lifesitenews--2020-08-17--Dear USCCB: You must be clear that Catholics cannot support pro-abortion Biden-Harris ticket

Editor ’ s note : The following open letter by Dan Zeidler , head of the Wisconsin-based Family Life Council , an international pro-life and pro-family organization , was sent on Aug. 16 , 2020 , to the USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs and others .
Zeidler wrote the letter as an individual Catholic , not as an officer of Family Life Council , Inc. , nor on its behalf .
I write to express my strong disapproval of statements attributed to USCCB official Donna Toliver Grimes which I believe exacerbate the grave situation the country finds itself in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic Party 's long-time extreme position against the right to life of unborn children , a position that only gets worse , and the radical pro-abortion positions of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , anything that seems to indicate that officials of the USCCB publicly favor the Democrats is totally unacceptable and deadly .
The USCCB `` clarifying '' statement in the same NCRegister article is woefully insufficient .
People need to understand that given their pro-abortion positions and actions , Biden and Harris are disqualified from public office .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Why are we in the situation we are in ?
For decades , Catholics have been ill-served by too many in the Church who present abortion as just another issue - a serious one , maybe , but not important enough to make it a paramount disqualifying issue .
Catholics , especially in the early years , properly instructed and led , could have formed an effective coalition to demand and achieve legal protection for the unborn .
And even today , this can still happen .
But it wo n't happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others get mixed messages .
Abortion was and very much still is THE issue .
Tearing millions of babies apart limb from limb , or poisoning them to death is THE issue .
Take care of that and we can unite to take care of so many other pressing needs .
Leave it fester and it will continue to take the usual million or so unborn lives each year and destroy women and families , and lead our country further down the road of moral and social decline .
The bishops and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in a clear , unambiguous message .
NO candidate who endorses and promotes the current legal situation of abortion is qualified for office .
In my brief conversation with Donna Toliver Grimes , she mentioned she is very `` pro-life '' ( her words ) , very much against abortion .
I believe her .
But that is NOT the issue .
Whatever her intent , her statements make it appear that Kamala Harris is a good , acceptable candidate for public office .
She is NOT .
Nor is Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki , who , in a very clear recognition of the problem with pro-abortion politicians , wrote , `` But the real problem lies with our Catholic community that justifies the voting for candidates who would support anti-life actions . ''
( February 14 , 2019 ) Archbishop Listecki hit the nail on the head .
His words are as clear as the child who yelled , `` The emperor is wearing no clothes ! ''
Will Archbishop Listecki and the other bishops follow through now on the natural implications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former Democrat , I would like to say that I grew up a happy Democrat in a blue-collar , union family .
I was told and believed that the Democrats tried to help the “ little guy ” .
But it ’ s been a long time since I voted for a Democrat .
I did not leave the Democratic Party .
The Party left me .
The clearest sign there is no room for me in the Democratic Party is the Party ’ s radical enthusiasm for promoting the “ legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million babies slaughtered per year thanks to Democratic policies and Democratic public officials .

‘The bishops and all Catholic Church leaders must UNITE now with others in a clear, unambiguous message. NO candidate who endorses and promotes the current legal situation of abortion is qualified for office’
Editor’s note: The following open letter by Dan Zeidler, head of the Wisconsin-based Family Life Council, an international pro-life and pro-family organization, was sent on Aug. 16, 2020, to the USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs and others. Zeidler wrote the letter as an individual Catholic, not as an officer of Family Life Council, Inc., nor on its behalf.
August 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Dear Bishops Perry, Cahill, Campbell, Cisneros, Haines, Knestout, Madden, Sansaricq, and Staff person Donna Toliver Grimes:
I write to express my strong disapproval of statements attributed to USCCB official Donna Toliver Grimes which I believe exacerbate the grave situation the country finds itself in.
It is extremely obvious that given the Democratic Party's long-time extreme position against the right to life of unborn children, a position that only gets worse, and the radical pro-abortion positions of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, anything that seems to indicate that officials of the USCCB publicly favor the Democrats is totally unacceptable and deadly.
The USCCB “clarifying” statement in the same NCRegister article is woefully insufficient.
People need to understand that given their pro-abortion positions and actions, Biden and Harris are disqualified from public office.
Instead, a weak, conflicting message is given.
Why are we in the situation we are in? For decades, Catholics have been ill-served by too many in the Church who present abortion as just another issue – a serious one, maybe, but not important enough to make it a paramount disqualifying issue.
Catholics, especially in the early years, properly instructed and led, could have formed an effective coalition to demand and achieve legal protection for the unborn. And even today, this can still happen. But it won't happen as long as the average Catholic and others get mixed messages.
Abortion was and very much still is THE issue. Tearing millions of babies apart limb from limb, or poisoning them to death is THE issue.
Take care of that and we can unite to take care of so many other pressing needs.
Leave it fester and it will continue to take the usual million or so unborn lives each year and destroy women and families, and lead our country further down the road of moral and social decline.
The bishops and all Catholic Church leaders must UNITE now with others in a clear, unambiguous message. NO candidate who endorses and promotes the current legal situation of abortion is qualified for office.
In my brief conversation with Donna Toliver Grimes, she mentioned she is very “pro-life” (her words), very much against abortion. I believe her. But that is NOT the issue.
Whatever her intent, her statements make it appear that Kamala Harris is a good, acceptable candidate for public office. She is NOT. Nor is Joe Biden.
I reflect on the words of Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, who, in a very clear recognition of the problem with pro-abortion politicians, wrote, “But the real problem lies with our Catholic community that justifies the voting for candidates who would support anti-life actions.” (February 14, 2019) Archbishop Listecki hit the nail on the head. His words are as clear as the child who yelled, “The emperor is wearing no clothes!” Will Archbishop Listecki and the other bishops follow through now on the natural implications of that statement?
Sincerely,
Dan Zeidler
P.S. As a former Democrat, I would like to say that I grew up a happy Democrat in a blue-collar, union family. I was told and believed that the Democrats tried to help the “little guy”. But it’s been a long time since I voted for a Democrat. I did not leave the Democratic Party. The Party left me. The clearest sign there is no room for me in the Democratic Party is the Party’s radical enthusiasm for promoting the “legal” killing of children – roughly a million babies slaughtered per year thanks to Democratic policies and Democratic public officials.
To: USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs
[email protected]
Chairman
Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
Members
Most Reverend Brendan Cahill, Bishop of Victoria
Most Reverend Roy E. Campbell, Jr., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Most Reverend Octavio Cisneros, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn
Most Reverend Jeffrey Haines, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee
Most Reverend Barry Knestout, D.D., Bishop of Richmond
Most Reverend Denis Madden, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Baltimore
Most Reverend Guy Sansaricq, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Brooklyn
Staff
Donna Toliver Grimes, Assistant Director
Copy:
– Archbishop Jose Gomez, USCCB President
– Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Chair, USCCB Pro-Life Activities
– other bishops
– National Catholic Register
– others
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lifesitenews--2020-08-17--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

August 17 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united daily in prayer , in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade .
Catholics from all over the world—from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , Pakistan , Singapore , the Philippines , India , Indonesia , Australia , New Zealand , Thailand , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Brazil , and other countries—are gathering daily to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our goal is , by means of this daily rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima , the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
To help obtain that goal , Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide rosary crusade : O Immaculate Heart of Mary , you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother .
Look upon the distress in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church .
In Fatima you warned against these errors , as you spoke about the errors of Russia .
You are the Mediatrix of all graces .
Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope : that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart , so that Russia will be converted , a period of peace will be granted to the world , and your Immaculate Heart will triumph , through an authentic renewal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purity of the Catholic Faith , of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life .
O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother , turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer .
Amen .
+ Athanasius Schneider , Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady ’ s message at Fatima , and about what you can do , please read Cardinal Burke ’ s 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
As St. Padre Pio once said , “ The rosary is the weapon for these times.
” Through prayer , God can shape history , change the world , and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world , through the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
Join us today !
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this rosary , you can access them via this PDF .
This document also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily rosary on LifeSite led by Fr .
Pillari .
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-08-17--What we know of Our Lady of Fatima’s ‘3rd secret’ appears to be unfolding in Church today: priest

August 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Father Frank Unterhalt , a German diocesan priest and speaker of a group of faithful priests called Communio veritatis , has written an article about the current crisis in the Catholic Church and linking it back to the message of Our Lady of Fatima .
He quotes Cardinal Ciappi , a theologian of the Papal House from 1955 to 1989 , who stated in 1955 : “ In the Third Secret it is predicted , among other things , that the great apostasy in the Church will begin at the top.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below ) , Father Unterhalt of the Archdiocese of Paderborn sums up different aspects that help us to see that the Church has been infiltrated for quite some time now by anti-Catholic forces .
Here , he quotes the former Communist Bella Dodd who admitted to having helped infiltrate the Church in the U.S. with some 1,100 communist priests , and he also refers back to the Freemasonic instruction “ Alta Vendita ” which aimed at receiving “ a pope according to our needs.
