacramental torso of the priesthood must be avoided .
The Council explicitly wanted the unity of the tria munera .
This must be preserved in pastoral models .
Those who deviate from it stand no longer on the foundation of the Second Vatican Council , despite assertions to the contrary .
The priest is the actual minister of the Holy Eucharist .
But he is not only the servant of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebration and beyond it , as I said , also shepherd and teacher ( prophet ) .
He therefore has final and supreme leadership competence ( pastoral and teaching authority ) in the leadership of the parish or “ large parish ” ( pastoral association or unit ) and exercises it in dependence on his bishop .
As pastor , he must “ not lose his face ” ( cf .
“ I know my own and my own know me , ” Jn 10:14 ) by being replaced with an abstract pastoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the priest visible or accepting him as the good shepherd in its midst who has the final responsibility .
From this follows that because of the sacramental nature of the Church , there is no unordained ministerial office .
Already the Council of Trent wanted the unity of leadership and ordination .
With the term “ actuosa participatio ” the Second Vatican Council did not have in mind the clericalization of the laity , nor their activism in the sanctuary .
The genuine task of the laity is rather to be prophetically at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaven , salt of the earth and light of the world .
This is also where their true Christian vocation lies ( categorical collaboration in pastoral care ) .
Unfortunately , it must be said that since the Council , these fundamental ecclesiological truths connected with the priesthood and the sacramental structure of the Church have been widely offended against throughout the world .
Instead of the lay faithful being involved in all areas of society with prophetic charisma and their own competences on the basis of their baptism , they have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The priest was even downgraded to their so-called “ priestly co-worker '' ” in many places – namely in those places where lay people have fully assumed the leadership of the congregation , among them also women .
The so-called ( lay ) community leaders , which should not exist at all as an alternative model to the priest , have partly displaced or marginalized the priest .
They sometimes even prevent him from carrying out his genuinely priestly tasks such as the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and holy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go before the congregation , preach and distribute Holy Communion .
In our country , this happens in part also where priests are available .
This means that lay people do the same on the basis of a missio ( a church mandate issued by the bishop ) that priests and deacons do ( may do ) only on the basis of their ordination : for example , the proclamation of the Gospel and the homily .
This is subversive to the sacramental structure of the Church and de facto undermines it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tolerated only as co-worker and minister of the sacraments .
The games of reducing the priest to the administration of the Holy Eucharist and confession , which have already been partly implemented in our parts of the world , are fatal for the priesthood , for the sacramental nature of the Church as universal sacrament of salvation , and for priestly vocations .
We must confront them with all our strength , because they are in no way covered by the apostolic tradition in West and East .
[ 2 ] For my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Pope John Paul II , as he presented them in a 2001 in an address to the plenary session of the Congregation for the Clergy ( November 23 , 2001 : AAS 94 ( 2002 ) , p. 214-215 ) [ 3 ] cf .
Pope John Paul II , Address to the plenary session of the Congregation for the Clergy ( November 23 , 2001 : AAS 94 ( 2002 ) , p. 214-215 ) [ 4 ] Pope John Paul II , Address to the plenary session of the Congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2001 : AAS 94 ( 2002 ) , p. 214-215 ) .
Cf .
Instruction by the Congregation for the Clergy “ The Priest , Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community ” ( August 4 , 2002 ) .

