lifesitenews--2020-11-17--Canadian military’s plan to use ‘propaganda’ on public to achieve COVID lockdown compliance is shut

Canadian military’s plan to use ‘propaganda’ on public to achieve COVID lockdown compliance is shut down

OTTAWA , November 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Canada ’ s Armed Forces has been told to shelve a plan to manipulate the attitudes and behaviors of the nation ’ s residents through propaganda techniques aimed at moving the public to comply with Covid-19 lockdown measures .
The Ottawa Citizen reported November 16 that the Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Affairs had announced the program , which targeted Canadians , was being shut down .
In an email to staff , Laurie-Ann Kempton stated that “ Canadians must have absolute confidence in knowing that we completely understand our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our initiatives and activities.
” Kempton added , “ They must know that they are not targets.
” The announcement followed revelations published by the Ottawa Citizen earlier this month that the Canadian military wanted to create a “ Defence Strategic Communication ” organization .
This would have used “ propaganda and other techniques to try to influence the attitudes , beliefs and behaviours of Canadians , ” the Citizen reported .
A draft of the proposal was sent around National Defence Headquarters in the capital city last month .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end result ” of the “ weaponization ” of the Canadian Armed Forces ’ public affairs arm .
The newspaper also reported in July that the military had planned to ensure Canadians ’ compliance with the Covid-19 shutout by rolling out methods it had used in a foreign war zone .
“ That campaign was to use similar propaganda tactics to those employed against the Afghan population during the war in Afghanistan , including loudspeaker trucks to transmit government messages , ” the Citizen reported .
“ The propaganda operation was halted after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such techniques.
” The military also had plans “ to collect and analyze data ” from Canadians ’ social media accounts .
It had already begun to do so by , for example , collecting negative remarks about Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic .
According to the Citizen , the military team justified this as necessary “ to help troops who were to work in long-term care homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
” The social media accounts examined included Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
Another social media tactic the military considered was to use the personal social media accounts of selected Armed Forces staff members to get out official military and governmental messages to the public .
They also proposed developing ties with academics already friendly with the military and with retired personnel with an eye to disseminating their messages through their accounts or when speaking with the media .
According to the Citizen , the project was launched by General Jonathan Holbert Vance , Canada ’ s Chief of the Defence Staff , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sajjan in 2015 .
The defence strategy of Justin Trudeau ’ s Canadian government has , since 2017 , included an enhanced development of information warfare .
Before the project became known to the public , the Canadian Armed Forces had already spent more than $ 1 million to train its public affairs officers in “ behavior modification techniques ” like those used by SCL Group ( formerly Strategic Communications Laboratories ) , the parent company of Cambridge Analytica .
The “ Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal ” involved the secret hijacking of millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create political advertising .
The military had also been caught in a mock disinformation campaign that accidentally became authentic when faked warnings from the government of the province of Nova Scotia about wolves became public .
David Mulroney , a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Toronto ’ s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy , told LifeSiteNews that he is comforted by his low estimation of military intelligence .
“ What keeps me from being overly worried is that I have a very low estimation of the ability of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much less influence it , ” he said via social media .
“ That said , this speaks to the fact that the Chief of the Defence Staff is no longer matched with and balanced by an experienced and authoritative civilian Deputy Minister , ” he continued .
“ I recall days when a powerful civilian Deputy Minister of National Defence could and would challenge bad ideas like this.
” Among Mulroney 's other roles , including Canada ’ s Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012 , he has served as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force , Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs , and Foreign and Defence Policy Adviser to Canada 's Prime Minister .
Asked why aiming propaganda at one ’ s own citizens is wrong , given the historic use of propaganda in wartime , Mulroney said it was a question of trust .
“ It erodes public trust , ” he said , “ and we 're not at war , when it may be necessary to conceal information for national security purposes , or to mislead the enemy.
” “ And Canadians are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ceasefire Canada , a citizens ’ watchdog group that scrutinizes public policy , stated online , “ While we commend the Minister of National Defence for shutting down this ill-conceived initiative , we also urge him to adopt robust policy and doctrine on information operations which include a clear differentiation between activities to inform Canadians and operations targeting adversaries.
” Mason drew attention to an essay by retired Navy captain Dave Scanlon , who urged that “ Canadian values ” not be sacrificed in the attempt to win the information war .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It requires an informed public , ethical and transparent government , an engaged private sector , a vigorous and valued free press , and armed forces that respect and reflect Canadian values , ” Scanlon stated .

The strategy was to manipulate the 'attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of Canadians' with tactics that included loudspeaker trucks blasting government messages.
OTTAWA, November 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Canada’s Armed Forces has been told to shelve a plan to manipulate the attitudes and behaviors of the nation’s residents through propaganda techniques aimed at moving the public to comply with Covid-19 lockdown measures.
The Ottawa Citizen reported November 16 that the Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Affairs had announced the program, which targeted Canadians, was being shut down. In an email to staff, Laurie-Ann Kempton stated that “Canadians must have absolute confidence in knowing that we completely understand our role in informing the public space of our initiatives and activities.”
Kempton added, “They must know that they are not targets.”
The announcement followed revelations published by the Ottawa Citizen earlier this month that the Canadian military wanted to create a “Defence Strategic Communication” organization. This would have used “propaganda and other techniques to try to influence the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of Canadians,” the Citizen reported. A draft of the proposal was sent around National Defence Headquarters in the capital city last month.
According to the Citizen, the plan was the “end result” of the “weaponization” of the Canadian Armed Forces’ public affairs arm. The newspaper also reported in July that the military had planned to ensure Canadians’ compliance with the Covid-19 shutout by rolling out methods it had used in a foreign war zone.
“That campaign was to use similar propaganda tactics to those employed against the Afghan population during the war in Afghanistan, including loudspeaker trucks to transmit government messages,” the Citizen reported.
“The propaganda operation was halted after concerns were raised about the ethics behind such techniques.”
The military also had plans “to collect and analyze data” from Canadians’ social media accounts. It had already begun to do so by, for example, collecting negative remarks about Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Citizen, the military team justified this as necessary “to help troops who were to work in long-term care homes during the coronavirus pandemic.” The social media accounts examined included Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The information was sent on to the Ontario government.
Another social media tactic the military considered was to use the personal social media accounts of selected Armed Forces staff members to get out official military and governmental messages to the public. They also proposed developing ties with academics already friendly with the military and with retired personnel with an eye to disseminating their messages through their accounts or when speaking with the media.
According to the Citizen, the project was launched by General Jonathan Holbert Vance, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, and approved by the Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan in 2015. The defence strategy of Justin Trudeau’s Canadian government has, since 2017, included an enhanced development of information warfare.
Before the project became known to the public, the Canadian Armed Forces had already spent more than $1 million to train its public affairs officers in “behavior modification techniques” like those used by SCL Group (formerly Strategic Communications Laboratories), the parent company of Cambridge Analytica. The “Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal” involved the secret hijacking of millions of Facebook accounts by the consulting firm to create political advertising.
The military had also been caught in a mock disinformation campaign that accidentally became authentic when faked warnings from the government of the province of Nova Scotia about wolves became public.
David Mulroney, a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, told LifeSiteNews that he is comforted by his low estimation of military intelligence.
“What keeps me from being overly worried is that I have a very low estimation of the ability of the military brass to understand public opinion, much less influence it,” he said via social media.
“That said, this speaks to the fact that the Chief of the Defence Staff is no longer matched with and balanced by an experienced and authoritative civilian Deputy Minister,” he continued.
“I recall days when a powerful civilian Deputy Minister of National Defence could and would challenge bad ideas like this.”
Among Mulroney's other roles, including Canada’s Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012, he has served as the Deputy Minister responsible for the Afghanistan Task Force, Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Foreign and Defence Policy Adviser to Canada's Prime Minister.
Asked why aiming propaganda at one’s own citizens is wrong, given the historic use of propaganda in wartime, Mulroney said it was a question of trust.
“It erodes public trust,” he said, “and we're not at war, when it may be necessary to conceal information for national security purposes, or to mislead the enemy.”
“And Canadians are not the enemy.”
Peggy Mason of Ceasefire Canada, a citizens’ watchdog group that scrutinizes public policy, stated online, “While we commend the Minister of National Defence for shutting down this ill-conceived initiative, we also urge him to adopt robust policy and doctrine on information operations which include a clear differentiation between activities to inform Canadians and operations targeting adversaries.”
Mason drew attention to an essay by retired Navy captain Dave Scanlon, who urged that “Canadian values” not be sacrificed in the attempt to win the information war.
“Fighting disinformation is a serious whole-of-nation challenge. It requires an informed public, ethical and transparent government, an engaged private sector, a vigorous and valued free press, and armed forces that respect and reflect Canadian values,” Scanlon stated.
— Article continues below Petition — Canada: Sign the Geneva Consensus Declaration! Show Petition Text 6733 have signed the petition. Let's get to 7500 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition On October 22nd, thirty-two nations signed the historic Geneva Consensus Declaration, including the co-sponsoring nations, the United States, Brazil, Hungary, Indonesia, and Uganda. However, Canada was not among the signatories. Please SIGN this joint petition, from LifeSite and Campaign Life Coalition, urging Canada to ratify the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which will put Canada at the forefront in the fight to protect genuine human rights. The Geneva Consensus Declaration takes a firm stance against invented human rights by saying, "there is no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion." The Geneva Consensus Declaration further reaffirms: That "protecting the right to life" is an "essential priority."
The "inherent 'dignity and worth of the human person'" and that "'every human has the inherent right to life.'"
That "'the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and state,'" as the Declaration on the Rights of the Child stated. Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition to Canadian MPs, asking them to restore Canada's reputation as a world leader in human rights, and sign the Geneva Consensus Declaration. In the past, Canada had a reputation for supporting conventions and declarations that promote fundamental and universal principles, including the right to life and the centrality of the natural family in society. To that end, Canada signed declarations and conventions supporting the child and the natural family, like the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1990. However, in recent years, Canada has deviated from its commitments and its historic role in advancing genuine human rights. Instead, Canada has pushed a marginal agenda focused on newly-invented “rights” that are neither based in natural law nor in any international treaty. Among these are a false right to abortion, a false right to choose one’s gender, and a false right to sexual pleasure for children. Indeed, Canada has become a bully on the world stage, imposing its agenda on traditional peoples in developing nations, promoting abortion, gender theory, and radical sex education. It is time for Canada to stand up for genuine human rights like it once did, especially the right to life, and proclaim that the nuclear family is the basis of society. By ratifying the Geneva Consensus Declaration, Canada would join other nations in upholding these very things, and would recommit itself to safeguarding the rights and principles that it formerly promoted and defended. Please SIGN this petition calling on the Members of Parliament to sign the Geneva Consensus Declaration. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Information about the Geneva Consensus Declaration - https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/oga/global-health-diplomacy/protecting-life-global-health-policy/geneva-declaration.html The text of the Geneva Consensus Declaration - https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/geneva-consensus-declaration-english.pdf CLC article, 'Canada Must Join the Geneva Consensus Declaration' - https://www.campaignlifecoalition.com/clc-blog/id/118/title/canada-must-join-the-geneva-consensus LifeSite article, '32 nations, including US, declare ‘no international right to abortion’ at UN' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/32-nations-including-us-declare-no-international-right-to-abortion-at-un Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
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lifesitenews--2020-11-16--Austria bishops praise ‘willingness to be vaccinated’ as part of ‘Christian responsibility’

