lifesitenews--2020-03-02--How a 2020 Democrat victory could pave the way for radical Islam’s US takeover

March 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – I ’ ve written elsewhere about the Islamization of Europe that is currently underway , and also about the potential Islamization of America .
If the latter sounds implausible — and I ’ m sure a great many people view it that way — consider what might happen if a certain political party wins the next election .
That party has already demonstrated that it ’ s willing to back agendas that are both radical and socially destructive .
For example , on January 25 , candidate Joe Biden tweeted , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equality is the civil rights issue of our time.
” At about the same time , candidate Elizabeth Warren promised a nine-year-old “ transgender ” child that before appointing a Secretary of Education , she would first get “ Jacob ’ s ” approval .
That can change of course .
Should a new group with a better story of victimization show up , their equality would soon become “ the civil rights issue of our time.
” If a group of aliens from outer space landed , that would be best of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity for liberals to display their tolerance of the “ other.
” But since there are , as far as we know , no aliens from outer space , how about an alien culture — a culture whose beliefs and traditions are almost the inverse of traditional American beliefs ?
Should Democrats win the next election , don ’ t be surprised if Muslim rights suddenly replace transgender rights as “ the civil rights issue of our times.
” Islamic activist groups such as CAIR and ISNA have already positioned themselves as civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population they represent has been victimized by discrimination , unjust immigration policies , and hate crimes .
What ’ s more , American Muslims also happen to belong to a worldwide community of believers which numbers 1.7 billion people .
And the vast majority of the global Muslim community care very little about the rights of the transgender community .
Should Democrats prevail in November , Warren ’ s friend , Jacob , could get kicked to the back of the bus — if not under the bus .
To be sure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam in various ways .
One poll revealed that two-thirds of Democrat voters consider Islam to be no more violent than Christianity .
And , as we have seen , liberal judges backed by liberal politicians have blocked every attempt by the current administration to ban Muslim migration from certain countries .
Moreover , American educators who have been happy to affirm and promote radical views of gender and sexuality won ’ t hesitate to promote Islam ’ s radical ideology .
In fact , they ’ ve already begun to act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the land , middle-school history texts present a whitewashed picture of Islamic history , while in elementary schools , children are asked to memorize the Shahada — the Islamic confession of faith in Allah and his prophet , Muhammad .
And then there are the politicians .
The current frontrunner for the Democrats is Bernie Sanders .
He ’ s also the current favorite among Muslim voters , of whom two-thirds are Democrats and only 13 percent are Republicans .
In August , Sanders was one of the featured speakers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston , where he received a standing ovation for his promise to overturn President Trump ’ s travel ban .
In addition , Sanders appointed a Muslim as his campaign manager , visited a Los Angeles mosque to commemorate the victims of the New Zealand mosque attacks , appointed Islamist activist Linda Sarsour as a surrogate , and received endorsements from representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib .
Meanwhile , according to a piece published in the Middle East Forum , “ Elizabeth Warren has been staking out a position as defender of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white nationalism of Donald Trump.
” Like Sanders , she has also been a featured speaker at questionable Islamic venues such as the Massachusetts chapter of CAIR and the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center which , according to the author , has “ deep connections to terrorism.
” Joe Biden ?
Well , Biden ’ s main claim to fame is that he was Obama ’ s VP , and that he was a central figure in carrying out the Obama agenda .
Thus , we can assume that , if elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Obama administration .
How friendly ?
Well , in a speech before the UN , President Obama said that “ the future must not belong to those who slander the Prophet of Islam.
” When you think about it , that ’ s a strange thing for the President of the United States to say .
Was it just a reminder to be more tolerant of other people ’ s faith ?
Or was it a threat along with the lines of “ obey Islam ’ s blasphemy laws , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … ” In fact , Obama ’ s Secretary of State , Hillary Clinton , worked closely with the powerful Organization of the Islamic Conference ( OIC ) to curb speech that was critical of Islam or its prophet .
In other words , Clinton put the resources of the State Department in the service of Islam ’ s blasphemy laws .
In this regard , it ’ s instructive to recall that Clinton ’ s top aide and confidant , Huma Abedin , had close family and professional ties to the Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blasphemy laws and other provisions of sharia .
The Brotherhood , which has been identified as a terrorist organization by Egypt , Saudi Arabia , and the United Arab Emirates , is sometimes referred to as the “ mother of all terrorist groups.
” Abedin ’ s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood should have disqualified her for a security clearance , but it would have been “ Islamophobic ” to say so .
It would also have been “ Islamophobic ” to note that the Obama administration actively abetted the Muslim Brotherhood takeover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew McCarthy , the former federal attorney who prosecuted the Blind Sheik , noted , “ the Obama administration waived congressional restrictions in order to transfer $ 1.5 billion dollars in aid to Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood ’ s victory in the parliamentary elections.
” McCarthy also noted that “ on a trip to Egypt , Secretary Clinton pressured … ( the ) head of the military junta … to surrender power to the parliament dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood ” and to Morsi .
Of course , the Obama administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egypt was dwarfed by its generosity to Iran ’ s radical Islamist leaders .
Despite its reputation as the world ’ s leading sponsor of terror , the Iranian regime was showered with money by the Obama administration in return for a nuclear deal that served only to increase Iran ’ s ability to threaten the world .
Back on the home front , the situation was no better .
In response to pressure from Muslim Brotherhood- linked activist groups , John Brennan , then Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other security agencies voicing Muslim claims that the FBI was using training material that was “ highly offensive ” to Muslims .
As a result , the FBI and about two dozen other security agencies underwent a purge of any materials that suggested a connection between Islam and terrorism .
Radical Islamist groups had , in effect , been given veto power over national security policy .
Meanwhile , some of our security agencies seem to have been severely compromised by Islamic influence .
Philip Haney , a founding member of the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his book See Something , Say Nothing , Haney claims that the agency ’ s policy of “ Countering Violent Extremism ” had been shaped in large part by “ leaders of Muslim Brotherhood front groups.
” According to a report in WND , Haney told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee that “ the Obama administration ‘ modified ’ or eliminated more than 800 of his records related to the Muslim Brotherhood network in the United States because they were deemed to be an offense to Muslims.
” Haney ’ s recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ networks are still active .
Islamic activists exerted an outsize influence on the Obama administration , and it seems fair to say that had Clinton succeeded Obama as president , their influence would have continued to grow .
Luckily , we dodged that bullet .
But the radical Islamic activists didn ’ t go away .
They have been biding their time , and working behind the scenes waiting for another opportunity to arise .
The opportunity they ’ re waiting for may come in November .