CHUR, Switzerland, August 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Following the publication of a Vatican instruction in July that emphasizes that only priests can lead a parish, numerous German bishops criticized the document and vowed to disregard it.
Bishop Marian Eleganti from Switzerland, where he serves as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Chur, in turn wrote a response to the German bishops (reproduced in full below), explaining that the laity can only assist the priest, but not replace him.
“The priest’s private person is taken into possession by the person of Christ, in whose place he stands and whose voice he is,” Eleganti wrote. From this it follows that the priest is the image of Christ.”
He emphasized that priests are essential by pointing out that “there is no living parish without the Holy Eucharist, and there is no Holy Eucharist without priests.”
Pope John Paul II had already addressed similar questions of lay leadership in parishes and the role of the priest, according to Eleganti.
“The term ‘pastor’ is reserved for the priest, because the ordination is the indispensable and inevitable condition for this,” the bishop said. “Certainly, the faithful (and charisms) can assist him as collaborators, but they cannot replace him as Pastor, because, as John Paul II points out here, they have not received the ordained ministry.”
Eleganti, referring to the Second Vatican Council, explained that the sacramental priesthood of any ordained priest “differs ontologically and not only in degree from the common priesthood of the faithful. It must therefore not be understood in purely functional terms (functions can be delegated and transferred at will, but not the priesthood).”
Pointing to the distinct roles, responsibilities, and duties of priests and laity, Eleganti concluded, “Unfortunately, it must be said that since the Council, these fundamental ecclesiological truths connected with the priesthood and the sacramental structure of the Church have been widely offended against throughout the world.”
Indeed, many German bishops issued statements saying they will not comply with the Vatican’s instruction, prepared and published by the Congregation for the Clergy, as well as explicitly approved by Pope Francis.
Among others, Bishop Franz-Josef Bode, vice president of the German Bishops’ Conference, admitted that the instruction allows lay people leading a parish “only as a temporary ‘emergency decree.’” He added, “I am of the opinion that this emergency will be permanent in some places.”
His diocese of Osnabrück already employs five lay people as leaders of parishes. Bode failed to explain that there are fewer than 80 parishes in his diocese and more than 330 priests, with some priests already retired.
“Unfortunately this ‘instruction’ is such a strong brake on the motivation and appreciation of the ministries of lay people that I am very concerned about how we are to find new committed Christians under such conditions and how we can continue to accompany and support our pastoral workers well,” Body said.
“We are in a time in which there are notoriously too few priests who can be pastors also under today’s conditions,” he continued. “We are dependent on the intensive cooperation of all those who have been baptized and confirmed. Otherwise there can be no conversion to evangelization and mission.”
For Bishop Eleganti, the attitude exemplified by Bishop Bode and others is “fatal for the priesthood, for the sacramental nature of the Church as universal sacrament of salvation, and for priestly vocations.”
Full text of Bishop Eleganti’s statement:
Lay people can assist the priest, but they cannot replace him
The clericalization of the laity is not a solution but the core of the problem
A statement on the recent instruction of the Congregation for the Clergy
Auxiliary Bishop Dr. Marian Eleganti, O.S.B.
The priest acts “in persona Christi.” So says the Second Vatican Council in Lumen gentium (LG 10) and in Presbyterorum Ordinis (PO 2). [1] St. Ambrose writes: “… but at the moment he prepares to celebrate the venerable sacrament, the priest no longer uses his own words, but makes use of the words of Christ: it is therefore the word of Christ which brings forth this sacrament” (De Sacramentis IV/14: SC 35). The priest’s private person is taken into possession by the person of Christ, in whose place he stands and whose voice he is. From this it follows that the priest is the image of Christ. “By virtue of the sacrament of Orders … they are consecrated in the image of Christ” (LG 28). The Council speaks in PO 2 of a special, indelible mark and in LG 10 of a difference in nature – and not only in degree – with regard to the lay faithful. “The ecclesial community has an absolute need for the ministerial priesthood to have Christ the Head and Shepherd present in her.” [2]
The latest instruction of the Congregation for the Clergy is therefore a defense of the sacramentality of the Church and has nothing to do with regression and clericalism. The accusation of being centered on the priest misses the essence of the matter, because there is no living parish without the Holy Eucharist, and there is no Holy Eucharist without priests. Priests exercise the ministry of Christ, Head and Shepherd, according to their share of authority. In the name of the bishop, they gather together the family of God, which, as a community of brothers and sisters, desires unity, and lead them in the Spirit through Christ to God the Father. “So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4:1).
Pope John Paul II, in his address to the Congregation for the Clergy already quoted, emphasized in 2001 that it is fundamental for the parish to have a priest as its own pastor. [3] The term “pastor” is reserved for the priest, because the ordination is the indispensable and inevitable condition for this. Certainly, the faithful (and charisms) can assist him as collaborators, but they cannot replace him as Pastor, because, as John Paul II points out here, they have not received the ordained ministry. [4] It is therefore a question of making Christ, the Good Shepherd, present. The Church is built around the bishop, the parish around the priest, who are in close communion with one another, as already Ignatius of Antioch tirelessly emphasized in his farewell letters. “The priest’s relation to the Church is inscribed in the very relation which the priest has to Christ, such that the ‘sacramental representation’ to Christ serves as the basis and inspiration for the relation of the priest to the Church” (Pastores dabo vobis 16). The ecclesial community needs the priesthood so that Christ may remain present in it as High Priest, Head, Shepherd, Teacher and Bridegroom. Without Christ’s presence, which the priest communicates in his person and through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the parish would not be a complete ecclesial community, according to John Paul II. This fundamental relationship which the priest has with Christ (because he is his sacramental presence) constitutes the priest’s special profile and nature. His priesthood therefore differs ontologically and not only in degree from the common priesthood of the faithful. It must therefore not be understood in purely functional terms (functions can be delegated and transferred at will, but not the priesthood). This means it is a sacrament: a real symbol and reality.
Already John Paul II warned against the dangerous error of giving in to the difficulties caused by a lack of priests and pretending to be prepared for a future without priests. The priest is definitely not a phase-out model, but constitutive of the sacramental character of the Church, in other words, of the presence of Christ in the Church. The priest is irreplaceable.
Even if the priest can be surpassed individually by other non-ordained faithful in many things (intelligence, eloquence, leadership qualities, personal charisma, etc.), what remains unaffected by this is that he and only he can be the sacramental presence of Christ, Head and Shepherd. This is shown above all in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, but not only. From this follows the unity of his ministries, namely to guide, to teach, and to sanctify. Everything that undermines or fragments this unity and leaves only a sacramental torso of the priesthood must be avoided.
The Council explicitly wanted the unity of the tria munera. This must be preserved in pastoral models. Those who deviate from it stand no longer on the foundation of the Second Vatican Council, despite assertions to the contrary. The priest is the actual minister of the Holy Eucharist. But he is not only the servant of the liturgy, but in the Eucharistic celebration and beyond it, as I said, also shepherd and teacher (prophet). He therefore has final and supreme leadership competence (pastoral and teaching authority) in the leadership of the parish or “large parish” (pastoral association or unit) and exercises it in dependence on his bishop. As pastor, he must “not lose his face” (cf. “I know my own and my own know me,” Jn 10:14) by being replaced with an abstract pastoral team which feeds the flock without making the priest visible or accepting him as the good shepherd in its midst who has the final responsibility.
From this follows that because of the sacramental nature of the Church, there is no unordained ministerial office. Already the Council of Trent wanted the unity of leadership and ordination. With the term “actuosa participatio” the Second Vatican Council did not have in mind the clericalization of the laity, nor their activism in the sanctuary. The genuine task of the laity is rather to be prophetically at work in all areas of society as leaven, salt of the earth and light of the world. This is also where their true Christian vocation lies (categorical collaboration in pastoral care).
Unfortunately, it must be said that since the Council, these fundamental ecclesiological truths connected with the priesthood and the sacramental structure of the Church have been widely offended against throughout the world. Instead of the lay faithful being involved in all areas of society with prophetic charisma and their own competences on the basis of their baptism, they have been clericalized and entrusted with priestly leadership tasks. The priest was even downgraded to their so-called “priestly co-worker”” in many places – namely in those places where lay people have fully assumed the leadership of the congregation, among them also women. The so-called (lay) community leaders, which should not exist at all as an alternative model to the priest, have partly displaced or marginalized the priest. They sometimes even prevent him from carrying out his genuinely priestly tasks such as the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and holy days of obligation. They themselves want to go before the congregation, preach and distribute Holy Communion. In our country, this happens in part also where priests are available. This means that lay people do the same on the basis of a missio (a church mandate issued by the bishop) that priests and deacons do (may do) only on the basis of their ordination: for example, the proclamation of the Gospel and the homily. This is subversive to the sacramental structure of the Church and de facto undermines it. In many places the priest is tolerated only as co-worker and minister of the sacraments. The games of reducing the priest to the administration of the Holy Eucharist and confession, which have already been partly implemented in our parts of the world, are fatal for the priesthood, for the sacramental nature of the Church as universal sacrament of salvation, and for priestly vocations. We must confront them with all our strength, because they are in no way covered by the apostolic tradition in West and East.
[1] SC 33; LG 12 and 28; PO 2 and 12.
[2] For my essay, I use the theological considerations of Pope John Paul II, as he presented them in a 2001 in an address to the plenary session of the Congregation for the Clergy (November 23, 2001: AAS 94 (2002), p. 214-215)
[3] cf. Pope John Paul II, Address to the plenary session of the Congregation for the Clergy (November 23, 2001: AAS 94 (2002), p. 214-215)
[4] Pope John Paul II, Address to the plenary session of the Congregation for the Clergy (November 23, 2001: AAS 94 (2002), p. 214-215). Cf. Instruction by the Congregation for the Clergy “The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community” (August 4, 2002).
Translation from German original by Martin Bürger.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-18--BREAKING: Nick Sandmann, Abby Johnson to speak at Republican National Convention

CHARLOTTE , August 17 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – National pro-life advocates Abby Johnson and Nick Sandmann will address the 2020 Republican National Convention next week to highlight the stakes of the November election for the preborn if former Vice President Joe Biden replaces Donald Trump as president of the United States .
The Trump campaign confirmed the news to Breitbart Monday , explaining that Johnson , Sandmann , and other speakers were selected to “ illustrate the potentially disastrous consequences of Democrat governance , ” such as the dangers of left-wing “ cancel culture.
” Johnson is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ converted to the pro-life cause in 2009 , and has since exposed numerous details about the inner workings of the abortion industry .
She now leads And Then There Were None , a nonprofit dedicated to helping people leave the abortion industry .
Her story was turned into a successful motion picture last year , Unplanned .
Sandmann was a student at Kentucky ’ s Covington Catholic High School who attended the 2019 March for Life in Washington DC , and found himself at the heart of a national firestorm when the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him and his classmates harassing Native American activist Nathan Phillips outside the Lincoln Memorial .
But additional extended video and firsthand accounts soon revealed that Phillips was the one who waded into the group waiting for its bus and decided to beat a drum inches from Sandmann ’ s face , while the boys had merely performed school cheers in hopes of drowning out racist taunts from members of the Black Hebrew Israelites fringe group .
Johnson is likely to discuss both President Trump ’ s pro-life record as opposed to the pro-abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own experiences with cancel culture ’ s reaction to her film .
Last year , Unplanned writer and director Chuck Konzelman testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that the film found its official Twitter account temporarily suspended without explanation , and that even after being restored found its followers removed and other users temporarily unable to follow it .
“ No one believes in the First Amendment more than the president , and the president will take action to ensure that Big Tech does not stifle free speech , and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet , and post will be protected , ” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany declared in May .
“ It ’ s not just bias aimed at President Trump and his employees ; it ’ s also aimed at everyday Americans .
It is aimed at the movie Unplanned , as Twitter suspended their accounts and came up with an excuse in the aftermath .
Another example is that liberals are allowed to incite violence against the Covington kids , who were in the end proven right ; their video was taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were let or allowed by Twitter to incite violence.
” The Republican National Convention will take place on August 24 in Charlotte , North Carolina .
It is not yet known whether Johnson and Sandmann will deliver their remarks personally at the convention , or via live video due to COVID-19 concerns .
President Trump himself will be formally accepting the presidential nomination from the White House .