VIENNA , Austria , November 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Catholic bishops of Austria believe that being injected with a vaccine against Covid-19 is a form of Christian responsibility .
In a statement released at the end of their autumn plenary assembly on Friday , the Austrian Bishops ’ Conference said “ Christian responsibility ” should manifest itself during the coronavirus pandemic as “ personal responsibility , consideration , and solidarity.
” “ The willingness to be vaccinated is an expression of this attitude , '' the bishops wrote .
“ We are still in the midst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and economic implications , ” they continued .
“ There must be no lockdown of hearts and help.
” The bishops indicated that they believe recent news points “ encouraging indications that there could be an effective and safe vaccination against the infection in the foreseeable future.
” On Monday , November 9 , shortly after the U.S. elections , BioNTech and parent company Pfizer announced that they had developed a viable “ vaccine candidate ” against Covid-19 .
Echoing a May statement by Pope Francis , the Austrian bishops said coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonable prices .
They condemned any national hoarding of vaccines or economic interests interfering with its accessibility by the poor .
However , they also stated that there are those who should get first crack at the vaccine , that is , people whose professions bring them in constant contact with infected people or who are otherwise particularly vulnerable .
In the bishops ' statement , they also published their wishes , which they described as a “ responsible contribution ” regarding restrictions on Catholic worship in Austria .
Going above and beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Austrian bishops required Catholics to stand 1.5 metres ( 4 feet , 9 inches ) apart at all church services , whether indoors or outdoors , and to wear masks .
In addition , all baptisms , first communions , confirmations , and weddings will be postponed .
“ With these restrictions , the bishops want to make a responsible contribution to overcoming the crisis , ” they said in their statement .
“ At the same time , this ensures that the essential basic practices of faith continue to be possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that baptism is one of the most important activities of the Church and that all unmarried Catholics who have no impediment to marriage have a canonical right to marry .
However , in their statement , the bishops concentrated on other forms of “ pastoral care.
” “ The bishops gratefully perceive that the great majority of the faithful try in these difficult times to combine the necessary measures with great spiritual confidence and active love , '' they wrote .
“ There is great commitment in pastoral care for the sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by telephone , at Caritas and auxiliary institutions , and also in schools.
” The bishops added that religious freedom is very important and particularly protected by the Austrian constitution .
`` Interferences with this basic right , such as suspending public services , are so serious that they have to be very well founded in order not to be unconstitutional , ” they wrote .
`` That is why the churches and religious societies have been working very closely with the state authorities since the beginning of the pandemic when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the face of the pandemic.
” But Viennese Catholic Alexander Tschugguel , known primarily for removing images identified with the Andean goddess Pachamama from a Roman church and throwing them in the Tiber , sees things differently .
He told LifeSiteNews that shortly after making their statement , the Austrian bishops banned all public Masses .
“ The head of our Bishops ’ Conference , the Primas Germaniae ( Primate of German-speaking countries ) , Archbishop Franz Lackner , said on Friday that there would be a church lockdown only ( as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via email .
“ Only 24 hours later , he said that there wo n't be any public masses up until St. Nicholas ’ Day .
This is a 360 degree turn within 24 hours .
What a disgrace !
” Tschugguel told LifeSiteNews that he is “ opposed ” to what his nation ’ s Catholic bishops have said .
He feels that the bishops misunderstand their primary responsibility as Christians .
“ It is a matter of Christian responsibility to take care of other people 's salvation , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against this responsibility to forbid public Holy Masses .
”

