lifesitenews--2020-01-09--‘Intense’ spike in Christian persecution after China’s secret deal with Vatican: US gov’t repo

‘Intense’ spike in Christian persecution after China’s secret deal with Vatican: US gov’t report

WASHINGTON D.C. January 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Religious persecution in China has increased rapidly over the past year , according to a new U.S. government report .
The “ intensity ” of persecution , which , the report states , has not been seen `` since the Cultural Revolution , '' was linked to the Vatican signing a secret deal with the Chinese communist government to give the government power over the country ’ s Catholic Church .
“ Observers have described religious persecution in China over the last year to be of an intensity not seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual report put out by the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China ( CECC ) stated .
The report , released January 8 , stated that the Chinese government under President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has “ doubled down on the ‘ sinicization ’ of religion—a campaign that aims to bring religion in China under closer official control and in line with officially sanctioned interpretations of Chinese culture.
” “ Authorities have expanded the ‘ sinicization ’ campaign to target not only religions perceived as ‘ foreign , ’ such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buddhism , Taoism , and folk religious beliefs , ” the report stated .
The report acknowledged that the rise in persecution of Catholics corresponded to the signing of the secret deal with the Vatican .
“ In September 2018 , the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed an agreement with the Holy See , paving the way for the unification of state-sanctioned and underground Catholic communities .
Subsequently , local Chinese authorities subjected Catholic believers in China to increased persecution by demolishing churches , removing crosses , and continuing to detain underground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations also published a plan to ‘ sinicize ’ Catholicism in China.
” The communist-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association ( CPCA ) , a parallel ecclesial grouping that is not in communion with the Pope , was created by the Chinese government in the 1950s and appoints its own bishops and priests .
Catholic clergy and laity who are in union with the Pope have survived in secret in what has become known as the Underground Church .
Those suspected by the government of involvement in the Underground Church have been imprisoned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bishop Agostino Cui Tai of Xinhua province was arrested by local authorities .
The bishop had struggled to assert his episcopal authority in the face of resistance from a priest , Fr .
Zhang Li , who had demanded that he should merge with the officially-sanctioned church .
Episcopal Vicar Fr .
Zhang Jianlin was arrested with the bishop .
Catholics in China are praying for their safety .
The Vatican signed a provisional , secret agreement with China in 2018 that allows the government a say in the appointment of bishops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joseph Zen called the agreement an “ incredible betrayal.
” Critics ’ warnings that persecution would worsen have since been borne out .
Persecution of other Christians and unregistered churches has also increased .
Cardinal Zen has said that he fears that Pope Francis has been misled into encouraging “ schism ” among Catholics in China .
Zen has appealed to the Pope to defend persecuted Catholics in China , and recently revealed that he has sent a letter to the College of Cardinals pleading with them to denounce the agreement , sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he gave to the Pope in 2019 .
He presented his questions to the pontiff after the Vatican released pastoral guidelines in June that allowed the civil registration of faithful clergy with the communist government .
Some clergy of the Underground Church have refused to register with the government , arguing that doing so would mean betraying the real Catholic Church .
Cardinal Zen has deplored the Pope ’ s apparent silence regarding the plight of Chinese Catholics .
He called on all Catholics to prevent the “ murder ” of the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement include Stephen W. Mosher , an expert on China and founder of the Population Research Institute .
Mosher wrote in 2019 that no deal between the Vatican and Beijing would have been better than the deal that was hatched .
Both Cardinal Zen and Mosher have criticized Cardinal Pietro Parolin , the Vatican diplomat who spearheaded the deal .
In the past , Zen has called for Parolin ’ s resignation , while in the recently published missive , Zen said that he is disgusted that the secret agreement with China is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI .
“ Observers and Catholic believers expressed concern that the agreement did not provide sufficient support for the Chinese Catholic community , ” the report stated , “ with one scholar pointing out that the authorities ’ persecution of both underground and official Catholic communities has actually intensified over the last year under the ‘ sinicization ’ campaign.
” It noted that in early 2019 , the Chinese government arrested three priests of the Underground Church of Xuanhua diocese in Hebei province .
The report said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believers in China to increasing persecution by demolishing churches , removing crosses , and continuing to detain underground clergy.
” The new Congressional report called for U.S. sanctions on China in the wake of increased government suppression of religious faith .
The commission called on President Trump to strengthen the administration ’ s commitment to human rights and democratic governance as part of its mission .
It stated that the president “ should include expanding efforts within the U.S. Government to counter disinformation , coercive political influence operations , and censorship efforts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report also recommended that Congress should demand “ the right of Catholics to be led by clergy who are selected and who conduct their ministry according to the standard called for by Catholic religious beliefs.
” The report noted that China has not limited its persecution to Christians .
The report said that “ the Commission believes Chinese authorities may be committing crimes against humanity against the Uyghur people and other Turkic Muslims , ” while estimating that “ one million or more Uyghurs ” are being held in internment camps and subjected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christians of various denominations have also been persecuted .
“ Security personnel at the camps subjected detainees to torture , including forced ingestion of drugs ; punishment for behavior deemed religious ; forced labor ; overcrowding ; deprivation of food ; and political indoctrination , ” according to the report .
When some detainees were sent to camps elsewhere in China , due to overcrowding , the report said that some died in the camps because of “ poor conditions , medical neglect , or other reasons.
” Next month , China will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It mandates that all religious groups should “ adhere to the directives on religions in China , implementing the values of socialism ” and promote the “ principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party.
” An article in the new directives would require that “ government authorities be involved in the selection of religious officers and involved in disputes.
” Underground churches or “ home ” churches would thereby be outlawed .
There are approximately 10 million Catholics in China , according to the report , which noted that about 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

WASHINGTON D.C. January 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Religious persecution in China has increased rapidly over the past year, according to a new U.S. government report. The “intensity” of persecution, which, the report states, has not been seen “since the Cultural Revolution,” was linked to the Vatican signing a secret deal with the Chinese communist government to give the government power over the country’s Catholic Church.
“Observers have described religious persecution in China over the last year to be of an intensity not seen since the Cultural Revolution,” the annual report put out by the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) stated.
The report, released January 8, stated that the Chinese government under President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has “doubled down on the ‘sinicization’ of religion—a campaign that aims to bring religion in China under closer official control and in line with officially sanctioned interpretations of Chinese culture.”
“Authorities have expanded the ‘sinicization’ campaign to target not only religions perceived as ‘foreign,’ such as Islam and Christianity, but also Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religious beliefs,” the report stated.
The report acknowledged that the rise in persecution of Catholics corresponded to the signing of the secret deal with the Vatican.
“In September 2018, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed an agreement with the Holy See, paving the way for the unification of state-sanctioned and underground Catholic communities. Subsequently, local Chinese authorities subjected Catholic believers in China to increased persecution by demolishing churches, removing crosses, and continuing to detain underground clergy. The Party-led Catholic national religious organizations also published a plan to ‘sinicize’ Catholicism in China.”
The communist-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), a parallel ecclesial grouping that is not in communion with the Pope, was created by the Chinese government in the 1950s and appoints its own bishops and priests. Catholic clergy and laity who are in union with the Pope have survived in secret in what has become known as the Underground Church. Those suspected by the government of involvement in the Underground Church have been imprisoned, murdered, and otherwise persecuted.
Recently, Bishop Agostino Cui Tai of Xinhua province was arrested by local authorities. The bishop had struggled to assert his episcopal authority in the face of resistance from a priest, Fr. Zhang Li, who had demanded that he should merge with the officially-sanctioned church. Episcopal Vicar Fr. Zhang Jianlin was arrested with the bishop. Catholics in China are praying for their safety.
The Vatican signed a provisional, secret agreement with China in 2018 that allows the government a say in the appointment of bishops, among other concessions. Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen called the agreement an “incredible betrayal.” Critics’ warnings that persecution would worsen have since been borne out. Persecution of other Christians and unregistered churches has also increased.
Cardinal Zen has said that he fears that Pope Francis has been misled into encouraging “schism” among Catholics in China.
Zen has appealed to the Pope to defend persecuted Catholics in China, and recently revealed that he has sent a letter to the College of Cardinals pleading with them to denounce the agreement, sharing the “dubia” or questions that he gave to the Pope in 2019. He presented his questions to the pontiff after the Vatican released pastoral guidelines in June that allowed the civil registration of faithful clergy with the communist government. Some clergy of the Underground Church have refused to register with the government, arguing that doing so would mean betraying the real Catholic Church.
Cardinal Zen has deplored the Pope’s apparent silence regarding the plight of Chinese Catholics. He called on all Catholics to prevent the “murder” of the Church in China.
Other critics of the agreement include Stephen W. Mosher, an expert on China and founder of the Population Research Institute. Mosher wrote in 2019 that no deal between the Vatican and Beijing would have been better than the deal that was hatched. Both Cardinal Zen and Mosher have criticized Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican diplomat who spearheaded the deal. In the past, Zen has called for Parolin’s resignation, while in the recently published missive, Zen said that he is disgusted that the secret agreement with China is being presented as being in continuity with Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
“Observers and Catholic believers expressed concern that the agreement did not provide sufficient support for the Chinese Catholic community,” the report stated, “with one scholar pointing out that the authorities’ persecution of both underground and official Catholic communities has actually intensified over the last year under the ‘sinicization’ campaign.”
It noted that in early 2019, the Chinese government arrested three priests of the Underground Church of Xuanhua diocese in Hebei province. The report said, “Local Chinese authorities subjected Catholic believers in China to increasing persecution by demolishing churches, removing crosses, and continuing to detain underground clergy.”
The new Congressional report called for U.S. sanctions on China in the wake of increased government suppression of religious faith. The commission called on President Trump to strengthen the administration’s commitment to human rights and democratic governance as part of its mission. It stated that the president “should include expanding efforts within the U.S. Government to counter disinformation, coercive political influence operations, and censorship efforts, particularly those targeting diaspora communities.”
The report also recommended that Congress should demand “the right of Catholics to be led by clergy who are selected and who conduct their ministry according to the standard called for by Catholic religious beliefs.”
The report noted that China has not limited its persecution to Christians. The report said that “the Commission believes Chinese authorities may be committing crimes against humanity against the Uyghur people and other Turkic Muslims,” while estimating that “one million or more Uyghurs” are being held in internment camps and subjected to forced labor. Democracy advocates and Christians of various denominations have also been persecuted.
“Security personnel at the camps subjected detainees to torture, including forced ingestion of drugs; punishment for behavior deemed religious; forced labor; overcrowding; deprivation of food; and political indoctrination,” according to the report. When some detainees were sent to camps elsewhere in China, due to overcrowding, the report said that some died in the camps because of “poor conditions, medical neglect, or other reasons.”
Next month, China will put new restrictions into place for believers. It mandates that all religious groups should “adhere to the directives on religions in China, implementing the values of socialism” and promote the “principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party.” An article in the new directives would require that “government authorities be involved in the selection of religious officers and involved in disputes.” Underground churches or “home” churches would thereby be outlawed.
There are approximately 10 million Catholics in China, according to the report, which noted that about 6 million are members of the state-controlled CPCA.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Nebraska governor declares day of prayer to end abortion