” Father Unterhalt also quotes George Weigel who , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2011 “ how the communist governments and secret services infiltrated the Vatican and used diplomatic relations with the Holy See to promote their interests – as one might expect – and to strengthen their efforts to penetrate the highest levels of the Catholic Church ’ s leadership , especially the Vatican itself – an approach that many high-ranking dignitaries in the Vatican apparently did not see through.
” The German priest also reminds us that it was already Father Maximilian Kolbe , who in 1917 witnessed an appearance of Freemasons in Rome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Satan shall reign in the Vatican , and the Pope shall be his slave.
” It was Pope Benedict XVI who announced in 2010 that the Third Secret of Fatima is about the fact that “ the greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without , but arises from sin within the Church.
” Here , we might also be reminded of the fact that , as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger , he had said that Freemasonry was the greatest danger for the Church .
Father Unterhalt does not mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not Rome has even fully published all the words of Sister Lucia of Fatima relating to the Third Secret , a discussion that is kept alive since the official publication of the Third Secret in Rome in June of 2000 .
In any event , the words of Cardinal Ciappi about an apostasy at the top of the Church as quoted by Father Unterhalt are not contained in the officially published Third Secret .
It is to be hoped that future research will give us further light in this matter .
For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the secretary of Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli – later Pope John XXIII – during the time the latter served as the apostolic nuncio in Paris , stated in 1990 in an interview about the Third Secret : “ I would not be surprised if the Third Secret alluded to dark times for the Church : grave confusions and troubling apostasies within Catholicism itself … If we consider the grave crisis we have lived through since the [ Second Vatican ] Council , the signs that this prophecy has been fulfilled do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also reminds us that both the Book of Revelation and the Catechism of the Catholic Church speak to us about the loss of Faith at the end of times and of the final trials of the Church .
Here he quotes the catechism as saying : “ Before Christ ’ s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers .
The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the ‘ mystery of iniquity ’ in the form of a religious deception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems at the price of apostasy from the truth.
” Father Unterhalt has been making strong statements in the last years that are pertaining to the preservation of the Catholic Faith .
He and his priestly group Communio veritatis opposed , for example , the idea of intercommunion with Protestants ; he publicly rebuked the head of the German bishops , Cardinal Reinhard Marx , for adapting the Catholic Church to the zeitgeist ; and he condemned the practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand while standing .
Unterhalt also rejected Pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communion to adulterers .
Finally , he encouraged us to remain close to Our Lady , saying that “ Many faithful are asking themselves today how one can withstand the current storm of the great test and remain in the true Faith .
I would like to answer that with the famous words of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima : 'My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way which leads you to God ! '
” The Church lives through the Third Secret of Fatima It is high time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prophetic announcement made by Cardinal Wojtyła at the 1976 Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia : “ We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced .
I do not think that the wide circle of the American Society , or the whole wide circle of the Christian Community realize this fully .
We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-church , between the Gospel and the anti-gospel , between Christ and the antichrist .
The confrontation lies within the plans of Divine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in God ’ s Plan , and it must be a trial which the Church must take up , and face courageously… ” [ 1 ] It is important to realize the full dimension of this dramatic appeal !
Above all , one must consider what an anti-church needs at its head .
In this sense , Bishop Fulton J. Sheen affirmed : “ There will be a mystical Body of the antichrist , which will resemble in all its externals the Mystical Body of Christ.
” [ 2 ] During his visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul II , when asked in Fulda how things were going with the Church in relation to the Third Secret of Fatima , replied with the following words : “ We must prepare ourselves for great trials in the near future .
Yes , they may even require giving our lives , and total dedication to Christ and for Christ !
It can be softened by your and our prayer , but it can not be averted .
Only in this way can the true renewal of the Church arrive .
How often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born from blood .
It will not be any different this time .
Let us be strong and let us prepare and trust in Christ and His Holy Mother !
Let us pray the Rosary very much and often !
” [ 3 ] Shortly after , this turned real for him .
On May 13 , 1981 , the anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin and Mother of God Mary in Fatima in 1917 , the assassination attempt took place in Rome .
Here the whole trial of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture .
The direct attack against the Holy Father was not only directed at him , but at the entire Mystical Body of Christ on earth .
According to the teaching of St. Augustine , the Pope is the “ figura ecclesiae ” and represents the whole Church .
[ 4 ] Against this background , she must understand that she is in the midst of an apocalyptic struggle in which everything is at stake .
This becomes even clearer when we consider the exact circumstances of the assassination attempt : The five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one hand , this unmistakably points to the year in which Freemasonry was founded , 1717 .
St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe witnessed their demonstration on St. Peter ’ s Square in Rome in 1917 .
The Apostle of the Immaculata read the professed plan of the Freemasons on the relevant flag : “ Satan shall reign in the Vatican , and the Pope shall be his slave.
” [ 5 ] On the other hand , in the same year 1917 , the October Revolution occurred in Russia with the manifestation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In these contexts , the attack on the head of the Catholic Church shows the hostile attempt to overcome her completely .
The aim of the attack in Rome was obviously to remove the God-given foundation of the Church in order to replace it with another “ leadership.
” Of course , this plan did not end with the assassination attempt , which failed from the enemy ’ s point of view – to the contrary .
Enlightening in this context is a letter of Sister Lucia to the Holy Father of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which she referred to the third part of the Secret : “ Since we did not heed this appeal of the Message , we see that it has been fulfilled , Russia has invaded the world with her errors .
And if we have not yet seen the complete fulfilment of the final part of this prophecy , we are going towards it little by little with great strides.
” [ 6 ] The theologian and writer Prof. Dr. George Weigel has analyzed the archives of the communist fight against Karol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has described the pertinent campaign as follows : “ This material illustrates how the communist governments and secret services infiltrated the Vatican and used diplomatic relations with the Holy See to promote their interests – as one might expect – and to strengthen their efforts to penetrate the highest levels of the Catholic Church ’ s leadership , especially the Vatican itself – an approach that many high-ranking dignitaries in the Vatican apparently did not see through.
” [ 7 ] The shocking confession of the well-known Dr. Bella Dodd , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the USA , opens our eyes in a special way to the historical background .
After her conversion to the Catholic faith , the former activist gave sworn testimony about the deliberate infiltration of the Church .
According to her own testimony , she followed an order by Stalin at the time , which was issued to all Communist Party organizations to have agents without faith and morals infiltrate Catholic seminaries and religious orders .
[ 8 ] This plan from Moscow was implemented extremely effectively – right down to the Vatican .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In the 1930s we put 1100 men into the priesthood in order to destroy the Church from within , right now they are in the highest places in the Church.
” [ 9 ] Dr. Bella Dodd left no doubt about the drastic consequences : “ You will not recognize the Catholic Church.
” [ 10 ] The philosopher Prof. Dr. Dietrich von Hildebrand provides us with a profound analysis which clearly shows that the decisive battle is not outside but inside the Church herself : “ An unprejudiced look at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vineyard can not overlook the fact that a ‘ fifth column ’ has formed in the Church ( it is also called a mafia by some , even on the Church side ) , a group of purposeful destroyers of the Church .
[ … ] Their systematic and refined undermining of Holy Mother Church also bears clear enough witness to the fact that this is a deliberate conspiracy on the hand of the Freemasons and the Communists , who – despite their differences and other enmities – work together for this goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arch-enemy , and for the Communists the main obstacle to the conquest of the world .
[ … ] But the incomprehensible thing is that this conspiracy exists within the Church , that there are bishops and even cardinals , and above all priests and religious who are a kind of Judas.
” [ 11 ] Bishop Dr. Rudolf Graber has dealt with the goal of the hostile strategy .
He quotes the so-called “ Alta Vendita ” – the Masonic plan for revolution within the Catholic Church .
In it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what we look for and have to await – just as the Jews await their Messiah – is a Pope according to our needs [ … ] We do not doubt our reaching this highest goal of our efforts.
” [ 12 ] In this context the famous word formulated by Cardinal Ciappi is of particular importance .
He was an expert on the Third Secret of Fatima and theologian of the Papal House from 1955 to 1989 .
In a letter to Prof. Baumgartner from Salzburg in 1995 , he wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is predicted , among other things , that the great apostasy in the Church will begin at the top.
” [ 13 ] A look into the Book of Revelation makes this clear .
The fire-red dragon ( cf .
Rev 12:3 ) represents atheistic communism , which seeks to destroy faith in God .
In this battle two beasts come to the aid of the dragon , who shows himself to have powerful strength .
The black beast , which resembles a panther ( cf .
Rev 13:1-2 ) , is Freemasonry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hides itself in the shadows to be able to penetrate everywhere unrecognized .
The throne and power of the dragon have been given to him ( cf .
Rev 13:2 ) .