Viennese Catholic Alexander Tschugguel said, however, that the bishops’ understanding of responsibility is all wrong.
VIENNA, Austria, November 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Catholic bishops of Austria believe that being injected with a vaccine against Covid-19 is a form of Christian responsibility.
In a statement released at the end of their autumn plenary assembly on Friday, the Austrian Bishops’ Conference said “Christian responsibility” should manifest itself during the coronavirus pandemic as “personal responsibility, consideration, and solidarity.”
“The willingness to be vaccinated is an expression of this attitude,” the bishops wrote.
“We are still in the midst of a pandemic with enormous personal, social and economic implications,” they continued. “There must be no lockdown of hearts and help.”
The bishops indicated that they believe recent news points “encouraging indications that there could be an effective and safe vaccination against the infection in the foreseeable future.”
On Monday, November 9, shortly after the U.S. elections, BioNTech and parent company Pfizer announced that they had developed a viable “vaccine candidate” against Covid-19.
Echoing a May statement by Pope Francis, the Austrian bishops said coronavirus vaccines should be made available worldwide at reasonable prices. They condemned any national hoarding of vaccines or economic interests interfering with its accessibility by the poor.
However, they also stated that there are those who should get first crack at the vaccine, that is, people whose professions bring them in constant contact with infected people or who are otherwise particularly vulnerable.
In the bishops' statement, they also published their wishes, which they described as a “responsible contribution” regarding restrictions on Catholic worship in Austria. Going above and beyond the government’s own requirements, the Austrian bishops required Catholics to stand 1.5 metres (4 feet, 9 inches) apart at all church services, whether indoors or outdoors, and to wear masks. In addition, all baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and weddings will be postponed.
“With these restrictions, the bishops want to make a responsible contribution to overcoming the crisis,” they said in their statement.
“At the same time, this ensures that the essential basic practices of faith continue to be possible,” the bishops continued.
Catholic believe that baptism is one of the most important activities of the Church and that all unmarried Catholics who have no impediment to marriage have a canonical right to marry. However, in their statement, the bishops concentrated on other forms of “pastoral care.”
“The bishops gratefully perceive that the great majority of the faithful try in these difficult times to combine the necessary measures with great spiritual confidence and active love,” they wrote.
“There is great commitment in pastoral care for the sick and the elderly, in pastoral care by telephone, at Caritas and auxiliary institutions, and also in schools.”
The bishops added that religious freedom is very important and particularly protected by the Austrian constitution.
“Interferences with this basic right, such as suspending public services, are so serious that they have to be very well founded in order not to be unconstitutional,” they wrote.
“That is why the churches and religious societies have been working very closely with the state authorities since the beginning of the pandemic when it comes to measures to restrict religious freedom in the face of the pandemic.”
But Viennese Catholic Alexander Tschugguel, known primarily for removing images identified with the Andean goddess Pachamama from a Roman church and throwing them in the Tiber, sees things differently. He told LifeSiteNews that shortly after making their statement, the Austrian bishops banned all public Masses.
“The head of our Bishops’ Conference, the Primas Germaniae (Primate of German-speaking countries), Archbishop Franz Lackner, said on Friday that there would be a church lockdown only (as a last resort),” Tschugguel said via email.
“Only 24 hours later, he said that there won't be any public masses up until St. Nicholas’ Day. This is a 360 degree turn within 24 hours. What a disgrace!”
Tschugguel told LifeSiteNews that he is “opposed” to what his nation’s Catholic bishops have said. He feels that the bishops misunderstand their primary responsibility as Christians.
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: Say 'No' to using the U.S. military as guinea pigs for COVID vaccine Show Petition Text 17354 have signed the petition. Let's get to 17500 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition PETITION UPDATE (12/14/2020) - The vaccine roll out is beginning in the United States, and first responders have been tagged as those likely to be among the first to receive a vaccine. President Trump needs to ensure that this is entirely voluntary. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition, today! _______________________________________________________________________ Early reports suggest that the U.S. military could be first on the list of those ordered to take a COVID vaccine. But, no one should be forced to be vaccinated against his or her will, especially members of the U.S. military! Military men and women, and their families, already sacrifice enough for the safety of our country. Forcing them to take an untested and unproven vaccine, against their will, would violate the spirit of their contract with America. This petition says 'No' to treating our servicemen and women like guinea pigs with an unproven and insufficiently-tested vaccine. Please SIGN this petition to President Trump asking him to declare, as Commander-in-Chief, that members of the armed forces will not be forced to take any COVID vaccine. So far, big pharmaceutical companies have reported casualties and halted trials for a COVID vaccine on numerous occasions: An AstraZeneca COVID trial participant died over the summer.
On October 12, Eli Lilly stopped a COVID antibody trial because of safety concerns.
Johnson and Johnson paused their vaccine trials on October 11 because one participant had an "unexplained" illness.
And, other AstraZeneca trials in the UK were put on hold both in July and September after participants developed a "serious neurological condition that might have been caused by the vaccine." No one, especially in the U.S. military, should be used as a guinea pig for proving the "effectiveness" of any COVID vaccine. Apart from these real health concerns, many military men and women object to vaccines made from aborted fetal cell lines and to other unethical testing, and these ethical considerations should also be honored. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition which calls on President Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, to issue a declaration protecting the right of servicemen and women to exercise conscientious objection in relation to a mandate for them to take a COVID vaccine. Just like it was essential for President Trump to nominate a new Supreme Court justice before the election, it is now essential that the President declare any vaccine to be voluntary for the military before January, just in case there is a transition to a new administration. Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this urgent petition to President Trump, today! FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'Why rushing a COVID vaccine will likely fail to provide a safe and effective immunity' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/why-rushing-a-covid-vaccine-will-likely-fail-to-provide-a-safe-and-effective-immunity 'Coronavirus vaccine trial volunteer dies in Brazil' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/covid-vaccine-trial-volunteer-dies-in-brazil **Photo Credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
“It is a matter of Christian responsibility to take care of other people's salvation,” he said. “Therefore, it is absolutely against this responsibility to forbid public Holy Masses.”
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lifesitenews--2020-11-16--2020 is a litany of endless woes. What’s there to be thankful for?

November 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) –Thanksgiving hovers on the horizon inviting us to reflect on the importance of giving thanks to God for our multitude of blessings .
It may seem incongruous in this year of so many challenges .
What do we have to be thankful for ?
We 've faced the illness and death of loved ones , coronavirus lockdowns , cancelled religious services and locked churches , isolation , and unemployment , not to mention wildfires in California , riots ripping apart our cities , and devastating hurricanes with massive flooding on the Gulf Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And yet , in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 , St. Paul tells us , `` In all things give thanks ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all . ''
What a message to receive only days after a presidential election that may turn out to be a disaster for the unborn , the vulnerable , and people of faith .
Many discouraged voters ask , “ Why ?
” even as they await the final result .
But our response should be to turn to God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because He promises to `` work all things ( all things ) together for good to those who love Him and serve according to His purpose . ''
Can fraud and corruption defeat God ?
Of course not !
King David 's psalms overflow with messages of thanks .
`` Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving ; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms . ''
( Psalm 95:2 ) `` Enter His gates with thanksgiving , And His courts with praise .
Give thanks to Him ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100:4 ) `` Praise the LORD !
Oh give thanks to the LORD , for He is good ; For His loving kindness is everlasting . ''
( Psalm 106:1 ) Even the weeping prophet , Jeremiah , called on the people to give thanks in the midst of their suffering under the boot of a pagan empire .
He reminded them that God is still in charge and they would not suffer forever .
`` And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry : and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shall not be few ; I will also glorify them , and they shall not be small . ''
( Jeremiah 30:19 ) Cicero called gratitude the greatest of all the virtues and the parent of them all .
No day passes without a long list for which to be thankful .
From the moment we wake up and put our feet on the floor and hear the birdsong symphony outside our windows until we lay our heads on the pillow at night after gazing at a glorious sunset and a clear blue-black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple reasons to give thanks .
Gratitude offers benefits , not only for the soul , but it 's healthy for the body as well .
Researcher Giacomo Bono focuses on the impact of gratitude , particularly in young people .
In a four-year study of 700 students ages 10-14 , researchers compared the 20 percent `` least grateful '' with the 20 percent `` most grateful . ''
Grateful students were happier , more hopeful , found more meaning in their lives and experienced fewer negative emotions and depressive symptoms .
Bono @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that gratitude may be strongly linked with life-skills such as cooperation , purpose , creativity and persistence and , as such , gratitude is vital resource that parents , teachers and others who work with young people should help youth build up as they grow up .
... More gratitude may be precisely what our society needs to raise a generation that is ready to make a difference in the world.
” Bono 's research led him to develop a classroom gratitude curriculum for students .
The Greater Gratitude Science Center offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for K-8th grade and one offering four classes for older students who are encouraged to keep a gratitude journal and to make a thankful attitude `` intentional . ''
One lesson plan focuses on seeing the good in others pointing out that : The program uses a `` fill the bucket '' metaphor urging students to affirm the goodness they see in others in specific ways .
Did a friend tell you a joke that lifted your spirits ?
Say thank you .
Did you drop your books and someone you hardly know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kindness .
Fill their buckets with affirmation .
By “ filling the buckets ” of others , you fill your own .
That an attitude of gratitude makes positive changes in a person 's life seems like common sense , but it 's also confirmed by scientific studies .
Bono compared the results of the full gratitude curriculum with classroom instruction and activities with a control group using only a web gratitude app called GiveThx .
At the end of six weeks , students took a `` well-being survey . ''
Researchers found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curriculum showed advances over the control group in a number of measures , including emotion regulation , motivation to succeed , improved relations with teachers and their peer group , and a greater sense of the meaning of life .
Parents who want to assist their own children would benefit from studying the results of Bono ’ s research .
Gratitude is itself a tremendous blessing for which to be grateful .
A grateful heart is a healthier heart , both physically and spiritually .
While Bono 's program says nothing about God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God 's presence .
Grace builds on nature , and gratitude for the beauty we see around us and for the people in our lives can easily lead to gratitude for the author of beauty and life itself .
May we magnify gratitude by making it not only a virtue for a season , but for a lifetime .
As Catholics , we have a virtual feast of models who teach us to be grateful every day .
St. Teresa of Avila offers us this gem , “ In all created things discern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in all things give Him thanks.
” Amen !
Mary Ann Kreitzer writes from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and blogs at LesFemmes-theTruth .