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CHARLOTTE, August 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – National pro-life advocates Abby Johnson and Nick Sandmann will address the 2020 Republican National Convention next week to highlight the stakes of the November election for the preborn if former Vice President Joe Biden replaces Donald Trump as president of the United States.
The Trump campaign confirmed the news to Breitbart Monday, explaining that Johnson, Sandmann, and other speakers were selected to “illustrate the potentially disastrous consequences of Democrat governance,” such as the dangers of left-wing “cancel culture.”
Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood abortion facility director who converted to the pro-life cause in 2009, and has since exposed numerous details about the inner workings of the abortion industry. She now leads And Then There Were None, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people leave the abortion industry. Her story was turned into a successful motion picture last year, Unplanned.
Sandmann was a student at Kentucky’s Covington Catholic High School who attended the 2019 March for Life in Washington DC, and found himself at the heart of a national firestorm when the press erupted with claims that a video showed him and his classmates harassing Native American activist Nathan Phillips outside the Lincoln Memorial. But additional extended video and firsthand accounts soon revealed that Phillips was the one who waded into the group waiting for its bus and decided to beat a drum inches from Sandmann’s face, while the boys had merely performed school cheers in hopes of drowning out racist taunts from members of the Black Hebrew Israelites fringe group.
Since the Trump campaign has confirmed, I guess I can, too. �� I am speaking at the Republican National Convention!! #Trump2020 — Abby Johnson (@AbbyJohnson) August 18, 2020
I can’t tell you all enough about how excited I am to be apart of this years RNC! https://t.co/lur4zw1YS8 — Nicholas Sandmann (@N1ckSandmann) August 18, 2020
Johnson is likely to discuss both President Trump’s pro-life record as opposed to the pro-abortion platform of Vice President Biden, and her own experiences with cancel culture’s reaction to her film. Last year, Unplanned writer and director Chuck Konzelman testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that the film found its official Twitter account temporarily suspended without explanation, and that even after being restored found its followers removed and other users temporarily unable to follow it.
“No one believes in the First Amendment more than the president, and the president will take action to ensure that Big Tech does not stifle free speech, and that the rights of all Americans to speak, tweet, and post will be protected,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany declared in May. “It’s not just bias aimed at President Trump and his employees; it’s also aimed at everyday Americans. It is aimed at the movie Unplanned, as Twitter suspended their accounts and came up with an excuse in the aftermath. Another example is that liberals are allowed to incite violence against the Covington kids, who were in the end proven right; their video was taken out of context. Yet these individuals were let or allowed by Twitter to incite violence.”
The Republican National Convention will take place on August 24 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is not yet known whether Johnson and Sandmann will deliver their remarks personally at the convention, or via live video due to COVID-19 concerns. President Trump himself will be formally accepting the presidential nomination from the White House.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-18--California legislator fighting to help statutory rapists avoid sex offender registry

August 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The last time many of us heard of California state senator and LGBT activist Scott Wiener , he was championing legislation — signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2017 — to reduce the crime of knowingly exposing a sexual partner to HIV without disclosing the infection , previously a felony , to misdemeanor status .
This change in law , incidentally , also applied to HIV-positive people who donate blood without informing the blood bank of their status .
Civil rights aren ’ t what they used to be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward treating HIV as a public health issue , instead of treating people living with HIV as criminals , ” Wiener said in a statement at the time .
“ HIV should be treated like all other serious infectious diseases , and that ’ s what SB 239 does.
” HIV already was treated like an infectious disease , which is precisely why steps were taken to ensure that the disease wasn ’ t passed on to other people .
This inconvenient fact was ignored .
But to folks like Wiener , ideology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of others .
After all , this is the same legislator who co-authored a California bill earlier that same year that could result in prison time for health care workers declining to use a “ preferred name or pronouns.
” In short , Wiener believes that it should not be a crime to have sex with someone without telling him you are HIV-positive but that jail time is appropriate for those who refuse to refer to a male as “ her ” at his request .
To Wiener , transmitting HIV is too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Misgendering ” must be punished by the awesome power of the state .
Now Wiener is on the march again .
This time , according to the San Francisco Chronicle , the Democrat is utilizing the final weeks of the legislative session to rally supporters behind SB145 , a bill he introduced in 2019 that “ stalled ” in committee .
Wiener ’ s law would permit “ judges discretion over sex-offender registration in all cases involving voluntary intercourse between teenagers 14 to 17 , who can not legally consent , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older.
” Wiener wants to decriminalize gay intercourse between adults and minors in certain cases , claiming that California ’ s current laws discriminate against the LGBT community .
From the Chronicle : According to Wiener , the current law is “ horrific homophobia ” and “ ruins people ’ s lives.
” He told the San Francisco Examiner , “ It makes no sense .
It disproportionately impacts LGBTQ people because LGBTQ people are far less likely to be engaging in penile , vaginal intercourse.
” He also complained that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his advocacy , without noting that perhaps some people might oppose giving some sex offenders a pass .
But this is California , so Wiener is in all probability pushing at an open door .
Wiener ’ s political career is another example of what happens when you prize sexual liberation above all .
The possibility of passing on a potentially deadly disease through intercourse or blood donation ; the rise of compelled speech ( and the banning of “ misgendering ” ) ; the encroachments on religious liberty and freedom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain types of statutory rape — all of these must be accepted in order to ensure that people can park their genitals wherever they like without feeling discriminated against .
For civil rights activists of the past , ensuring the equal rights and dignity of every human being was the goal .
For folks like Wiener , “ dignity ” means something very , very different .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conservative author , speaker , and radio host , about rioters ’ new habit of burning Bibles .
The two go on to discuss the riots , cultural Marxism , and how America is “ on the brink now of losing everything.
” You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