If Democrats should regain control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant expansion of Islamist power in the United States .
Why ?
Well , because the current crop of Democrats is even more radical than the Democrats of four years ago .
It seems that no idea is too extreme for them to embrace .
Encourage pre-teens to transition to the opposite sex ?
What ’ s wrong with that ?
Switch to a socialist economy ?
Why not ?
It worked for Cuba , didn ’ t it ?
Abridge free speech so that no one ’ s feelings will get hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll still be able to say what you want as long as the Ministry of Safe Speech approves ) .
Raise taxes on everyone ?
Sure .
How else are we going to pay for free college and Medicare for all ?
The point is , that candidates who believe in the viability of such proposals are capable of believing anything .
They ’ ll believe that “ Islam ” means “ peace , ” and that increased immigration from Islamic societies will only enrich our society .
And they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named , say , Abu Bakr Allah Akbar as head of Homeland Security .
Of course , they won ’ t deem it necessary to vet Mr. Akbar .
It would be offensive to put him through the humiliation of getting a security clearance .
In fact , it would be Islamophobic .
But who , one might ask , would vote for candidates with such suicidal inclinations ?
Well , how about the 51 percent of young Americans who , thanks to their leftist professors , view socialism more positively than capitalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slate in the next election ?
Well , just about anyone who feels he deserves a free college education , loan forgiveness , Medicare for all , and a minimum wage sufficient to cover all of life ’ s expenses .
In other words , there is a sizable number of people who are looking to the government to take care of them .
So , it ’ s no small matter that the candidate who currently leads the Democrat pack is an avowed socialist , and that the rest of the candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The defeat of the Democrats will be no slam dunk .
In addition to the perennial appeal of the socialist solution , there are half a dozen other factors that could change the odds in favor of the hand-wavers party .
Last week brought warnings of a global pandemic which , in turn , sparked a 4,000 point selloff in the stock market , and fueled speculation about a possible recession .
The “ black swans ” have suddenly made their appearance and are flapping all around us .
So , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning to wonder if the old guy with the flapping arms and the angry eyes isn ’ t right about the evils of capitalism .
The possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood could sweep back into the corridors of power suddenly seems less remote .
In fact , the Islamists never really abandoned those corridors .
Although President Trump vowed in a 2016 speech that “ support networks for radical Islam will be stripped out and removed one by one , ” there is not much evidence that this has happened .
In an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sam Westrop points out that , with the exception of shutting down the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Countering Violent Extremism program ( which had been compromised by Islamist involvement ) , “ Islamism is flourishing.
” Westrop maintains that “ support networks for radical Islam remain intact , and leading Islamist organizations continue to enjoy government endorsement and patronage.
” Under the Obama administration , the deep state had been thoroughly seeded with Islamist sympathizers , and , to all appearances , the Trump administration has not been successful in rooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power once again , Islamist influence on government and society will almost certainly be greatly magnified .
One can also expect an increase in Islam ’ s global power .
Although the advent of the Trump administration didn ’ t put an end to Islamist penetration of the deep state , it did mark a turnaround in American policy toward global Islamic expansion .
The Trump administration instituted more realistic policies on borders and immigration , strengthened our relationship with Israel , and delivered a serious setback to ISIS .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear deal , increased sanctions on Iran , and , through the elimination of General Soleimani , served notice that Iranian aggression would no longer be tolerated .
Should Sanders or Warren or Biden or ( insert your favorite Democrat candidate here ) win in November , those gains will be rolled back , and the U.S. will revert to the Obama-era policy of appeasement and enablement of Islam .
A Democrat victory means that the hand of Islam will be strengthened both within and without the borders of the U.S. President Ronald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never more than one generation away from extinction.
” Now we need to contend with the possibility that the extinction of freedom is only one election away .
William Kilpatrick is the author of several books about cultural and religious issues , including Why Johnny Can ’ t Tell Right from Wrong ; Christianity , Islam , and Atheism : The Struggle for the Soul of the West ; and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Jihad .
Professor Kilpatrick ’ s articles on cultural and educational topics have appeared in First Things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various scholarly journals .
His articles on Islam have appeared in Crisis , Catholic World Report , The Catholic Thing , National Catholic Register , and other publications .
He is also the author of Insecurity , a dark comedy about political correctness run amok in the military and the government .
For more of his recent articles , visit his website , turningpointproject.com .

March 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – I’ve written elsewhere about the Islamization of Europe that is currently underway, and also about the potential Islamization of America.
If the latter sounds implausible — and I’m sure a great many people view it that way — consider what might happen if a certain political party wins the next election.
That party has already demonstrated that it’s willing to back agendas that are both radical and socially destructive. For example, on January 25, candidate Joe Biden tweeted, “Let’s be clear: transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time.” At about the same time, candidate Elizabeth Warren promised a nine-year-old “transgender” child that before appointing a Secretary of Education, she would first get “Jacob’s” approval. That can change of course. Should a new group with a better story of victimization show up, their equality would soon become “the civil rights issue of our time.” If a group of aliens from outer space landed, that would be best of all. It would be the ultimate opportunity for liberals to display their tolerance of the “other.”
But since there are, as far as we know, no aliens from outer space, how about an alien culture — a culture whose beliefs and traditions are almost the inverse of traditional American beliefs? Should Democrats win the next election, don’t be surprised if Muslim rights suddenly replace transgender rights as “the civil rights issue of our times.”
Islamic activist groups such as CAIR and ISNA have already positioned themselves as civil rights organizations. They claim that the population they represent has been victimized by discrimination, unjust immigration policies, and hate crimes. What’s more, American Muslims also happen to belong to a worldwide community of believers which numbers 1.7 billion people. And the vast majority of the global Muslim community care very little about the rights of the transgender community. Should Democrats prevail in November, Warren’s friend, Jacob, could get kicked to the back of the bus — if not under the bus.
To be sure, liberals have already expressed their support of Islam in various ways. One poll revealed that two-thirds of Democrat voters consider Islam to be no more violent than Christianity. And, as we have seen, liberal judges backed by liberal politicians have blocked every attempt by the current administration to ban Muslim migration from certain countries. Moreover, American educators who have been happy to affirm and promote radical views of gender and sexuality won’t hesitate to promote Islam’s radical ideology. In fact, they’ve already begun to act as advocates for Islam. In many schools across the land, middle-school history texts present a whitewashed picture of Islamic history, while in elementary schools, children are asked to memorize the Shahada — the Islamic confession of faith in Allah and his prophet, Muhammad.
