lifesitenews--2020-03-31--The Carmelite mystics show how Christianity transcends Buddhism’s limits

March 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — In his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope , John Paul II reached the conclusion ( as we saw last week ) that Buddhist liberation from evil through asceticism and detachment involves , in a way , breaking one ’ s ties with external reality — including human nature — so as to acquire indifference and freedom from suffering .
The pope claims that such liberation rests on an atheistic foundation ; instead of salvation there is , ultimately , negation .
John Paul II contrasts the abysmal emptiness of the Buddhist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life promised by Christ to those who deny themselves for His sake ― for the sake of finding themselves anew in Him .
Not surprisingly , he takes up one of his favorite spiritual writers , St. John of the Cross , on whose conception of “ faith ” he wrote his doctoral dissertation under the great Thomist Fr .
Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange , and shows how utterly different Christianity is from the impersonal a-theistic religion of Asia : When Saint John of the Cross , in the Ascent of Mount Carmel and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaks of the need for purification , for detachment from the world of the senses , he does not conceive of that detachment as an end in itself .
“ To arrive at what now you do not enjoy , you must go where you do not enjoy .
To reach what you do not know , you must go where you do not know .
To come into possession of what you do not have , you must go where now you have nothing ” ( Ascent of Mount Carmel , I.13.11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ texts of Saint John of the Cross have been , at times , interpreted as a confirmation of Eastern ascetic methods .
But this Doctor of the Church does not merely propose detachment from the world .
He proposes detachment from the world in order to unite oneself to that which is outside of the world―by this I do not mean nirvana , but a personal God .
Union with Him comes about not only through purification , but through love .
Carmelite mysticism begins at the point where the reflections of Buddha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spiritual life .
In the active and passive purification of the human soul , in those specific nights of the senses and the spirit , Saint John of the Cross sees , above all , the preparation necessary for the human soul to be permeated with the living flame of love .
And this is also the title of his major work ― The Living Flame of Love .
Therefore , despite similar aspects , there is a fundamental difference .
Christian mysticism from every period ― beginning with the era of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church , to the great theologians of Scholasticism ( such as Saint Thomas Aquinas ) , to the northern European mystics , to the Carmelite mystics ― is not born of a purely negative “ enlightenment.
” It is not born of an awareness of the evil which exists in man ’ s attachment to the world through the senses , the intellect , and the spirit .
Instead , Christian mysticism is born of the Revelation of the living God .
This God opens Himself to union with man , arousing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Him , especially by means of the theological virtues―faith , hope , and , above all , love .
Is it not remarkable to read again , in these dark days of the one whom history may refer to as “ the Abu Dhabi pope , ” such a careful analysis of the more profound and indeed singular truth of the Christian Faith over its rivals ?
The Carmelites begin where the Buddha ends : that ’ s the kind of language that might get you put into a Vatican prison cell these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to condemn the Assisi interreligious gatherings and other confusing signals given by John Paul II , but there can be no doubt that as a thinker he understands clearly the unbridgeable abyss that separates Far Eastern religions from Catholicism .
“ This God opens Himself to union with man , especially by love.
” John Paul II shows that Christian asceticism is about detachment from selfishness for the sake of being all the more attached in love to the beloved .
We need to be detached because , as beings who thrive on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are rightly attached to the right things , not because we are better off isolated and indifferent .
Purification makes sense only in relation to purity , which means having a single heart that can be given wholly to another .
Penance is a clearing away of whatever interferes with a union of love .
The contrast between Buddhist “ salvation ” and Christian salvation — entering fully into the plenitude of love , gaining one ’ s identity in communion with the other — could not be more striking .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a similar way on the contrast between the path of mystical “ identification , ” where the ego is lost in an ocean of impersonal “ divinity , ” and the path of personal communion where the self , through a process of abandonment and purification , becomes for the first time really and truly itself , precisely by surrendering to and being caught up in the Beloved .
( To read more along these lines , see “ Catholicism and Buddhism : Incompatibilities in Love ” by John Michael Keba .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unique and superior : we find rest in a person , in a friendship founded on a love that knows no limits and will last forever .
Certain themes run throughout much of Far Eastern thought and religion , in spite of its many varieties .
One sees an emphasis on health , longevity , oneness with nature , and the sufficiency of the created or natural order ; transcendence beyond this order is understood as a return to or merging with an impersonal oneness beyond being .
Christianity , in contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ striking words : Cross , Heart , Flesh , Face , Spirit , Love , Heaven .
Man was made by God for God , not by the cosmos for the cosmos .
The Christian vocation is to find and hold onto God , who is personal , ultimate reality — totally other , yet more interior to me than I am to myself .
God takes on real human flesh to make it holy .
The Christian is reformed by His grace , created anew , and called to bodily resurrection after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim of tuberculosis ( St. Thérèse of Lisieux ) presenting her sickness as a self-offering in reparation for damage done by sin ; the idea of this life as a vale of tears through which we pass to the heavenly Jerusalem , where persons are more alive and more definite than ever — none of this can make sense to the Far East .
The Cross is absurd , the resurrection no less so .
“ For the word of the Cross , to them indeed that perish , is foolishness ; but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , to us , it is the power of God ” ( 1 Cor .
1:18 ) .