August 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The last time many of us heard of California state senator and LGBT activist Scott Wiener, he was championing legislation — signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2017 — to reduce the crime of knowingly exposing a sexual partner to HIV without disclosing the infection, previously a felony, to misdemeanor status. This change in law, incidentally, also applied to HIV-positive people who donate blood without informing the blood bank of their status. Civil rights aren’t what they used to be.
“Today California took a major step toward treating HIV as a public health issue, instead of treating people living with HIV as criminals,” Wiener said in a statement at the time. “HIV should be treated like all other serious infectious diseases, and that’s what SB 239 does.” HIV already was treated like an infectious disease, which is precisely why steps were taken to ensure that the disease wasn’t passed on to other people. This inconvenient fact was ignored.
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
But to folks like Wiener, ideology is far more important than the safety of others. After all, this is the same legislator who co-authored a California bill earlier that same year that could result in prison time for health care workers declining to use a “preferred name or pronouns.” In short, Wiener believes that it should not be a crime to have sex with someone without telling him you are HIV-positive but that jail time is appropriate for those who refuse to refer to a male as “her” at his request. To Wiener, transmitting HIV is too trifling a matter to warrant a felony.. “Misgendering” must be punished by the awesome power of the state.
Now Wiener is on the march again. This time, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Democrat is utilizing the final weeks of the legislative session to rally supporters behind SB145, a bill he introduced in 2019 that “stalled” in committee. Wiener’s law would permit “judges discretion over sex-offender registration in all cases involving voluntary intercourse between teenagers 14 to 17, who cannot legally consent, and adults who are less than ten years older.” Wiener wants to decriminalize gay intercourse between adults and minors in certain cases, claiming that California’s current laws discriminate against the LGBT community. From the Chronicle:
If a man has vaginal intercourse with an underage teenage girl, the judge can decide whether he should be placed on the sex offender registry based on the facts of the case. But if anal or oral sex, or vaginal penetration with anything other than a penis, is involved, the adult must register as a sex offender — a relic of a penal code that criminalized those acts until 1975, even between consenting adults.
According to Wiener, the current law is “horrific homophobia” and “ruins people’s lives.” He told the San Francisco Examiner, “It makes no sense. It disproportionately impacts LGBTQ people because LGBTQ people are far less likely to be engaging in penile, vaginal intercourse.” He also complained that he was being targeted by right-wingers and conspiracy theories for his advocacy, without noting that perhaps some people might oppose giving some sex offenders a pass. But this is California, so Wiener is in all probability pushing at an open door.
Wiener’s political career is another example of what happens when you prize sexual liberation above all. The possibility of passing on a potentially deadly disease through intercourse or blood donation; the rise of compelled speech (and the banning of “misgendering”); the encroachments on religious liberty and freedom of conscience; the more casual attitude to certain types of statutory rape — all of these must be accepted in order to ensure that people can park their genitals wherever they like without feeling discriminated against.
For civil rights activists of the past, ensuring the equal rights and dignity of every human being was the goal. For folks like Wiener, “dignity” means something very, very different.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In this episode, Jonathon interviews Eric Metaxas, a conservative author, speaker, and radio host, about rioters’ new habit of burning Bibles. The two go on to discuss the riots, cultural Marxism, and how America is “on the brink now of losing everything.” You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-19--WATCH: Airplane flies massive ‘Unborn Black Lives Matter’ banner over Dem National Convention

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
BROOKFIELD , Wisconsin , August 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A pro-life organization is flying an “ Unborn Black Lives Matter ” airplane-tow banner over the Democratic National Convention ( DNC ) .
On August 17 , Created Equal , a national pro-life organization , launched OperationDNC , a plan to protest during the DNC , by flying a giant pro-life banner over Milwaukee .
This came in response to the Democrats ’ support of abortion .
The banner has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the words “ Unborn Black Lives Matter.
” It kicked off in Brookfield , with the banner being in the air for eight hours .
The banner will be circulating Milwaukee from August 17 to August 20 .
Before the DNC , on August 14 , the organization flew an airplane tow banner with the words “ Vote Anti-Abortion.
” In a press release on August 17 , Mark Harrington , president of Created Equal , wrote , “ The Black Lives Matter Foundation ( BLM ) demands ‘ reproductive justice ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.
” “ We want to demonstrate that the BLM Foundation and the Democratic Party don ’ t care about hundreds of thousands of black lives : namely , all the unborn black babies that Planned Parenthood and other abortionists kill every year , ” he continued .
“ Our purpose is to expose the blatant hypocrisy of Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Party , which both say they care about black lives.
” Harrington shared some shocking facts about abortion in black American communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the total U.S. population , they account for close to 40 % of all abortions in the country.
” “ A black baby is 25 times more likely to be killed than a white baby , ” he said .
“ Nationally , black women have the highest ratio of abortions to live births ( 474 abortions per 1,000 live births ) of any group in the country.
” In a livestreamed video on the same day , Harrington said , “ Some people wonder why we would fly a banner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And here ’ s the reason ; it ’ s the same reason that activists , throughout social reform history , have used graphic images to make their point.
” “ Victim photography has always played a role in social reform , ” he continued .
“ We believe it works also for abortion .
We have anecdotal evidence , we have statistical evidence , and we have the fact that children ’ s lives have been spared by these images.
” “ They ’ re going to see any aborted baby photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re never going to think of abortion the same , ” he said .
Harrington explained that the reason they flew the banner over Milwaukee is that Wisconsin is a “ key state for the presidential election.
” “ And keep in mind , ” he said , “ because we ’ re a non-profit organization , we can ’ t necessarily tell people to oppose or support any individual candidate .
So we ’ re telling people to vote anti-abortion , allowing them to reason to the conclusion as to which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t .
”

'Our purpose is to expose the blatant hypocrisy of Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Party, which both say they care about black lives.'
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
BROOKFIELD, Wisconsin, August 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A pro-life organization is flying an “Unborn Black Lives Matter” airplane-tow banner over the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
On August 17, Created Equal, a national pro-life organization, launched OperationDNC, a plan to protest during the DNC, by flying a giant pro-life banner over Milwaukee. This came in response to the Democrats’ support of abortion. The banner has a picture of a 15-week aborted baby with the words “Unborn Black Lives Matter.”
It kicked off in Brookfield, with the banner being in the air for eight hours. The banner will be circulating Milwaukee from August 17 to August 20. Before the DNC, on August 14, the organization flew an airplane tow banner with the words “Vote Anti-Abortion.”
In a press release on August 17, Mark Harrington, president of Created Equal, wrote, “The Black Lives Matter Foundation (BLM) demands ‘reproductive justice’ and the Democratic platform promotes tax-payer funding of abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.”
“We want to demonstrate that the BLM Foundation and the Democratic Party don’t care about hundreds of thousands of black lives: namely, all the unborn black babies that Planned Parenthood and other abortionists kill every year,” he continued.
“Our purpose is to expose the blatant hypocrisy of Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Party, which both say they care about black lives.”
Harrington shared some shocking facts about abortion in black American communities. “While blacks make up 13% of the total U.S. population, they account for close to 40% of all abortions in the country.”
“A black baby is 25 times more likely to be killed than a white baby,” he said. “Nationally, black women have the highest ratio of abortions to live births (474 abortions per 1,000 live births) of any group in the country.”
In a livestreamed video on the same day, Harrington said, “Some people wonder why we would fly a banner like this … over the downtown. And here’s the reason; it’s the same reason that activists, throughout social reform history, have used graphic images to make their point.”
“Victim photography has always played a role in social reform,” he continued. “We believe it works also for abortion. We have anecdotal evidence, we have statistical evidence, and we have the fact that children’s lives have been spared by these images.”
“They’re going to see any aborted baby photo next to the word abortion and they’re never going to think of abortion the same,” he said.
Harrington explained that the reason they flew the banner over Milwaukee is that Wisconsin is a “key state for the presidential election.”
“And keep in mind,” he said, “because we’re a non-profit organization, we can’t necessarily tell people to oppose or support any individual candidate. So we’re telling people to vote anti-abortion, allowing them to reason to the conclusion as to which candidate supports abortion and which doesn’t.”
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lifesitenews--2020-08-19--Author warns Catholics that voting for pro-abortion candidate could be their ticket to hell