And then there are the politicians. The current frontrunner for the Democrats is Bernie Sanders. He’s also the current favorite among Muslim voters, of whom two-thirds are Democrats and only 13 percent are Republicans. In August, Sanders was one of the featured speakers at the Islamic Society of North America convention in Houston, where he received a standing ovation for his promise to overturn President Trump’s travel ban. In addition, Sanders appointed a Muslim as his campaign manager, visited a Los Angeles mosque to commemorate the victims of the New Zealand mosque attacks, appointed Islamist activist Linda Sarsour as a surrogate, and received endorsements from representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.
Meanwhile, according to a piece published in the Middle East Forum, “Elizabeth Warren has been staking out a position as defender of the American Muslim community against the supposed white nationalism of Donald Trump.” Like Sanders, she has also been a featured speaker at questionable Islamic venues such as the Massachusetts chapter of CAIR and the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center which, according to the author, has “deep connections to terrorism.”
Joe Biden? Well, Biden’s main claim to fame is that he was Obama’s VP, and that he was a central figure in carrying out the Obama agenda. Thus, we can assume that, if elected, he would continue the Islamic-friendly policies of the Obama administration.
How friendly? Well, in a speech before the UN, President Obama said that “the future must not belong to those who slander the Prophet of Islam.” When you think about it, that’s a strange thing for the President of the United States to say. Was it just a reminder to be more tolerant of other people’s faith? Or was it a threat along with the lines of “obey Islam’s blasphemy laws, and nothing will happen to you; otherwise … ”
In fact, Obama’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, worked closely with the powerful Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to curb speech that was critical of Islam or its prophet. In other words, Clinton put the resources of the State Department in the service of Islam’s blasphemy laws. In this regard, it’s instructive to recall that Clinton’s top aide and confidant, Huma Abedin, had close family and professional ties to the Muslim Brotherhood — a group that champions the blasphemy laws and other provisions of sharia. The Brotherhood, which has been identified as a terrorist organization by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, is sometimes referred to as the “mother of all terrorist groups.”
Abedin’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood should have disqualified her for a security clearance, but it would have been “Islamophobic” to say so. It would also have been “Islamophobic” to note that the Obama administration actively abetted the Muslim Brotherhood takeover of Egypt under Mohamed Morsi. As Andrew McCarthy, the former federal attorney who prosecuted the Blind Sheik, noted, “the Obama administration waived congressional restrictions in order to transfer $1.5 billion dollars in aid to Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood’s victory in the parliamentary elections.” McCarthy also noted that “on a trip to Egypt, Secretary Clinton pressured … (the) head of the military junta … to surrender power to the parliament dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood” and to Morsi.
Of course, the Obama administration’s aid to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt was dwarfed by its generosity to Iran’s radical Islamist leaders. Despite its reputation as the world’s leading sponsor of terror, the Iranian regime was showered with money by the Obama administration in return for a nuclear deal that served only to increase Iran’s ability to threaten the world.
Back on the home front, the situation was no better. In response to pressure from Muslim Brotherhood- linked activist groups, John Brennan, then Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, wrote to the FBI and other security agencies voicing Muslim claims that the FBI was using training material that was “highly offensive” to Muslims.
As a result, the FBI and about two dozen other security agencies underwent a purge of any materials that suggested a connection between Islam and terrorism. Radical Islamist groups had, in effect, been given veto power over national security policy.
Meanwhile, some of our security agencies seem to have been severely compromised by Islamic influence. Philip Haney, a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security, provides one example. In his book See Something, Say Nothing, Haney claims that the agency’s policy of “Countering Violent Extremism” had been shaped in large part by “leaders of Muslim Brotherhood front groups.” According to a report in WND, Haney told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee that “the Obama administration ‘modified’ or eliminated more than 800 of his records related to the Muslim Brotherhood network in the United States because they were deemed to be an offense to Muslims.” Haney’s recent death under suspicious circumstances suggests that those networks are still active.
Islamic activists exerted an outsize influence on the Obama administration, and it seems fair to say that had Clinton succeeded Obama as president, their influence would have continued to grow.
Luckily, we dodged that bullet. But the radical Islamic activists didn’t go away. They have been biding their time, and working behind the scenes waiting for another opportunity to arise. The opportunity they’re waiting for may come in November. If Democrats should regain control of the government, we can expect a significant expansion of Islamist power in the United States.
Why? Well, because the current crop of Democrats is even more radical than the Democrats of four years ago. It seems that no idea is too extreme for them to embrace. Encourage pre-teens to transition to the opposite sex? What’s wrong with that? Switch to a socialist economy? Why not? It worked for Cuba, didn’t it? Abridge free speech so that no one’s feelings will get hurt? (Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to say what you want as long as the Ministry of Safe Speech approves). Raise taxes on everyone? Sure. How else are we going to pay for free college and Medicare for all?
The point is, that candidates who believe in the viability of such proposals are capable of believing anything. They’ll believe that “Islam” means “peace,” and that increased immigration from Islamic societies will only enrich our society. And they’ll have no problem with appointing someone named, say, Abu Bakr Allah Akbar as head of Homeland Security. Of course, they won’t deem it necessary to vet Mr. Akbar. It would be offensive to put him through the humiliation of getting a security clearance. In fact, it would be Islamophobic.
But who, one might ask, would vote for candidates with such suicidal inclinations? Well, how about the 51 percent of young Americans who, thanks to their leftist professors, view socialism more positively than capitalism? Who would vote for the Democratic slate in the next election? Well, just about anyone who feels he deserves a free college education, loan forgiveness, Medicare for all, and a minimum wage sufficient to cover all of life’s expenses. In other words, there is a sizable number of people who are looking to the government to take care of them. So, it’s no small matter that the candidate who currently leads the Democrat pack is an avowed socialist, and that the rest of the candidates lean only slightly less to the left.
The defeat of the Democrats will be no slam dunk. In addition to the perennial appeal of the socialist solution, there are half a dozen other factors that could change the odds in favor of the hand-wavers party. Last week brought warnings of a global pandemic which, in turn, sparked a 4,000 point selloff in the stock market, and fueled speculation about a possible recession. The “black swans” have suddenly made their appearance and are flapping all around us. So, it’s likely that more people are beginning to wonder if the old guy with the flapping arms and the angry eyes isn’t right about the evils of capitalism.
The possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood could sweep back into the corridors of power suddenly seems less remote. In fact, the Islamists never really abandoned those corridors. Although President Trump vowed in a 2016 speech that “support networks for radical Islam will be stripped out and removed one by one,” there is not much evidence that this has happened.