March 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — In his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope, John Paul II reached the conclusion (as we saw last week) that Buddhist liberation from evil through asceticism and detachment involves, in a way, breaking one’s ties with external reality — including human nature — so as to acquire indifference and freedom from suffering. The pope claims that such liberation rests on an atheistic foundation; instead of salvation there is, ultimately, negation.
John Paul II contrasts the abysmal emptiness of the Buddhist path with the fullness of light and life promised by Christ to those who deny themselves for His sake ― for the sake of finding themselves anew in Him. Not surprisingly, he takes up one of his favorite spiritual writers, St. John of the Cross, on whose conception of “faith” he wrote his doctoral dissertation under the great Thomist Fr. Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange, and shows how utterly different Christianity is from the impersonal a-theistic religion of Asia:
When Saint John of the Cross, in the Ascent of Mount Carmel and in the Dark Night of the Soul, speaks of the need for purification, for detachment from the world of the senses, he does not conceive of that detachment as an end in itself. “To arrive at what now you do not enjoy, you must go where you do not enjoy. To reach what you do not know, you must go where you do not know. To come into possession of what you do not have, you must go where now you have nothing” (Ascent of Mount Carmel, I.13.11). In Eastern Asia these classic texts of Saint John of the Cross have been, at times, interpreted as a confirmation of Eastern ascetic methods. But this Doctor of the Church does not merely propose detachment from the world. He proposes detachment from the world in order to unite oneself to that which is outside of the world―by this I do not mean nirvana, but a personal God. Union with Him comes about not only through purification, but through love. Carmelite mysticism begins at the point where the reflections of Buddha end, together with his instructions for the spiritual life. In the active and passive purification of the human soul, in those specific nights of the senses and the spirit, Saint John of the Cross sees, above all, the preparation necessary for the human soul to be permeated with the living flame of love. And this is also the title of his major work ― The Living Flame of Love. Therefore, despite similar aspects, there is a fundamental difference. Christian mysticism from every period ― beginning with the era of the Fathers of the Eastern and Western Church, to the great theologians of Scholasticism (such as Saint Thomas Aquinas), to the northern European mystics, to the Carmelite mystics ― is not born of a purely negative “enlightenment.” It is not born of an awareness of the evil which exists in man’s attachment to the world through the senses, the intellect, and the spirit. Instead, Christian mysticism is born of the Revelation of the living God. This God opens Himself to union with man, arousing in him the capacity to be united with Him, especially by means of the theological virtues―faith, hope, and, above all, love.
Is it not remarkable to read again, in these dark days of the one whom history may refer to as “the Abu Dhabi pope,” such a careful analysis of the more profound and indeed singular truth of the Christian Faith over its rivals? The Carmelites begin where the Buddha ends: that’s the kind of language that might get you put into a Vatican prison cell these days. Yes, we are right to condemn the Assisi interreligious gatherings and other confusing signals given by John Paul II, but there can be no doubt that as a thinker he understands clearly the unbridgeable abyss that separates Far Eastern religions from Catholicism.
“This God opens Himself to union with man, especially by love.” John Paul II shows that Christian asceticism is about detachment from selfishness for the sake of being all the more attached in love to the beloved. We need to be detached because, as beings who thrive on attachments, we need to make sure we are rightly attached to the right things, not because we are better off isolated and indifferent. Purification makes sense only in relation to purity, which means having a single heart that can be given wholly to another. Penance is a clearing away of whatever interferes with a union of love.
The contrast between Buddhist “salvation” and Christian salvation — entering fully into the plenitude of love, gaining one’s identity in communion with the other — could not be more striking. In Truth and Tolerance, Joseph Ratzinger dwells in a similar way on the contrast between the path of mystical “identification,” where the ego is lost in an ocean of impersonal “divinity,” and the path of personal communion where the self, through a process of abandonment and purification, becomes for the first time really and truly itself, precisely by surrendering to and being caught up in the Beloved. (To read more along these lines, see “Catholicism and Buddhism: Incompatibilities in Love” by John Michael Keba.)
Here is where the Christian faith is unique and superior: we find rest in a person, in a friendship founded on a love that knows no limits and will last forever.
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and lowly of heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28–29)
Certain themes run throughout much of Far Eastern thought and religion, in spite of its many varieties. One sees an emphasis on health, longevity, oneness with nature, and the sufficiency of the created or natural order; transcendence beyond this order is understood as a return to or merging with an impersonal oneness beyond being.
Christianity, in contrast, could be evoked with a few striking words: Cross, Heart, Flesh, Face, Spirit, Love, Heaven. Man was made by God for God, not by the cosmos for the cosmos. The Christian vocation is to find and hold onto God, who is personal, ultimate reality — totally other, yet more interior to me than I am to myself. God takes on real human flesh to make it holy. The Christian is reformed by His grace, created anew, and called to bodily resurrection after death.
The idea of a 24-year-old victim of tuberculosis (St. Thérèse of Lisieux) presenting her sickness as a self-offering in reparation for damage done by sin; the idea of this life as a vale of tears through which we pass to the heavenly Jerusalem, where persons are more alive and more definite than ever — none of this can make sense to the Far East. The Cross is absurd, the resurrection no less so. “For the word of the Cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).
Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer, is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College in California (B.A. Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy). He taught at the International Theological Institute in Austria and the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Austria Program, then helped establish Wyoming Catholic College in 2006. There he taught theology, philosophy, music, and art history and directed the choirs until leaving in 2018 to devote himself full-time to writing and lecturing. Today he contributes regularly to many websites and publications, including New Liturgical Movement, OnePeterFive, LifeSiteNews, Rorate Caeli, The Remnant, and Catholic Family News, and has published thirteen books, including four on traditional Catholicism: Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis (Angelico, 2014, also available in Czech, Polish, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Belarusian), Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness (Angelico, 2017), Tradition and Sanity (Angelico, 2018), and Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright: The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass (Angelico, 2020). His work has been translated into at least eighteen languages. Kwasniewski is a scholar of The Aquinas Institute in Green Bay, which is publishing the Opera Omnia of the Angelic Doctor, a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center. He has published over a thousand articles on Thomistic thought, sacramental and liturgical theology, the history and aesthetics of music, and the social doctrine of the Church. For news, information, article links, sacred music, and the home of Os Justi Press, visit his personal website, www.peterkwasniewski.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-31--Vatican News pulls article calling coronavirus ‘ally’ of the Earth because of environmental benefits

March 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Vatican News , the Holy See ’ s official news service , published and then deleted an article calling the deadly coronavirus an “ ally ” of planet Earth , sparking outrage in readers .
The article , written by the Jesuit priest Father Benedict Mayaki , was entitled “ Coronavirus : Earth ’ s unlikely ally , ” and its secondary headline read , “ The changes in human behavior due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic are yielding unintended benefits to the planet.
” The author made no references to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , except to say that the pandemic is “ a global health concern.
” However , there ’ s a bright side , Mayaki wrote : “ Earth is healing itself , ” as a result of the reduction in human activity .
“ In Italy , fish have returned to the canals in Venice .
Less tourism and water transport have allowed the murky waters to settle , ” wrote Mayaki .
“ Migratory birds , including swans have been sighted gliding through the city ’ s waterways.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions as a result of its lockdown measures to counteract COVID-19 , and Hong Kong has experienced a decline in pollutants generally .
He also added that “ The global reduction in air , land and sea travel is yielding benefits for the planet ” by reducing carbon emissions .
Mayaki ’ s statements follow Pope Francis ’ own assertions on March 22 claiming that the coronavirus pandemic is nature “ having a fit ” over damage to the environment .
Stating that “ curiously the planet hasn ’ t been very clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis was asked , “ Is it possible that this is nature ’ s hour of reckoning with us ?
” He answered : “ There ’ s a saying that you surely know : God always forgives , we forgive sometimes , [ but ] nature never forgives .
Fires , earthquakes .
.
.
that is , nature is having a fit , so that we will take care of nature.
” The Vatican News headline of the now-yanked article appears to be slightly modified version of a similar headline of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 20 , and entitled , “ There 's an unlikely beneficiary of coronavirus : The planet.
” After the article was announced by Vatican News on its Twitter feed , the reaction from readers was universally negative .
Canon law professor Edward Peters asked , “ Can you even begin to imagine how your words impact the tens of thousands mourning the loss of loved ones , not to mention the tens of millions suffering the destruction of their livelihoods , in the wake of this disaster ?
” “ Your disregard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious , ” he concluded , and added in a second tweet , “ Disgusting .
Shame on the Vatican News Service for publishing this.
” Many responses referred ironically to the recent “ Pachamama ” scandal , in which what appeared to be an idol representing a pagan earth goddess , “ Pachamama , ” was venerated in a ritual in the Vatican after the images had been blessed by Pope Francis .
The event has a symbol for a synod that seems to have replaced spiritual concerns with radical environmentalism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ department at a Catholic prep school , called the article “ diappointing , ” and pointed out that it was repeating claims that had been debunked in a National Geographic article .
The claim that the environment is improving due to a slowdown in human economic activity is one that has been repeated in numerous articles in the past ten days , but at least some of the claims are false , National Geographic reported in a recent article called , “ Fake animal news abounds on social media as coronavirus upends life.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Mayaki that swans have returned to the canals of Venice is not true , according to the article , which states that the source is an erroneous tweet using photos of swans that have long inhabited nearby canals .
Claims that dolphins have come into the canals of Venice are also debunked by the article .
The Guardian newspaper , which ran an article on the new visibility of the fish in the canals of Venice , does not claim that the fish have “ returned , ” but only that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The publication cites an environmental researcher at Venice ’ s Institute of Marine Science , Davide Tagliapetra , who says that the apparent cleanliness of the canals is “ not due to a lack of pollution ” but “ the absence of motorised transport , which normally churns up the muddy canal floor , ” in the words of The Guardian summarizing his statements .
Comments can be made to Vatican News at [ email protected ] .
Readers are encouraged to be respectful in their tone .
This article has been updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vatican News deleted the article entitled , “ Coronavirus : Earth ’ s unlikely ally .
”

March 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Vatican News, the Holy See’s official news service, published and then deleted an article calling the deadly coronavirus an “ally” of planet Earth, sparking outrage in readers.
The article, written by the Jesuit priest Father Benedict Mayaki, was entitled “Coronavirus: Earth’s unlikely ally,” and its secondary headline read, “The changes in human behavior due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic are yielding unintended benefits to the planet.”
The author made no references to the tens of thousands of deaths attributed to the virus, except to say that the pandemic is “a global health concern.” However, there’s a bright side, Mayaki wrote: “Earth is healing itself,” as a result of the reduction in human activity.