PETITION : Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden !
Sign the petition here .
August 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – There is a lot of confusion today about the nature of religious liberty .
This confusion serves the purposes of those who would destroy the Church .
It also leads souls on the road to hell .
John Gerard Lewis tries to cut through the chaos in his book , Catholic Voting and Mortal Sin : How Your Vote Can Endanger Your Salvation .
The main point is simple .
“ Voting for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s teaching on abortion can be a mortal sin.
” The false separation of civic and sacred duties Catholics have long tended to separate their religious lives from their public lives .
Nineteenth-century Catholic immigrants often “ soft-pedaled ” Catholic beliefs to gain acceptance in their new homelands .
Many “ Americanist ” bishops like Archbishop John Ireland encouraged this idea and others like it .
Pope Leo XIII refuted this poisonous position in his Apostolic Letter Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae .
Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy echoed this attitude in 1960 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute – where no Catholic prelate would tell the President ( should he be Catholic ) how to act .
… I am not the Catholic candidate for President .
I am the Democratic Party ’ s candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic .
I do not speak for my church on public matters – and the church does not speak for me.
” Many Catholic liberals were only too happy to follow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they accepted the idea that the “ separation of church and state ” protected the state from religion , rather than the other way around .
Mr. Lewis points out the fatal flaws in this thinking .
The most obvious error involves procured abortion .
Many Catholic liberals vote for “ pro-choice ” politicians who say things like , “ I personally believe that abortion is wrong , but it is just as wrong for me to impose my religion on others.
” Their votes have often decided the outcome of important national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the “ seamless garment ” rationale that equates abortion with issues like health care , immigration , welfare , and environmental policies .
“ Seamless-garment champions , as political liberals , will engage in any semantic sleight-of-hand to bring all Catholic voting criteria under their concocted cloak .
That ’ s how they seek to dilute true doctrine and thereby sanctify their liberal to-do list.
” The true course is clear The book contains dozens of statements from American bishops refuting this idea .
Former Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss of Omaha stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any proportionate reason that could outweigh the death of nearly 50 million children killed by abortion.
” Many bishops have spoken out on the issue .
However , these clear statements are seldom repeated .
They are not echoed by priests in their homilies .
Thus , casual Catholics live in a state of sleepy indifference .
Mr. Lewis seeks to awaken the American Church from this deadly sleep .
That ’ s why Catholic Voting and Mortal Sin : How Your Vote Can Endanger Your Salvation is an important book .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Society for the Defense of Tradition , Family and Property and author of Return to Order : From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society .

John Gerard Lewis writes in ‘Catholic Voting and Mortal Sin: How You Vote Can Endanger Your Salvation’ that Catholics must stop separating their religious from their public lives.
PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
August 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – There is a lot of confusion today about the nature of religious liberty. This confusion serves the purposes of those who would destroy the Church. It also leads souls on the road to hell.
John Gerard Lewis tries to cut through the chaos in his book, Catholic Voting and Mortal Sin: How Your Vote Can Endanger Your Salvation. The main point is simple. “Voting for the candidate who least adheres to the Church’s teaching on abortion can be a mortal sin.”
The false separation of civic and sacred duties
Catholics have long tended to separate their religious lives from their public lives. Nineteenth-century Catholic immigrants often “soft-pedaled” Catholic beliefs to gain acceptance in their new homelands. Many “Americanist” bishops like Archbishop John Ireland encouraged this idea and others like it. Pope Leo XIII refuted this poisonous position in his Apostolic Letter Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae.
Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy echoed this attitude in 1960, when he told the Houston Ministerial Association, “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute – where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act. … I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party’s candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters – and the church does not speak for me.”
Many Catholic liberals were only too happy to follow the President’s lead. Gradually, they accepted the idea that the “separation of church and state” protected the state from religion, rather than the other way around.
Resisting pro-abortion platitudes
Mr. Lewis points out the fatal flaws in this thinking. The most obvious error involves procured abortion.
Many Catholic liberals vote for “pro-choice” politicians who say things like, “I personally believe that abortion is wrong, but it is just as wrong for me to impose my religion on others.” Their votes have often decided the outcome of important national elections.
Mr. Lewis also speaks out against the “seamless garment” rationale that equates abortion with issues like health care, immigration, welfare, and environmental policies. “Seamless-garment champions, as political liberals, will engage in any semantic sleight-of-hand to bring all Catholic voting criteria under their concocted cloak. That’s how they seek to dilute true doctrine and thereby sanctify their liberal to-do list.”
The true course is clear
The book contains dozens of statements from American bishops refuting this idea. Former Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss of Omaha stated that, “I cannot conceive of any proportionate reason that could outweigh the death of nearly 50 million children killed by abortion.”
Many bishops have spoken out on the issue. However, these clear statements are seldom repeated. They are not echoed by priests in their homilies. Thus, casual Catholics live in a state of sleepy indifference.
Mr. Lewis seeks to awaken the American Church from this deadly sleep. That’s why Catholic Voting and Mortal Sin: How Your Vote Can Endanger Your Salvation is an important book.
John Horvat is vice president of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property and author of Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-20--Elderly Canadian woman fights to be euthanized after months of COVID isolation

PETITION : Tell the FDA to reverse its opposition to Hydroxychloroquine and help save lives !
Sign the petition here .
KELOWNA , British Columbia , August 19 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A 78-year-old woman is asking her family to arrange for her to be euthanized after being confined for months in her room in a British Columbia long-term care home under provincial COVID-19 restrictions .
Shirley Turton is depressed , has lost interest in eating , can ’ t put a glass of water to her lips , and is lonely , her daughter Jennifer Molgat told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , help us , those of us who can ’ t help ourselves , ” says Turton faintly in a video recorded by her daughter that accompanies the story .
“ All that I want is to be out in the sunshine with my family.
” Turton has said that “ if things can change she does not want to die , ” Molgat told Rob Munro of iNFONews .
“ She led a very high quality life and , on a day-to-day basis , was heard to say , ‘ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glad ’ , ” Molgat said .
“ It was so amazing because we would look at this woman , disabled in her wheelchair , and here she was so confident about her life .
But that ’ s gone now .
That has been snuffed .
She ’ s lost all hope .
She ’ s going downhill.
” Molgat did not publicly identify the long-term care home but said that before it locked down in March , the family had a personal care attendant take their mother out on various errands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also visited her regularly and took her out to Molgat ’ s farm or the beach , where she could visit with her grandchildren , iNFONews reported .
Turton ’ s family waited years for a room to become available in the facility , which Turton regards as her home and which she does not want to leave .
With the lockdown , however , because she is in a wheelchair , Turton can not visit other residents , and she is not permitted out , according to Molgat .
Family visits were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as taking place looking through a window or the wrought iron fence , where conversation was next to impossible because Turton was 20 feet away .
“ It ’ s cruel , in a way , these visits , because they ’ re so hard on her , ” Molgat said .
“ I think a lot of seniors in long term care are in the same boat .
...
These visits are not appropriate or helpful.
” The family also tried Zoom meetings , but Turton wasn ’ t able to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provincial health officer , Dr. Bonnie Henry , relaxed these rules effective July 13 , Molgat ’ s sister became the designated single visitor .
However , Turton ’ s condition has deteriorated so much that Molgat is also allowed to visit , but only in the morning every other day , which is difficult because she works full time , she told iNFONews .
She wants the care home to be more flexible in allowing visits and , most importantly , to let her take her mother out , but she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do this .
“ It ’ s just crazy to me , and I can ’ t see how it ’ s even legal that they ’ re able to keep these people trapped in their homes , ” Molgat said .
“ We would never take her anywhere where it ’ s dangerous .
But they won ’ t even look at it .
‘ Talk to Bonnie Henry , talk to Bonnie Henry , ’ they say .
Well , that ’ s not always practical.
” How many more cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Henry ’ s office and was told that “ a lot ” of family members of long-term care residents have been “ calling in with concerns about the restrictions , and how they ’ re affecting parents in care.
” When asked what the province is doing to alleviate the mental distress of long-term care home residents , a spokesperson for NDP health minister Adrian Dix said social and family visits have been allowed since July 13 and referred to the current guidelines .
“ Throughout this pandemic , the Province has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors ’ assisted living operations , to make them safer for residents and those who care for them , ” wrote Stephen May in an email .
“ People must continue to be completely committed to combating this virus for these historic investments to be effective.
” A spokesperson for Henry referred to this email as answering for the chief medical officer as well .
Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coaltion told LifeSiteNews he has received “ phone calls from people in similar situations ” and questioned how many people are suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
“ You have this isolation imposed on people who are now experiencing the depths of despair , ” he said .
“ What we do see is the number of suicide deaths has increased , so I ’ m assuming that in the same way , people seeking assisted death , feeling their life has no purpose or value because of being isolated due to covid , has also increased , ” added Schadenberg .
He said there is a need for protection , but “ the question becomes , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” Schadenberg also pointed out there ’ s no guarantee that euthanasia requests made in these circumstances will be denied on the grounds that the current law says a person ’ s natural death must be reasonably foreseeable to be eligible for lethal injection .
“ The law doesn ’ t say that you have to be actually dying , ” he said .
News of Turton ’ s plight comes as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) released the results of its June 24 to 30 survey in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the respondents reported they had “ seriously considered suicide in past 30 days.
” That ’ s more than double the percentage of American adults who said in a 2018 Department of Health and Human Services survey that they had thought about suicide in the past 12 months , according to the Western Journal .
“ Approximately twice as many respondents reported serious consideration of suicide in the previous 30 days than did adults in the United States in 2018 , referring to the previous 12 months ( 10.7 % versus 4.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CDC report , based on a web-based survey of 5,412 adult Americans on “ Mental Health , Substance Use , and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic , ” found that certain populations were hit harder by the crisis .
“ Younger adults , racial/ethnic minorities , essential workers , and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes , increased substance use , and elevated suicidal ideation , ” the CDC said .
Of respondents who said they had “ seriously considered suicide ” in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between 18 and 24 years of age • 30.7 percent identified as adult unpaid caregivers for other adults • 12.6 percent were men , compared to 8.9 percent of women Four out of ten respondents also reported “ adverse mental health ” because of the crisis .
“ Overall , 40.9 % of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition , including symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder ( 30.9 % ) , symptoms of a trauma- and stressor-related disorder ( TSRD ) related to the pandemic ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19 ( 13.3 % ) , ” the CDC report stated .
Conservative entrepreneur and columnist Phil Kerpen tweeted the survey results and blasted the lockdowns as “ unconscionable.
” He pointed to a video of CDC director Robert Redfield stating in July that had been far more suicides than virus-related deaths among young people :