In an article for the Middle East Quarterly, Sam Westrop points out that, with the exception of shutting down the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Violent Extremism program (which had been compromised by Islamist involvement), “Islamism is flourishing.” Westrop maintains that “support networks for radical Islam remain intact, and leading Islamist organizations continue to enjoy government endorsement and patronage.”
Under the Obama administration, the deep state had been thoroughly seeded with Islamist sympathizers, and, to all appearances, the Trump administration has not been successful in rooting them out. With the Democrats in power once again, Islamist influence on government and society will almost certainly be greatly magnified.
One can also expect an increase in Islam’s global power. Although the advent of the Trump administration didn’t put an end to Islamist penetration of the deep state, it did mark a turnaround in American policy toward global Islamic expansion. The Trump administration instituted more realistic policies on borders and immigration, strengthened our relationship with Israel, and delivered a serious setback to ISIS. In addition, Trump pulled out of the suicidal Iran nuclear deal, increased sanctions on Iran, and, through the elimination of General Soleimani, served notice that Iranian aggression would no longer be tolerated.
Should Sanders or Warren or Biden or (insert your favorite Democrat candidate here) win in November, those gains will be rolled back, and the U.S. will revert to the Obama-era policy of appeasement and enablement of Islam. A Democrat victory means that the hand of Islam will be strengthened both within and without the borders of the U.S.
President Ronald Reagan reminded us that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Now we need to contend with the possibility that the extinction of freedom is only one election away.
William Kilpatrick is the author of several books about cultural and religious issues, including Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong; Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West; and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Jihad. Professor Kilpatrick’s articles on cultural and educational topics have appeared in First Things, Policy Review, American Educator, and various scholarly journals. His articles on Islam have appeared in Crisis, Catholic World Report, The Catholic Thing, National Catholic Register, and other publications. He is also the author of Insecurity, a dark comedy about political correctness run amok in the military and the government. For more of his recent articles, visit his website, turningpointproject.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Vatican letter criticizes Cardinal Zen, says Chinese ‘patriotic’ church is no longer &#8

Vatican letter criticizes Cardinal Zen, says Chinese ‘patriotic’ church is no longer ‘independent’

PETITION : Support Cardinal Zen 's plea to stop the `` murder of the Church in China '' '' Sign the petition here .
February 29 , 2020 ( The Daily Compass ) – The Daily Compass has been shown an explosive letter signed by the Dean of the College of Cardinals , Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re , that fiercely attacks Cardinal Joseph Zen , the Archbishop Emeritus of Hong Kong , who has been critical of the secret agreement between China and the Holy See that has resulted in the increased persecution of Catholics .
The letter contains misleading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuity between the approach of this pontificate with that of previous pontificates , when in fact no such continuity exists .
Furthermore , it makes very grave misrepresentations , attributing the authorship of the present secret agreement to Benedict XVI and declaring a change in doctrine regarding the possibility of independent Churches .
Cardinal Joseph Zen is an obstacle for the Church in China , and from now on the Catholic Church can be formed by independent churches .
This is the essence of an explosive and incredible letter sent on February 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sacred College , Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re , that The Daily Compass has been shown exclusively .
It marks a fierce and unheard of frontal attack on the 88-year-old archbishop emeritus of Hong Kong , the intrepid opponent of the secret agreement between China and the Holy See signed in Beijing on September 22 , 2018 .
It is an unprecedented gesture , made even more significant by the fact that is the first official act ( protocol number 1/2020 ) of the new Dean of the Sacred College .
Re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of the Motu Proprio by which Pope Francis surprisingly made the deanship a position that now has a 5-year term limit , thereby retiring Cardinal Angelo Sodano .
The letter is intended to be a response to the letter that Cardinal Zen addressed to his brother cardinals last September 27 , but Cardinal Re also makes explicit reference to various other interventions by Zen .
The cardinal is well-known for speaking out boldly on behalf of so-called “ clandestine ” Chinese Catholics who are being humiliated and condemned by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first point of the letter declares the alleged continuity between Pope Francis and his predecessors regarding possible agreements with China : “ In their approach to the situation of the Catholic Church in China , there is a profound symphony of the thought and action of the last three pontificates , which out of respect for the truth have favored dialogue between the two parties , not opposition.
” Thus it attributes to Saint John Paul II “ the idea of reaching a formal agreement with the governmental authorities on the appointment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ favored the return to full communion of bishops consecrated illicitly over the years , beginning in 1958.
” Cardinal Re then launches into a direct attack on Cardinal Zen , whose crime is that he has said many times that “ it would be better to have no agreement rather than a ‘ bad agreement.
’ ” According to Re , “ the last three popes did not share this position and supported and accompanied the drafting of the agreement that , at the present time , seemed to be the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cardinal Re constitute a grave distortion of reality , because it is obvious that Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI took an approach that is markedly different from that of the present pontificate .
If it is true that they had a great desire for dialogue with China and dedicated many efforts to it , it is equally true that this dialogue was exclusively a function of their goal of helping the Chinese Church – divided between the “ patriotic ” church and the “ clandestine ” church – to be reconciled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistently reaffirmed the non-negotiable points for an agreement , which had to respect religious freedom and the identity of the Church , including the freedom to appoint bishops .
The harsh responses of Saint John Paul II to Chinese provocations over the appointment of bishops bears witness to this , as does his decision to proceed with the canonizations of the Chinese martyrs on October 1 , 2000 , despite the harsh objections of Beijing , and also Benedict XVI ’ s May 27 , 2007 Letter to Chinese Catholics , to cite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examples .
Cardinal Re then goes on to deny a statement by Cardinal Zen that the agreement signed in September 2018 could be “ the same one that Pope Benedict had at the time refused to sign.
” The Dean assures his fellow cardinals that he has verified this in the Archive of the Secretariat of State and makes an astounding declaration : “ Pope Benedict XVI had approved the draft of the Agreement on the appointment of Bishops in China , which it was only possible to sign in 2018.
” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the secret Agreement also bears the signature of Benedict XVI , a sensational revelation that at this point requires proof : the documents of the Secretariat of State cited by Cardinal Re and the secret agreement of 2018 need to be made public so as to verify such affirmations .
If this were shown to be true , one could only deduce that Pope Benedict XVI had reneged on everything he had publicly written , such as for example in his famous already-mentioned May 2007 Letter to Chinese Catholics , whose radical difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we show in another article .
Moreover , Re does not explain why , if Benedict XVI had given his placet to the Agreement , it was not already signed ten years ago .
Immediately after this , there is the passage that is most pregnant with consequences for the universal Church : “ The Agreement provides for the intervention of the authority of the Pope in the process of the appointment of Bishops in China .