LINCOLN , Nebraska , January 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Nebraska Republican Gov .
Pete Ricketts issued a proclamation Wednesday declaring that January 22 , the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling , will be a statewide day of prayer , calling on his constituents to ask God to help end abortion in the United States .
“ I do hereby urge all individuals to pray on their own or with others , according to their faith , for an end to abortion , ” the proclamation reads .
It also encourages Nebraskans to “ take direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families in need , especially those expecting a child who can not provide for themselves.
” “ Nebraska state law states that it is ‘ the will of the people of the State of Nebraska and the members of the Legislature to provide protection for the life of the unborn child whenever possible , ’ ” the document notes .
“ Nebraskans display our pro-life values in a multitude of ways from the crisis pregnancy centers that provide free care for expecting parents to the prayer vigils held across the state every year.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 10th most pro-life state in America last year .
The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute laments that as of January 1 , 2020 , Nebraska abortion laws include mandatory informed consent and 24-hour waiting periods , parental consent , bans on taxpayer funding of abortion and of abortion insurance , bans on late-term and telemed/ ” webcam ” abortions , and health standards for abortion facilities the abortion lobby deems “ unnecessary ” and “ burdensome.
” Pro-lifers hope a majority of Supreme Court justices will take June Medical Services LLC v. Gee in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The case concerns Louisiana ’ s requirement that abortion centers make arrangements for admitting women to nearby hospitals in cases of life-threatening complications .
Over the past year , numerous states have also enacted laws that ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected , often for the express purpose of provoking a legal review of Roe and its edict that abortion must be generally allowed before fetal viability .

Republican Pete Ricketts' proclamation states that it's the 'will of the people' to 'provide protection for the life of the unborn child.'
LINCOLN, Nebraska, January 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Nebraska Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts issued a proclamation Wednesday declaring that January 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling, will be a statewide day of prayer, calling on his constituents to ask God to help end abortion in the United States.
“I do hereby urge all individuals to pray on their own or with others, according to their faith, for an end to abortion,” the proclamation reads. It also encourages Nebraskans to “take direct action to aid mothers, fathers and families in need, especially those expecting a child who cannot provide for themselves.”
“Nebraska state law states that it is ‘the will of the people of the State of Nebraska and the members of the Legislature to provide protection for the life of the unborn child whenever possible,’” the document notes. “Nebraskans display our pro-life values in a multitude of ways from the crisis pregnancy centers that provide free care for expecting parents to the prayer vigils held across the state every year.”
Americans United for Life ranked Nebraska the 10th most pro-life state in America last year. The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute laments that as of January 1, 2020, Nebraska abortion laws include mandatory informed consent and 24-hour waiting periods, parental consent, bans on taxpayer funding of abortion and of abortion insurance, bans on late-term and telemed/”webcam” abortions, and health standards for abortion facilities the abortion lobby deems “unnecessary” and “burdensome.”
Pro-lifers hope a majority of Supreme Court justices will take June Medical Services LLC v. Gee in March as an opportunity to overturn Roe. The case concerns Louisiana’s requirement that abortion centers make arrangements for admitting women to nearby hospitals in cases of life-threatening complications.
Over the past year, numerous states have also enacted laws that ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, often for the express purpose of provoking a legal review of Roe and its edict that abortion must be generally allowed before fetal viability.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Increased harvesting of organs from euthanasia signals worse horrors to come: experts