There’s a little Christian secret to get us through difficult times, whether we’re facing the death of loved ones, coronavirus lockdowns, cancelled religious services and locked churches, isolation, and unemployment, a messy presidential election, or whatever it might be.
November 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) –Thanksgiving hovers on the horizon inviting us to reflect on the importance of giving thanks to God for our multitude of blessings. It may seem incongruous in this year of so many challenges. What do we have to be thankful for? We've faced the illness and death of loved ones, coronavirus lockdowns, cancelled religious services and locked churches, isolation, and unemployment, not to mention wildfires in California, riots ripping apart our cities, and devastating hurricanes with massive flooding on the Gulf Coast. The litany of woes seems endless.
And yet, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, St. Paul tells us, “In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.” What a message to receive only days after a presidential election that may turn out to be a disaster for the unborn, the vulnerable, and people of faith. Many discouraged voters ask, “Why?” even as they await the final result. But our response should be to turn to God and thank Him no matter what happens, because He promises to “work all things (all things) together for good to those who love Him and serve according to His purpose.” Can fraud and corruption defeat God? Of course not!
King David's psalms overflow with messages of thanks. “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:2) “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4) “Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 106:1)
Even the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, called on the people to give thanks in the midst of their suffering under the boot of a pagan empire. He reminded them that God is still in charge and they would not suffer forever. “And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.” (Jeremiah 30:19)
Cicero called gratitude the greatest of all the virtues and the parent of them all. No day passes without a long list for which to be thankful. From the moment we wake up and put our feet on the floor and hear the birdsong symphony outside our windows until we lay our heads on the pillow at night after gazing at a glorious sunset and a clear blue-black sky glittering with stars, we have multiple reasons to give thanks.
Gratitude offers benefits, not only for the soul, but it's healthy for the body as well. Researcher Giacomo Bono focuses on the impact of gratitude, particularly in young people. In a four-year study of 700 students ages 10-14, researchers compared the 20 percent “least grateful” with the 20 percent “most grateful.” Grateful students were happier, more hopeful, found more meaning in their lives and experienced fewer negative emotions and depressive symptoms.
Bono summarized the findings, saying they “suggest that gratitude may be strongly linked with life-skills such as cooperation, purpose, creativity and persistence and, as such, gratitude is vital resource that parents, teachers and others who work with young people should help youth build up as they grow up. … More gratitude may be precisely what our society needs to raise a generation that is ready to make a difference in the world.”
Bono's research led him to develop a classroom gratitude curriculum for students. The Greater Gratitude Science Center offers two programs, one with 30 activities for K-8th grade and one offering four classes for older students who are encouraged to keep a gratitude journal and to make a thankful attitude “intentional.” One lesson plan focuses on seeing the good in others pointing out that:
You can spend all of your time and energy thinking about all the things that go wrong in life, looking at people’s negative characteristics, and doing things to feel better about yourself at the expense of others. – Or you can choose to appreciate all the good things that you have in your life, recognize people’s positive characteristics, and do things that make others feel better about themselves.
The program uses a “fill the bucket” metaphor urging students to affirm the goodness they see in others in specific ways. Did a friend tell you a joke that lifted your spirits? Say thank you. Did you drop your books and someone you hardly know helped pick them up? Acknowledge their kindness. Fill their buckets with affirmation. By “filling the buckets” of others, you fill your own.
That an attitude of gratitude makes positive changes in a person's life seems like common sense, but it's also confirmed by scientific studies. Bono compared the results of the full gratitude curriculum with classroom instruction and activities with a control group using only a web gratitude app called GiveThx. At the end of six weeks, students took a “well-being survey.”
Researchers found that the students who took the full curriculum showed advances over the control group in a number of measures, including emotion regulation, motivation to succeed, improved relations with teachers and their peer group, and a greater sense of the meaning of life. Parents who want to assist their own children would benefit from studying the results of Bono’s research.
Gratitude is itself a tremendous blessing for which to be grateful. A grateful heart is a healthier heart, both physically and spiritually. While Bono's program says nothing about God, promoting natural virtue and ethics echoes God's presence. Grace builds on nature, and gratitude for the beauty we see around us and for the people in our lives can easily lead to gratitude for the author of beauty and life itself.
May we magnify gratitude by making it not only a virtue for a season, but for a lifetime. As Catholics, we have a virtual feast of models who teach us to be grateful every day. St. Teresa of Avila offers us this gem, “In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.” Amen!
Happy Thanksgiving!
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: Say 'No' to using the U.S. military as guinea pigs for COVID vaccine Show Petition Text 17354 have signed the petition. Let's get to 17500 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition PETITION UPDATE (12/14/2020) - The vaccine roll out is beginning in the United States, and first responders have been tagged as those likely to be among the first to receive a vaccine. President Trump needs to ensure that this is entirely voluntary. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition, today! _______________________________________________________________________ Early reports suggest that the U.S. military could be first on the list of those ordered to take a COVID vaccine. But, no one should be forced to be vaccinated against his or her will, especially members of the U.S. military! Military men and women, and their families, already sacrifice enough for the safety of our country. Forcing them to take an untested and unproven vaccine, against their will, would violate the spirit of their contract with America. This petition says 'No' to treating our servicemen and women like guinea pigs with an unproven and insufficiently-tested vaccine. Please SIGN this petition to President Trump asking him to declare, as Commander-in-Chief, that members of the armed forces will not be forced to take any COVID vaccine. So far, big pharmaceutical companies have reported casualties and halted trials for a COVID vaccine on numerous occasions: An AstraZeneca COVID trial participant died over the summer.
On October 12, Eli Lilly stopped a COVID antibody trial because of safety concerns.
Johnson and Johnson paused their vaccine trials on October 11 because one participant had an "unexplained" illness.
And, other AstraZeneca trials in the UK were put on hold both in July and September after participants developed a "serious neurological condition that might have been caused by the vaccine." No one, especially in the U.S. military, should be used as a guinea pig for proving the "effectiveness" of any COVID vaccine. Apart from these real health concerns, many military men and women object to vaccines made from aborted fetal cell lines and to other unethical testing, and these ethical considerations should also be honored. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition which calls on President Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, to issue a declaration protecting the right of servicemen and women to exercise conscientious objection in relation to a mandate for them to take a COVID vaccine. Just like it was essential for President Trump to nominate a new Supreme Court justice before the election, it is now essential that the President declare any vaccine to be voluntary for the military before January, just in case there is a transition to a new administration. Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this urgent petition to President Trump, today! FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'Why rushing a COVID vaccine will likely fail to provide a safe and effective immunity' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/why-rushing-a-covid-vaccine-will-likely-fail-to-provide-a-safe-and-effective-immunity 'Coronavirus vaccine trial volunteer dies in Brazil' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/covid-vaccine-trial-volunteer-dies-in-brazil **Photo Credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
Mary Ann Kreitzer writes from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and blogs at LesFemmes-theTruth.
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lifesitenews--2020-11-16--Trudeau and Biden are both pushing for the Great Reset

November 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – I wanted to warn my brothers and sisters in the USA about what they are in for if Joe Biden gets elected at the end of this US election fraught with fraud .
This election that President Trump clearly won counting legal votes is one of the greatest threats to Democracy ever to confront the USA .
Just have a look at Canada ’ s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and how much he is like Biden .
Trudeau , like Biden touts the idea of using the Coronavirus to launch a New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes , launch a Great Reset .
He , like Biden , speaks of ‘ Build Back Better ’ which refers to the same program .
Later this week I ’ ll do a full show on the Great Reset to explain it in detail .
Both lie with impunity .
Remember when Biden promised during the debate he would not declare victory until the votes were certified ?
Well he lied .
Trudeau did exactly the same thing .
He was asked if what he ’ d do about a contested election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would ‘ not interfere or engage in any way in their electoral processes.
” Trudeau issued a statement less than an hour after the media called the election , sending his congratulations to the “ next President and Vice President of the United States of America.
” Moreover , even though the election is still being contested Trudeau made a fool of himself on November 9th boasting on Twitter that he called up Biden to speak with him on matters relating to foreign and domestic policy .
Trudeau , like Biden , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics ’ who promote abortion on demand and trounce the Christian faith with homosexual advocacy .
They both are ever-ready to crush religious freedom with lockdowns banning church services while abortion clinics and pot shops remain open for business .
The most dangerous people in the world are not the atheist or agnostic but the fallen away Catholic who has abandoned the ultimate Truth .
They are more dangerous still since while having abandoned the true faith they continue to claim belonging to it , and since they are leaders in the limelight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hierarchy refusing to excommunicate and call out their false claims to be Catholics they are the most dangerous of enemies of the faith .