“In Italy, fish have returned to the canals in Venice. Less tourism and water transport have allowed the murky waters to settle,” wrote Mayaki. “Migratory birds, including swans have been sighted gliding through the city’s waterways.”
He added that China has reduced its nitrogen emissions as a result of its lockdown measures to counteract COVID-19, and Hong Kong has experienced a decline in pollutants generally.
He also added that “The global reduction in air, land and sea travel is yielding benefits for the planet” by reducing carbon emissions.
Mayaki’s statements follow Pope Francis’ own assertions on March 22 claiming that the coronavirus pandemic is nature “having a fit” over damage to the environment.
Stating that “curiously the planet hasn’t been very clean for a long time,” Pope Francis was asked, “Is it possible that this is nature’s hour of reckoning with us?” He answered: “There’s a saying that you surely know: God always forgives, we forgive sometimes, [but] nature never forgives. Fires, earthquakes . . . that is, nature is having a fit, so that we will take care of nature.”
The Vatican News headline of the now-yanked article appears to be slightly modified version of a similar headline of a similar article by CNN published on March 20, and entitled, “There's an unlikely beneficiary of coronavirus: The planet.”
Strong condemnation from readers
After the article was announced by Vatican News on its Twitter feed, the reaction from readers was universally negative.
Canon law professor Edward Peters asked, “Can you even begin to imagine how your words impact the tens of thousands mourning the loss of loved ones, not to mention the tens of millions suffering the destruction of their livelihoods, in the wake of this disaster?”
“Your disregard for their plight cannot be more obvious,” he concluded, and added in a second tweet, “Disgusting. Shame on the Vatican News Service for publishing this.”
Many responses referred ironically to the recent “Pachamama” scandal, in which what appeared to be an idol representing a pagan earth goddess, “Pachamama,” was venerated in a ritual in the Vatican after the images had been blessed by Pope Francis. The event has a symbol for a synod that seems to have replaced spiritual concerns with radical environmentalism.
Thomas Cole, chairman of the theology department at a Catholic prep school, called the article “disappointing,” and pointed out that it was repeating claims that had been debunked in a National Geographic article.
The claim that the environment is improving due to a slowdown in human economic activity is one that has been repeated in numerous articles in the past ten days, but at least some of the claims are false, National Geographic reported in a recent article called, “Fake animal news abounds on social media as coronavirus upends life.”
Particularly, the oft-repeated claim echoed by Mayaki that swans have returned to the canals of Venice is not true, according to the article, which states that the source is an erroneous tweet using photos of swans that have long inhabited nearby canals. Claims that dolphins have come into the canals of Venice are also debunked by the article.
The Guardian newspaper, which ran an article on the new visibility of the fish in the canals of Venice, does not claim that the fish have “returned,” but only that they can now be seen more easily. The publication cites an environmental researcher at Venice’s Institute of Marine Science, Davide Tagliapetra, who says that the apparent cleanliness of the canals is “not due to a lack of pollution” but “the absence of motorised transport, which normally churns up the muddy canal floor,” in the words of The Guardian summarizing his statements.
Comments can be made to Vatican News at [email protected]. Readers are encouraged to be respectful in their tone.
This article has been updated to reflect that after its publication, Vatican News deleted the article entitled, “Coronavirus: Earth’s unlikely ally.”
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lifesitenews--2020-03-30--French brotherhood continues to bury coronavirus victims with dignity during lockdown

March 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In the northern French town of Béthune , not far from Calais , funerals in these times of COVID-19 are still worthy occasions .
While victims of respiratory complications from the Chinese coronavirus are being hastily buried or , more often , cremated without family members getting a proper chance to see the face of their loved ones one more time and pay their last respects , the brotherhood of the “ Charitables ” of Béthune is continuing to do what it has done for more than 800 years : voluntarily carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an act of piety and charity .
To date , France ’ s death toll officially attributed to the Chinese coronavirus is 3,042 .
Under strict confinement rules that were tightened on March 28 , no more than 20 persons are allowed to join funeral Masses and to accompany their loved one to the cemetery , putting heavy stress on those who are obliged to pick and choose between family members and friends who usually come from far and near on such occasions in France .
Traveling across the country has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a suspicion or certainty that the deceased was infected with the coronavirus , the coffin is immediately closed because of the “ sanitary risk.
” There is no religious ceremony at the graveyard .
Social media in France hosts many sad messages from sons , daughters , grandchildren , and friends who are deeply frustrated at not having been able to assist at the funeral of a loved one and who know that the event was bleak and soulless because of the circumstances .
The “ Charitables ” of Béthune , on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep up their tradition of burying the dead with honor and respect whatever their social condition and the reason of death .
Wearing their characteristic black cloaks , white gloves and black cocked hats , they solemnly process through the streets of the town – no more than five at a time because of present restrictions , so as not to prevent families to attend in as large numbers as they can – between the place where the funeral ceremony took place and one of the cemeteries of the town .
Once there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made for centuries , lowering coffins into the graves with great solemnity .
They then observe a minute of silence before proclaiming : “ Requiescat in pace ” – “ May he rest in peace.
” Before leaving the cemetery , they join in a circle in front of its gates and , as tradition will have it , assess whether everything went according to the rules .