OTTAWA , Ontario , January 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — News that organ harvesting from Canadians killed by lethal injection is on the rise in Ontario has euthanasia opponents warning more horrors and assaults on human life are to come .
“ Everybody says , ‘ Well , it can ’ t get any lower than it is , ’ but we ’ ll get lower than it is , because every time you break a new ethical barrier , it opens up a new question , ” Alex Schadenberg , executive director of the Canada-based Euthanasia Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is growing evidence that coercion plays a substantial role for many vulnerable people with regards to so called physician-assisted death .
Conflating this decision with organ donation further complicates the issue of coercion , ” echoed John Smeaton , chief executive of the U.K.-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ( SPUC ) .
“ We need to acknowledge the unsettling reality that many vulnerable people who have been euthanized without consent , may also have had their organs harvested without explicit consent , ” Smeaton added in a Wednesday statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ administers organ and tissue donation in Ontario , harvested 18 organs and 95 tissue donations from 113 people euthanized in the first 11 months of 2019 ( December figures were not available ) , the Ottawa Citizen reported this week .
That ’ s a 14 percent increase from 2018 , but not as steep a jump as the 109 percent increase in organs and tissue harvested from euthanized individuals between 2018 and 2017 in the province .
Euthanasia deaths also accounted for five percent of all the province ’ s overall organ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 3.6 percent in 2018 , and 2.1 percent in 2017 , the Citizen reported .
Canada ’ s most populous province , Ontario has the distinction of being the first jurisdiction in the world to proactively ask people approved for euthanasia if they want to donate their organs .
After initially allowing only patient-initiated organ donation , Quebec has now followed suit , and permits Transplant Québec to initiate discussions about organ and tissue harvesting with patients scheduled to be euthanized , the Citizen reported .
“ Under the Trillium Gift of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to notify Trillium Gift of Life Network of imminent death in an effort to ensure the opportunity to donate organs and tissue is offered to every medically-eligible Ontarian as part of high quality end-of-life care , ” Trillium spokesperson Margaret Barng told LifeSiteNews .
That includes telling Trillium when an individual has been approved for euthanasia , Barng said .
After this decision is made , “ the discussion of organ and tissue donation occurs.
” Currently , there are more than 1,600 Ontarians waiting for “ a lifesaving organ , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse an organ if they have a moral objection to euthanasia , revealing donor information is not required , Barng told LifeSiteNews .
“ The decision to share information about the donor background is up to each clinician , ” she wrote in an email .
“ Most do share the information , but it is not specified that it should be shared .
The potential recipient is able to decline the organ if they choose and they would then remain on the waitlist.
” Euthanasia and organ harvesting : Canada leads the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legalized euthanasia , or “ Medical Assistance in Dying ” ( MAiD ) , in June 2016 , following a February 2015 Supreme Court decision striking down the law prohibiting euthanasia and assisted suicide as unconstitutional .
Canada thus joined Belgium , the Netherlands , Luxembourg , and Columbia as the only countries so far to allow euthanasia death by lethal injection .
The other jurisdictions , such as Belgium and the Netherlands , currently allow only patient-initiated organ donation , reported the Citizen .
Canada also allows assisted suicide , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Switzerland , but which doesn ’ t allow for organ harvesting because the individual typically dies by self-administered drugs .
In Switzerland 's infamous death clinics , people kill themselves by taking a drug cocktail .
Canada is now on track to expand euthanasia to non-terminal cases .
In September , Quebec Superior Court Justice Christine Baudouin struck down the eligibility criterion for euthanasia that death be imminent .
The ruling nullifies both the federal Criminal Code requirement in Bill C-14 that an individual ’ s death be “ reasonably foreseeable , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an individual be at the “ end of life ” to be eligible for euthanasia .
Baudouin gave the governments of Quebec and Canada six months to change their laws , and neither government is appealing her decision .
Moreover , Quebec has opened up consultations on whether or not to allow “ prior consent ” for euthanasia , in which a person suffering from a degenerative illness gives an advance directive to be euthanized at a future date , thus opening the door for people to be killed by lethal injection without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitably increase attacks on human life , Schadenberg warns .
Linking organ donation to euthanasia changes the perception of death by lethal injection to “ a good ” in which “ people who are sick can get better because you had your life ended , ” he told LifeSiteNews .
And with imminent death no longer an eligibility requirement for euthanasia , vulnerable people , particularly those with depression or psychiatric illnesses , or mental or physical degenerative decline , or who see their lives as worthless , could find the perceived “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schadenberg said .
“ There are a lot of people who are not even sick .
They may have ALS , or a neurological condition such as Parkinson ’ s .
Their organs are perfectly good .
So they become the great organ donors , ” he said .
“ If you open up euthanasia for psychiatric reasons , those are even better donors because they have no physical health problems , ” he added .
Indeed , euthanasia lobbyist Dr. James Downar , who co-chaired the Canadian Blood Services committee that developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Post in 2017 that euthanasia — where the heart stops beating two to three minutes after lethal injection — is a prime source of organs .
“ If somebody has organs that would be appropriate to donate , you ’ ll never get better organs than you would by this process , ” said Downar , who now has a pivotal role in palliative care at Ottawa ’ s Catholic Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital .
But a more grisly possibility is “ already under discussion , ” says Schadenberg .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously , if you ’ ve said ‘ yes ’ to euthanasia and you ’ ve said ‘ yes ’ to organ donation by doing euthanasia first , why would you do euthanasia and then organ donation , when you could be doing euthanasia by organ donation ?
” he pointed out .
Death by lethal injection shuts down the heart , and “ therefore , it denies the ability of a heart transplant , ” Schadenberg said .
“ So euthanasia by organ donation has become the next question.
” And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real , stressed SPUC ’ s Smeaton .
“ It is true that organ donation is good , but only insofar as it does not bring about harm , namely the death of the donor , and , worse still , where that is coupled with lack of explicit consent , ” he pointed out .
“ The removal of explicit consent which is possible through state-regulated ‘ opt-out ’ policies , undermines the ethical basis of donation and intensifies concerns around some aspects of organ donation , such as removing vital organs @ @ @ @ @ @

'You’ll never get better organs than you would by' euthanasia, said one of its top lobbyists in Canada.
OTTAWA, Ontario, January 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — News that organ harvesting from Canadians killed by lethal injection is on the rise in Ontario has euthanasia opponents warning more horrors and assaults on human life are to come.
“Everybody says, ‘Well, it can’t get any lower than it is,’ but we’ll get lower than it is, because every time you break a new ethical barrier, it opens up a new question,” Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Canada-based Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, told LifeSiteNews.
“There is growing evidence that coercion plays a substantial role for many vulnerable people with regards to so called physician-assisted death. Conflating this decision with organ donation further complicates the issue of coercion,” echoed John Smeaton, chief executive of the U.K.-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).
“We need to acknowledge the unsettling reality that many vulnerable people who have been euthanized without consent, may also have had their organs harvested without explicit consent,” Smeaton added in a Wednesday statement.
Trillium Gift For Life Network, which administers organ and tissue donation in Ontario, harvested 18 organs and 95 tissue donations from 113 people euthanized in the first 11 months of 2019 (December figures were not available), the Ottawa Citizen reported this week.
That’s a 14 percent increase from 2018, but not as steep a jump as the 109 percent increase in organs and tissue harvested from euthanized individuals between 2018 and 2017 in the province.
Euthanasia deaths also accounted for five percent of all the province’s overall organ and tissue donations in 2019, up from 3.6 percent in 2018, and 2.1 percent in 2017, the Citizen reported.
Canada’s most populous province, Ontario has the distinction of being the first jurisdiction in the world to proactively ask people approved for euthanasia if they want to donate their organs.
After initially allowing only patient-initiated organ donation, Quebec has now followed suit, and permits Transplant Québec to initiate discussions about organ and tissue harvesting with patients scheduled to be euthanized, the Citizen reported.
“Under the Trillium Gift of Life Network Act, designated facilities are required to notify Trillium Gift of Life Network of imminent death in an effort to ensure the opportunity to donate organs and tissue is offered to every medically-eligible Ontarian as part of high quality end-of-life care,” Trillium spokesperson Margaret Barng told LifeSiteNews.
That includes telling Trillium when an individual has been approved for euthanasia, Barng said. After this decision is made, “the discussion of organ and tissue donation occurs.”
Currently, there are more than 1,600 Ontarians waiting for “a lifesaving organ,” she said.
While potential recipients can refuse an organ if they have a moral objection to euthanasia, revealing donor information is not required, Barng told LifeSiteNews.
“The decision to share information about the donor background is up to each clinician,” she wrote in an email.
“Most do share the information, but it is not specified that it should be shared. The potential recipient is able to decline the organ if they choose and they would then remain on the waitlist.”
Euthanasia and organ harvesting: Canada leads the way
Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government legalized euthanasia, or “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAiD), in June 2016, following a February 2015 Supreme Court decision striking down the law prohibiting euthanasia and assisted suicide as unconstitutional.
Canada thus joined Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Columbia as the only countries so far to allow euthanasia death by lethal injection.
The other jurisdictions, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, currently allow only patient-initiated organ donation, reported the Citizen.
Canada also allows assisted suicide, which is now legal in nine American states and Switzerland, but which doesn’t allow for organ harvesting because the individual typically dies by self-administered drugs. In Switzerland's infamous death clinics, people kill themselves by taking a drug cocktail.
Canada is now on track to expand euthanasia to non-terminal cases.
In September, Quebec Superior Court Justice Christine Baudouin struck down the eligibility criterion for euthanasia that death be imminent.
The ruling nullifies both the federal Criminal Code requirement in Bill C-14 that an individual’s death be “reasonably foreseeable,” and the Quebec Bill 52 requirement that an individual be at the “end of life” to be eligible for euthanasia.
Baudouin gave the governments of Quebec and Canada six months to change their laws, and neither government is appealing her decision.
Moreover, Quebec has opened up consultations on whether or not to allow “prior consent” for euthanasia, in which a person suffering from a degenerative illness gives an advance directive to be euthanized at a future date, thus opening the door for people to be killed by lethal injection without their active consent.
Killing by organ donation?
All this will inevitably increase attacks on human life, Schadenberg warns.
Linking organ donation to euthanasia changes the perception of death by lethal injection to “a good” in which “people who are sick can get better because you had your life ended,” he told LifeSiteNews.
And with imminent death no longer an eligibility requirement for euthanasia, vulnerable people, particularly those with depression or psychiatric illnesses, or mental or physical degenerative decline, or who see their lives as worthless, could find the perceived “good” of organ donation irresistible, Schadenberg said.
“There are a lot of people who are not even sick. They may have ALS, or a neurological condition such as Parkinson’s. Their organs are perfectly good. So they become the great organ donors,” he said.
“If you open up euthanasia for psychiatric reasons, those are even better donors because they have no physical health problems,” he added.
Indeed, euthanasia lobbyist Dr. James Downar, who co-chaired the Canadian Blood Services committee that developed guidelines for euthanasia organ donation, told the National Post in 2017 that euthanasia — where the heart stops beating two to three minutes after lethal injection — is a prime source of organs.
“If somebody has organs that would be appropriate to donate, you’ll never get better organs than you would by this process,” said Downar, who now has a pivotal role in palliative care at Ottawa’s Catholic Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital.
But a more grisly possibility is “already under discussion,” says Schadenberg.
“This is the ethical next question, because obviously, if you’ve said ‘yes’ to euthanasia and you’ve said ‘yes’ to organ donation by doing euthanasia first, why would you do euthanasia and then organ donation, when you could be doing euthanasia by organ donation?” he pointed out.
Death by lethal injection shuts down the heart, and “therefore, it denies the ability of a heart transplant,” Schadenberg said.
“So euthanasia by organ donation has become the next question.”
And the danger of coercive organ donation is very real, stressed SPUC’s Smeaton.
“It is true that organ donation is good, but only insofar as it does not bring about harm, namely the death of the donor, and, worse still, where that is coupled with lack of explicit consent,” he pointed out.
“The removal of explicit consent which is possible through state-regulated ‘opt-out’ policies, undermines the ethical basis of donation and intensifies concerns around some aspects of organ donation, such as removing vital organs from beating heart patients.”
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Cardinal defends German ban on abortion advertising in powerful pro-life homily