The other beast is ecclesial Freemasonry : “ He had two horns like a lamb , but he spoke like a dragon ” ( Rev 13:11 ) .
This is a reference to the hierarchy of the Church , in which the mitre – with two horns – indicates the fullness of the priesthood .
The beast that comes up out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Christ the Lamb , but is a servant of Satan the dragon .
The False Prophet ( cf .
Rev 19:20 ) is the pseudo-religious leader of the anti-church and drives apostasy from the top .
He deceives and betrays the inhabitants of the earth ( cf .
Rev 13:14 ) and wants to lead people to worship the antichrist ( cf .
Rev 13:12 ) , of whom he is the forerunner .
A direct reference to the Third Secret of Fatima is also found in the Catechism of the Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers .
The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the ‘ mystery of iniquity ’ in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth.
” [ 14 ] The Paschal Mystery of Christ is thus intensely renewed in his Mystical Body .
The Church will follow her Lord in his death and resurrection .
[ 15 ] This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pilgrim on the road to Fatima in May 2010 , explained the Third Secret : “ Consequently , I would say that , here too , beyond this great vision of the suffering of the Pope , [ … ] an indication is given of realities involving the future of the Church , which are gradually taking shape and becoming evident .
So it is true that , in addition to moment indicated in the vision , there is mention of , there is seen , the need for a passion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the person of the Pope , yet the Pope stands for the Church and thus it is sufferings of the Church that are announced .
[ … ] As for the new things which we can find in this message today , there is also the fact that attacks on the Pope and the Church come not only from without , but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within the Church , from the sin existing within the Church .
This too is something that we have always known , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really terrifying way : that the greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without , but arises from sin within the Church ” .
[ 16 ] So , during this time , she experiences in everything the passion of Jesus and the abysmal iniquity of the betrayal .
Christ made the servant of the true Mercy , St .
Sister Faustina , experience all the bitterness of the Church ’ s agony of Gethsemane .
She wrote in her diary : “ On that day I suffered more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outwardly .
I did not know that one can suffer so much in a single day.
” The most terrible dimension of Gethsemane is the appearance of the traitor .
St .
Sister Faustina noted the date of this worst day of suffering .
It was December 17 , 1936 .
[ 1 ] John-Henry Westen , “ Two timely quotes from St. John Paul II on his feast day , ” in : LifeSiteNews , October 22 , 2014 ; The Wall Street Journal , November 9 , 1978 .
[ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ und das Gewissen der westlichen Welt [ Engl .
title : Communism and the Conscience of the West ] , Berlin 1950 , p. 12 .
[ translated from German ] [ 6 ] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , The Message of Fatima ( June 26 , 2000 ) , Introduction .
[ 7 ] George Weigel , Der Papst der Freiheit .
Johannes Paul II .
Seine letzten Jahre und sein Vermächtnis [ Engl .
Title : The End and the Beginning : Pope John Paul II -- The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Legacy ] , Paderborn 2011 , p. 14 .
[ translated from German ] [ 8 ] Cf .
Iben Thranholm , „ Catholic abuse crisis is likely no accident , but a strategy to ‘ destroy Church from within ’ “ , in : LifeSiteNews , September 17 , 2018 .
[ 9 ] Bella V. Dodd , School of Darkness , Angelico Press reprint edition 2017 , Introduction ; originally published by P. J. Kenedy & Sons , New York 1954 .
[ 12 ] Rudolf Graber , Athanasius @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
title : Athanasius and the Church of our Time ] , Abensberg 1987 , 11th ed.
, p. 85 .
[ translated from German ] [ 13 ] Brian W. Harrison , “ Alice von Hildebrand Sheds New Light on Fatima , ” Introductory commentary , in : OnePeterFive , May 12 , 2016 .
[ 16 ] Pope Benedict XVI , Interview during the flight to Portugal , May 11 , 2010 [ 17 ] Tagebuch der Schwester Maria Faustyna Kowalska [ Diary of Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska ] , Hauteville/Schweiz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 823 .
[ translated from German ]

The Third Secret given to Sister Lucia predicted, among other things, that the great apostasy in the Church will begin at the top
August 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Father Frank Unterhalt, a German diocesan priest and speaker of a group of faithful priests called Communio veritatis, has written an article about the current crisis in the Catholic Church and linking it back to the message of Our Lady of Fatima. He quotes Cardinal Ciappi, a theologian of the Papal House from 1955 to 1989, who stated in 1995: “In the Third Secret it is predicted, among other things, that the great apostasy in the Church will begin at the top.”
In his statement (see full text below), Father Unterhalt of the Archdiocese of Paderborn sums up different aspects that help us to see that the Church has been infiltrated for quite some time now by anti-Catholic forces. Here, he quotes the former Communist Bella Dodd who admitted to having helped infiltrate the Church in the U.S. with some 1,100 communist priests, and he also refers back to the Freemasonic instruction “Alta Vendita” which aimed at receiving “a pope according to our needs.”
Father Unterhalt also quotes George Weigel who, after studying the communist archives, described in 2011 “how the communist governments and secret services infiltrated the Vatican and used diplomatic relations with the Holy See to promote their interests – as one might expect – and to strengthen their efforts to penetrate the highest levels of the Catholic Church’s leadership, especially the Vatican itself – an approach that many high-ranking dignitaries in the Vatican apparently did not see through.”
The German priest also reminds us that it was already Father Maximilian Kolbe, who in 1917 witnessed an appearance of Freemasons in Rome holding up a flag with the words “Satan shall reign in the Vatican, and the Pope shall be his slave.”
It was Pope Benedict XVI who announced in 2010 that the Third Secret of Fatima is about the fact that “the greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without, but arises from sin within the Church.”
Here, we might also be reminded of the fact that, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he had said that Freemasonry was the greatest danger for the Church.
PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
Father Unterhalt does not mention the ongoing debate as to whether or not Rome has even fully published all the words of Sister Lucia of Fatima relating to the Third Secret, a discussion that is kept alive since the official publication of the Third Secret in Rome in June of 2000. In any event, the words of Cardinal Ciappi about an apostasy at the top of the Church as quoted by Father Unterhalt are not contained in the officially published Third Secret. It is to be hoped that future research will give us further light in this matter.
For example, Cardinal Silvio Oddi, who had been the secretary of Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli – later Pope John XXIII – during the time the latter served as the apostolic nuncio in Paris, stated in 1990 in an interview about the Third Secret: “I would not be surprised if the Third Secret alluded to dark times for the Church: grave confusions and troubling apostasies within Catholicism itself … If we consider the grave crisis we have lived through since the [Second Vatican] Council, the signs that this prophecy has been fulfilled do not seem to be lacking.”
Father Unterhalt also reminds us that both the Book of Revelation and the Catechism of the Catholic Church speak to us about the loss of Faith at the end of times and of the final trials of the Church. Here he quotes the catechism as saying: “Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the ‘mystery of iniquity’ in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth.”
Father Unterhalt has been making strong statements in the last years that are pertaining to the preservation of the Catholic Faith. He and his priestly group Communio veritatis opposed, for example, the idea of intercommunion with Protestants; he publicly rebuked the head of the German bishops, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, for adapting the Catholic Church to the zeitgeist; and he condemned the practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand while standing. Unterhalt also rejected Pope Francis’ new rule of giving Holy Communion to adulterers. Finally, he encouraged us to remain close to Our Lady, saying that “Many faithful are asking themselves today how one can withstand the current storm of the great test and remain in the true Faith. I would like to answer that with the famous words of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima: ‘My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way which leads you to God!’”
***
Full statement by Father Frank Unterhalt
The Church lives through the Third Secret of Fatima
It is high time to understand the full meaning of the prophetic announcement made by Cardinal Wojtyła at the 1976 Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia: “We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced. I do not think that the wide circle of the American Society, or the whole wide circle of the Christian Community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-church, between the Gospel and the anti-gospel, between Christ and the antichrist. The confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is, therefore, in God’s Plan, and it must be a trial which the Church must take up, and face courageously…”[1]
It is important to realize the full dimension of this dramatic appeal! Above all, one must consider what an anti-church needs at its head. In this sense, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen affirmed: “There will be a mystical Body of the antichrist, which will resemble in all its externals the Mystical Body of Christ.”[2]
During his visit to Germany in 1980, Pope John Paul II, when asked in Fulda how things were going with the Church in relation to the Third Secret of Fatima, replied with the following words: “We must prepare ourselves for great trials in the near future. Yes, they may even require giving our lives, and total dedication to Christ and for Christ! It can be softened by your and our prayer, but it cannot be averted. Only in this way can the true renewal of the Church arrive. How often has the renewal of the Church been born from blood. It will not be any different this time. Let us be strong and let us prepare and trust in Christ and His Holy Mother! Let us pray the Rosary very much and often!”[3]
Shortly after, this turned real for him. On May 13, 1981, the anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin and Mother of God Mary in Fatima in 1917, the assassination attempt took place in Rome. Here the whole trial of which he spoke became visible in a dramatic picture. The direct attack against the Holy Father was not only directed at him, but at the entire Mystical Body of Christ on earth. According to the teaching of St. Augustine, the Pope is the “figura ecclesiae” and represents the whole Church.[4] Against this background, she must understand that she is in the midst of an apocalyptic struggle in which everything is at stake. This becomes even clearer when we consider the exact circumstances of the assassination attempt: The five shots were fired at 17:17.