Both are pushing to use the coronavirus lockdowns as an excuse to launch a New World Order.
November 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – I wanted to warn my brothers and sisters in the USA about what they are in for if Joe Biden gets elected at the end of this US election fraught with fraud. This election that President Trump clearly won counting legal votes is one of the greatest threats to Democracy ever to confront the USA. Just have a look at Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and how much he is like Biden.
Trudeau, like Biden touts the idea of using the Coronavirus to launch a New World Order or as the latest saying goes, launch a Great Reset.
He, like Biden, speaks of ‘Build Back Better’ which refers to the same program.
Watch now:
Later this week I’ll do a full show on the Great Reset to explain it in detail.
Both lie with impunity. Remember when Biden promised during the debate he would not declare victory until the votes were certified? Well he lied. Trudeau did exactly the same thing. He was asked if what he’d do about a contested election result in the US and he said would ‘not interfere or engage in any way in their electoral processes.”
Trudeau issued a statement less than an hour after the media called the election, sending his congratulations to the “next President and Vice President of the United States of America.” Moreover, even though the election is still being contested Trudeau made a fool of himself on November 9th boasting on Twitter that he called up Biden to speak with him on matters relating to foreign and domestic policy.
Trudeau, like Biden, is socialist. They are both self-proclaimed ‘Catholics’ who promote abortion on demand and trounce the Christian faith with homosexual advocacy. They both are ever-ready to crush religious freedom with lockdowns banning church services while abortion clinics and pot shops remain open for business.
The most dangerous people in the world are not the atheist or agnostic but the fallen away Catholic who has abandoned the ultimate Truth. They are more dangerous still since while having abandoned the true faith they continue to claim belonging to it, and since they are leaders in the limelight they mislead many. With our Catholic hierarchy refusing to excommunicate and call out their false claims to be Catholics they are the most dangerous of enemies of the faith.
Follow John-Henry John-Henry is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of LifeSiteNews.com. He and his wife Dianne and their eight children live in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada. He has spoken at conferences and retreats, and appeared on radio and television throughout North America, Europe and Asia. John-Henry founded the Rome Life Forum an annual strategy meeting for pro-life leaders worldwide. He co-founded Voice of the Family and serves on the executive of the Canadian National March for Life Committee, and the annual National Pro-Life Youth Conference. He is a consultant to Canada’s largest pro-life organization Campaign Life Coalition, and serves on the executive of the Ontario branch of the organization. He has run three times for political office in the province of Ontario representing the Family Coalition Party. John-Henry earned an MA from the University of Toronto in School and Child Clinical Psychology and an Honours BA from York University in Psychology.
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lifesitenews--2020-11-16--‘The United States is sinking into communism,’ we need to pray the rosary to save it

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Watch this episode of Mother @ @ @ @ @ on 11.16.2020 .
Today , Mother Miriam implores listeners to pray the rosary daily to @ @ @ @ @ from falling into communism .
She warns the US is “ going to get a @ @ @ @ @ down Venezuela and other countries , ” if Joe Biden becomes President .
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To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate here.
Watch this episode of Mother Miriam's Live originally aired on 11.16.2020. Today, Mother Miriam implores listeners to pray the rosary daily to help save the United States from falling into communism. She warns the US is “going to get a taste of what has brought down Venezuela and other countries,” if Joe Biden becomes President.
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Never miss a show! Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live email updates here.


lifesitenews--2020-11-16--5 things mainstream media won’t tell you about massive DC ‘Stop the Steal’ rally

WASHINGTON , D.C. , November 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Mainstream media ignored or obscured the most important aspects of Saturday ’ s gigantic “ Stop the Steal ” rally in the nation ’ s capital .
Here ’ s a brief rundown : While most media sources downplayed the turnout , tens of thousands of patriots from all over the country and around the world came to Washington , D.C. to show their support for free and fair elections .
I heard the same sentiment expressed by many who made last minute decisions to drive through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I had to be here .
Too much hangs in the balance for me not to let my voice be heard in the public square.
” To get an idea of the magnitude and enthusiasm of the crowd , watch countless thousands sing the Star Spangled Banner in unison : 2 .
Social media and high tech firms did their best to squelch the rally .
As mainstream news organizations falsely portrayed the “ Stop the Steal ” rally as “ white nationalist groups ” promoting “ baseless claims about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high tech titans did their best to squelch the event , choking off the free flow of information and disenfranchising their conservative users .
DCist reported in advance of the Rally : • Several tech firms have taken steps to stifle protests in D.C. and around the country in support of the baseless claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent .
• Facebook has been deactivating pages linked to “ Stop the Steal , ” prompting cries of censorship from groups trying to organize the D.C. event .
• An Eventbrite listing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to activists .
• A spokesperson for Eventbrite confirmed in an email to DCist/WAMU that the company had removed the march from its platform , adding , “ We prohibit any events , content , or creators that share or promote potentially harmful misinformation and/or contribute to the risk of violence or physical harm .
We notified the creator that we removed the event from our platform and are refunding ticket holders.
” • And Airbnb says it canceled the reservation of a person who had planned to attend Saturday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with hate groups has no place ” on its platform .
In a tweet Wednesday , Airbnb said it also banned the user .
In addition to demanding free and fair elections , many came to support President Trump because he has proven to be the country ’ s most pro-life president in history .
“ There is more power and more authority to abolish abortion at the state level and in local communities than we even imagine , ” explained Jonathan Darnell of Virginia .
“ We don ’ t need new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors and local officials who will enforce justice in their jurisdictions right now.
” 4 .
The crowd was young and diverse .
The protesters represented a beautiful cross-section of America .
Check out my LifeSiteNews colleague Jim Hale ’ s video report which displays the racial and age diversity of the patriots who descended upon Washington , D.C. to call for free and fair elections .
5 .
A Biden presidency would create an existential threat for foreign nations .
While the focus of Saturday ’ s event was to call attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they fear that if President Trump leaves office , their home countries would be exposed to increased risk .
This was especially apparent from the presence of many from Asian nations .
“ We ’ ve come here because of China , ” explained a spokesperson for a group of about a dozen people who had traveled from Japan .
“ Communist China is very dangerous ” and “ threatens all of Asia.
” “ Trump is a champion , ” she declared as her companions each held up four fingers , chanting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I love how President Trump deals with China , ” said one woman , originally from Hong Kong , a tiny city-state but enormous economic powerhouse which hugs the coastline of the historically oppressive communist nation .
“ The Chinese Communist Party is definitely a threat to Hong Kong , ” she said , “ and not only to Hong Kong , but to the entire world .
”

PETITION UPDATE (1/15/2021) -
The events of the past month, and especially the past 10 days, have shaken the faith Americans have in their elected and appoint officials.
We continue to call for investigations to be made into allegations of election fraud. Texas is in the process of prosecuting one political operative for illegal ballot harvesting, and multiple state legislatures have called for investigations, too.
However, the judiciary has severely let down the American electorate.
As we have said all along, the integrity of the election is much bigger than President Trump. Election integrity is at the heart of republican democracy, and if we don't have it, we no longer have a functioning republic.
Therefore, we continue to seek the truth for the election outcome. Perhaps that will only be known in the future when state or federal commissions are established to investigate the instances of election fraud which were witnessed and sworn to, by thousands of Americans of all political persuasions.
In the meantime, you may still sign this petition. Thank you!
___________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (12/10/20) -
On Wednesday, President Trump tweeted: "We will be INTERVENING in the Texas (plus many other states) case. This is the big one. Our Country needs a victory!"
He is referring to the lawsuit which the state of Texas has filed against Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia in the Supreme Court over changes those states made to their election rules, claiming they violated the U.S. Constitution in the process.
Here is the central part of the argument: if Texas were to allow possible voter fraud to go unchecked in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia, it would be akin to committing fraud upon the people of Texas, who cast their ballots within the framework of the law.
Indeed, this would apply equally to all citizens who voted within the framework of the law across the United States!
President Trump also tweeted that this case is, "very strong...ALL CRITERIA MET."
Please continue to SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition, now.
____________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (12/7/20) - Since this petition was launched, President Trump's legal team, as well as other concerned citizens, have discovered what appears to be irrefutable evidence of voter fraud in several of the key battleground states, and have initiated legal challenges in six states.
While the situation continues to evolve, this remains a hugely important petition which we encourage you to SIGN and SHARE.
Below, please WATCH and READ about the mounting evidence of voter fraud and how the mainstream media seem determined to ignore even the most egregious instances of vote tampering. Then, please SIGN and SHARE this petition.
'Trump: ‘Our election system is now under assault and siege’ and as president I must defend it'
'Tens of thousands 2020 election votes illegally scanned in Detroit, says Dominion IT contractor'
'Trump campaign files lawsuit demanding ‘a new statewide election for president’ in Georgia'
'Experts flag over 500k ballots in PA with new evidence of major 2020 election voter fraud'
''Smoking gun'? Pennsylvania vote fraud hearing gets gasps from audience'
'FBI and Justice Department have dragged their feet investigating 2020 vote fraud'
''CNN top brass in leaked tape: We won't give Trump 'too much of a platform on his not conceding'
'Twitter censored Trump 63 times over Thanksgiving holiday, Biden untouched'
LifeSite supports President Trump with this petition because we believe he is trying to defend the Constitution, ensuring that electoral fraud does not taint the result of the 2020 general election.
But, since starting this petition, we have launched a separate petition related to the disputed election outcome, calling on the Department of Justice to 'do their job' and engage in meaningful investigations of the mounting evidence of voter fraud.
We believe that conducting forensic audits of ballots and voting machines, as well as issuing subpoenas to collect more evidence, would be a good start.
Thankfully, some of the state started to demand investigations independent of federal agencies. But we still believe that the DoJ needs to use its enormous fact-finding resources to help resolve allegations of election fraud.
Thank you for continuing to SIGN and SHARE all our election-related petitions.
_____________________________________________________________________
Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition which calls on all Americans to Stand With President Trump as he uses every legitimate means to find out if voter fraud played any role in the election outcome.
Amid allegations of voter fraud, and at a time when the situation with COVID has been used by many of the states to facilitate the use of mail-in ballots on a massive scale, we need to be very careful in dismissing the possibility of voter fraud.
The fact is, the possibility of wide-spread fraud with mail-in ballots is significant.
But, this is not about Donald Trump or Joe Biden! This about whether or not the sanctity of the ballot box has been tampered with!
Please Stand With President Trump as he attempts to defend the integrity of this election, as well as well as the right to vote itself!
Indeed, this is so important, not so much because one election hangs in the balance, but because our democracy, itself, hangs in the balance.
Americans not only have a right to know, but should demand that every legitimate means be used to discover the truth about these elections!
Please SIGN this petition and Stand With President Trump to ensure that these elections were conducted freely and fairly!
While most all Americans believe in playing by the rules, we also know that some very devious, politically-motivated operatives have been trying to harm the Trump administration from before he even took the oath of office.
This fact should lead us to question how some allegations of voter fraud can be so easily dismissed by state election authorities.
We demand to know the truth, and, for the sake of our democracy, we demand that President Trump keep fighting to learn the truth.
Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this petition today!
**Photo Credit: Shealah Craighead / White House / Flickr