January 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki has forcefully defended an advertising ban on abortions in Germany .
The ban , while still in effect , has recently been relaxed by the German government .
“ We are called not to advertise for killing !
We have to advertise for life , ” the Archbishop of Cologne stated in a homily on Saturday , December 28 , 2019 .
At the same time , he criticized a new policy going into effect in 2021 .
From next year onward , statutory health insurance companies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay for prenatal blood work looking for genetic disorders like down syndrome in the unborn child .
On December 28 , the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Innocents , going back to the children murdered by King Herod after the birth of Jesus Christ .
According to the Gospel of Matthew , Herod had all children under two years of age in Bethlehem and its surroundings murdered , because he felt his power being challenged by Jesus Christ , “ the king of the Jews.
” Cardinal Woelki dedicated his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pro-life issues .
The archbishop of Cologne referred to a court decision of December 2019 , which stated that the advertising ban on abortions , which was relaxed in March 2019 , was contradictory .
The new law allows “ doctors , hospitals and institutions ” to make known publicly that they perform abortions , as well as pointing their patients to government-sanctioned informational materials on abortion .
Cardinal Woelki explained that now , “ information about terminations of pregnancy is legal , but not information about the methods.
” Woelki pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not aware any longer that abortion is still illegal in that country .
The law , said the archbishop , only allows for certain exceptions .
In those cases , having an abortion will not be punished by law .
As a matter of fact , paragraph 219 of the German penal code not only forbids advertising for abortions , but makes it mandatory for a pregnant woman to consult with doctors or counselors before deciding to go forward with an abortion .
This consultation , according to that law , has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Paragraph 219 also states that “ the unborn in each stage of the pregnancy has his or her own right to life.
” A further relaxation of the advertising ban on abortions would amount to “ a further playing down of practicing terminations of pregnancy , ” Cardinal Woelki told the faithful gathered in Cologne Cathedral .
He exclaimed , “ Advertising for abortions , dear sisters and brothers , is advertising for a statutory offense !
And that is criminal !
” It would be a further break in a dam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban , according to Woelki : “ We are called not to advertising for killing !
We have to advertise for life !
Nobody , dear sisters , dear brothers , nobody has the right to have at one ’ s command human life , not even in the first 12 weeks.
” Turning his attention to what is known as non-invasive prenatal testing , Cardinal Woelki clarified that in 2021 , statutory health insurance companies will only be covering the costs of the blood work in specific cases , namely after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as “ in connection with particular risks and to clarify abnormalities.
” Nevertheless , the archbishop emphasized , “ we all know what the result of that blood work is going to be : a positive result will mean a no to life in most cases for children with Down syndrome.
” In Germany , most people have insurance through the statutory health insurance system .
While almost 9 million residents are privately insured , the vast majority ( more than 73 million ) is insured by companies that are a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this kind of insurance amounts to a little over 15 percent of a person ’ s income .
However , almost half of that is covered by the employer , and the employee can still choose between many companies .
Statutory health insurance in Germany always includes vision and dental , and there is no extra fee for children .
Woelki went on talking about the fact that prenatal blood work usually has only one goal , namely “ the prevention of a life with a disability.
” This is true , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only of the unborn life before birth .
Rather , he said , the spread of non-invasive prenatal testing would lead to “ a continuously increasing discrimination of human beings with a disability – as if progress in medicine could determine the form for a life worth living , and a life unworthy to live.
” According to Cardinal Woelki , Christians are called to fight against abortions being considered “ the new normal of a liberal , humane and enlightened society ” in Germany .
He explained – while not explicitly referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pro-lifers is not a specifically Catholic teaching , but universal .
Woelki thanked all pro-lifers for their work , whether it be praying and sacrificing , or political involvement , or something else : “ God is a friend of life .
Let us all be , with him , as human being during Christmas , friends of life.
” Among the German bishops , Cardinal Woelki is considered to be one of the more faithful ones .
In March 2018 , he and several other bishops , mostly from Bavaria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , criticizing and asking for clarification on a document published by the German Bishops ’ Conference , which allowed protestant spouses of Catholics to receive Holy Communion in individual cases .
Nevertheless , Woelki appears to be in favor of parish priests making a pastoral decision to admit protestant spouses of Catholics to Holy Communion .
Rainer Maria Woelki was born and raised in the archdiocese of Cologne .
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1985 .
In 2003 , he became an auxiliary bishop for his diocese , before Pope Benedict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A year later , Pope Benedict made him a cardinal .
However , he was the head of the archdiocese of the German capital for only three years .
In 2014 , Pope Francis moved Cardinal Woelki to Cologne .
He replaced Joachim Cardinal Meisner , one of the four cardinals signing the Dubia in 2016 , which asked Pope Francis for clarification on controversies regarding his post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia .
The Dubia have never been answered .

'We are called not to advertise for killing! We have to advertise for life.'
January 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki has forcefully defended an advertising ban on abortions in Germany. The ban, while still in effect, has recently been relaxed by the German government.
“We are called not to advertise for killing! We have to advertise for life,” the Archbishop of Cologne stated in a homily on Saturday, December 28, 2019.
At the same time, he criticized a new policy going into effect in 2021. From next year onward, statutory health insurance companies in Germany are required in certain cases to pay for prenatal blood work looking for genetic disorders like down syndrome in the unborn child.
On December 28, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Innocents, going back to the children murdered by King Herod after the birth of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod had all children under two years of age in Bethlehem and its surroundings murdered, because he felt his power being challenged by Jesus Christ, “the king of the Jews.” Cardinal Woelki dedicated his sermon at the end of last year to pro-life issues.
The archbishop of Cologne referred to a court decision of December 2019, which stated that the advertising ban on abortions, which was relaxed in March 2019, was contradictory. The new law allows “doctors, hospitals and institutions” to make known publicly that they perform abortions, as well as pointing their patients to government-sanctioned informational materials on abortion.
Cardinal Woelki explained that now, “information about terminations of pregnancy is legal, but not information about the methods.”
Woelki pointed out that many people in Germany are not aware any longer that abortion is still illegal in that country. The law, said the archbishop, only allows for certain exceptions. In those cases, having an abortion will not be punished by law.
As a matter of fact, paragraph 219 of the German penal code not only forbids advertising for abortions, but makes it mandatory for a pregnant woman to consult with doctors or counselors before deciding to go forward with an abortion. This consultation, according to that law, has to serve “the protection of unborn life.” Paragraph 219 also states that “the unborn in each stage of the pregnancy has his or her own right to life.”
A further relaxation of the advertising ban on abortions would amount to “a further playing down of practicing terminations of pregnancy,” Cardinal Woelki told the faithful gathered in Cologne Cathedral. He exclaimed, “Advertising for abortions, dear sisters and brothers, is advertising for a statutory offense! And that is criminal!”
It would be a further break in a dam to have another relaxation of the advertising ban, according to Woelki: “We are called not to advertising for killing! We have to advertise for life! Nobody, dear sisters, dear brothers, nobody has the right to have at one’s command human life, not even in the first 12 weeks.”
Turning his attention to what is known as non-invasive prenatal testing, Cardinal Woelki clarified that in 2021, statutory health insurance companies will only be covering the costs of the blood work in specific cases, namely after a consultation between doctor and patient, as well as “in connection with particular risks and to clarify abnormalities.” Nevertheless, the archbishop emphasized, “we all know what the result of that blood work is going to be: a positive result will mean a no to life in most cases for children with Down syndrome.”
In Germany, most people have insurance through the statutory health insurance system. While almost 9 million residents are privately insured, the vast majority (more than 73 million) is insured by companies that are a part of statutory health insurance. The premium for this kind of insurance amounts to a little over 15 percent of a person’s income. However, almost half of that is covered by the employer, and the employee can still choose between many companies. Statutory health insurance in Germany always includes vision and dental, and there is no extra fee for children.
Woelki went on talking about the fact that prenatal blood work usually has only one goal, namely “the prevention of a life with a disability.” This is true, the archbishop of Cologne explained, not only of the unborn life before birth. Rather, he said, the spread of non-invasive prenatal testing would lead to “a continuously increasing discrimination of human beings with a disability – as if progress in medicine could determine the form for a life worth living, and a life unworthy to live.”
According to Cardinal Woelki, Christians are called to fight against abortions being considered “the new normal of a liberal, humane and enlightened society” in Germany. He explained – while not explicitly referring to natural law – that the position of pro-lifers is not a specifically Catholic teaching, but universal.
Woelki thanked all pro-lifers for their work, whether it be praying and sacrificing, or political involvement, or something else: “God is a friend of life. Let us all be, with him, as human being during Christmas, friends of life.”
Among the German bishops, Cardinal Woelki is considered to be one of the more faithful ones. In March 2018, he and several other bishops, mostly from Bavaria, had sent a letter to Pope Francis, criticizing and asking for clarification on a document published by the German Bishops’ Conference, which allowed protestant spouses of Catholics to receive Holy Communion in individual cases. Nevertheless, Woelki appears to be in favor of parish priests making a pastoral decision to admit protestant spouses of Catholics to Holy Communion.
Rainer Maria Woelki was born and raised in the archdiocese of Cologne. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1985. In 2003, he became an auxiliary bishop for his diocese, before Pope Benedict XVI called him to Berlin in 2011. A year later, Pope Benedict made him a cardinal. However, he was the head of the archdiocese of the German capital for only three years. In 2014, Pope Francis moved Cardinal Woelki to Cologne. He replaced Joachim Cardinal Meisner, one of the four cardinals signing the Dubia in 2016, which asked Pope Francis for clarification on controversies regarding his post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia. The Dubia have never been answered.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Planned Parenthood lost 400,000 donors last year