On the one hand, this unmistakably points to the year in which Freemasonry was founded, 1717. St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe witnessed their demonstration on St. Peter’s Square in Rome in 1917. The Apostle of the Immaculata read the professed plan of the Freemasons on the relevant flag: “Satan shall reign in the Vatican, and the Pope shall be his slave.”[5]
On the other hand, in the same year 1917, the October Revolution occurred in Russia with the manifestation of atheist communism and the connected decisive struggle.
In these contexts, the attack on the head of the Catholic Church shows the hostile attempt to overcome her completely. The aim of the attack in Rome was obviously to remove the God-given foundation of the Church in order to replace it with another “leadership.”
Of course, this plan did not end with the assassination attempt, which failed from the enemy’s point of view – to the contrary. Enlightening in this context is a letter of Sister Lucia to the Holy Father of May 12, 1982(!), in which she referred to the third part of the Secret: “Since we did not heed this appeal of the Message, we see that it has been fulfilled, Russia has invaded the world with her errors. And if we have not yet seen the complete fulfilment of the final part of this prophecy, we are going towards it little by little with great strides.”[6]
The theologian and writer Prof. Dr. George Weigel has analyzed the archives of the communist fight against Karol Wojtyła and Pope John Paul II, and has described the pertinent campaign as follows: “This material illustrates how the communist governments and secret services infiltrated the Vatican and used diplomatic relations with the Holy See to promote their interests – as one might expect – and to strengthen their efforts to penetrate the highest levels of the Catholic Church’s leadership, especially the Vatican itself – an approach that many high-ranking dignitaries in the Vatican apparently did not see through.”[7]
The shocking confession of the well-known Dr. Bella Dodd, a high-ranking member of the Communist Party in the USA, opens our eyes in a special way to the historical background. After her conversion to the Catholic faith, the former activist gave sworn testimony about the deliberate infiltration of the Church. According to her own testimony, she followed an order by Stalin at the time, which was issued to all Communist Party organizations to have agents without faith and morals infiltrate Catholic seminaries and religious orders.[8]
This plan from Moscow was implemented extremely effectively – right down to the Vatican. In the 1950s, she explained: “In the 1930s we put 1100 men into the priesthood in order to destroy the Church from within, right now they are in the highest places in the Church.”[9]
Dr. Bella Dodd left no doubt about the drastic consequences: “You will not recognize the Catholic Church.”[10]
The philosopher Prof. Dr. Dietrich von Hildebrand provides us with a profound analysis which clearly shows that the decisive battle is not outside but inside the Church herself: “An unprejudiced look at the present devastation of the Lord’s vineyard cannot overlook the fact that a ‘fifth column’ has formed in the Church (it is also called a mafia by some, even on the Church side), a group of purposeful destroyers of the Church. […] Their systematic and refined undermining of Holy Mother Church also bears clear enough witness to the fact that this is a deliberate conspiracy on the hand of the Freemasons and the Communists, who – despite their differences and other enmities – work together for this goal. For Freemasonry, the Church is the arch-enemy, and for the Communists the main obstacle to the conquest of the world. […] But the incomprehensible thing is that this conspiracy exists within the Church, that there are bishops and even cardinals, and above all priests and religious who are a kind of Judas.”[11]
Bishop Dr. Rudolf Graber has dealt with the goal of the hostile strategy. He quotes the so-called “Alta Vendita” – the Masonic plan for revolution within the Catholic Church. In it, it says: “What we demand, what we look for and have to await – just as the Jews await their Messiah – is a Pope according to our needs […] We do not doubt our reaching this highest goal of our efforts.”[12]
In this context the famous word formulated by Cardinal Ciappi is of particular importance. He was an expert on the Third Secret of Fatima and theologian of the Papal House from 1955 to 1989. In a letter to Prof. Baumgartner from Salzburg in 1995, he wrote: “In the Third Secret it is predicted, among other things, that the great apostasy in the Church will begin at the top.”[13]
A look into the Book of Revelation makes this clear.
The fire-red dragon (cf. Rev 12:3) represents atheistic communism, which seeks to destroy faith in God. In this battle two beasts come to the aid of the dragon, who shows himself to have powerful strength.
The black beast, which resembles a panther (cf. Rev 13:1-2), is Freemasonry. It acts in the background and hides itself in the shadows to be able to penetrate everywhere unrecognized. The throne and power of the dragon have been given to him (cf. Rev 13:2).
The other beast is ecclesial Freemasonry: “He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon” (Rev 13:11). This is a reference to the hierarchy of the Church, in which the mitre – with two horns – indicates the fullness of the priesthood. The beast that comes up out of the earth looks like a servant of Christ the Lamb, but is a servant of Satan the dragon.
The False Prophet (cf. Rev 19:20) is the pseudo-religious leader of the anti-church and drives apostasy from the top. He deceives and betrays the inhabitants of the earth (cf. Rev 13:14) and wants to lead people to worship the antichrist (cf. Rev 13:12), of whom he is the forerunner.
A direct reference to the Third Secret of Fatima is also found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the ‘mystery of iniquity’ in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth.”[14]
The Paschal Mystery of Christ is thus intensely renewed in his Mystical Body. The Church will follow her Lord in his death and resurrection.[15]
This is why Pope Benedict XVI, as a pilgrim on the road to Fatima in May 2010, explained the Third Secret: “Consequently, I would say that, here too, beyond this great vision of the suffering of the Pope, […] an indication is given of realities involving the future of the Church, which are gradually taking shape and becoming evident. So it is true that, in addition to moment indicated in the vision, there is mention of, there is seen, the need for a passion of the Church, which naturally is reflected in the person of the Pope, yet the Pope stands for the Church and thus it is sufferings of the Church that are announced. […]
As for the new things which we can find in this message today, there is also the fact that attacks on the Pope and the Church come not only from without, but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within the Church, from the sin existing within the Church. This too is something that we have always known, but today we are seeing it in a really terrifying way: that the greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without, but arises from sin within the Church”.[16]
So, during this time, she experiences in everything the passion of Jesus and the abysmal iniquity of the betrayal.
Christ made the servant of the true Mercy, St. Sister Faustina, experience all the bitterness of the Church’s agony of Gethsemane. She wrote in her diary: “On that day I suffered more than at any other time, inwardly and outwardly. I did not know that one can suffer so much in a single day.” The most terrible dimension of Gethsemane is the appearance of the traitor. St. Sister Faustina noted the date of this worst day of suffering. It was December 17, 1936.
Assumptio Beatae Mariae Virginis 2020
Pastor Frank Unterhalt
__________________
[1] John-Henry Westen, “Two timely quotes from St. John Paul II on his feast day,” in: LifeSiteNews, October 22, 2014; The Wall Street Journal, November 9, 1978.
[2] Fulton J. Sheen, Der Kommunismus und das Gewissen der westlichen Welt [Engl. title: Communism and the Conscience of the West], Berlin 1950, p. 12. [translated from German]
[3] Stimme des Glaubens [Voice of the Faith], October 1981.
[4] Cf. Augustine, Epistulae 53,2.
[5] Maria Winowska, Pater Maximilian Kolbe. Ein Leben im Dienst der Immaculata [Father Maximilian Kolbe: a Life serving the Immaculata], Freiburg/Schw. – Konstanz – München 1952, p. 41. [translated from German]
[6] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, The Message of Fatima (June 26, 2000), Introduction.
[7] George Weigel, Der Papst der Freiheit. Johannes Paul II. Seine letzten Jahre und sein Vermächtnis [Engl. Title: The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II–The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy], Paderborn 2011, p. 14. [translated from German]
[8] Cf. Iben Thranholm, „Catholic abuse crisis is likely no accident, but a strategy to ‘destroy Church from within’“, in: LifeSiteNews, September 17, 2018.
[9] Bella V. Dodd, School of Darkness, Angelico Press reprint edition 2017, Introduction; originally published by P. J. Kenedy & Sons, New York 1954.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Dietrich von Hildebrand, Der verwüstete Weinberg [Engl. title: The Devastated Vineyard], Regensburg 1973, 2nd ed., p. 11. [translated from German]
[12] Rudolf Graber, Athanasius und die Kirche unserer Zeit [Engl. title: Athanasius and the Church of our Time], Abensberg 1987, 11th ed., p. 85. [translated from German]
[13] Brian W. Harrison, “Alice von Hildebrand Sheds New Light on Fatima,” Introductory commentary, in: OnePeterFive, May 12, 2016.
[14] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 675.
[15] Cf. ibid., 677.