lifesitenews--2020-11-16--Thousands of French Catholics join protests against government ban on public celebration of Mass

FRANCE , November 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Thousands of Catholics in France joined about thirty demonstrations over the past week-end in protest against the banning of public Masses under current lockdown regulations that allow citizens to shop in crowded supermarkets and use public transportation – including the ever-busy Parisian underground – tobacconists and public services .
Primary and secondary schools are also functioning more or less normally .
The movement has been criticized by a number of French bishops in the wake of threats by the French Interior minister Gerald Darmanin who warned on Friday that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics who repeatedly ask for Mass in public demonstrations , even though these are duly declared and constitute a legal exception for coming out of lockdown .
As the situation developed , it became clear that the French authorities are stepping up specifically anti-Catholic measures by allowing protests but coming down heavily on anything that looks like public prayers .
Here below is a chronological presentation of events since Friday morning when Darmanin issued his warning , followed by massive mobilization of Catholics but also repressive interventions on the part of the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister of the Interior – who is in charge of public order and also of “ religious worship ” – Gérald Darmanin , warned Catholics assembling in front of churches that he would send the police in order to force them to observe lockdown rules and if necessary , fine them ( 135 Euros or about 150 US Dollars for a first offense ) .
Gérald Darmanin clearly stated on State radio FranceInfo on Friday morning : “ I ’ m telling the Catholics of France – as I also tell the Jews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom of worship is very important .
We have left places of worship open : places of worship can go on doing worship , with a minister of worship who can continue to do his office and even film it so that during the few weeks of current confinement everyone can have a link with his or her religion .
We respect that profoundly .
But life is more important than everything .
And life means fighting the coronavirus .
I don ’ t desire to send police forces to issue tickets to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church , but obviously if this is a repetitive act , and that is manifestly contrary to the laws of the Republic , I will do it.
” “ Will you do it as of this weekend ?
” asked the journalist .
“ I will do it as of this weekend .
There was a weekend of leniency , the weekend during which we entered into confinement , it was also the final weekend of the school holidays .
There will not be a second weekend of leniency , ” warned Darmanin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had stepped up police controls all over the country to ensure that lockdown measures are being observed by the population .
Bars , restaurants and small shops are closed , and all people living in France are required to justify their every move outside the home with an auto-certification that allows them to go out only for one hour for individual walks or sports within a radius of 1 km , to do their shopping or to accomplish other “ essential ” acts .
Book stores are closed and books may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; nor may supermarkets sell any type of garment , make-up , kitchen appliances and so forth , in a Kafkaesque list of restrictions .
100,000 fines were handed out over the first two weeks of confinement up to Friday morning , with a whopping 12,000 fines over the 24 hours between Thursday and Friday .
Darmanin justified the measures by the number of COVID deaths but a yet to be determined proportion of these are deaths of people “ with ” COVID or “ suspected COVID ” rather than deaths directly attributable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Examples of these of which I have direct knowledge are an in-utero death of a malformed baby that was attributed to COVID outside of the doctor ’ s knowledge ; and the death of a 97-year-old woman from cancer , whose daughter was asked to accept the inscription “ COVID ” on the death certificate because that would ensure better subsidy from the Social Security system .
When the French Council of State refused to allow Catholics to assist at Mass , in a decision handed down on November 7 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transportation and tobacconists are open under current lockdown rules , faithful in Nantes , Lyon and Versailles joined to pray the Rosary on Sunday in the forecourts of their cathedrals by the hundreds .
Their example triggered a wave of emulation as faithful in dozens of French towns and cities are set to demonstrate for the freedom of worship and the right to go to Mass , which is a true and real encounter with Our Lord in the Eucharistic presence .
Most of these rallies were formally declared beforehand to the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the State in the French “ départements.
” While all gatherings beyond the strict family circle have been forbidden since October 29 , the first day of France ’ s second lockdown , as well as meeting or spending time with friends or extended family during outdoor activities , “ protest demonstrations ” are still allowed provided they are declared .
Dozens of demonstrations were to take place over the weekend : one of the centralized lists of the initiatives of several associations is regularly updated by the “ Salon beige , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played a major role in spreading the calls to action of the “ Manif pour tous ” in the fight against “ same-sex marriage ” in 2013 .
The nationwide movement kicked off on Friday evening with an official rally in front of Saint Sulpice in Paris .
“ Suppressing Mass is equivalent to suppressing Catholicism…What is not negotiable is the necessity of the Mass ... We need to prepare Christmas as it should be .
We were weak enough to sacrifice Holy Week and Easter , we will not have the weakness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the police forces in France to inflict fines , even within our churches , but we will be there all the same , ” said Father Michel Viot in front of hundreds of young people who also chanted Marian hymns and the Salve Regina .
There was no police intervention in Paris on Friday .
In theory , it was expected to be difficult for the French authorities to persecute Catholic rallies in this way when officially declared .
But the Catholic activist group Civitas declared on Friday that it had in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from prefects saying the rallies will be banned if there is a Mass or simply prayers , and authorized if they are only ‘ vindicative ’ .
” “ Authorized to sing the International [ socialist song ] but not the Hail Mary , ” commented Civitas .
While many priests are indignant at the secularist , anti-Catholic stance of the public authorities , bishop Michel Dubost , Apostolic administrator of the diocese of Lyon , published a statement this Friday morning saying : “ Let us be patient !
I hope that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to celebrate Mass as communities .
For the moment , the government is not authorizing this for sanitary reasons .
I ask everyone to respect this decision and to do everything not to be a vector for this illness .
We must not gather , either outside or inside churches , and let us show our capacity to respect the framework that we are provided with in the name of public health.
” “ In the name of the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit , what are the guidelines ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the literary name of a priest who gives weekly contributions to the conservative weekly Valeurs Actuelles .
Earlier in the day Père Danziec commented on Twitter : “ Darmanin 's announcements confirm that the real issue currently is the celebration of MASS and the possibility of WORSHIPPING God rather than people gathering together .
And it is precisely this which is absolutely scandalous.
” Despite threats by Minister Darmanin , thousands of Catholics joined static demonstrations all over France , in large cities such as Bordeaux , Lyon , Nantes , Toulouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vannes in Brittany to the suburbs of Paris , with one of the largest rallies taking place in front of Versailles Cathedral where the local vicar general of the diocese was present , and some 2,000 Catholics took part .
In Bayonne , near the Spanish border on the Atlantic , Bishop Marc Aillet personally took part .
Many of these officially declared demonstrations took place in front of churches but the government authorities in several towns banned meetings in front of religious buildings as planned by the organizers .
In Lyon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of the cathedral and the basilica of Fourvière but the local prefect forced a change in location and the many hundreds of Catholics were obliged to demonstrate on a large central square .
In Nantes , demonstrators were hoping to meet in front of the cathedral – which was badly damaged by a terrorist attack a few months ago – but were forced by the authorities to assemble in front of the monumental town theatre in another part of the city where no churches are visible .
In Paris , following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above , a second rally was to have taken place on Sunday afternoon in front of Saint-Sulpice after the first choice of a meeting in front of Notre Dame cathedral was rejected by the local “ prefecture.
” But on Saturday , Prefect Lallemant decided to ban the second demonstration because hymns had been sung on Friday evening and people had been seen praying .
The Prefect underscored that the first demonstration had taken the form of “ public worship in the public square ” and warned the president of the French Bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 135 Euro fine for individuals who would join the event anyway , extra punishments would be meted out for those caught praying , in application of the 1905 law of Separation between Church and State .
This is , of course , nonsense as public processions and prayers are not banned as such and indeed often take place , while increasingly over the years , Muslims have organized prayers in the streets of cities such as Paris without incurring sanctions .
Besides , the idea that the government should decide what can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstration is a direct contradiction of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the French Constitution .
The area around Saint Sulpice was surrounded by riot police vehicles as of Saturday evening , to dissuade Catholics from demonstrating anyway .
One young man who decided to go to the church on Sunday afternoon all the same was immediately challenged by the police and fined 135 Euros .
The demonstration that was to have taken place in Bergerac was also prohibited by the local authorities : it was replaced by a utility van bearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ la Messe ” – “ Give us back the Mass.
” However , several bishops made clear that they agreed with the intent of the public authorities , publishing letters to the faithful , tweets and communiqués saying that “ charity towards the poor ” is more important than assisting at Mass in the present circumstances .
Bishop Denis Moutel of Saint-Brieuc ( Northern Brittany ) formally “ disapproved ” the actions of the organizers of the local rally , in the name of “ solidarity with those who are suffering because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bishop Pierre d ’ Ornellas asked Catholics to “ live out their faith by accepting this temporary deprivation of Mass.
” He wrote : “ A demonstration is political and addresses the state when citizens demand greater justice from the state .
Prayer is addressed to God who makes charity grow in hearts so that an authentic and full fraternity may grow in every place .
This prayer is still possible in churches , with strict respect for barrier gestures .
It is wise not to mix demonstrations and prayer , otherwise it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect the 1905 Law of Separation and which harms the dialogue of the representatives of the religions with the State .
I sincerely hope that this dialogue , which will take place this Monday 16 November , will be fruitful.
” It was not , in fact , since a video-conference joined by Minister Darmanin and representatives of all religious groups on Monday afternoon led to a statement on the part of the civil authorities that no public worship may take place until December 1 at the very least , and if then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid the spread of COVID-19 .
As a result , the students who called for the Rennes rally on Sunday afternoon in front of a local church promised that no prayers would be said or hymns sung .
Only 200 people attended .
The president of the French Bishops ’ conference , Eric de Moulins-Beaufort , Archbishop of Reims , wrote a letter to all his “ brother bishops ” on Friday that many Catholics see as a betrayal of their spiritual needs .
Having subserviently underscored the principle of “ Separation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had recalled to him in an official message earlier in the day , Moulins-Beaufort added : “ Whatever the merits of this point of law , we bishops should be able to agree that prayer should not serve to support political claims .
Prayer addresses itself to God and not to public authorities.
” This shows that as a bishop , Eric de Moulins-Beaufort has no understanding either of the spiritual duties and needs of his flock , nor of the fact that religious fundamental rights are being mocked by laws that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , issued by political powers that are showing themselves to be both secularist and totalitarian .
At the Nantes demonstration last week , one of the faithful asked a priest who was present whether he could hear his confession .
When the said priest – Father Bruno France of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X – took out his stole and put it around his shoulders a policeman immediately swooped down on him , accusing him of “ celebrating Mass.
” In Nantes in particular , cooperation between various Catholic movements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and traditional movements “ in full communion with Rome ” was seen as a hopeful sign .
A planned open-air mass near the cathedral declared by the FSSPX was formally banned by the local “ préfecture.
” In Bordeaux , some 300 Catholics rallied near the Cathedral of Saint-Andrew on Sunday morning .
A few of them kneeled and started praying and singing the “ Hail Mary.
” As a result , the organizers of the event were summoned to a police station on Monday morning , despite the fact that they repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rally .
“ We eat , we go out , we come home .
That ’ s all we do .
We are living like animals , ” commented Jacqueline , 72 , telling the local press that “ Mass is essential.
” In Aix-en-Provence , in the south of France , some thirty people attended a Mass celebrated by a priest of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X on Sunday in a chapel in the city center .
The local “ préfecture ” sent the police to stop the Mass .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Euros for having broken the lockdown .
The priest was forced to go to a local police station and risks a fine , while the chapel may be subject to an “ administrative closure.
” Several political figures , such as Marine Le Pen of the “ Rassemblement National ” ( formerly “ Front National ” ) , asked for the respect of religious freedoms , while Christine Boutin , former president of the Christian Democrat Party , and Jean-Frédéric Poisson , its present leader under the name “ VIA ” , personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a widely circulated video , National Assembly member Julien Aubert of “ Les Républicains ” complained that 200 deputies are allowed to join in the hemicycle of the lower chamber of Parliament , with a president officiating “ much as a priest or a rabbi in a church or a synagogue , ” but Catholics may not assist at Mass in very similar conditions .
Catholics in France are increasingly considering that COVID-19 rules are being used as tools of persecution against the Catholic Faith , at a time when all other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the central authorities .