Planned Parenthood has 1.1 million active individual contributors , down from 1.403 million its previous fiscal year .
It aborted 345,672 babies last year , the report also showed .
Funds from government sources actually increased as individual donors stopped contributing to the abortion company during the 2018 to 2019 fiscal year .
This year ’ s report showed that Planned Parenthood garnered just over $ 616 million in government subsidies , up from last year ’ s $ 543.7 million .
American Life League executive director Jim Sedlak pointed out that Planned Parenthood ’ s dedication to abortion was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Leana Wen after less than a year on the job .
Wen had wanted Planned Parenthood to focus on more than just abortion .
“ Wen clearly bought the healthcare lies of Planned Parenthood , and when she found out the truth about its almost total focus on abortion and politics , rebelled and was fired , ” said Sedlak .
“ Apparently , ” Sedlak continued , “ as the truly abortion focus of the organization became more and more apparent , not only did Wen leave , but 400,000 individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That exodus resulted in Planned Parenthood reporting a $ 39.5 million drop in donations and a $ 26.5 million drop in total income—despite the fact that its taxpayer income increased by $ 53 million.
” Statistics calculated by the Centers for Disease Control show that the number of abortions committed across the U.S. has again declined , but the share committed by Planned Parenthood continues to increase .
The period covered in the latest annual report occurred before President Trump enacted a rule requiring entities that receive Title X federal family planning money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commit or refer for abortions .
Planned Parenthood refused to comply and lost $ 60 million in taxpayer funds as a result .

January 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Planned Parenthood lost 400,000 individual donors last fiscal year, its latest annual report revealed.
Planned Parenthood has 1.1 million active individual contributors, down from 1.403 million its previous fiscal year. It aborted 345,672 babies last year, the report also showed.
Funds from government sources actually increased as individual donors stopped contributing to the abortion company during the 2018 to 2019 fiscal year. This year’s report showed that Planned Parenthood garnered just over $616 million in government subsidies, up from last year’s $543.7 million.
American Life League executive director Jim Sedlak pointed out that Planned Parenthood’s dedication to abortion was on display when it fired now-former president Dr. Leana Wen after less than a year on the job. Wen had wanted Planned Parenthood to focus on more than just abortion.
“Wen clearly bought the healthcare lies of Planned Parenthood, and when she found out the truth about its almost total focus on abortion and politics, rebelled and was fired,” said Sedlak.
“Apparently,” Sedlak continued, “as the truly abortion focus of the organization became more and more apparent, not only did Wen leave, but 400,000 individual donors to Planned Parenthood stopped giving. That exodus resulted in Planned Parenthood reporting a $39.5 million drop in donations and a $26.5 million drop in total income—despite the fact that its taxpayer income increased by $53 million.”
Statistics calculated by the Centers for Disease Control show that the number of abortions committed across the U.S. has again declined, but the share committed by Planned Parenthood continues to increase.
The period covered in the latest annual report occurred before President Trump enacted a rule requiring entities that receive Title X federal family planning money to be physically separate from those that commit or refer for abortions. Planned Parenthood refused to comply and lost $60 million in taxpayer funds as a result.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Christian mom loses court case against school that forced indigenous smudging ritual on kids

NANAIMO , British Columbia , January 9 , 2020 ( Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ) – British Columbia 's top court ruled yesterday that schools can require children to participate in religious or spiritual rituals — such as smudging ceremonies from First Nations ' culture — despite parental objections to the explicitly religious aspect of “ cleansing ” the spirits of children .
In 2015 , a Port Alberni school required children to participate in a smudging ceremony whereby smoke from burning sage was fanned over the classroom , furniture and space occupied by children .
In a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ritual took place for the express purposes of cleansing the children ’ s spirits of negative energy .
Later in the school year , a prayer was offered at a mandatory student assembly .
“ We are reviewing the decision with an eye to next steps , ” stated Jay Cameron , counsel for Candice Servatius and Litigation Manager at the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms about the January 8 , 2020 Supreme Court of BC decision .
“ This is a disappointing decision for citizens from any religion or cultural background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to be free from state-compelled spirituality.
” The week-long case against School District 70 was heard in November 2019 in Nanaimo , B.C .
The Justice Centre represented mother Candice Servatius , whose two children were subjected to a religious or spiritual ritual at John Howitt Elementary School without her knowledge or consent .
Witnesses for the Attorney General of B.C .
and the Nuu-chul-nuth Tribal Council , which intervened in the case , testified during cross-examinations that it is not consistent with First Nations ' practice to compel anyone to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is “ unnecessary ” to hold cleansing ceremonies in classrooms in order to teach about First Nations culture .
However , in September of 2015 , Mrs. Servatius received a letter from the principal of John Howitt Elementary School ( JHES ) in Port Alberni , BC , where her two children attend .
The letter informed parents that JHES would be hosting a “ Traditional Nuu-chah-nulth Classroom/Student Cleansing ” performed by a “ Nuu-chah-nulth Member ” in the school ’ s classrooms .
The letter did not provide a date for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The term Nuu-chah-nulth is used to describe fifteen related First Nations tribes who live on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island .
The letter from the school outlined specific beliefs of the Nuu-chah-nulth : “ everything is one , all is connected ” and “ everything has a spirit.
” The school ’ s letter described in detail how the cleansing ritual would “ cleanse ” the classroom of “ energy ” and cleanse the “ spirits ” of the students .
The letter claimed that without cleansing , the classroom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy ” and would not be safe until the “ energy ” was “ released.
” The letter stated that each student would participate in the cleansing ritual by holding onto a cedar branch while having “ smoke from Sage fanned over [ their ] body and spirit.
” Concerned about the explicitly supernatural and religious nature of the cleansing ritual , and how it conflicted with her own family ’ s religious beliefs , Mrs. Servatius immediately went to the school to learn more .
When she arrived , she was shocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been imposed on her nine-year-old daughter .
Mrs. Servatius had received less than 24 hours of notice from the school , and did not have the opportunity to opt her child out of the ritual .
In January of 2016 , Mrs. Servatius learned that a prayer based on First Nations spirituality had been performed at a JHES student assembly , with explicit references to an unspecified “ god ” .
JHES did not notify parents .
School District 70 argued in court that the ceremonies and prayers that children are required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs. Servatius and her children to be free of government-imposed religion , and claimed that such rituals are merely “ cultural ” .