[16] Pope Benedict XVI, Interview during the flight to Portugal, May 11, 2010
[17] Tagebuch der Schwester Maria Faustyna Kowalska [Diary of Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska], Hauteville/Schweiz 1991, 2nd ed., No. 823. [translated from German]
Translation by LifeSite’s Martin Bürger
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-17--WATCH: ‘God has not called us to be cowards’: Another pastor stands against church closures

PASADENA , California , August 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – California Governor Newsom has been forcing the churches in the state to stop all indoor worship services .
But some pastors are saying ‘ enough !
’ Pastor Che Anh of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena , California told LifeSite correspondent Lisa Stover that God did not give us ‘ a spirit of fear , ’ quoting 2 Timothy 1:7 .
In that mentality , the network of 162 churches called Harvest International Ministry filed a lawsuit against Governor Newsom , citing First Amendment rights are being violated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anh decided to open up for services in May .
During these last several months , they ’ ve battled the courts , as well as individuals calling the police , complaining about the large gatherings .
Anh mentions in the video that they ’ ve been meeting since May without a single case within their congregation .
While their physical well-being is important , and they ’ re taking precautions , he ’ s very focused on their eternal well-being .
“ We want to win souls , see people come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that ’ s much more of a value for us , ” Anh shares .
Anh states that during this time , they ’ ve been able to raise $ 100,000 to give away to various businesses in LA , California to just say “ we love you , we want to bless you.
” The church has also started One Race for Life , a pro-life ministry .
They included “ race ” in the name for two reasons : first , to show the bringing together different ethnic groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no racism in the Body of Christ .
Secondly , to talk about how it ’ s a race against time to overturn Roe v. Wade .
Their mission is to encourage everyone to register to vote , and to vote Biblically .
Anh encourages other pastors around California and the United States that there comes a time when we have to exercise our First Amendment rights in this country , “ I haven ’ t broken the law , but the governor has , ” Anh says .

Pastors across California are beginning to stand up against the church closures forced upon them by Governor Newsom.
PASADENA, California, August 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – California Governor Newsom has been forcing the churches in the state to stop all indoor worship services. But some pastors are saying ‘enough!’
Pastor Che Ahn of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California told LifeSite correspondent Lisa Stover that God did not give us ‘a spirit of fear,’ quoting 2 Timothy 1:7. In that mentality, the network of 162 churches called Harvest International Ministry filed a lawsuit against Governor Newsom, citing First Amendment rights are being violated. After talking with his attorney, Anh decided to open up for services in May.
During these last several months, they’ve battled the courts, as well as individuals calling the police, complaining about the large gatherings. Ahn mentions in the video that they’ve been meeting since May without a single case within their congregation. While their physical well-being is important, and they’re taking precautions, he’s very focused on their eternal well-being. “We want to win souls, see people come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior, and that’s much more of a value for us,” Ahn shares.
Ahn states that during this time, they’ve been able to raise $100,000 to give away to various businesses in LA, California to just say “we love you, we want to bless you.”
The church has also started One Race for Life, a pro-life ministry. They included “race” in the name for two reasons: first, to show the bringing together different ethnic groups together to set the example that there’s no racism in the Body of Christ. Secondly, to talk about how it’s a race against time to overturn Roe v. Wade. Their mission is to encourage everyone to register to vote, and to vote Biblically.
Ahn encourages other pastors around California and the United States that there comes a time when we have to exercise our First Amendment rights in this country, “I haven’t broken the law, but the governor has,” Ahn says.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-18--The Devil traps countless Christians with this common tool. How to avoid getting caught

PETITION : Ask bishop to remove 'Catholic ' from the University of Notre Dame if they refuse to rescind Pete Buttigieg 's fellowship !
Sign the petition here .
August 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The French philosopher Gabriel Marcel vividly characterized the modern disease called “ alienation , ” the all-pervasive malaise of Western man , in these provocative words : The liquid assets of reality have run out , and after a fruitless search for social or psychological aid , nothing remains but a great depression , a crippling lack of commitment to the duties of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this spiritual darkness more evident than in the accelerating demise of the traditional family .
The wavering of fidelity from within , and the attempts of political propagandists to undermine the family from without , have pushed us closer and closer to a world without structure , without morals , without loyalty , without peace .
In these circumstances , with what might seem like a never-ending flow of bad news , it can be altogether too easy for Christians to fall prey to discouragement .
It might seem as if no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be reversed ; no matter how much we protest or campaign , the results are more and more mixed and limited ; we are even tempted to think that God is not listening to our prayers , or perhaps has chosen not to respond because we are too complicit and compromised to be worthy of His intervention .
We feel abandoned .
We can read about a saint who had this feeling in the Old Testament : Elijah ( 1 Kgs .
19 ) .
He was ready to despair and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him with food and drink , and , after sleeping , he was able to continue to the mountain of God .
We can see this as a parable : God sends messengers to us , in obvious or hidden ways , bearing sustenance and good advice for our journey .
We can also see in Elijah ’ s story a warning against despair , which — so far as it lies in us — makes us useless to God , to ourselves , and to our neighbor .
In truth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miraculous signs in the heavens ( although He can do that and has done it ) .
He seems to prefer the quieter method of bringing aid to this or that person by an act of charity , like a mother giving food and drink to her child , or a husband giving a listening ear to his wife , or a parishioner giving a helping hand to another parishioner who is moving house .
It is our illusions about “ winning big ” that make us neglect the small victories of charity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kingdom of God .
My wife was reading a book recently called Thérèse , quelque secrets de la joie , and came across a section that struck us as the perfect meditation for our times .
Here is her translation : It had been announced that the Devil was going to close up shop and offer his tools to anyone who was willing to pay the prices .
The day of the sale , his tools were exposed in an attractive manner : malice , hatred , envy , jealousy , sensuality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were there , each one with its price marked .
Separate from the rest , there was an inoffensive looking implement , also in used condition , but the price was higher than all the others .
Someone asked the Devil what it was .
“ It ’ s DISCOURAGEMENT , ” was the answer .
“ Well !
Why have you priced it so high ?
” “ Because , ” responded the Devil , “ it ’ s so useful to me that the others hardly matter .
With this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once on the inside , I can maneuver it in the manner which helps me the most .
This tool is for everyday use because I use it with almost everybody and very few people know that it belongs to me.
” It is superfluous to add that the devil ’ s asking price for DISCOURAGEMENT was so high that the instrument never sold .
The devil is always in possession of it and he continues to put it to work !
[ 2 ] Discouragement is indeed the devil ’ s handiest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can shut down the practice of all the virtues , the effort to root out vices , the trust in God expressed in prayer ( whether it is obviously “ answered ” or not — for no prayer is unheard , and no prayer is without effect ) , and the basic confidence required for carrying on with the work He has put into our hands , however modest or unremarkable it may seem , and however lacking in visible fruits , much less dazzling fruits .
Our Lord did more in His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public preaching to the multitudes ; He accomplished more when He was nailed to the Cross than when He multiplied loaves and fishes .
We need to go back , again and again , to His paradoxical example and see that the standards of the world , its notion of success , are not God ’ s .
He triumphs at the moment all else seems to have failed .
He does this again and again in salvation history .
“ He hath shewed might in his arm : he hath scattered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble .
He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away ” ( Lk .
1:51–53 ) .
[ 1 ] Gabriel Marcel , “ On the Ontological Mystery , ” The Philosophy of Existentialism , trans .
Manya Harari ( New York : Citadel Press , Carol Publishing Group , 1991 ) , 27 .

With what might seem like a never-ending flow of bad news, it can be altogether too easy for Christians to fall prey to this snare.
PETITION: Ask bishop to remove 'Catholic' from the University of Notre Dame if they refuse to rescind Pete Buttigieg's fellowship! Sign the petition here.
August 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The French philosopher Gabriel Marcel vividly characterized the modern disease called “alienation,” the all-pervasive malaise of Western man, in these provocative words:
Let us take despair. I have in mind the act by which one despairs of reality as a whole, as one might despair of a person. … I believe that at the root of despair there is always this affirmation: “There is nothing in the realm of reality to which I can give credit — no security, no guarantee.” It is a statement of complete insolvency. [1]
The liquid assets of reality have run out, and after a fruitless search for social or psychological aid, nothing remains but a great depression, a crippling lack of commitment to the duties of life.
Nowhere in the modern world is this spiritual darkness more evident than in the accelerating demise of the traditional family. The wavering of fidelity from within, and the attempts of political propagandists to undermine the family from without, have pushed us closer and closer to a world without structure, without morals, without loyalty, without peace.
In these circumstances, with what might seem like a never-ending flow of bad news, it can be altogether too easy for Christians to fall prey to discouragement. It might seem as if no matter what we do, the tide cannot be reversed; no matter how much we protest or campaign, the results are more and more mixed and limited; we are even tempted to think that God is not listening to our prayers, or perhaps has chosen not to respond because we are too complicit and compromised to be worthy of His intervention. We feel abandoned.