The 78-year-old woman was confined to her room in a long-term care home under provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
PETITION: Tell the FDA to reverse its opposition to Hydroxychloroquine and help save lives! Sign the petition here.
KELOWNA, British Columbia, August 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A 78-year-old woman is asking her family to arrange for her to be euthanized after being confined for months in her room in a British Columbia long-term care home under provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
Shirley Turton is depressed, has lost interest in eating, can’t put a glass of water to her lips, and is lonely, her daughter Jennifer Molgat told the Kelowna-based iNFONews.
“Please God, help us, those of us who can’t help ourselves,” says Turton faintly in a video recorded by her daughter that accompanies the story.
“All that I want is to be out in the sunshine with my family.”
Turton has said that “if things can change she does not want to die,” Molgat told Rob Munro of iNFONews.
“She led a very high quality life and, on a day-to-day basis, was heard to say, ‘I am so lucky, I’m so glad’,” Molgat said.
“It was so amazing because we would look at this woman, disabled in her wheelchair, and here she was so confident about her life. But that’s gone now. That has been snuffed. She’s lost all hope. She’s going downhill.”
Molgat did not publicly identify the long-term care home but said that before it locked down in March, the family had a personal care attendant take their mother out on various errands three times a week.
Her children also visited her regularly and took her out to Molgat’s farm or the beach, where she could visit with her grandchildren, iNFONews reported.
Turton’s family waited years for a room to become available in the facility, which Turton regards as her home and which she does not want to leave.
With the lockdown, however, because she is in a wheelchair, Turton cannot visit other residents, and she is not permitted out, according to Molgat.
Family visits were also restricted, and Molgat described these as taking place looking through a window or the wrought iron fence, where conversation was next to impossible because Turton was 20 feet away.
“It’s cruel, in a way, these visits, because they’re so hard on her,” Molgat said. “I think a lot of seniors in long term care are in the same boat. … These visits are not appropriate or helpful.”
The family also tried Zoom meetings, but Turton wasn’t able to hold the iPad.
When B.C.’s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, relaxed these rules effective July 13, Molgat’s sister became the designated single visitor.
However, Turton’s condition has deteriorated so much that Molgat is also allowed to visit, but only in the morning every other day, which is difficult because she works full time, she told iNFONews.
She wants the care home to be more flexible in allowing visits and, most importantly, to let her take her mother out, but she has not been able to get permission to do this.
“It’s just crazy to me, and I can’t see how it’s even legal that they’re able to keep these people trapped in their homes,” Molgat said.
“We would never take her anywhere where it’s dangerous. But they won’t even look at it. ‘Talk to Bonnie Henry, talk to Bonnie Henry,’ they say. Well, that’s not always practical.”
How many more cases like Turton’s?
LifeSiteNews called Dr. Henry’s office and was told that “a lot” of family members of long-term care residents have been “calling in with concerns about the restrictions, and how they’re affecting parents in care.”
When asked what the province is doing to alleviate the mental distress of long-term care home residents, a spokesperson for NDP health minister Adrian Dix said social and family visits have been allowed since July 13 and referred to the current guidelines.
“Throughout this pandemic, the Province has sought to continually improve long-term care and seniors’ assisted living operations, to make them safer for residents and those who care for them,” wrote Stephen May in an email.
“People must continue to be completely committed to combating this virus for these historic investments to be effective.”
A spokesperson for Henry referred to this email as answering for the chief medical officer as well.
Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coaltion told LifeSiteNews he has received “phone calls from people in similar situations” and questioned how many people are suffering the same fate as Turton and her family.
“You have this isolation imposed on people who are now experiencing the depths of despair,” he said.
“What we do see is the number of suicide deaths has increased, so I’m assuming that in the same way, people seeking assisted death, feeling their life has no purpose or value because of being isolated due to covid, has also increased,” added Schadenberg.
He said there is a need for protection, but “the question becomes, at what point have we gone too far?”
Schadenberg also pointed out there’s no guarantee that euthanasia requests made in these circumstances will be denied on the grounds that the current law says a person’s natural death must be reasonably foreseeable to be eligible for lethal injection.
“The law doesn’t say that you have to be actually dying,” he said.
Number of Americans “seriously” considering suicide doubled
News of Turton’s plight comes as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the results of its June 24 to 30 survey in which more than one out of ten of the respondents reported they had “seriously considered suicide in past 30 days.”
That’s more than double the percentage of American adults who said in a 2018 Department of Health and Human Services survey that they had thought about suicide in the past 12 months, according to the Western Journal.
“Approximately twice as many respondents reported serious consideration of suicide in the previous 30 days than did adults in the United States in 2018, referring to the previous 12 months (10.7% versus 4.3%),” the CDC said.
The CDC report, based on a web-based survey of 5,412 adult Americans on “Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” found that certain populations were hit harder by the crisis.
“Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation,” the CDC said.
Of respondents who said they had “seriously considered suicide” in the last 30 days:
25.5 percent were between 18 and 24 years of age
30.7 percent identified as adult unpaid caregivers for other adults
44.8 respondents had post-traumatic stress disorder
12.6 percent were men, compared to 8.9 percent of women
Four out of ten respondents also reported “adverse mental health” because of the crisis.
“Overall, 40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder (30.9%), symptoms of a trauma- and stressor-related disorder (TSRD) related to the pandemic (26.3%), and having started or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19 (13.3%),” the CDC report stated.
Conservative entrepreneur and columnist Phil Kerpen tweeted the survey results and blasted the lockdowns as “unconscionable.” He pointed to a video of CDC director Robert Redfield stating in July that had been far more suicides than virus-related deaths among young people:
How many young people will die as a consequence of old people selfishly locking them down?https://t.co/YMrP02buOY — Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 13, 2020
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lifesitenews--2020-08-20--Vindicated Cdl Pell to release memoirs of his 404 days in jail for false abuse charge