Even starting from this certain fact , the expression independent Church can no longer be interpreted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” from the Pope , as was the case in the past.
” These affirmations leave one speechless : “ independent Churches ” can be simultaneously in communion with the Pope , a declaration that has implications far beyond the Chinese Church and proposes a new ecclesiology .
But this is exactly what Pope Benedict XVI denied in the Letter to Chinese Catholics , declaring the statutes of the Patriotic Association to be “ irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine.
” And yet , as far as we can tell , the secret Agreement has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of the implications of these statements , so much so that immediately afterwards he explains that we are at a moment of “ epochal change ” which gives rise to consequences “ both on the doctrinal and practical level.
” Thus he explicitly says that doctrinal changes have been enacted in order to arrive at the Agreement with the Chinese government .
This is a very serious affirmation , as one can easily guess : it is the exact opposite approach to the one expressed publicly by Saint John Paul II and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter goes on to cite the harshest criticisms of the Agreement made by Cardinal Zen , declaring them to be “ objections ” to the “ pastoral guidance of the Holy Father toward “ clandestine ” Catholics , ” making a reference to the fact that the Pope has repeatedly listened to Cardinal Zen ’ s reasoning and read “ his many missives.
” Cardinal Zen thus becomes the easy scapegoat for the prolongation of “ tensions and painful situations ” that divide the Chinese Church despite the efforts of the pope and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letter of Cardinal Re – who obviously did not write on his own initiative – is truly a call to his brother cardinals to isolate Cardinal Zen , even to the point of making one think that the elimination of the Archbishop emeritus of Hong Kong is part of the secret agreement .
But Cardinal Re should explain to us why it is that persecution against Catholics in China has intensified since the agreement was signed while the Holy See has remained completely silent .
And he should also explain why the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holy See , has never expressed so much as a desire for communion with Rome .

PETITION: Support Cardinal Zen's plea to stop the “murder of the Church in China” Sign the petition here.
February 29, 2020 (The Daily Compass) – The Daily Compass has been shown an explosive letter signed by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, that fiercely attacks Cardinal Joseph Zen, the Archbishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, who has been critical of the secret agreement between China and the Holy See that has resulted in the increased persecution of Catholics. The letter contains misleading statements, affirming that there is a continuity between the approach of this pontificate with that of previous pontificates, when in fact no such continuity exists. Furthermore, it makes very grave misrepresentations, attributing the authorship of the present secret agreement to Benedict XVI and declaring a change in doctrine regarding the possibility of independent Churches.
Cardinal Joseph Zen is an obstacle for the Church in China, and from now on the Catholic Church can be formed by independent churches. This is the essence of an explosive and incredible letter sent on February 26 to all the cardinals by the Dean of the Sacred College, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, that The Daily Compass has been shown exclusively. It marks a fierce and unheard of frontal attack on the 88-year-old archbishop emeritus of Hong Kong, the intrepid opponent of the secret agreement between China and the Holy See signed in Beijing on September 22, 2018.
It is an unprecedented gesture, made even more significant by the fact that is the first official act (protocol number 1/2020) of the new Dean of the Sacred College. Re was appointed as Dean on January 18 as a result of the Motu Proprio by which Pope Francis surprisingly made the deanship a position that now has a 5-year term limit, thereby retiring Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
The letter is intended to be a response to the letter that Cardinal Zen addressed to his brother cardinals last September 27, but Cardinal Re also makes explicit reference to various other interventions by Zen. The cardinal is well-known for speaking out boldly on behalf of so-called “clandestine” Chinese Catholics who are being humiliated and condemned by the 2018 agreement that still remains secret.
The first point of the letter declares the alleged continuity between Pope Francis and his predecessors regarding possible agreements with China: “In their approach to the situation of the Catholic Church in China, there is a profound symphony of the thought and action of the last three pontificates, which out of respect for the truth have favored dialogue between the two parties, not opposition.” Thus it attributes to Saint John Paul II “the idea of reaching a formal agreement with the governmental authorities on the appointment of bishops,” recalling that he “favored the return to full communion of bishops consecrated illicitly over the years, beginning in 1958.”
Cardinal Re then launches into a direct attack on Cardinal Zen, whose crime is that he has said many times that “it would be better to have no agreement rather than a ‘bad agreement.’” According to Re, “the last three popes did not share this position and supported and accompanied the drafting of the agreement that, at the present time, seemed to be the only one possible.”
These affirmations made by Cardinal Re constitute a grave distortion of reality, because it is obvious that Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI took an approach that is markedly different from that of the present pontificate. If it is true that they had a great desire for dialogue with China and dedicated many efforts to it, it is equally true that this dialogue was exclusively a function of their goal of helping the Chinese Church – divided between the “patriotic” church and the “clandestine” church – to be reconciled.
At the same time, they consistently reaffirmed the non-negotiable points for an agreement, which had to respect religious freedom and the identity of the Church, including the freedom to appoint bishops. The harsh responses of Saint John Paul II to Chinese provocations over the appointment of bishops bears witness to this, as does his decision to proceed with the canonizations of the Chinese martyrs on October 1, 2000, despite the harsh objections of Beijing, and also Benedict XVI’s May 27, 2007 Letter to Chinese Catholics, to cite only a few of the most egregious examples.
Cardinal Re then goes on to deny a statement by Cardinal Zen that the agreement signed in September 2018 could be “the same one that Pope Benedict had at the time refused to sign.” The Dean assures his fellow cardinals that he has verified this in the Archive of the Secretariat of State and makes an astounding declaration: “Pope Benedict XVI had approved the draft of the Agreement on the appointment of Bishops in China, which it was only possible to sign in 2018.”
And so, according to Cardinal Re, the secret Agreement also bears the signature of Benedict XVI, a sensational revelation that at this point requires proof: the documents of the Secretariat of State cited by Cardinal Re and the secret agreement of 2018 need to be made public so as to verify such affirmations. If this were shown to be true, one could only deduce that Pope Benedict XVI had reneged on everything he had publicly written, such as for example in his famous already-mentioned May 2007 Letter to Chinese Catholics, whose radical difference to the approach laid out by Re we show in another article. Moreover, Re does not explain why, if Benedict XVI had given his placet to the Agreement, it was not already signed ten years ago.
Immediately after this, there is the passage that is most pregnant with consequences for the universal Church: “The Agreement provides for the intervention of the authority of the Pope in the process of the appointment of Bishops in China. Even starting from this certain fact, the expression independent Church can no longer be interpreted in an absolute manner as “separation” from the Pope, as was the case in the past.” These affirmations leave one speechless: “independent Churches” can be simultaneously in communion with the Pope, a declaration that has implications far beyond the Chinese Church and proposes a new ecclesiology. But this is exactly what Pope Benedict XVI denied in the Letter to Chinese Catholics, declaring the statutes of the Patriotic Association to be “irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine.” And yet, as far as we can tell, the secret Agreement has legitimized them.