We can read about a saint who had this feeling in the Old Testament: Elijah (1 Kgs. 19). He was ready to despair and give up. God sent an angel to him with food and drink, and, after sleeping, he was able to continue to the mountain of God. We can see this as a parable: God sends messengers to us, in obvious or hidden ways, bearing sustenance and good advice for our journey.
We can also see in Elijah’s story a warning against despair, which — so far as it lies in us — makes us useless to God, to ourselves, and to our neighbor. In truth, God does not generally save kingdoms with miraculous signs in the heavens (although He can do that and has done it). He seems to prefer the quieter method of bringing aid to this or that person by an act of charity, like a mother giving food and drink to her child, or a husband giving a listening ear to his wife, or a parishioner giving a helping hand to another parishioner who is moving house. It is our illusions about “winning big” that make us neglect the small victories of charity that are the mustard seeds of the kingdom of God.
My wife was reading a book recently called Thérèse, quelque secrets de la joie, and came across a section that struck us as the perfect meditation for our times. Here is her translation:
It had been announced that the Devil was going to close up shop and offer his tools to anyone who was willing to pay the prices. The day of the sale, his tools were exposed in an attractive manner: malice, hatred, envy, jealousy, sensuality, deceit — all the instruments of evil were there, each one with its price marked. Separate from the rest, there was an inoffensive looking implement, also in used condition, but the price was higher than all the others. Someone asked the Devil what it was. “It’s DISCOURAGEMENT,” was the answer. “Well! Why have you priced it so high?” “Because,” responded the Devil, “it’s so useful to me that the others hardly matter. With this, I can get into anyone, and once on the inside, I can maneuver it in the manner which helps me the most. This tool is for everyday use because I use it with almost everybody and very few people know that it belongs to me.” It is superfluous to add that the devil’s asking price for DISCOURAGEMENT was so high that the instrument never sold. The devil is always in possession of it and he continues to put it to work! [2]
Discouragement is indeed the devil’s handiest tool, for with it, he can shut down the practice of all the virtues, the effort to root out vices, the trust in God expressed in prayer (whether it is obviously “answered” or not — for no prayer is unheard, and no prayer is without effect), and the basic confidence required for carrying on with the work He has put into our hands, however modest or unremarkable it may seem, and however lacking in visible fruits, much less dazzling fruits.
Our Lord did more in His silent hours of prayer than in His public preaching to the multitudes; He accomplished more when He was nailed to the Cross than when He multiplied loaves and fishes. We need to go back, again and again, to His paradoxical example and see that the standards of the world, its notion of success, are not God’s. He triumphs at the moment all else seems to have failed. He does this again and again in salvation history. “He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away” (Lk. 1:51–53).
NOTES
[1] Gabriel Marcel, “On the Ontological Mystery,” The Philosophy of Existentialism, trans. Manya Harari (New York: Citadel Press, Carol Publishing Group, 1991), 27.
[2] Pierre Descouvemont, Thérèse, quelque secrets de la joie [Thérèse, Some Secrets of Joy] (Paris: Editions du Cerf, 2006), 80.
Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer, is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College in California (B.A. Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy). He taught at the International Theological Institute in Austria and the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Austria Program, then helped establish Wyoming Catholic College in 2006. There he taught theology, philosophy, music, and art history and directed the choirs until leaving in 2018 to devote himself full-time to writing and lecturing. Today he contributes regularly to many websites and publications, including New Liturgical Movement, OnePeterFive, LifeSiteNews, Rorate Caeli, The Remnant, and Catholic Family News, and has published thirteen books, including four on traditional Catholicism: Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis (Angelico, 2014, also available in Czech, Polish, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Belarusian), Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness (Angelico, 2017), Tradition and Sanity (Angelico, 2018), and Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright: The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass (Angelico, 2020). His work has been translated into at least eighteen languages. Kwasniewski is a scholar of The Aquinas Institute in Green Bay, which is publishing the Opera Omnia of the Angelic Doctor, a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center. He has published over a thousand articles on Thomistic thought, sacramental and liturgical theology, the history and aesthetics of music, and the social doctrine of the Church. For news, information, article links, sacred music, and the home of Os Justi Press, visit his personal website, www.peterkwasniewski.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-18--New York Times pushes ‘poly-parent’ children created using next-generation IVF

NEW YORK , August 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The New York Times is pushing what essentially amounts to the next level of in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) in a lengthy op-ed released last week .
Technology currently in development could enable any human being , independent of their sex , “ to manufacture an egg or sperm cell from a tiny sliver of their own skin ” and thus create a new baby .
In response to the op-ed , several ethicists and medical doctors have come out against this practice in exclusive statements to LifeSiteNews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been tested successfully with mice , is called in vitro gametogenesis ( IVG ) .
The term “ gametogenesis ” refers to the process by which gametes , namely egg cells and sperm cells , are created in an organism .
According to nature , women produce egg cells in their ovaries , and men produce sperm cells in their testicles .
The term “ in vitro ” simply means “ in a glass , ” indicating that , in this case , the process of reproduction is not naturally occurring during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a laboratory .
Debora L. Spar , writing for The New York Times , emphasized , “ If the techniques of I.V.G .
prove feasible , therefore , would-be families could theoretically begin by creating their own gametes .
A single woman , for example , might mix her egg with sperm fashioned from the genetic material of her two best male friends ; the resulting child would have three genetic parents.
” “ Or she might mate her egg with a carefully selected donor sperm , using genetic testing to eliminate any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her own family , ” she described another possibility .
“ Stem cells derived from the resulting embryo could then yield a next-generation egg to be paired with her best friends ’ similarly well-conceived sperm , yielding a child with four parents .
And so on .
The implications are enormous.
” Spar is the senior associate dean of Harvard Business School Online , and teaches business administration .
She was previously the president of women-only Barnard College .
Her op-ed was adapted from her new book Work Mate Marry Love : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will be released this week .
IVG has all the ethical problems of IVF and then some “ If the revolution of I.V.F .
was to liberate reproduction from sex , then the even bigger revolution of I.V.G .
is to dismantle completely the reproductive structure of heterosexuality , ” Spar is convinced .
Dr. Michael Parker , an OB/GYN and president of the Catholic Medical Association ( CMA ) , told LifeSiteNews that “ IVG is problematic for all the reasons inherent in IVF .
Every child has the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man and woman , the complementary sexes , in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to create new life.
” “ IVG has grave ethical concerns with regards to eugenics , custody , and the yet unknown effects on the children created , ” he added .
“ Not only are we manipulating human life in such a way as to treat it as a commodity , but the creation of gametes from stem cells seems analogous to cloning — with a multitude of temptations to corrupt the intrinsic worth of a unique human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Functionality would be favored over dignity , process over form and a desired outcome over sound moral absolutes.
” Dr. Lester Ruppersberger , an OB/GYN and former president of CMA , asked whether by practicing IVG we are “ trying to be God.
” “ Further , this ‘ so-called creation ’ opens the door to manipulation of gametes/genes to falsely create a ‘ super population ’ the outcomes of which we can not know , ” he continued via email .
“ In fact , we do not have ANY evidence ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ‘ evidence-based proven fact ) what the ‘ outcomes ’ in health , longevity and diseases/conditions and progeny will beget , and , ANY genetic combinations as a result thereof are furthered throughout the entire line of progeny for future generations to come !
” IVG would devalue the traditional family even further Spar explained in her article , “ Once upon a time , defenders of heterosexual marriage could argue that marriage was intrinsically a sexual union of husband and wife , because those were the only unions that could produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to pass , that will no longer be true .
Instead , two men could make a baby .
Four sexually unconnected housemates could make a baby .
And that changes everything we ’ ve ever known about sex and babies and marriage.
” While admitting that sexual relationships between one man and one woman will still be considered the norm in an IVG future , Spar said “ it becomes increasingly likely that we will also undo or at least revise our centuries-old conviction that procreative unions — like Noah ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Maybe our species ’ new ark is composed of a motlier crew , of threesomes and foursomes , old and young , men and women and those across the spectrum of gender identity , reproducing with whomever they choose and loving as they desire , ” she described the potential destruction of the traditional family .
Spar pointed to history as a guide for how a majority of people within a society handle the development of new reproductive technologies that might be ethically questionable .
“ Once we create new technologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she wrote .
“ Yes , we go through some stages along the way : We worry about mucking with nature .
We fret about designer babies or the possibility of some madman hatching Frankenstein in his backyard.
” “ Then we discover that it ’ s just the nice couple next door , using an increasingly common technology to create children they love , children who become far less scary as they move out of the world of scientific abstraction and into the realm of the real , ” she continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time , we have grown accustomed to those nice parents in our neighborhood being a couple of men , or women , or a single one of any sex .
We will get used to them being a threesome or foursome as well .
And then we ’ ll see the new normal as simply the real , and we ’ ll forget that it was technology that changed this world.