The “ Charitable ” who made a mistake during the ceremony , such as taking off his cocked hat at the wrong moment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French media published several admiring reports on the consoling presence of the “ Charitables ” of Béthune at a time when funerals have become even sadder occasions than usual , stressing that their commitment is bringing dignity and humanity to interment ceremonies .
One of the latest burials led by the “ Charitables ” was that of a poor , homeless man of 34 who had neither family nor friends to accompany him to his grave .
Whether the deceased is rich or poor , old or young , religious or not , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … the service is completely free .
In Béthune , undertakers only provide the coffin and prepare the grave .
The “ Charitables ” offer the full accompaniment of the deceased at no cost , and are in particular expected to assist at the funeral Mass if there is one .
The “ Charitables ” of Béthune , or Brotherhood of St. Eloi , were founded in 1188 at a time when Béthune , having gone through various earthquakes , famines , fires and other disasters during the 11the and 12th centuries was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nearby marshes and the proliferation of mosquitoes , rats and other unsavory animals .
The pestilence was such that bodies of men and animals strewed the narrow streets , and few were prepared to give their fellow men a decent funeral .
Amid the pestilence and the stench of death , the people of Béthune invaded the churches and sanctuaries of their town , beseeching God , through the intercession of St. Eloi ( the holy bishop St. Elegius , a remarkably honest goldsmith become cleric in seventh century France is much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect them .
On the feast of St. Matthew on September 21 , 1188 , two local smiths , Germon from nearby Beuvry and Gautier from Béthune , met at a spring marking the frontier between the two towns and , speaking of the dire straits their people were in , realized that both had separately had a dream in which St. Eloi had appeared to them , asking them to found a “ Charity ” or brotherhood .
A monk from a local Abbey having advised them , the two men honored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brotherhood would give bread to the poor , care to the sick , consolation to the dying and a worthy burial to the dead : something they have now been doing for 832 years without interruption .
Many townsmen of Beuvry and Béthune joined the founders , and thanks to their actions , the pestilence receded and finally disappeared .
The “ Charitables ” continued to exist , however , receiving land to build a chapel dedicated to St. Eloi .
They have since then remained faithful to the rules of their founders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form in their foundation charter dated October 26 , 1317 .
The Brotherhood of the “ Charitables ” was dissolved in 1797 under the French Revolution , but its members continued discreetly to minister to the needs of the deceased until 1802 , at which time they were officially allowed once again to act according to their traditions and bury the dead of Béthune .
Since the middle of the 19th century , they have become a lay organization because of differences with the local bishop of Arras , who wanted them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their relations with the Catholic authorities have , however , been excellent since then .
They continue to come to the aid of the needy , thanks to public donations , but their main activity remains the free service of burials .
Comprising only men , the “ Charitables ” come from all walks of life and are expected to be of good moral character .
Their numbers decreased dramatically during the 20th century : in 1973 , there were only 10 left .
Nowadays , there are more than 50 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Brotherhood of St. Eloi believes it has the special protection of its patron saint .
Since 1188 , no active member of the confraternity has ever been touched by any contagious or epidemic illness .

March 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In the northern French town of Béthune, not far from Calais, funerals in these times of COVID-19 are still worthy occasions. While victims of respiratory complications from the Chinese coronavirus are being hastily buried or, more often, cremated without family members getting a proper chance to see the face of their loved ones one more time and pay their last respects, the brotherhood of the “Charitables” of Béthune is continuing to do what it has done for more than 800 years: voluntarily carrying the deceased to their last resting place as an act of piety and charity.
Embed from Getty Images
To date, France’s death toll officially attributed to the Chinese coronavirus is 3,042.
Under strict confinement rules that were tightened on March 28, no more than 20 persons are allowed to join funeral Masses and to accompany their loved one to the cemetery, putting heavy stress on those who are obliged to pick and choose between family members and friends who usually come from far and near on such occasions in France. Traveling across the country has also become very difficult.
When there is a suspicion or certainty that the deceased was infected with the coronavirus, the coffin is immediately closed because of the “sanitary risk.” There is no religious ceremony at the graveyard. Social media in France hosts many sad messages from sons, daughters, grandchildren, and friends who are deeply frustrated at not having been able to assist at the funeral of a loved one and who know that the event was bleak and soulless because of the circumstances.
The “Charitables” of Béthune, on the other hand, have been able to keep up their tradition of burying the dead with honor and respect whatever their social condition and the reason of death. Wearing their characteristic black cloaks, white gloves and black cocked hats, they solemnly process through the streets of the town – no more than five at a time because of present restrictions, so as not to prevent families to attend in as large numbers as they can – between the place where the funeral ceremony took place and one of the cemeteries of the town.
Once there, they repeat the same gestures they have made for centuries, lowering coffins into the graves with great solemnity. They then observe a minute of silence before proclaiming: “Requiescat in pace” – “May he rest in peace.” Before leaving the cemetery, they join in a circle in front of its gates and, as tradition will have it, assess whether everything went according to the rules. The “Charitable” who made a mistake during the ceremony, such as taking off his cocked hat at the wrong moment, will pay a symbolic fine.
The French media published several admiring reports on the consoling presence of the “Charitables” of Béthune at a time when funerals have become even sadder occasions than usual, stressing that their commitment is bringing dignity and humanity to interment ceremonies.
One of the latest burials led by the “Charitables” was that of a poor, homeless man of 34 who had neither family nor friends to accompany him to his grave.