August 19 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Cardinal George Pell , who spent 404 days in solitary confinement for charges of child sexual abuse of which he was exonerated this year , will be publishing his prison journal in book form in early 2021 .
Ignatius Press has announced that Pell ’ s work , titled Prison Journal : The Cardinal Makes His Appeal will be available in paperback and e-book forms .
In a press release , Father Joseph Fessio , S.J.
, editor of Ignatius Press , said Prison Journal is “ extraordinary ” and “ is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is not just about Cardinal Pell .
His victory was not just a victory for one man .
It was a victory for the Church .
And not just the Church in Australia .
It revealed to all the world just how far the Church ’ s enemies will go and how deceitful they will be to discredit her , ” said Fessio about the book .
“ PRISON JOURNAL contains his reflections not only on the pain of being falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned , but also on the meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christian and the divine command to forgive one ’ s enemies.
” While Ignatius Press will be publishing the first volume of the book series next year , digital installments of the book are now available for a fee of five dollars a month at https : //www.pellprisonjournal.com .
One can also pre-order the book .
Fessio said the full journal will be around 1,000 pages and will be printed in three or four volumes , the first of which will be released in the spring of 2021 .
Author George Weigel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is a “ testament ” to God ’ s grace .
“ Prison Journal is a testament to the capacity of God ’ s grace to inspire insight , magnanimity and goodness amidst wickedness , evil and injustice .
That it was written so beautifully bears witness to the Christian character that divine grace formed in its author , George Cardinal Pell , ” wrote Weigel .
Pell said his “ faith and daily prayer ” are what sustained him while incarcerated in a video interview that was live-streamed as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was held virtually this year .
PETITION : Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden !
Sign the petition here .
“ I was quite confident that my small sufferings — and they weren ’ t enormous — were something that could be offered , with Christ ’ s suffering , for the good of the Church , ” said Pell in the interview .
The 79-year-old Pell was jailed in February of 2019 after he was found guilty by a jury in December of 2018 for two counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was sentenced to six years in prison with no chance of parole for three years and eight months .
Pell always proclaimed that he was innocent of the charges , which stemmed from unverified testimony from only one person .
Pell appealed the charges , and last year , he was granted an appeal hearing in Australia ’ s High Court .
In April , the High Court of Australia exonerated Pell of his convictions of child sexual abuse and ordered that he be released from jail .
The decision was unanimous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pell said he held “ no ill will ” against his accuser and that he did not “ want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel.
” Pell was serving in Rome at the Vatican ’ s Secretariat for the Economy when he first heard of the charges in 2017 .
It is speculated that he was working to reform the Vatican 's finances , which included his opposition to a 50-million-euro loan that would have assisted the Vatican in purchasing a scandal-ridden Roman hospital .
Pell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face the charges , saying he was “ innocent of these charges .
They are false .
The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.
” Ignatius Press has set up a website aimed to collect donations to help Pell pay for outstanding legal dues he incurred to defend himself against the charges .

August 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal George Pell, who spent 404 days in solitary confinement for charges of child sexual abuse of which he was exonerated this year, will be publishing his prison journal in book form in early 2021.
Ignatius Press has announced that Pell’s work, titled Prison Journal: The Cardinal Makes His Appeal will be available in paperback and e-book forms.
In a press release, Father Joseph Fessio, S.J., editor of Ignatius Press, said Prison Journal is “extraordinary” and “is going to be a spiritual classic.”
“This is not just about Cardinal Pell. His victory was not just a victory for one man. It was a victory for the Church. And not just the Church in Australia. It revealed to all the world just how far the Church’s enemies will go and how deceitful they will be to discredit her,” said Fessio about the book.
“PRISON JOURNAL contains his reflections not only on the pain of being falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned, but also on the meaning of suffering in the life of a Christian and the divine command to forgive one’s enemies.”
While Ignatius Press will be publishing the first volume of the book series next year, digital installments of the book are now available for a fee of five dollars a month at https://www.pellprisonjournal.com. One can also pre-order the book.
Fessio said the full journal will be around 1,000 pages and will be printed in three or four volumes, the first of which will be released in the spring of 2021.
Author George Weigel said in his introduction of the book that it is a “testament” to God’s grace.
“Prison Journal is a testament to the capacity of God’s grace to inspire insight, magnanimity and goodness amidst wickedness, evil and injustice. That it was written so beautifully bears witness to the Christian character that divine grace formed in its author, George Cardinal Pell,” wrote Weigel.
Pell said his “faith and daily prayer” are what sustained him while incarcerated in a video interview that was live-streamed as part of the 10th annual Napa Institute conference, which was held virtually this year.
PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
“I was quite confident that my small sufferings — and they weren’t enormous — were something that could be offered, with Christ’s suffering, for the good of the Church,” said Pell in the interview.
The 79-year-old Pell was jailed in February of 2019 after he was found guilty by a jury in December of 2018 for two counts of sexual assault against a minor. He was sentenced to six years in prison with no chance of parole for three years and eight months.
Pell always proclaimed that he was innocent of the charges, which stemmed from unverified testimony from only one person. Pell appealed the charges, and last year, he was granted an appeal hearing in Australia’s High Court.
In April, the High Court of Australia exonerated Pell of his convictions of child sexual abuse and ordered that he be released from jail. The decision was unanimous among the court’s seven justices.
Pell said he held “no ill will” against his accuser and that he did not “want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel.”
Pell was serving in Rome at the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy when he first heard of the charges in 2017.
It is speculated that he was working to reform the Vatican's finances, which included his opposition to a 50-million-euro loan that would have assisted the Vatican in purchasing a scandal-ridden Roman hospital.
Pell voluntarily returned to Australia from Rome to face the charges, saying he was “innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”
Ignatius Press has set up a website aimed to collect donations to help Pell pay for outstanding legal dues he incurred to defend himself against the charges.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-20--Children’s health org sues Facebook for censoring posts critical of COVID vaccine