The school required children to participate in a smudging ceremony whereby smoke from burning sage was fanned over the classroom, furniture and space occupied by children.
NANAIMO, British Columbia, January 9, 2020 (Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms) – British Columbia's top court ruled yesterday that schools can require children to participate in religious or spiritual rituals — such as smudging ceremonies from First Nations' culture — despite parental objections to the explicitly religious aspect of “cleansing” the spirits of children.
In 2015, a Port Alberni school required children to participate in a smudging ceremony whereby smoke from burning sage was fanned over the classroom, furniture and space occupied by children. In a letter to parents, the school claimed that this ritual took place for the express purposes of cleansing the children’s spirits of negative energy. Later in the school year, a prayer was offered at a mandatory student assembly.
“We are reviewing the decision with an eye to next steps,” stated Jay Cameron, counsel for Candice Servatius and Litigation Manager at the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms about the January 8, 2020 Supreme Court of BC decision. “This is a disappointing decision for citizens from any religion or cultural background, each of whom has a constitutional right to be free from state-compelled spirituality.”
The week-long case against School District 70 was heard in November 2019 in Nanaimo, B.C. The Justice Centre represented mother Candice Servatius, whose two children were subjected to a religious or spiritual ritual at John Howitt Elementary School without her knowledge or consent. Witnesses for the Attorney General of B.C. and the Nuu-chul-nuth Tribal Council, which intervened in the case, testified during cross-examinations that it is not consistent with First Nations' practice to compel anyone to be smudged against their will, and that it is “unnecessary” to hold cleansing ceremonies in classrooms in order to teach about First Nations culture.
However, in September of 2015, Mrs. Servatius received a letter from the principal of John Howitt Elementary School (JHES) in Port Alberni, BC, where her two children attend. The letter informed parents that JHES would be hosting a “Traditional Nuu-chah-nulth Classroom/Student Cleansing” performed by a “Nuu-chah-nulth Member” in the school’s classrooms. The letter did not provide a date for when these cleansing rituals would take place. The term Nuu-chah-nulth is used to describe fifteen related First Nations tribes who live on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.
The letter from the school outlined specific beliefs of the Nuu-chah-nulth: “everything is one, all is connected” and “everything has a spirit.” The school’s letter described in detail how the cleansing ritual would “cleanse” the classroom of “energy” and cleanse the “spirits” of the students. The letter claimed that without cleansing, the classroom and even the furniture would harbour negative “energy” and would not be safe until the “energy” was “released.” The letter stated that each student would participate in the cleansing ritual by holding onto a cedar branch while having “smoke from Sage fanned over [their] body and spirit.”
Concerned about the explicitly supernatural and religious nature of the cleansing ritual, and how it conflicted with her own family’s religious beliefs, Mrs. Servatius immediately went to the school to learn more. When she arrived, she was shocked to find out that the ritual had already been imposed on her nine-year-old daughter. Mrs. Servatius had received less than 24 hours of notice from the school, and did not have the opportunity to opt her child out of the ritual.
In January of 2016, Mrs. Servatius learned that a prayer based on First Nations spirituality had been performed at a JHES student assembly, with explicit references to an unspecified “god”. JHES did not notify parents.
School District 70 argued in court that the ceremonies and prayers that children are required to participate in violate the right of Mrs. Servatius and her children to be free of government-imposed religion, and claimed that such rituals are merely “cultural”.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Leftists who smeared, incited violence against Covington boys hit with new lawsuits

January 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Following CNN and pro-life teenager Nick Sandmann ’ s settlement of a defamation suit over the former ’ s coverage of the 2019 March for Life , it appears the next round of suits has been filed against media and political figures who falsely accused other pro-life teens of harassment .
Immediately after last year ’ s March for Life in Washington , D.C. , the press erupted with claims that a video showed boys from a Catholic school in Kentucky harassing Nathan Phillips , a Native American activist , outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and firsthand accounts soon revealed that Phillips was the one who waded into the group waiting for its bus and decided to beat a drum inches from Sandmann ’ s face , while the boys had merely performed school cheers in hopes of drowning out racist taunts from members of the Black Hebrew Israelites fringe group .
As additional video came to light , many journalists and other public figures quickly deleted their snap condemnations of the students .
Some , however , either tried to keep the original narrative alive or refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial claims , leading to various lawsuits on behalf of the boys .
Among the challenges was a $ 250 million suit against CNN for broadcasting into “ millions of homes ” the “ idea that [ Sandmann ] was part of a mob ... yelling racist slurs , ” which was settled Tuesday for an as-yet-undisclosed sum .
Sandmann ’ s attorneys also have pending a $ 275 million suit against NBCUniversal , and a $ 250 million suit against the Washington Post .
An unrelated series of suits by a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other , unnamed students , targets Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Deb Haaland , CNN ’ s Ana Navarro , the New York Times ’ Maggie Haberman , ABC News ’ s Matthew Dowd , ex-CNN personalities Kathy Griffin and Reza Aslan , Kentucky entrepreneur Adam Edelen , Princeton University ’ s Kevin Kruse , left-wing activist Shaun King , Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery , and Rewire editor-in-chief Jodi Jacobson .
Aslan , who infamously tweeted a picture of Sandmann accompanied by the question , “ have you ever seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” suddenly deleted the tweet this week , which attorney Robert Barnes , who represents the group of anonymous students , took as a sign he had received the suit : Aslan claimed Thursday morning that he simply deleted the tweet because his wife had asked him to , and implied that it stayed up for so long because he thought he had already deleted it : Barnes told PJ Media he had another reason for inferring Aslan had been served , “ because his team was not able to find the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” PJ Media reports .
“ Several of our Senators , most-famous celebrities , and widely read journalists , collectively used their large social media platforms , perceived higher credibility and public followings to lie and libel minors they never met , based on an event they never witnessed , ” the lawsuit declares .
“ These defendants called for the kids to be named and shamed , doxxed and expelled , and invited public retaliation against these minors from a small town in Kentucky .
“ The defendants circulated false statements about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , ” it continues .
“ The video of the entire event , known to the defendants , exposed all of their factual claims against the kids as lies .
The defendants were each individually offered the opportunity to correct , delete , and/or apologize for their false statements , but each refused , continuing to circulate the false statements about these children to this very day on their social media platforms they personally control.
” The suit seeks for each plaintiff “ damages in an amount not less than $ 15,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each defendant.
” With eight plaintiffs , that would mean a sum between $ 120,000 and $ 400,000 from each of the defendants .
The aforementioned suits represent different students and are being carried out by different attorneys , but Sandmann and his attorney Lin Wood publicly criticized Barnes this week for his use of Sandmann ’ s name and Aslan ’ s tweets , thereby giving the impression that Barnes represents Sandmann : Barnes , who has been critical of Sandmann ’ s legal team in the past , said Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymity as John Does ( Nick Sandmann , who went public , is not my client ) .
”

One person being sued, Reza Aslan, infamously tweeted a picture of Sandmann accompanied by the question 'have you ever seen a more punchable face than this kid's'
January 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Following CNN and pro-life teenager Nick Sandmann’s settlement of a defamation suit over the former’s coverage of the 2019 March for Life, it appears the next round of suits has been filed against media and political figures who falsely accused other pro-life teens of harassment.
Immediately after last year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C., the press erupted with claims that a video showed boys from a Catholic school in Kentucky harassing Nathan Phillips, a Native American activist, outside the Lincoln Memorial. But additional extended video and firsthand accounts soon revealed that Phillips was the one who waded into the group waiting for its bus and decided to beat a drum inches from Sandmann’s face, while the boys had merely performed school cheers in hopes of drowning out racist taunts from members of the Black Hebrew Israelites fringe group.
As additional video came to light, many journalists and other public figures quickly deleted their snap condemnations of the students. Some, however, either tried to keep the original narrative alive or refused to unequivocally retract or apologize for their initial claims, leading to various lawsuits on behalf of the boys.
Among the challenges was a $250 million suit against CNN for broadcasting into “millions of homes” the “idea that [Sandmann] was part of a mob…yelling racist slurs,” which was settled Tuesday for an as-yet-undisclosed sum. Sandmann’s attorneys also have pending a $275 million suit against NBCUniversal, and a $250 million suit against the Washington Post.
An unrelated series of suits by a different legal team, on behalf of eight other, unnamed students, targets Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Deb Haaland, CNN’s Ana Navarro, the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, ABC News’s Matthew Dowd, ex-CNN personalities Kathy Griffin and Reza Aslan, Kentucky entrepreneur Adam Edelen, Princeton University’s Kevin Kruse, left-wing activist Shaun King, Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery, and Rewire editor-in-chief Jodi Jacobson.
Aslan, who infamously tweeted a picture of Sandmann accompanied by the question, “have you ever seen a more punchable face than this kid's,” suddenly deleted the tweet this week, which attorney Robert Barnes, who represents the group of anonymous students, took as a sign he had received the suit:
Apparently, Reza Aslan got served the suit I filed against him on behalf of #CovingtonBoys. https://t.co/lhgWTOeAeg — Robert Barnes (@Barnes_Law) January 8, 2020
Aslan claimed Thursday morning that he simply deleted the tweet because his wife had asked him to, and implied that it stayed up for so long because he thought he had already deleted it:
My wife had asked me to delete it and I do whatever my wife tells me to do. Then a couple of days ago, I saw that it had been remarked upon by this felon and adulterer you may be familiar with. I believe his name is Dinesh something. I realized I hadn’t and so I did. End of story — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) January 9, 2020
Barnes told PJ Media he had another reason for inferring Aslan had been served, “because his team was not able to find the author's address until last week,” PJ Media reports.
“Several of our Senators, most-famous celebrities, and widely read journalists, collectively used their large social media platforms, perceived higher credibility and public followings to lie and libel minors they never met, based on an event they never witnessed,” the lawsuit declares. “These defendants called for the kids to be named and shamed, doxxed and expelled, and invited public retaliation against these minors from a small town in Kentucky.
“The defendants circulated false statements about them to millions of people around the world,” it continues. “The video of the entire event, known to the defendants, exposed all of their factual claims against the kids as lies. The defendants were each individually offered the opportunity to correct, delete, and/or apologize for their false statements, but each refused, continuing to circulate the false statements about these children to this very day on their social media platforms they personally control.”
The suit seeks for each plaintiff “damages in an amount not less than $15,000 but not more than $50,000 against each defendant.” With eight plaintiffs, that would mean a sum between $120,000 and $400,000 from each of the defendants.
The aforementioned suits represent different students and are being carried out by different attorneys, but Sandmann and his attorney Lin Wood publicly criticized Barnes this week for his use of Sandmann’s name and Aslan’s tweets, thereby giving the impression that Barnes represents Sandmann:
2/ Barnes has been previously warned to stop publicly suggesting or stating that he represents Nicholas. In response, Barnes “blocked” @ToddMcMurtry & me on Twitter. Barnes apparently cannot control his desire to garner publicity by falsely using Nicholas’ name. — Lin Wood (@LLinWood) January 9, 2020
4/ If Barnes does not cease publishing & then correct his prior false statements, Nicholas’ attorneys are fully prepared to take legal action against him. So Barnes can take the easy way out or he will get out the hard way – we will sue him. His choice. — Lin Wood (@LLinWood) January 9, 2020
Barnes, who has been critical of Sandmann’s legal team in the past, said Wednesday, “All #CovingtonBoys I represent retain anonymity as John Does (Nick Sandmann, who went public, is not my client).”
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Professor says he was joking about failing students for citing Jordan Peterson