” Ruppersberger responded , “ As a Catholic physician and retired board-certified OB/GYN , I can not accept the generalization that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reproductive technologies ’ as cloning/genetic manipulation and chimerism and other ‘ outlandish ’ reproductive technologies have been outlawed in some areas , and not readily accepted in others.
” He emphasized that children born through reproductive technologies like IVF have the same dignity and worth as any other human being .
However , “ it is the experimentation with the human genome/cells/gametes that is ethically disturbing and want to ‘ eugenic ’ manipulation that is of concern.
” Ted Furton , ethicist and director of publications for the National Catholic Bioethics Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ an excellent example of utopian ideology from a member of the elite , written for the reading pleasure of other members of the elite.
” “ The claim that the family is increasingly irrelevant contradicts consistent data that shows that the breakdown of the family has been the single most important cause of social dysfunction over the past many decades , ” he told LifeSiteNews .
“ The absence of a father in the home is a particularly significant source of harm and a prime indicator of a higher likelihood of crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other serious social pathologies among the young.
” “ Children need the care and direction of a mother and a father , ideally those who are their actual parents , ” Furton emphasized .
“ The author seems oblivious to the violence , poverty , and general social decline around her.
” “ She is writing for wealthy people who have the pocket change needed to experiment with the latest scientific ‘ breakthroughs ’ that supposedly will lead us into a communal paradise , ” he added .
“ In the future , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , brothers , or sisters , but only the products of human conception produced in Petri dishes at the whims of those who have the power and money to do so.
” “ The philosophy behind this article is ugly and brutish , ” Furton said , not mincing words .
“ As she says , ‘ it will take a long time to dismantle norms of marriage and parenting that have been around for millenniums.
’ She has begun the work and is looking forward to a new world in which children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not even have any intention of living together , but have instead decided to throw some of their wealth into the fun project of bringing a new genetic creation of their own invention into the world.
” Like Furton , Burke equally pointed out that “ any other family structure will fail because to truly love children means to desire their good — even before birth .
New reproductive technologies always deprive children of the right to be nurtured in true love and free from manipulation to satisfy the “ desires ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said IVG “ is ultimately selfish , despite the platitudes and desires of those seeking to have children through these methods .
The technical ability to achieve an end in no way means it should be done — or even has the moral permission to be done.
” Burke compared the “ technological imperative ” in human reproduction with the “ technological imperative ” to always use “ the worst instruments ” of war .
“ Every biological advance must without exception be judged in relation to an unchangeable moral code that protects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Man is never a means to an end , even if the end appears ‘ good ’ in a banal way .
”

Ethicists say, however, that in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) has ‘grave ethical concerns with regards to eugenics, custody, and the yet unknown effects on the children created.’
NEW YORK, August 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The New York Times is pushing what essentially amounts to the next level of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a lengthy op-ed released last week.
Technology currently in development could enable any human being, independent of their sex, “to manufacture an egg or sperm cell from a tiny sliver of their own skin” and thus create a new baby.
In response to the op-ed, several ethicists and medical doctors have come out against this practice in exclusive statements to LifeSiteNews.
The new technology, which has already been tested successfully with mice, is called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG).
The term “gametogenesis” refers to the process by which gametes, namely egg cells and sperm cells, are created in an organism. According to nature, women produce egg cells in their ovaries, and men produce sperm cells in their testicles.
The term “in vitro” simply means “in a glass,” indicating that, in this case, the process of reproduction is not naturally occurring during sexual intercourse, but artificially, in a laboratory.
Debora L. Spar, writing for The New York Times, emphasized, “If the techniques of I.V.G. prove feasible, therefore, would-be families could theoretically begin by creating their own gametes. A single woman, for example, might mix her egg with sperm fashioned from the genetic material of her two best male friends; the resulting child would have three genetic parents.”
“Or she might mate her egg with a carefully selected donor sperm, using genetic testing to eliminate any risk of the cystic fibrosis that runs in her own family,” she described another possibility. “Stem cells derived from the resulting embryo could then yield a next-generation egg to be paired with her best friends’ similarly well-conceived sperm, yielding a child with four parents. And so on. The implications are enormous.”
Spar is the senior associate dean of Harvard Business School Online, and teaches business administration. She was previously the president of women-only Barnard College.
Her op-ed was adapted from her new book Work Mate Marry Love: How Machines Shape Our Human Destiny, which will be released this week.
IVG has all the ethical problems of IVF and then some
“If the revolution of I.V.F. was to liberate reproduction from sex, then the even bigger revolution of I.V.G. is to dismantle completely the reproductive structure of heterosexuality,” Spar is convinced.
Dr. Michael Parker, an OB/GYN and president of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA), told LifeSiteNews that “IVG is problematic for all the reasons inherent in IVF. Every child has the right to be created through the conjugal union between man and woman, the complementary sexes, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to create new life.”
“IVG has grave ethical concerns with regards to eugenics, custody, and the yet unknown effects on the children created,” he added.
Dr. Greg F. Burke, co-chair of CMA’s ethics committee, echoed Parker’s remarks.
“Not only are we manipulating human life in such a way as to treat it as a commodity, but the creation of gametes from stem cells seems analogous to cloning — with a multitude of temptations to corrupt the intrinsic worth of a unique human being,” he said. “Functionality would be favored over dignity, process over form and a desired outcome over sound moral absolutes.”
Dr. Lester Ruppersberger, an OB/GYN and former president of CMA, asked whether by practicing IVG we are “trying to be God.”
“Further, this ‘so-called creation’ opens the door to manipulation of gametes/genes to falsely create a ‘super population’ the outcomes of which we cannot know,” he continued via email. “In fact, we do not have ANY evidence (and medicine is supposed to be guided by ‘evidence-based proven fact) what the ‘outcomes’ in health, longevity and diseases/conditions and progeny will beget, and, ANY genetic combinations as a result thereof are furthered throughout the entire line of progeny for future generations to come!”
IVG would devalue the traditional family even further
Spar explained in her article, “Once upon a time, defenders of heterosexual marriage could argue that marriage was intrinsically a sexual union of husband and wife, because those were the only unions that could produce a new life. If I.V.G. comes to pass, that will no longer be true. Instead, two men could make a baby. Four sexually unconnected housemates could make a baby. And that changes everything we’ve ever known about sex and babies and marriage.”
While admitting that sexual relationships between one man and one woman will still be considered the norm in an IVG future, Spar said “it becomes increasingly likely that we will also undo or at least revise our centuries-old conviction that procreative unions — like Noah’s animals — come only in pairs.”
“Maybe our species’ new ark is composed of a motlier crew, of threesomes and foursomes, old and young, men and women and those across the spectrum of gender identity, reproducing with whomever they choose and loving as they desire,” she described the potential destruction of the traditional family.
Spar pointed to history as a guide for how a majority of people within a society handle the development of new reproductive technologies that might be ethically questionable.
“Once we create new technologies for conception, we embrace them,” she wrote. “Yes, we go through some stages along the way: We worry about mucking with nature. We fret about designer babies or the possibility of some madman hatching Frankenstein in his backyard.”
“Then we discover that it’s just the nice couple next door, using an increasingly common technology to create children they love, children who become far less scary as they move out of the world of scientific abstraction and into the realm of the real,” she continued.
“Over a remarkably short period of time, we have grown accustomed to those nice parents in our neighborhood being a couple of men, or women, or a single one of any sex. We will get used to them being a threesome or foursome as well. And then we’ll see the new normal as simply the real, and we’ll forget that it was technology that changed this world.”
Ruppersberger responded, “As a Catholic physician and retired board-certified OB/GYN, I cannot accept the generalization that ‘society has always accepted new developments in reproductive technologies’ as cloning/genetic manipulation and chimerism and other ‘outlandish’ reproductive technologies have been outlawed in some areas, and not readily accepted in others.”
He emphasized that children born through reproductive technologies like IVF have the same dignity and worth as any other human being.
However, “it is the experimentation with the human genome/cells/gametes that is ethically disturbing and want to ‘eugenic’ manipulation that is of concern.”
IVG is a ‘utopian ideology’
Ted Furton, ethicist and director of publications for the National Catholic Bioethics Center, characterized Spar’s article as “an excellent example of utopian ideology from a member of the elite, written for the reading pleasure of other members of the elite.”
“The claim that the family is increasingly irrelevant contradicts consistent data that shows that the breakdown of the family has been the single most important cause of social dysfunction over the past many decades,” he told LifeSiteNews. “The absence of a father in the home is a particularly significant source of harm and a prime indicator of a higher likelihood of crime, imprisonment, drug abuse, and other serious social pathologies among the young.”
“Children need the care and direction of a mother and a father, ideally those who are their actual parents,” Furton emphasized. “The author seems oblivious to the violence, poverty, and general social decline around her.”