Cardinal Re is clearly aware of the implications of these statements, so much so that immediately afterwards he explains that we are at a moment of “epochal change” which gives rise to consequences “both on the doctrinal and practical level.” Thus he explicitly says that doctrinal changes have been enacted in order to arrive at the Agreement with the Chinese government. This is a very serious affirmation, as one can easily guess: it is the exact opposite approach to the one expressed publicly by Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
The rest of the letter goes on to cite the harshest criticisms of the Agreement made by Cardinal Zen, declaring them to be “objections” to the “pastoral guidance of the Holy Father toward “clandestine” Catholics,” making a reference to the fact that the Pope has repeatedly listened to Cardinal Zen’s reasoning and read “his many missives.” Cardinal Zen thus becomes the easy scapegoat for the prolongation of “tensions and painful situations” that divide the Chinese Church despite the efforts of the pope and his collaborators.
In other words, the letter of Cardinal Re – who obviously did not write on his own initiative – is truly a call to his brother cardinals to isolate Cardinal Zen, even to the point of making one think that the elimination of the Archbishop emeritus of Hong Kong is part of the secret agreement. But Cardinal Re should explain to us why it is that persecution against Catholics in China has intensified since the agreement was signed while the Holy See has remained completely silent. And he should also explain why the Patriotic Association, now recognized by the Holy See, has never expressed so much as a desire for communion with Rome.
Reprinted with permission.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-02--Archbishop Viganò responds to criticism of Cardinal Zen: Vatican has delivered the Chinese Church to

Archbishop Viganò responds to criticism of Cardinal Zen: Vatican has delivered the Chinese Church to the enemy

This is Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò , former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America .
I have followed deeply — sharing in prayer your suffering — your many heartfelt appeals to Pope Bergoglio concerning the tragic situation of the Martyr Church in China , which he himself has culpably aggravated through the treacherous and wicked secret Agreement signed by Holy See with the Chinese Communist Government .
Your heartfelt appeals , dear Brother in Christ , have systematically been unheeded and even mocked in a hypocritical and perverse way .
As for Cardinal Parolin , he has acted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evil order from above .
I read this morning the ignominious and shameful letter that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has addressed to all the cardinals against you .
I am deeply saddened and indignant , and I wish to express to you all my affection , prayer and fraternal solidarity in the episcopate .
You are a courageous Confessor of the Faith and you have all my esteem and veneration !
Unfortunately , in the Vatican lying has been set into the system , truth has been totally overturned , and the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most unsuspected figures , who have now given themselves over to acting as accomplices of the Adversary .
They have even gone so far as to say that “ Pope Benedict XVI had approved the draft Agreement ” signed in 2018 , when instead we all know of his strenuous resistance and repeated disapproval of the conditions imposed by a persecutory and bloody regime .
The Vatican has done everything and more to deliver the Chinese Martyr Church into the hands of the Enemy : it did so by signing the Secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excommunicated “ bishops ” who are agents of the regime ; it did so by the deposition of legitimate bishops ; it did so by forcing faithful priests to register with a church that has succumbed to the Communist dictatorship ; it does so on a daily basis by keeping silent about the persecutory fury that has gained unprecedented strength , precisely since the signing of that unfortunate Agreement .
It is now doing so with this ignoble letter to all the cardinals , which is aimed at accusing you , denigrating you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assures us that nothing and no one will ever be able to snatch from His hands those who resist the infernal enemy and his acolytes , conquering them “ by the Blood of the Lamb ” and by the testimony of their martyrdom ( cf .
Rev .
12:11 ) .
Your example , dear Cardinal , and the very high price you are paying to defend the Cause of God and His Church , gives us a salutary jolt , it rips us from the inertia and habituation with which we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church , at its highest levels and in its hierarchy , to heresy and apostasy , by following the Prince of this world , who is a liar and murderer from the beginning ( cf .
Jn 8:44 ) .

Dearest Eminence,
This is Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America.
I have followed deeply — sharing in prayer your suffering — your many heartfelt appeals to Pope Bergoglio concerning the tragic situation of the Martyr Church in China, which he himself has culpably aggravated through the treacherous and wicked secret Agreement signed by Holy See with the Chinese Communist Government.
Your heartfelt appeals, dear Brother in Christ, have systematically been unheeded and even mocked in a hypocritical and perverse way. As for Cardinal Parolin, he has acted as a mere reckless executor of an evil order from above.
I read this morning the ignominious and shameful letter that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has addressed to all the cardinals against you. I am deeply saddened and indignant, and I wish to express to you all my affection, prayer and fraternal solidarity in the episcopate.
You are a courageous Confessor of the Faith and you have all my esteem and veneration!
Unfortunately, in the Vatican lying has been set into the system, truth has been totally overturned, and the most perverse deception is shamelessly practiced even by the most unsuspected figures, who have now given themselves over to acting as accomplices of the Adversary. They have even gone so far as to say that “Pope Benedict XVI had approved the draft Agreement” signed in 2018, when instead we all know of his strenuous resistance and repeated disapproval of the conditions imposed by a persecutory and bloody regime.
The Vatican has done everything and more to deliver the Chinese Martyr Church into the hands of the Enemy: it did so by signing the Secret Pact; it did so by legitimizing excommunicated “bishops” who are agents of the regime; it did so by the deposition of legitimate bishops; it did so by forcing faithful priests to register with a church that has succumbed to the Communist dictatorship; it does so on a daily basis by keeping silent about the persecutory fury that has gained unprecedented strength, precisely since the signing of that unfortunate Agreement. It is now doing so with this ignoble letter to all the cardinals, which is aimed at accusing you, denigrating you, and isolating you.
Our Lord assures us that nothing and no one will ever be able to snatch from His hands those who resist the infernal enemy and his acolytes, conquering them “by the Blood of the Lamb” and by the testimony of their martyrdom (cf. Rev. 12:11).
Your example, dear Cardinal, and the very high price you are paying to defend the Cause of God and His Church, gives us a salutary jolt, it rips us from the inertia and habituation with which we are passively witnessing the surrender of the Catholic Church, at its highest levels and in its hierarchy, to heresy and apostasy, by following the Prince of this world, who is a liar and murderer from the beginning (cf. Jn 8:44).