CALGARY , Alberta , January 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A University of Calgary sociology professor who tweeted that he punishes students who invoke University of Toronto psychology professor and cultural commentator Jordan Peterson with failing grades now says it was a “ joke.
” “ I regret that it implied that I do n't take seriously my students ' right to free expression , ” he tweeted .
Ted McCoy is a sociology professor whose research interests are listed as including “ Social Inequality and Social Justice , ” among other topics .
Rebel News first reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he tweeted , “ I heard it rumoured students will fail my class if they cite Jordan Peterson and I 'd like to clarify that this is absolutely correct.
” McCoy has since deleted the tweet , but Rebel News saved an archive of the original page here .
By Tuesday evening , McCoy changed the settings on his Twitter account to prevent the general public from reading it at all .
It is now public again .
“ Ironically , Professor McCoy teaches a class called ‘ Self-Regulation ’ which examines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and follow non-legal codes of conduct and , in turn , regulate themselves and society , ” Libby Emmons and Barrett Wilson note at the Post Millennial .
“ Apparently McCoy is too deranged by his jealousy-fuelled fever dreams of Jordan Peterson to apply the lessons of his course to his own online behaviour.
” Peterson has amassed a strong following of conservative fans in recent years for his hard-hitting assessments of issues from abortion and transgenderism to sex education and motherhood .
He is a particularly fierce critic of academia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ post-modernists pushing progressive activism ” who indoctrinate rather than teach young people .
These and other stands have won Peterson no shortage of enemies on the Left .
McCoy ’ s now-retracted threat echoes actions others have actually taken against Peterson fans , from a high-school debate judge in Utah to professors at Ontario ’ s Wilfrid Laurier University .
Leaked documents also reveal that Google employees have privately referred to Peterson ( among other right-of-center public figures , including observant Jew Ben Shapiro ) as a Nazi .

'I heard it rumoured students will fail my class if they cite Jordan Peterson and I'd like to clarify that this is absolutely correct,' Professor Ted McCoy originally tweeted.
CALGARY, Alberta, January 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A University of Calgary sociology professor who tweeted that he punishes students who invoke University of Toronto psychology professor and cultural commentator Jordan Peterson with failing grades now says it was a “joke.”
“I regret that it implied that I don't take seriously my students' right to free expression,” he tweeted.
Ted McCoy is a sociology professor whose research interests are listed as including “Social Inequality and Social Justice,” among other topics. Rebel News first reported that on the morning of January 7, he tweeted, “I heard it rumoured students will fail my class if they cite Jordan Peterson and I'd like to clarify that this is absolutely correct.”
McCoy has since deleted the tweet, but Rebel News saved an archive of the original page here.
Ironic. Up until now, no one knew who Ted McCoy was. But censoring Jordan Peterson has made him famous. Not a good look for academia.#cdnpoli #censorship @tedmccoy @jordanbpetersonhttps://t.co/xMBvBNZf6f — David Jacobs (@DrJacobsRad) January 8, 2020
By Tuesday evening, McCoy changed the settings on his Twitter account to prevent the general public from reading it at all. It is now public again.
Yesterday I made a joke about failing students in my courses if they cite an author I don’t agree with. I regret that it implied that I don't take seriously my students' right to free expression. I would never fail or penalize a student for a difference of political opinion. — Ted McCoy (@tedmccoy) January 9, 2020
“Ironically, Professor McCoy teaches a class called ‘Self-Regulation’ which examines how individuals and groups create, maintain, and follow non-legal codes of conduct and, in turn, regulate themselves and society,” Libby Emmons and Barrett Wilson note at the Post Millennial. “Apparently McCoy is too deranged by his jealousy-fuelled fever dreams of Jordan Peterson to apply the lessons of his course to his own online behaviour.”
Peterson has amassed a strong following of conservative fans in recent years for his hard-hitting assessments of issues from abortion and transgenderism to sex education and motherhood. He is a particularly fierce critic of academia, which he contends is largely dominated by “post-modernists pushing progressive activism” who indoctrinate rather than teach young people.
These and other stands have won Peterson no shortage of enemies on the Left. McCoy’s now-retracted threat echoes actions others have actually taken against Peterson fans, from a high-school debate judge in Utah to professors at Ontario’s Wilfrid Laurier University. Leaked documents also reveal that Google employees have privately referred to Peterson (among other right-of-center public figures, including observant Jew Ben Shapiro) as a Nazi.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Leftists melt down after CNN settles Nick Sandmann defamation suit

January 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Left-wing observers aren ’ t taking kindly to the news that CNN agreed to a settlement of the defamation suit brought by pro-life teenager Nick Sandmann , rather than defend its coverage of the 2019 March for Life at trial .
Immediately after last year ’ s March for Life in Washington , D.C. , the press erupted with claims that a video showed boys from a Catholic school in Kentucky harassing Nathan Phillips , a Native American activist , outside the Lincoln Memorial .
But additional extended video , and firsthand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one who waded into the group waiting for its bus and decided to beat a drum inches from Sandmann ’ s face , while the boys had merely performed school cheers in hopes of drowning out racist taunts from members of the Black Hebrew Israelites fringe group .
As additional video came to light , many journalists and other public figures quickly deleted their snap condemnations of the students , while some have either tried to keep the original narrative alive or refused to unequivocally retract or apologize for their initial claims , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boys .
Among the challenges was a $ 250-million suit against CNN for broadcasting into “ millions of homes ” the “ idea that [ Sandmann ] was part of a mob ... yelling racist slurs , ” according to attorney L. Lin Wood .
But the suit was settled Tuesday for an as yet undisclosed sum .
Details of the terms have not yet been revealed , but the Daily Wire reports that various observers have expressed disgust at either the outcome or conservatives ’ celebration of it , including CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abu Khadija ” Ali : Above the Law contributor Joe Patrice claimed that conservatives celebrating the news are either engaged in a “ conscious disinformation campaign ” or “ are just f -- -- -- stupid , ” because agreeing to a settlement out of pragmatic reasons ( such as the financial or public-relations costs of a trial ) is not an admission of guilt .
But conservatives have not claimed that CNN has acknowledged its guilt with this decision , and instead simply express their belief that CNN could not have defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawsuits against other individuals and media giants remain pending , including a $ 275-million suit against NBCUniversal and a $ 250-million suit against the Washington Post .
“ This case will be tried not one minute earlier or later than when it is ready , ” Wood has declared , while Sandmann ’ s legal team stresses that the dollar amounts are sought not for the teen ’ s sake , but to deter the press from smearing others in the future .
Attorneys Robert Barnes and Kevin Murphy have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Covington students , targeting Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Deb Haaland , CNN ’ s Ana Navarro , the New York Times ’ Maggie Haberman , ABC News ’ s Matthew Dowd , ex-CNN personalities Kathy Griffin and Reza Aslan , Kentucky entrepreneur Adam Edelen , Princeton University ’ s Kevin Kruse , left-wing activist Shaun King , Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery , and Rewire editor-in-chief Jodi Jacobson .