August 19 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Children ’ s Health Defense , an organization dedicated to ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating harmful exposures , is suing Facebook and several fact-checking establishments for censorship and defamation , especially relating to the issue of vaccines .
“ At a time when the social media platform and its creator claim to be exponents of free expression and the scientific method for discovering truth , this case reveals the opposite : that they are indeed censors , and opponents of real science and open debate , ” the lawsuit states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. , Children ’ s Health Defense ( CHD ) is mostly known for being critical of vaccines because of their dangerous side effects .
The organization also champions other causes , including the harmful effects of “ climate change.
” Filed on Monday with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California , the complaint recounts that Democratic congressman Adam Schiff “ threatened to introduce legislation to remove Facebook ’ s immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act unless Facebook implemented algorithms to ‘ distinguish ’ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In response , “ [ t ] he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( ‘ CDC ’ ) and , under its aegis , the World Health Organization ( ‘ WHO ’ ) then collaborated at length with Facebook to suppress vaccine safety speech with a ‘ warning label ’ and other notices that appear to flag disinformation , but in reality censor valid and truthful speech , including speech critical of those agencies and their policies.
” “ Since September 2019 , Facebook and [ CEO Mark ] Zuckerberg have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ label ’ on CHD ’ s page , which conveys a classic false imputation of dishonesty in CHD ’ s trade , ” the lawsuit goes on .
“ Since March 2019 , with increasing frequency , Facebook and its affiliated ‘ fact-checkers ’ ( their Orwellian term ) have published ‘ false information ’ tags on CHD ’ s page , which materially misrepresent the accuracy of CHD ’ s own content.
” PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
The lawsuit draws an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and current censorship on platforms like Facebook .
“ Here , government actors actively partnered with one of today ’ s leading ‘ printing presses ’ ( Facebook ) to censor Plaintiff ’ s speech critical of government policy.
” Facebook , the complaint states , has a conflict of interest in fact-checking and slapping warning labels on posts critical of vaccines and other issues like the potential dangers of wireless networks .
“ Less well-known are Facebook ’ s efforts as a seller of pharmaceutical ads , purveyor of global 5G and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vaccines.
” According to CHD , the current case “ arises in a pandemic when the need for public debate on health issues has never been greater .
CHD ’ s vision is a world free of childhood chronic health conditions caused by environmental exposures.
” Robert F. Kennedy , Jr. is an outspoken critic of vaccines .
During a recent debate with renowned Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz , Kennedy warned Americans to be cautious about any new coronavirus vaccine , pointing out that key parts of testing are being skipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the lead candidate , skipped the animal testing altogether , ” he said .
Another aspect of testing was equally unsatisfying , Kennedy explained .
The Moderna vaccine was tested “ on 45 people .
They had a high-dose group of 15 people , a medium-dose group of 15 people , and a low-dose group of 15 people.
” “ In the low-dose group , one of the people was so sick from the vaccine they had to be hospitalized , ” he explained .
“ That ’ s six percent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ got so sick they had to be hospitalized .
That ’ s twenty percent.
” In spite of these significant problems , “ they ’ re going ahead , and making two billion doses of that vaccine.
” Another problem with the testing of the coronavirus vaccine is that it ’ s tested not on “ typical Americans , ” but on a carefully selected group of people who don ’ t suffer from certain conditions .
“ They use what they call exclusionary criteria , ” Kennedy said .
“ They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they ’ re doing to the healthiest people.
” “ If you look at their exclusionary idea criteria : You can not be pregnant , you can not be overweight , you must have never smoked a cigarette , you must have never vaped , you must have no respiratory problems in your family , you can ’ t suffer asthma , you can ’ t have diabetes , you can ’ t have rheumatoid arthritis or any autoimmune disease .
There has to be no history of seizure in the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re testing the vaccine on.
” He asked , “ What happens when they give them to the typical American ?
You know , Sally Six-Pack and Joe Bag of Donuts who ’ s 50 pounds overweight and has diabetes.
” Kennedy stressed several times that “ any other medicine ... that had that kind of profile in its original phase-one study would be [ dead on arrival ] .
” “ No medical product in the world would be able to go forward with the profile that Moderna has , ” he @ @

The org’s leader, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., claims that the social media giant is an ‘opponent’ of ‘real science and open debate.’
August 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Children’s Health Defense, an organization dedicated to ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating harmful exposures, is suing Facebook and several fact-checking establishments for censorship and defamation, especially relating to the issue of vaccines.
“At a time when the social media platform and its creator claim to be exponents of free expression and the scientific method for discovering truth, this case reveals the opposite: that they are indeed censors, and opponents of real science and open debate,” the lawsuit states.
Led by attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Children’s Health Defense (CHD) is mostly known for being critical of vaccines because of their dangerous side effects. The organization also champions other causes, including the harmful effects of “climate change.”
Filed on Monday with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the complaint recounts that Democratic congressman Adam Schiff “threatened to introduce legislation to remove Facebook’s immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act unless Facebook implemented algorithms to ‘distinguish’ and suppress ‘vaccine misinformation’ and advertising.”
In response, “[t]he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (‘CDC’) and, under its aegis, the World Health Organization (‘WHO’) then collaborated at length with Facebook to suppress vaccine safety speech with a ‘warning label’ and other notices that appear to flag disinformation, but in reality censor valid and truthful speech, including speech critical of those agencies and their policies.”
“Since September 2019, Facebook and [CEO Mark] Zuckerberg have falsely denigrated CHD through a ‘warning label’ on CHD’s page, which conveys a classic false imputation of dishonesty in CHD’s trade,” the lawsuit goes on. “Since March 2019, with increasing frequency, Facebook and its affiliated ‘fact-checkers’ (their Orwellian term) have published ‘false information’ tags on CHD’s page, which materially misrepresent the accuracy of CHD’s own content.”
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
The lawsuit draws an analogy between censorship of newspapers centuries ago and current censorship on platforms like Facebook. “Here, government actors actively partnered with one of today’s leading ‘printing presses’ (Facebook) to censor Plaintiff’s speech critical of government policy.”
Facebook, the complaint states, has a conflict of interest in fact-checking and slapping warning labels on posts critical of vaccines and other issues like the potential dangers of wireless networks. “Less well-known are Facebook’s efforts as a seller of pharmaceutical ads, purveyor of global 5G and wireless networks and services, and developer of vaccines.”
According to CHD, the current case “arises in a pandemic when the need for public debate on health issues has never been greater. CHD’s vision is a world free of childhood chronic health conditions caused by environmental exposures.”
CHD is critical of potential coronavirus vaccines
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an outspoken critic of vaccines. During a recent debate with renowned Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, Kennedy warned Americans to be cautious about any new coronavirus vaccine, pointing out that key parts of testing are being skipped.
“The Moderna vaccine, which is the lead candidate, skipped the animal testing altogether,” he said.
Another aspect of testing was equally unsatisfying, Kennedy explained. The Moderna vaccine was tested “on 45 people. They had a high-dose group of 15 people, a medium-dose group of 15 people, and a low-dose group of 15 people.”
“In the low-dose group, one of the people was so sick from the vaccine they had to be hospitalized,” he explained. “That’s six percent. In the high-dose group, three people got so sick they had to be hospitalized. That’s twenty percent.”
In spite of these significant problems, “they’re going ahead, and making two billion doses of that vaccine.”
Another problem with the testing of the coronavirus vaccine is that it’s tested not on “typical Americans,” but on a carefully selected group of people who don’t suffer from certain conditions.
“They use what they call exclusionary criteria,” Kennedy said. “They are only giving these vaccines in these tests that they’re doing to the healthiest people.”
“If you look at their exclusionary idea criteria: You cannot be pregnant, you cannot be overweight, you must have never smoked a cigarette, you must have never vaped, you must have no respiratory problems in your family, you can’t suffer asthma, you can’t have diabetes, you can’t have rheumatoid arthritis or any autoimmune disease. There has to be no history of seizure in the family. These are the people they’re testing the vaccine on.”
He asked, “What happens when they give them to the typical American? You know, Sally Six-Pack and Joe Bag of Donuts who’s 50 pounds overweight and has diabetes.”
Kennedy stressed several times that “any other medicine … that had that kind of profile in its original phase-one study would be [dead on arrival].”
“No medical product in the world would be able to go forward with the profile that Moderna has,” he reiterated.
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