'We were weak enough to sacrifice Holy Week and Easter, we will not have the weakness to sacrifice Christmas!' said Father Michel Viot in front of the church of Saint Sulpice, Paris, and hundreds of young people who also chanted Marian hymns and the Salve Regina.
Analysis
FRANCE, November 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Thousands of Catholics in France joined about thirty demonstrations over the past week-end in protest against the banning of public Masses under current lockdown regulations that allow citizens to shop in crowded supermarkets and use public transportation – including the ever-busy Parisian underground – tobacconists and public services. Primary and secondary schools are also functioning more or less normally.
The movement has been criticized by a number of French bishops in the wake of threats by the French Interior minister Gerald Darmanin who warned on Friday that there would be no “leniency” for Catholics who repeatedly ask for Mass in public demonstrations, even though these are duly declared and constitute a legal exception for coming out of lockdown. As the situation developed, it became clear that the French authorities are stepping up specifically anti-Catholic measures by allowing protests but coming down heavily on anything that looks like public prayers.
Here below is a chronological presentation of events since Friday morning when Darmanin issued his warning, followed by massive mobilization of Catholics but also repressive interventions on the part of the public authorities and the police.
Part I
The French minister of the Interior – who is in charge of public order and also of “religious worship” – Gérald Darmanin, warned Catholics assembling in front of churches that he would send the police in order to force them to observe lockdown rules and if necessary, fine them (135 Euros or about 150 US Dollars for a first offense).
Gérald Darmanin clearly stated on State radio FranceInfo on Friday morning: “I’m telling the Catholics of France – as I also tell the Jews of France and the Protestants – that freedom of worship is very important. We have left places of worship open: places of worship can go on doing worship, with a minister of worship who can continue to do his office and even film it so that during the few weeks of current confinement everyone can have a link with his or her religion. We respect that profoundly. But life is more important than everything. And life means fighting the coronavirus. I don’t desire to send police forces to issue tickets to believers who are in front of a church, but obviously if this is a repetitive act, and that is manifestly contrary to the laws of the Republic, I will do it.”
“Will you do it as of this weekend?” asked the journalist.
“I will do it as of this weekend. There was a weekend of leniency, the weekend during which we entered into confinement, it was also the final weekend of the school holidays. There will not be a second weekend of leniency,” warned Darmanin.
Previously, Darmanin had stated that he had stepped up police controls all over the country to ensure that lockdown measures are being observed by the population. Bars, restaurants and small shops are closed, and all people living in France are required to justify their every move outside the home with an auto-certification that allows them to go out only for one hour for individual walks or sports within a radius of 1 km, to do their shopping or to accomplish other “essential” acts. Book stores are closed and books may not be sold in supermarkets or other shops; nor may supermarkets sell any type of garment, make-up, kitchen appliances and so forth, in a Kafkaesque list of restrictions.
100,000 fines were handed out over the first two weeks of confinement up to Friday morning, with a whopping 12,000 fines over the 24 hours between Thursday and Friday.
Darmanin justified the measures by the number of COVID deaths but a yet to be determined proportion of these are deaths of people “with” COVID or “suspected COVID” rather than deaths directly attributable to the disease caused by the Chinese coronavirus. Examples of these of which I have direct knowledge are an in-utero death of a malformed baby that was attributed to COVID outside of the doctor’s knowledge; and the death of a 97-year-old woman from cancer, whose daughter was asked to accept the inscription “COVID” on the death certificate because that would ensure better subsidy from the Social Security system.
When the French Council of State refused to allow Catholics to assist at Mass, in a decision handed down on November 7, even though supermarkets, schools, public transportation and tobacconists are open under current lockdown rules, faithful in Nantes, Lyon and Versailles joined to pray the Rosary on Sunday in the forecourts of their cathedrals by the hundreds.
Their example triggered a wave of emulation as faithful in dozens of French towns and cities are set to demonstrate for the freedom of worship and the right to go to Mass, which is a true and real encounter with Our Lord in the Eucharistic presence.
Most of these rallies were formally declared beforehand to the local “Préfecture” which is the arm of the State in the French “départements.” While all gatherings beyond the strict family circle have been forbidden since October 29, the first day of France’s second lockdown, as well as meeting or spending time with friends or extended family during outdoor activities, “protest demonstrations” are still allowed provided they are declared.
Dozens of demonstrations were to take place over the weekend: one of the centralized lists of the initiatives of several associations is regularly updated by the “Salon beige,” a blog by young Catholics that played a major role in spreading the calls to action of the “Manif pour tous” in the fight against “same-sex marriage” in 2013.
The nationwide movement kicked off on Friday evening with an official rally in front of Saint Sulpice in Paris. “Suppressing Mass is equivalent to suppressing Catholicism…What is not negotiable is the necessity of the Mass…We need to prepare Christmas as it should be. We were weak enough to sacrifice Holy Week and Easter, we will not have the weakness to sacrifice Christmas! They can send all the police forces in France to inflict fines, even within our churches, but we will be there all the same,” said Father Michel Viot in front of hundreds of young people who also chanted Marian hymns and the Salve Regina.
There was no police intervention in Paris on Friday.
In theory, it was expected to be difficult for the French authorities to persecute Catholic rallies in this way when officially declared.
But the Catholic activist group Civitas declared on Friday that it had in its possession “a number of letters from prefects saying the rallies will be banned if there is a Mass or simply prayers, and authorized if they are only ‘vindicative’.” “Authorized to sing the International [socialist song] but not the Hail Mary,” commented Civitas.
While many priests are indignant at the secularist, anti-Catholic stance of the public authorities, bishop Michel Dubost, Apostolic administrator of the diocese of Lyon, published a statement this Friday morning saying: “Let us be patient! I hope that very soon, Catholics will be authorized to celebrate Mass as communities. For the moment, the government is not authorizing this for sanitary reasons. I ask everyone to respect this decision and to do everything not to be a vector for this illness. We must not gather, either outside or inside churches, and let us show our capacity to respect the framework that we are provided with in the name of public health.”
“In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, what are the guidelines?”, retorted “Père Danziec,” the literary name of a priest who gives weekly contributions to the conservative weekly Valeurs Actuelles.
Earlier in the day Père Danziec commented on Twitter: “Darmanin's announcements confirm that the real issue currently is the celebration of MASS and the possibility of WORSHIPPING God rather than people gathering together. And it is precisely this which is absolutely scandalous.”
Part II