Various observers have expressed disgust at either the outcome or conservatives’ celebration of it.
January 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Left-wing observers aren’t taking kindly to the news that CNN agreed to a settlement of the defamation suit brought by pro-life teenager Nick Sandmann, rather than defend its coverage of the 2019 March for Life at trial.
Immediately after last year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C., the press erupted with claims that a video showed boys from a Catholic school in Kentucky harassing Nathan Phillips, a Native American activist, outside the Lincoln Memorial. But additional extended video, and firsthand accounts soon revealed that Phillips was the one who waded into the group waiting for its bus and decided to beat a drum inches from Sandmann’s face, while the boys had merely performed school cheers in hopes of drowning out racist taunts from members of the Black Hebrew Israelites fringe group.
As additional video came to light, many journalists and other public figures quickly deleted their snap condemnations of the students, while some have either tried to keep the original narrative alive or refused to unequivocally retract or apologize for their initial claims, leading to various lawsuits on behalf of the boys.
Among the challenges was a $250-million suit against CNN for broadcasting into “millions of homes” the “idea that [Sandmann] was part of a mob … yelling racist slurs,” according to attorney L. Lin Wood. But the suit was settled Tuesday for an as yet undisclosed sum. Details of the terms have not yet been revealed, but the Daily Wire reports that various observers have expressed disgust at either the outcome or conservatives’ celebration of it, including CNN and New York Times contributor Wajahat “Abu Khadija” Ali:
The same people who promote the QAnon conspiracy theory, which the FBI says is now a domestic terror threat, the Obama Birther conspiracy, the “Replacement Theory” don't have much high ground to gloat about the Nick Sandmann settlement but when you are without shame… — Wajahat “Abu Khadija” Ali (@WajahatAli) January 7, 2020
The same Trump cultists celebrating Nick Sandmann’s victory against the corporate media outlets who smeared him with false accusations from social media mob bullying that generated fake clickbait news articles are strangely silent about all the liberals they falsely accused too. — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) January 7, 2020
In the Trump era, you can profit off publicly ridiculing Native Americas like Nick Sandmann or start your own clothing line after killing a child like Eddie Gallagher. Or murder journalists like Mohammad bin Salman & you will have the full support of the POTUS. #TrumpIsADisgrace — Bleeding Heart Liberal Marine (@zaharako) January 7, 2020
Above the Law contributor Joe Patrice claimed that conservatives celebrating the news are either engaged in a “conscious disinformation campaign” or “are just f—— stupid,” because agreeing to a settlement out of pragmatic reasons (such as the financial or public-relations costs of a trial) is not an admission of guilt.
But conservatives have not claimed that CNN has acknowledged its guilt with this decision, and instead simply express their belief that CNN could not have defended its coverage on the merits.
Sandmann’s lawsuits against other individuals and media giants remain pending, including a $275-million suit against NBCUniversal and a $250-million suit against the Washington Post. “This case will be tried not one minute earlier or later than when it is ready,” Wood has declared, while Sandmann’s legal team stresses that the dollar amounts are sought not for the teen’s sake, but to deter the press from smearing others in the future.
Attorneys Robert Barnes and Kevin Murphy have also filed defamation suits on behalf of eight other Covington students, targeting Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Deb Haaland, CNN’s Ana Navarro, the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, ABC News’s Matthew Dowd, ex-CNN personalities Kathy Griffin and Reza Aslan, Kentucky entrepreneur Adam Edelen, Princeton University’s Kevin Kruse, left-wing activist Shaun King, Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery, and Rewire editor-in-chief Jodi Jacobson.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-09--Brazilian judge orders Netflix to remove film that portrays Christ as homosexual

PETITION : Dump Netflix over video depicting Jesus as a homosexual Sign the petition here .
RIO DE JANEIRO , Brazil , January 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A judge has ordered Netflix to remove a blasphemous film from its service .
The judge , Benedicto Abicair , handed down his judgment in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday .
The decision followed a petition signed by over two million Brazilians stating that the comedic film , entitled The First Temptation of Christ , broke the law and “ seriously offended Christians.
” In the film , Christ is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university student Ricardo German told LifeSiteNews he was delighted by the ruling .
“ I think it ’ s great , ” he said via social media and explained that the judge was on solid legal ground .
“ According to Article 208 of the Brazilian Penal Code , to ‘ publicly denigrate an act or object of religious worship ’ is a crime punishable by up to one year in prison.
” “ Judge Abicair did nothing but order the provisional suspension of a work in clear violation of that legal prohibition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to German , can forbid Netflix ’ s Brazil installation — officially a “ legal person ” for the purposes of legal proceedings — from making the film available to view .
He can also bar Porta dos Fundos from advertising the film anywhere that can be accesseed from Brazil , “ which would technically include the internet as a whole ( at least in the Portuguese language , some jurists could say ) .
” At the same time , German was surprised that the judge ruled as he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazilian courts .
“ The order will almost certainly be reversed by the higher courts ( the High Court of Justice or the Supreme Court ) , unfortunately , ” German said .
“ The superior courts don ’ t apply the law : they decide what outcome they would like the most and , based on that , confer whichever twisted hermeneutics they need to effectively render any legal disposition contrary to their ideology meaningless , ” he continued .
“ They ’ ve done it with gay ‘ marriage ’ back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it with abortion of fetuses with anencephaly , and they will probably do it again now.
” German added that 100 % of all seats in the superior courts are filled by presidential nominations and “ if you ’ ve had over two decades of left-wing governments , you get what you get.
” The film was produced by the Brazilian film company Porta dos Fundos , whose headquarters were firebombed on Christmas Eve .
No one was hurt .
German told LifeSiteNews that the small group of men who attacked the offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action ” movement .
The president of this group has , however , repudiated the attack .

The decision followed a petition signed by over two million Brazilians stating that the blasphemous film broke the law and 'seriously offended Christians.'
PETITION: Dump Netflix over video depicting Jesus as a homosexual Sign the petition here.
UPDATE 01-09-2020, 18:38 P.M. EST — As predicted by LifeSite’s source, the Brazilian Supreme Court just overruled Judge Benedicto Abicair’s decision, allowing Netflix to leave the blasphemous First Temptation of Christ available for viewing in Brazil. Read LifeSite coverage here.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, January 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A judge has ordered Netflix to remove a blasphemous film from its service.
The judge, Benedicto Abicair, handed down his judgment in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday. The decision followed a petition signed by over two million Brazilians stating that the comedic film, entitled The First Temptation of Christ, broke the law and “seriously offended Christians.” In the film, Christ is depicted as a homosexual.
Edinburgh-based Brazilian university student Ricardo German told LifeSiteNews he was delighted by the ruling.
“I think it’s great,” he said via social media and explained that the judge was on solid legal ground. “According to Article 208 of the Brazilian Penal Code, to ‘publicly denigrate an act or object of religious worship’ is a crime punishable by up to one year in prison.”
“Judge Abicair did nothing but order the provisional suspension of a work in clear violation of that legal prohibition,” German said. The judge, according to German, can forbid Netflix’s Brazil installation — officially a “legal person” for the purposes of legal proceedings — from making the film available to view. He can also bar Porta dos Fundos from advertising the film anywhere that can be accesseed from Brazil, “which would technically include the internet as a whole (at least in the Portuguese language, some jurists could say).”
At the same time, German was surprised that the judge ruled as he did because of the left-leaning tendencies of modern Brazilian courts.
“The order will almost certainly be reversed by the higher courts (the High Court of Justice or the Supreme Court), unfortunately,” German said.
“The superior courts don’t apply the law: they decide what outcome they would like the most and, based on that, confer whichever twisted hermeneutics they need to effectively render any legal disposition contrary to their ideology meaningless,” he continued.
“They’ve done it with gay ‘marriage’ back in 2011, they’ve done it with abortion of fetuses with anencephaly, and they will probably do it again now.”
German added that 100% of all seats in the superior courts are filled by presidential nominations and “if you’ve had over two decades of left-wing governments, you get what you get.”
The film was produced by the Brazilian film company Porta dos Fundos, whose headquarters were firebombed on Christmas Eve. No one was hurt. German told LifeSiteNews that the small group of men who attacked the offices carried flags of the “Brazilian Integralist Action” movement. The president of this group has, however, repudiated the attack.
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