Parce, Domine, parce populo tuo, quem redemisti, Christe, sanguine tuo, ne in aeternum irascaris nobis.


lifesitenews--2020-03-03--Young priest receives news of fatal disease, offers up suffering in reparation for sin

March 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A U.S. Catholic priest is counting his blessings – including the support of the communities he has shepherded the last five years – following his recent diagnosis with a progressive neurodegenerative disease .
“ The way of the cross that Jesus is inviting me to walk will not be easy , but He and His holy Mother Mary will uphold me .
I continue to do my best to surrender myself to Jesus knowing that He will take care of everything , ” the Rev .
Dana Christensen posted on his personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 42 , had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig ’ s Disease , earlier that week .
“ ALS , or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord , ” according to the ALS Association website .
“ The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise .
When the motor neurons die , the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people may lose the ability to speak , eat , move and breathe.
” While there is no cure for ALS , he is taking medications that may slow its progress , and he is engaged in clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , Minn. “ I am personally at peace with this , although I have my moments , ” he wrote Dec. 21 .
“ I am convinced that this is a mysterious gift from God through the hands of Our Lady of Fatima to bring me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to live my priesthood in a new way.
” Christensen , who has been otherwise healthy all his life , began to notice that things were not right in July .
It started with muscle twitching and changes to his voice .
Initially , he saw his primary care physician , who sent him to a neurologist , where a series of tests were conducted , with an attempt to rule out ALS and other serious diseases .
“ I really didn ’ t realize how serious it was until I got the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me the working diagnosis was ALS , ” he said .
“ Then things got real serious , real fast.
” Christensen called the timing of that phone call “ providential , ” as he received it as he journeyed home from a pilgrimage to Fatima , Portugal , where Catholics believe that Mary appeared to three children , predicting the future of the world and calling upon Christians to pray the rosary daily and make sacrifices on behalf of sinners .
“ I see in ( the timing of the call ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Christensen said .
But his acceptance of the diagnosis has not been without struggle .
“ After the first diagnosis , I went through what I call a ‘ period of freaking out , ’ ” including a deep depression , panic attacks and fear , the priest shared .
“ However , with time and lots of prayer , I have come to have peace about it .
I know , beyond a shadow of a doubt , that God has allowed this for my own growth in holiness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well .
I believe God will and is using this for good .
I trust in Him.
” In some ways , Christensen said the diagnosis has made him a better priest .
“ I thought I knew what to say and do for ( those who have received bad news about their health ) , but once I was the one receiving that news , I realized how naive I had been .
Until we get the bad news ourselves , we have no idea what it is like , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health has revealed a call from God to “ practice what I preach.
” “ I often preach about being confident in God ’ s Mercy and trusting His plan for our lives , ” he said .
“ Now I have to put it into practice.
” On Jan. 10 , the Catholic Feast of the Baptism of the Lord , Christensen told his congregation of a puzzling inscription over a doorway in Greece that says , “ If you die before you die , when you die , you will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in baptism , Christians are “ buried ” in water and rise up to live their lives differently .
With his voice wavering from the effects of his ALS , Christensen told parishioners , “ If , all of our life , we take up our cross and die daily to ourselves , if we choose God ’ s will instead of our own , if we accept all of the daily deaths that come to us , whether it be grief , whether it be illness , whether it be any number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if we live those as Jesus did , if we allow Him to die in us , then we have nothing to fear .
For , when our death comes , we will have already died , and all that will be left for us is to live eternally.
” Following delivery of that sermon , Christensen shared that “ a priest always preaches to himself first and foremost , ” and that it was “ a good summation of how I see this .
It helps me to not fear death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christ , what is there to fear ?
” Christensen continues to pastor the Catholic parishes in Alexandria , Emery and Bridgewater between appointments with a variety of doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , Minn. , where he will undergo experimental treatment for ALS .
In his initial Facebook post , Christensen asked followers to “ to pray for a miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen using the following prayer : “ I believe in miracles , and as ( God ) did for the leper who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if thou wilt , thou canst make me clean , ( Luke 5:12 ) , ’ He can also heal me , ” Christensen continued .
Sheen “ was one of the greatest preachers in modern Catholicism in these United States , and was really the first to use television to preach the Gospel , ” Christensen explained recently .
“ One of the ways the Church uses to decide if a person is worthy of sainthood is for unexplained miracles to happen through their intercession in heaven .
So , often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn to those being considered for sainthood , asking them to pray for us in heaven .
Since we know from Sacred Scripture that God is a God of the living , and that all in heaven are alive in Christ , and that the saints in heaven intercede for us on earth , we ask them to pray for us just as we ask those living on earth to pray for us.
” Acknowledging that , typically , ALS is a “ death sentence , ” Christensen continued in his initial post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become of him .
“ As in all things , not my will , but His be done , ” he wrote .
“ I accept whatever He has in store for me , and I offer it to Jesus through the hands of Mary , in reparation for my own sins and the sins of the whole world , and for the salvation of sinners.
” Recently , Christensen shared that he had given Jesus and his mother , Mary , “ permission to do whatever it takes to make me a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a mysterious answer to this prayer , ” he said .
“ I believe that Jesus is allowing me to be united to Him in His suffering , so that I may be united with Him in His glory.
” Admitting he is “ a proud man , ” Christensen also suggested that his ALS is an attempt by God to humble him , “ to become little and in need of help to teach me that He is everything .
It is only in becoming weak that we are made strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christensen attributed his outward strength and optimism in the wake of his daunting diagnosis to “ God and his grace working through others.
” “ It is astounding to me that people from literally around the world are praying for me , ” he said .
Though his strength and grace in the face of medical uncertainty have been noted by parishioners and others in the area , Christensen also asked that the faithful pray for his continued surrender to what will be , as well as for the comfort of his family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care thus far .
“ By our prayers you will accompany me on my own way of the cross , ” he said .
To help with whatever care Christensen may need , local parishioners are spearheading additional practical aid .
A fund has been created to offset the expenses of experimental treatment that isn ’ t covered by insurance at Security State Bank in Alexandria .
Those wishing to contribute to the fund can make deposits to the Padre Christensen Fund at the bank .
The funds , according to a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or ethical stem cell treatments , travel to and from appointments , lodging , skilled in-home nursing ” and other future expenses related to Christensen ’ s care .
Those with questions regarding fundraising efforts are invited to contact Camille Davies ( 605-933-0574 or [ email protected ] ) or Don Wenande ( 605-770-0595 or [ email protected ] ) .
In addition to the bank fund , “ Padre ’ s Fight ” t-shirts and sweatshirts are for sale .