Despite threats by Minister Darmanin, thousands of Catholics joined static demonstrations all over France, in large cities such as Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes, Toulouse or Rennes and in smaller towns from Vannes in Brittany to the suburbs of Paris, with one of the largest rallies taking place in front of Versailles Cathedral where the local vicar general of the diocese was present, and some 2,000 Catholics took part.
In Bayonne, near the Spanish border on the Atlantic, Bishop Marc Aillet personally took part.
Many of these officially declared demonstrations took place in front of churches but the government authorities in several towns banned meetings in front of religious buildings as planned by the organizers. In Lyon, rallies were to have taken place in front of the cathedral and the basilica of Fourvière but the local prefect forced a change in location and the many hundreds of Catholics were obliged to demonstrate on a large central square.
In Nantes, demonstrators were hoping to meet in front of the cathedral – which was badly damaged by a terrorist attack a few months ago – but were forced by the authorities to assemble in front of the monumental town theatre in another part of the city where no churches are visible.
In Paris, following the success of the Friday evening demonstration described above, a second rally was to have taken place on Sunday afternoon in front of Saint-Sulpice after the first choice of a meeting in front of Notre Dame cathedral was rejected by the local “prefecture.” But on Saturday, Prefect Lallemant decided to ban the second demonstration because hymns had been sung on Friday evening and people had been seen praying. The Prefect underscored that the first demonstration had taken the form of “public worship in the public square” and warned the president of the French Bishop’s conference that, besides the 135 Euro fine for individuals who would join the event anyway, extra punishments would be meted out for those caught praying, in application of the 1905 law of Separation between Church and State.
This is, of course, nonsense as public processions and prayers are not banned as such and indeed often take place, while increasingly over the years, Muslims have organized prayers in the streets of cities such as Paris without incurring sanctions.
Besides, the idea that the government should decide what can be said or not in a legal public demonstration is a direct contradiction of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the French Constitution.
The area around Saint Sulpice was surrounded by riot police vehicles as of Saturday evening, to dissuade Catholics from demonstrating anyway. One young man who decided to go to the church on Sunday afternoon all the same was immediately challenged by the police and fined 135 Euros.
The demonstration that was to have taken place in Bergerac was also prohibited by the local authorities: it was replaced by a utility van bearing a banner with the words: “Rendez-nous la Messe” – “Give us back the Mass.”
However, several bishops made clear that they agreed with the intent of the public authorities, publishing letters to the faithful, tweets and communiqués saying that “charity towards the poor” is more important than assisting at Mass in the present circumstances.
Bishop Denis Moutel of Saint-Brieuc (Northern Brittany) formally “disapproved” the actions of the organizers of the local rally, in the name of “solidarity with those who are suffering because of the pandemic.”
In nearby Rennes, Bishop Pierre d’Ornellas asked Catholics to “live out their faith by accepting this temporary deprivation of Mass.”
He wrote: “A demonstration is political and addresses the state when citizens demand greater justice from the state. Prayer is addressed to God who makes charity grow in hearts so that an authentic and full fraternity may grow in every place. This prayer is still possible in churches, with strict respect for barrier gestures. It is wise not to mix demonstrations and prayer, otherwise it will lead to confusion which does not respect the 1905 Law of Separation and which harms the dialogue of the representatives of the religions with the State. I sincerely hope that this dialogue, which will take place this Monday 16 November, will be fruitful.”
It was not, in fact, since a video-conference joined by Minister Darmanin and representatives of all religious groups on Monday afternoon led to a statement on the part of the civil authorities that no public worship may take place until December 1 at the very least, and if then, under stringent new “protocols” to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
As a result, the students who called for the Rennes rally on Sunday afternoon in front of a local church promised that no prayers would be said or hymns sung. Only 200 people attended.
The president of the French Bishops’ conference, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, Archbishop of Reims, wrote a letter to all his “brother bishops” on Friday that many Catholics see as a betrayal of their spiritual needs.
Having subserviently underscored the principle of “Separation of State and Church” that Darmanin had recalled to him in an official message earlier in the day, Moulins-Beaufort added:
“Whatever the merits of this point of law, we bishops should be able to agree that prayer should not serve to support political claims. Prayer addresses itself to God and not to public authorities.”
This shows that as a bishop, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort has no understanding either of the spiritual duties and needs of his flock, nor of the fact that religious fundamental rights are being mocked by laws that are by essence political and, in this case, issued by political powers that are showing themselves to be both secularist and totalitarian.
At the Nantes demonstration last week, one of the faithful asked a priest who was present whether he could hear his confession. When the said priest – Father Bruno France of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X – took out his stole and put it around his shoulders a policeman immediately swooped down on him, accusing him of “celebrating Mass.”
In Nantes in particular, cooperation between various Catholic movements ranging from the FSSPX to the diocesan and traditional movements “in full communion with Rome” was seen as a hopeful sign. A planned open-air mass near the cathedral declared by the FSSPX was formally banned by the local “préfecture.”
In Bordeaux, some 300 Catholics rallied near the Cathedral of Saint-Andrew on Sunday morning. A few of them kneeled and started praying and singing the “Hail Mary.” As a result, the organizers of the event were summoned to a police station on Monday morning, despite the fact that they repeatedly asked the participants not to pray during the rally. “We eat, we go out, we come home. That’s all we do. We are living like animals,” commented Jacqueline, 72, telling the local press that “Mass is essential.”
In Aix-en-Provence, in the south of France, some thirty people attended a Mass celebrated by a priest of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X on Sunday in a chapel in the city center. The local “préfecture” sent the police to stop the Mass. All the faithful present were fined 135 Euros for having broken the lockdown. The priest was forced to go to a local police station and risks a fine, while the chapel may be subject to an “administrative closure.”
Several political figures, such as Marine Le Pen of the “Rassemblement National” (formerly “Front National”), asked for the respect of religious freedoms, while Christine Boutin, former president of the Christian Democrat Party, and Jean-Frédéric Poisson, its present leader under the name “VIA”, personally attended rallies “For the Mass.”
In a widely circulated video, National Assembly member Julien Aubert of “Les Républicains” complained that 200 deputies are allowed to join in the hemicycle of the lower chamber of Parliament, with a president officiating “much as a priest or a rabbi in a church or a synagogue,” but Catholics may not assist at Mass in very similar conditions.
Catholics in France are increasingly considering that COVID-19 rules are being used as tools of persecution against the Catholic Faith, at a time when all other types of demonstrations are being freely allowed by the central authorities.
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