Whether the deceased is rich or poor, old or young, religious or not, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant or Muslim … the service is completely free. In Béthune, undertakers only provide the coffin and prepare the grave. The “Charitables” offer the full accompaniment of the deceased at no cost, and are in particular expected to assist at the funeral Mass if there is one.
The “Charitables” of Béthune, or Brotherhood of St. Eloi, were founded in 1188 at a time when Béthune, having gone through various earthquakes, famines, fires and other disasters during the 11the and 12th centuries was hit by a deadly plague favored by the nearby marshes and the proliferation of mosquitoes, rats and other unsavory animals. The pestilence was such that bodies of men and animals strewed the narrow streets, and few were prepared to give their fellow men a decent funeral.
Amid the pestilence and the stench of death, the people of Béthune invaded the churches and sanctuaries of their town, beseeching God, through the intercession of St. Eloi (the holy bishop St. Elegius, a remarkably honest goldsmith become cleric in seventh century France is much revered in this country), to protect them.
On the feast of St. Matthew on September 21, 1188, two local smiths, Germon from nearby Beuvry and Gautier from Béthune, met at a spring marking the frontier between the two towns and, speaking of the dire straits their people were in, realized that both had separately had a dream in which St. Eloi had appeared to them, asking them to found a “Charity” or brotherhood.
A monk from a local Abbey having advised them, the two men honored St. Eloi’s request. Their brotherhood would give bread to the poor, care to the sick, consolation to the dying and a worthy burial to the dead: something they have now been doing for 832 years without interruption.
Many townsmen of Beuvry and Béthune joined the founders, and thanks to their actions, the pestilence receded and finally disappeared. The “Charitables” continued to exist, however, receiving land to build a chapel dedicated to St. Eloi. They have since then remained faithful to the rules of their founders, which were first given a written form in their foundation charter dated October 26, 1317.
The Brotherhood of the “Charitables” was dissolved in 1797 under the French Revolution, but its members continued discreetly to minister to the needs of the deceased until 1802, at which time they were officially allowed once again to act according to their traditions and bury the dead of Béthune.
Since the middle of the 19th century, they have become a lay organization because of differences with the local bishop of Arras, who wanted them to submit to the tutelage of the Church. Their relations with the Catholic authorities have, however, been excellent since then.
They continue to come to the aid of the needy, thanks to public donations, but their main activity remains the free service of burials. Comprising only men, the “Charitables” come from all walks of life and are expected to be of good moral character.
Their numbers decreased dramatically during the 20th century: in 1973, there were only 10 left. Nowadays, there are more than 50, often descendants of former “Charitables.”
The Brotherhood of St. Eloi believes it has the special protection of its patron saint. Since 1188, no active member of the confraternity has ever been touched by any contagious or epidemic illness.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-30--Priest: post ‘Divine Mercy Image’ on front door for protection during coronavirus outbreak

STOCKBRIDGE , MA , March 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A priest is urging Christians to post an image of the Divine Mercy on the front doors of their homes to protect them and their families during the coronavirus pandemic .
In his March 26 “ Seal the Doors ” video , Fr .
Chris Alar of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception asks listeners to place a copy of the Divine Mercy Image of Jesus on their front doors , facing outwards .
He calls this response to the coronavirus “ a simple but an incredibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the initiative “ Seal the Doors ” comes from an invitation in the Magnificat missal : “ Let us seal the doorposts of our inner thoughts with the protective Word of God.
” This is a reference to Exodus 12:7 , in which the Israelites are instructed to put blood from the lamb or goat of their Passover meal on their doorposts so that the Angel of Death will pass them by .
Speaking from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy , Alar , 50 , explains why the Divine Mercy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image represents the Lord , the Lamb of God sacrificed for us , from whose heart streams blood and water , the sign of God ’ s mercy upon the whole world , ” he says .
“ The Lord promises us through St. Faustina , that the soul that will venerate and honor this image will never perish .
He also promises victory over our enemies already here on earth , especially at the hour of death , and to defend us as His own glory , ” he continues .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this image , I shall be granting many graces to souls , so let every soul have access to it ’ .
” Saint Faustina Kowalska , who was born in Głogowiec , Poland , lived from 1905 to 1938 .
In 1931 , she experienced her first vision of the Divine Mercy : Our Lord Jesus with white and red rays emanating from his heart .
She wrote in her diary that he instructed her to record him like this , saying “ Paint an image according to the pattern you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I trust in You '' .
I desire that this image be venerated , first in your chapel , and then throughout the world .
I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.
” Her visions persisted , and she spent the rest of her life promoting devotion to the Divine Mercy .
Her confessor , Blessed Fr .
Michael Sopocko , wrote that the Lord later told the mystic that “ when chastisements for sins come upon the whole world , and your own country will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be trust in My Mercy.
” The Polish mystic reported that the Lord had said that He will protect the cities and homes in which the Divine Mercy image is found , and that He will protect the people who give it honor .
“ Let everyone procure for their homes this image because there will yet come trials , and those homes and entire families and everyone individually who will hold this image of Mercy in deep reverence , I will preserve from every sort of misfortune , ” St. Faustina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells laity in his video how they may licitly bless the image themselves , if they are unable to get a priest to do so .
He notes , however , that honoring the Divine Mercy in this way may not be sufficient protection against the Covid-19 coronavirus .