Editor ’ s note : This article first appeared in The Alexandria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is republished here by permission of the author .

'I accept whatever He has in store for me, and I offer it to Jesus through the hands of Mary, in reparation for my own sins and the sins of the whole world, and for the salvation of sinners.'
March 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A U.S. Catholic priest is counting his blessings – including the support of the communities he has shepherded the last five years – following his recent diagnosis with a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
“The way of the cross that Jesus is inviting me to walk will not be easy, but He and His holy Mother Mary will uphold me. I continue to do my best to surrender myself to Jesus knowing that He will take care of everything,” the Rev. Dana Christensen posted on his personal Facebook page Dec. 21.
Christensen, 42, had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, earlier that week.
“ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord,” according to the ALS Association website. “The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.”
While there is no cure for ALS, he is taking medications that may slow its progress, and he is engaged in clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
“I am personally at peace with this, although I have my moments,” he wrote Dec. 21. “I am convinced that this is a mysterious gift from God through the hands of Our Lady of Fatima to bring me to salvation and entrust me with the mission to live my priesthood in a new way.”
Christensen, who has been otherwise healthy all his life, began to notice that things were not right in July. It started with muscle twitching and changes to his voice. Initially, he saw his primary care physician, who sent him to a neurologist, where a series of tests were conducted, with an attempt to rule out ALS and other serious diseases.
“I really didn’t realize how serious it was until I got the phone call the end of October telling me the working diagnosis was ALS,” he said. “Then things got real serious, real fast.”
Christensen called the timing of that phone call “providential,” as he received it as he journeyed home from a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, where Catholics believe that Mary appeared to three children, predicting the future of the world and calling upon Christians to pray the rosary daily and make sacrifices on behalf of sinners.
“I see in (the timing of the call) the protection of Our Blessed Mother Mary,” Christensen said.
But his acceptance of the diagnosis has not been without struggle.
“After the first diagnosis, I went through what I call a ‘period of freaking out,’” including a deep depression, panic attacks and fear, the priest shared. “However, with time and lots of prayer, I have come to have peace about it. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God has allowed this for my own growth in holiness and is an opportunity to help others grow as well. I believe God will and is using this for good. I trust in Him.”
In some ways, Christensen said the diagnosis has made him a better priest.
“I thought I knew what to say and do for (those who have received bad news about their health), but once I was the one receiving that news, I realized how naive I had been. Until we get the bad news ourselves, we have no idea what it is like,” he said.
Christensen said that his health has revealed a call from God to “practice what I preach.”
“I often preach about being confident in God’s Mercy and trusting His plan for our lives,” he said. “Now I have to put it into practice.”
On Jan. 10, the Catholic Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Christensen told his congregation of a puzzling inscription over a doorway in Greece that says, “If you die before you die, when you die, you will not die.”
The priest explained that, in baptism, Christians are “buried” in water and rise up to live their lives differently.
With his voice wavering from the effects of his ALS, Christensen told parishioners, “If, all of our life, we take up our cross and die daily to ourselves, if we choose God’s will instead of our own, if we accept all of the daily deaths that come to us, whether it be grief, whether it be illness, whether it be any number of daily dyings that come to us, if we live those as Jesus did, if we allow Him to die in us, then we have nothing to fear. For, when our death comes, we will have already died, and all that will be left for us is to live eternally.”
Following delivery of that sermon, Christensen shared that “a priest always preaches to himself first and foremost,” and that it was “a good summation of how I see this. It helps me to not fear death, because of having already died with Christ, what is there to fear?”
Christensen continues to pastor the Catholic parishes in Alexandria, Emery and Bridgewater between appointments with a variety of doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where he will undergo experimental treatment for ALS.
In his initial Facebook post, Christensen asked followers to “to pray for a miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen using the following prayer:
Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of the Holy Spirit. If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession (in a miraculous healing for Fr. Christensen). I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
“I believe in miracles, and as (God) did for the leper who cried out to Him, ‘Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, (Luke 5:12),’ He can also heal me,” Christensen continued.
Sheen “was one of the greatest preachers in modern Catholicism in these United States, and was really the first to use television to preach the Gospel,” Christensen explained recently. “One of the ways the Church uses to decide if a person is worthy of sainthood is for unexplained miracles to happen through their intercession in heaven. So, often when a miracle is desired, we turn to those being considered for sainthood, asking them to pray for us in heaven. Since we know from Sacred Scripture that God is a God of the living, and that all in heaven are alive in Christ, and that the saints in heaven intercede for us on earth, we ask them to pray for us just as we ask those living on earth to pray for us.”
Acknowledging that, typically, ALS is a “death sentence,” Christensen continued in his initial post that he has surrendered to what will become of him.
“As in all things, not my will, but His be done,” he wrote. “I accept whatever He has in store for me, and I offer it to Jesus through the hands of Mary, in reparation for my own sins and the sins of the whole world, and for the salvation of sinners.”
Recently, Christensen shared that he had given Jesus and his mother, Mary, “permission to do whatever it takes to make me a saint.”
“I believe that this is a mysterious answer to this prayer,” he said. “I believe that Jesus is allowing me to be united to Him in His suffering, so that I may be united with Him in His glory.”
Admitting he is “a proud man,” Christensen also suggested that his ALS is an attempt by God to humble him, “to become little and in need of help to teach me that He is everything. It is only in becoming weak that we are made strong in Jesus,” he said.
Christensen attributed his outward strength and optimism in the wake of his daunting diagnosis to “God and his grace working through others.”
“It is astounding to me that people from literally around the world are praying for me,” he said.
Though his strength and grace in the face of medical uncertainty have been noted by parishioners and others in the area, Christensen also asked that the faithful pray for his continued surrender to what will be, as well as for the comfort of his family, who have been instrumental in his care thus far.
“By our prayers you will accompany me on my own way of the cross,” he said.
To help with whatever care Christensen may need, local parishioners are spearheading additional practical aid. A fund has been created to offset the expenses of experimental treatment that isn’t covered by insurance at Security State Bank in Alexandria. Those wishing to contribute to the fund can make deposits to the Padre Christensen Fund at the bank.
The funds, according to a press release, will cover “experimental drugs or ethical stem cell treatments, travel to and from appointments, lodging, skilled in-home nursing” and other future expenses related to Christensen’s care. Those with questions regarding fundraising efforts are invited to contact Camille Davies (605-933-0574 or [email protected]) or Don Wenande (605-770-0595 or [email protected]). In addition to the bank fund, “Padre’s Fight” t-shirts and sweatshirts are for sale.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Alexandria Herald and The Emery Enterprise. It is republished here by permission of the author.
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