“She is writing for wealthy people who have the pocket change needed to experiment with the latest scientific ‘breakthroughs’ that supposedly will lead us into a communal paradise,” he added. “In the future, there will be no fathers, mothers, brothers, or sisters, but only the products of human conception produced in Petri dishes at the whims of those who have the power and money to do so.”
“The philosophy behind this article is ugly and brutish,” Furton said, not mincing words.
“As she says, ‘it will take a long time to dismantle norms of marriage and parenting that have been around for millenniums.’ She has begun the work and is looking forward to a new world in which children are produced randomly by couples who may not even have any intention of living together, but have instead decided to throw some of their wealth into the fun project of bringing a new genetic creation of their own invention into the world.”
Like Furton, Burke equally pointed out that “any other family structure will fail because to truly love children means to desire their good — even before birth. New reproductive technologies always deprive children of the right to be nurtured in true love and free from manipulation to satisfy the “desires” of a multitude of potential parents.”
He said IVG “is ultimately selfish, despite the platitudes and desires of those seeking to have children through these methods. The technical ability to achieve an end in no way means it should be done — or even has the moral permission to be done.”
Burke compared the “technological imperative” in human reproduction with the “technological imperative” to always use “the worst instruments” of war.
“Every biological advance must without exception be judged in relation to an unchangeable moral code that protects human dignity,” Burke stressed. “Man is never a means to an end, even if the end appears ‘good’ in a banal way.”
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lifesitenews--2020-08-18--USCCB official ‘elated’ over Biden’s pro-abortion VP pick Kamala Harris

PETITION : Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , August 17 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ’ assistant director of African American Affairs has publicly expressed her enthusiasm for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate .
“ I was so elated .
We , the community , need good news , and this was just wonderful , ” Donna Toliver Grimes told Catholic News Service , the official news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( USCCB ) .
Grimes said Harris is “ really deserving and brings a lot to the table.
” However , much of what Kamala Harris “ brings to the table ” is antithetical to Catholicism .
The California senator believes in abortion on demand and fully supports “ LGBT rights , ” which frequently clash with Christians ’ religious liberty .
As California ’ s attorney general , Harris played a key role in defending Planned Parenthood over its sale of aborted baby parts and quashed ongoing investigations of Catholic clergy accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 open letter to the USCCB , Dan Zeidler , head of the Wisconsin-based Family Life Council , an international pro-life and pro-family organization , called it “ unacceptable and deadly ” for officials of the USCCB to publicly favor the Democrats .
“ People need to understand that given their pro-abortion positions and actions , Biden and Harris are disqualified from public office , ” he wrote .
“ The bishops and all Catholic Church leaders must unite now with others in a clear , unambiguous message .
No candidate who endorses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion is qualified for office , ” he added .
LifeSiteNews ’ s Calvin Frieberg previously reported that as a Senate candidate , Harris bragged about forcing religiously owned companies and pro-life pregnancy centers to violate their consciences .
During Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation hearings , Harris tried to get him to call the Obergefell ruling that forced states to recognize same-sex “ marriage ” one of the “ great moments in the history of the Supreme Court.
” In December 2018 , she suggested that Trump judicial nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus was problematic because of its pro-life , pro-marriage stances .
During her own presidential run , Harris proposed a plan under which states with a “ pattern of violating Roe v. Wade ” would not be able to enforce any new duly enacted pro-life measure “ until [ the Justice Department ] determines it comports with the standards laid out by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade , as applied in Whole Woman ’ s Health v. Hellerstedt , and the Women ’ s Health Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ability to enact even the mildest of abortion restrictions .
Alarmed that one of its officials was perceived to have spoken out on behalf of the U.S. bishops , James Rogers , chief communications officer for the USCCB , quickly released a strongly worded statement distancing the bishops ’ conference from Grimes : Earlier today , Catholic News Service ( CNS ) issued a clarification on its August 12 story in which a member of Conference staff was interviewed for an opinion of a candidate for vice president of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered in a personal capacity rather than as a representative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops .
At no point are Conference staff authorized to speak on behalf of the bishops in support of , or in opposition to , candidates for elected office .
Because the comments in question may have led to confusion among the faithful , let me be clear .
As Catholics , we are each called to evaluate candidates for public office by how closely their policies align with Gospel principles , as expressed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Citizenship .
So far , the USCCB has taken no action against Grimes , which contrasts with its treatment of the bishops ’ former spokeswoman , Judy Keane , who was forced to leave the bishops ’ conference after she posted tweets praising President Donald Trump and opposing Democrats , including then–presidential candidate Kamala Harris .
Keane , according to The Washington Times , had posted the tweets and likes on her personal account , which identified her as “ dir public affairs , US Conference of Catholic Bishops .
Opinions expressed are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Keane was dismissed from her USCCB position .
Some are wondering if Keane and Grimes — who clearly have opposing political affiliations — will be treated according to different standards .
“ The USCCB should be inundated with letters and calls demanding that Donna Toliver Grimes be treated like Judy Keane was when she tweeted Trump support from her personal account , ” wrote a Twitter user .
“ Judy was placed on leave .
Does the USCCB have different standards for black employees ?
”

The USCCB has taken no action against the official, even though another employee was strictly disciplined last year for supporting President Donald Trump.
PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ assistant director of African American Affairs has publicly expressed her enthusiasm for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.
“I was so elated. We, the community, need good news, and this was just wonderful,” Donna Toliver Grimes told Catholic News Service, the official news service of the U.S. bishops’ conference (USCCB).
Grimes said Harris is “really deserving and brings a lot to the table.”
However, much of what Kamala Harris “brings to the table” is antithetical to Catholicism.
The California senator believes in abortion on demand and fully supports “LGBT rights,” which frequently clash with Christians’ religious liberty.
As California’s attorney general, Harris played a key role in defending Planned Parenthood over its sale of aborted baby parts and quashed ongoing investigations of Catholic clergy accused of sexual abuse.
In an Aug. 16 open letter to the USCCB, Dan Zeidler, head of the Wisconsin-based Family Life Council, an international pro-life and pro-family organization, called it “unacceptable and deadly” for officials of the USCCB to publicly favor the Democrats.
“People need to understand that given their pro-abortion positions and actions, Biden and Harris are disqualified from public office,” he wrote.
“The bishops and all Catholic Church leaders must unite now with others in a clear, unambiguous message. No candidate who endorses and promotes the current legal situation of abortion is qualified for office,” he added.
LifeSiteNews’s Calvin Frieberg previously reported that as a Senate candidate, Harris bragged about forcing religiously owned companies and pro-life pregnancy centers to violate their consciences. During Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, Harris tried to get him to call the Obergefell ruling that forced states to recognize same-sex “marriage” one of the “great moments in the history of the Supreme Court.” In December 2018, she suggested that Trump judicial nominee Brian Buescher’s membership in the Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus was problematic because of its pro-life, pro-marriage stances.
During her own presidential run, Harris proposed a plan under which states with a “pattern of violating Roe v. Wade” would not be able to enforce any new duly enacted pro-life measure “until [the Justice Department] determines it comports with the standards laid out by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, as applied in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, and the Women’s Health Protection Act.” Those conditions would destroy states’ ability to enact even the mildest of abortion restrictions.
Alarmed that one of its officials was perceived to have spoken out on behalf of the U.S. bishops, James Rogers, chief communications officer for the USCCB, quickly released a strongly worded statement distancing the bishops’ conference from Grimes:
Earlier today, Catholic News Service (CNS) issued a clarification on its August 12 story in which a member of Conference staff was interviewed for an opinion of a candidate for vice president of the United States. CNS clarified that the quotes were offered in a personal capacity rather than as a representative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. At no point are Conference staff authorized to speak on behalf of the bishops in support of, or in opposition to, candidates for elected office. Because the comments in question may have led to confusion among the faithful, let me be clear. As Catholics, we are each called to evaluate candidates for public office by how closely their policies align with Gospel principles, as expressed by the U.S. bishops in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.
So far, the USCCB has taken no action against Grimes, which contrasts with its treatment of the bishops’ former spokeswoman, Judy Keane, who was forced to leave the bishops’ conference after she posted tweets praising President Donald Trump and opposing Democrats, including then–presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Keane, according to The Washington Times, had posted the tweets and likes on her personal account, which identified her as “dir public affairs, US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Opinions expressed are my own.”
Despite the clear disclaimer, Keane was dismissed from her USCCB position. Some are wondering if Keane and Grimes — who clearly have opposing political affiliations — will be treated according to different standards.
“The USCCB should be inundated with letters and calls demanding that Donna Toliver Grimes be treated like Judy Keane was when she tweeted Trump support from her personal account,” wrote a Twitter user. “Judy was placed on leave. Does the USCCB have different standards for black employees?”
The USCCB should be inundated with letters and calls demanding that Donna Toliver Grimes be treated like Judy Keane was when she tweeted Trump support from her personal account. Judy was placed on leave. Does the USCCB have different standards for black employees? — Liz O (@eoros1012) August 14, 2020
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