“ While this act of faith may not guarantee your family won ’ t be physically affected by the virus , it will guarantee that , by your trust in Jesus , you will obtain His promises of love and mercy , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says .
Alar was ordained a priest in May 2014 .
Before he answered his call ( “ I ’ m a late vocation ” ) , he had a house , a business and a fiancée .
Today Alar rejects any suggestion that venerating the Divine Mercy Image is a particularly Polish devotion with less relevance to Americans and others in the world .
“ Jesus , through the words he gave to Saint Faustina , emphasized that His Mercy is for the whole world , ” he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told St. Faustina that “ a spark will come from Poland to prepare the world for My final coming.
” “ Saint Faustina , Saint John Paul II , and the whole message of the Divine Mercy are the spark .
”

Jesus told St. Faustina that He will protect the cities and homes in which the Divine Mercy image is found.
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STOCKBRIDGE, MA, March 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A priest is urging Christians to post an image of the Divine Mercy on the front doors of their homes to protect them and their families during the coronavirus pandemic.
In his March 26 “Seal the Doors” video, Fr. Chris Alar of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception asks listeners to place a copy of the Divine Mercy Image of Jesus on their front doors, facing outwards. He calls this response to the coronavirus “a simple but an incredibly powerful act of faith.”
The name of the initiative “Seal the Doors” comes from an invitation in the Magnificat missal: “Let us seal the doorposts of our inner thoughts with the protective Word of God.” This is a reference to Exodus 12:7, in which the Israelites are instructed to put blood from the lamb or goat of their Passover meal on their doorposts so that the Angel of Death will pass them by.
Speaking from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, Alar, 50, explains why the Divine Mercy Image is so important.
“The image represents the Lord, the Lamb of God sacrificed for us, from whose heart streams blood and water, the sign of God’s mercy upon the whole world,” he says.
“The Lord promises us through St. Faustina, that the soul that will venerate and honor this image will never perish. He also promises victory over our enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death, and to defend us as His own glory,” he continues.
“The Lord said, ‘By means of this image, I shall be granting many graces to souls, so let every soul have access to it’.”
Saint Faustina Kowalska, who was born in Głogowiec, Poland, lived from 1905 to 1938. In 1931, she experienced her first vision of the Divine Mercy: Our Lord Jesus with white and red rays emanating from his heart. She wrote in her diary that he instructed her to record him like this, saying “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the words “Jesus, I trust in You”. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and then throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.” Her visions persisted, and she spent the rest of her life promoting devotion to the Divine Mercy.
Her confessor, Blessed Fr. Michael Sopocko, wrote that the Lord later told the mystic that “when chastisements for sins come upon the whole world, and your own country will experience utter degradation, the only refuge will be trust in My Mercy.”
The Polish mystic reported that the Lord had said that He will protect the cities and homes in which the Divine Mercy image is found, and that He will protect the people who give it honor.
“Let everyone procure for their homes this image because there will yet come trials, and those homes and entire families and everyone individually who will hold this image of Mercy in deep reverence, I will preserve from every sort of misfortune,” St. Faustina recalled Him saying.
Fr. Alar tells laity in his video how they may licitly bless the image themselves, if they are unable to get a priest to do so. He notes, however, that honoring the Divine Mercy in this way may not be sufficient protection against the Covid-19 coronavirus.
“While this act of faith may not guarantee your family won’t be physically affected by the virus, it will guarantee that, by your trust in Jesus, you will obtain His promises of love and mercy, which will surround you and remain in you forever,” he says.
Alar was ordained a priest in May 2014. Before he answered his call (“I’m a late vocation”), he had a house, a business and a fiancée.
Today Alar rejects any suggestion that venerating the Divine Mercy Image is a particularly Polish devotion with less relevance to Americans and others in the world.
“Jesus, through the words he gave to Saint Faustina, emphasized that His Mercy is for the whole world,” he told LifeSiteNews.
Alar explained that Our Lord told St. Faustina that “a spark will come from Poland to prepare the world for My final coming.”
“Saint Faustina, Saint John Paul II, and the whole message of the Divine Mercy are the spark.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-04-01--What’s really behind the coronavirus panic: Political chaos in China

March 31 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic began in China in late November and early December 2019 .
Now many accuse the Chinese authorities of negligence and the fact that they did not take sufficient measures to prevent the spread of the virus , thereby contributing to the infection of the inhabitants of all countries on the planet .
However , the Chinese communists had a completely different task .
In order to understand the logic of the Chinese authorities , you need to know what China is .
In modern China , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a party-state .
They have no separation of powers as in Western countries .
Nevertheless , there is still a particular division of power in China .
Power in China is divided among several opposing communist groups .
The most famous are the Communist Youth League ( CYL ) faction and the Shanghai faction .
The CYL faction was significantly weakened in 2016 by the secretary-general of the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) , Xi Jinping .
Former CCP secretary-general Hu Jintao and current prime minister Li Keqiang belong to the CYL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CCP , Jiang Zemin , belongs to the Shanghai faction .
Xi Jinping came to power in November 2012 entirely unexpectedly .
The Hu Jintao faction insisted on one candidate , while the Jiang Zemin faction supported the other .
Xi Jinping skillfully played the role of a compromise candidate .
He looked like a suitable candidate for all the main warring factions , because , although he was one of the `` communist princes '' ( his father was a close associate of Mao Zedong ) , he gave the impression of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xi Jinping belongs to the faction long forgotten in China , which at one time was aligned with the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin .
Hopes for easy manipulation of the new party boss did not materialize .
Secretary-General Xi Jinping toughened the persecution of those who do not support the party 's official line .
In 2013 , shortly after coming to power , Xi Jinping even banned the teaching of freedom of the press , civil rights , and the rule of law .
The massive party inquisition and the purge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China in 2013 , led to the fact that many supporters of the previous leader of the country , Hu Jintao , appeared on the dock .
Xi Jinping not only established effective internet censorship in China , but also achieved almost a lifetime post .
The Chinese communists have been fighting for many years with all kinds of `` deviations '' from their own dogmatic interpretation of Marxism .
On this front , they clashed with the Soviet communists , the Marxist Dalai Lama , the Fourth ( Trotskyist ) Communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The congress of the CCP , which meets every five years , is the supreme arbiter of all covert battles .
But between congresses , the establishment of political influence materializes in the manipulation of cadres — each faction seeks to place as many of its people into leading posts as possible .
Recently , a faction of Wang Qishan , an associate of Xi Jinping in mass party purges , has begun to gain strength in China .
Wang Qishan is a representative of the `` power bloc '' in the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torquemada .
Wang 's faction is relatively new , but he still managed to put his people in key positions .
For example , in 2016 , Chen Wenqing became the head of the `` Chinese KGB , '' and American-educated banker Jiang Chaolyan became the party boss of Hubei Province .
Hubei Province , with its capital in Wuhan , has always been `` problematic '' for the Chinese communists .
The relationship between Beijing and Wuhan is somewhat reminiscent of the relationship between Washington and New York , Moscow and St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parallels here are unambiguous – this is not just a conflict between the current and previous capital of the country ( Wuhan was the capital under Chiang Kai-shek ) .
Wuhan has always been a rebellious city that triggered the events that led to the tragedy in Tiananmen Square in 1989 .
When the epidemic of the new coronavirus started , Beijing faced the challenge — to ensure that the party authorities of the rebellious and freethinking Wuhan made mistakes , and to deal with them under this pretext .
Now many say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks earlier , the number of diseases could have decreased by 95 % , and its spread would be significantly limited .
This could happen only if the main objective were human health .
But in fact , the main task of the Chinese communists was to win the intraspecific struggle .
All these warring factions of China at the most critical time of the outbreak of the epidemic were engaged in what they always did : to protect and strengthen their political positions and interests , and not to fight the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such an epidemic is a typical phenomenon .
Influenza outbreaks occur in China , as in all countries , every year , but generally , in 2019 , China was ready for the flu season , and no panic was expected .
Xi Jinping needed a crisis to settle accounts with dissent in the party ranks .
Without a doubt , the Chinese left operates on the same principles as the American left : these people `` never let a serious crisis to go waste . ''
There is a widespread belief that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epidemic in Wuhan .
Initially , that was the case , but only until January 7 , 2020 .
On this day , Xi Jinping intervened and changed the essence of events — from medical , they became political .
From that moment , it was Beijing that methodically and purposefully stepped up the situation around the epidemic .
What the Chinese leaders did not take into account was the fact that their ensuing panic would be picked up by the world 's mass disinformation media .
The surrealistic footage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese propagandists , was very photogenic and was instantly circulated by the world press .
The crisis inflated by the Beijing elite was the result of an ideological confrontation among the Chinese factions , which clashed over some of the nuances of Marxist dogma .
Xi Jinping 's ruling group has skillfully used the epidemic to blame the party leadership of Hubei and the leadership of Wuhan .
As a result , the political goal was achieved .
The party boss of Hubei province , Jiang Chaoliang ( from the Wang Qishan faction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan city , Ma Guoqiang ( from the Shanghai faction ) , `` paid for the epidemic '' and were removed from their posts on February 13 , 2020 .
Only after this reprisal did Beijing embark on a full-scale suppression of the true extent of the epidemic , which continues to this day .
The connection with the coronavirus is indicative of the fate of Wang Xiaodong , the governor of Hubei province since 2016 .
As a man of Xi Jinping , Wang Xiaodong remained at his post , even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most affected by the coronavirus of China .
From this point of view , the undercover political operation of the Chinese communists was successful .
But the panic they created turned out to be more contagious than the coronavirus itself .
As soon as the political reprisal in Hubei was over , Beijing instantly switched from internal to external efforts and began openly accusing the United States of creating and spreading the coronavirus .
The Chinese communists simply had to do this because they had lost control of the situation — the panic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself , spread throughout the world .
What was initially conceived as a local and time-limited episode of reprisals against party comrades unexpectedly gained a global status .
The genie jumped out of the bottle : the situation in China took the form of a comprehensive economic crisis and spread throughout the whole world .
On the surface , the current situation looks as if microorganisms are capable of reformatting the world macroeconomics .
However , the difference between the current pandemic and all previous ones is that in 2020 , the Information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real one .
Gary Gindler , Ph.D. is a conservative columnist at Gary Gindler Chronicles and the founder of a new science : politiphysics .
Follow him on Twitter and Quodverum .
This article first appeared at the American Thinker .
It is published here with the author 's permission .

March 31, 2020 (American Thinker) — The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic began in China in late November and early December 2019. Now many accuse the Chinese authorities of negligence and the fact that they did not take sufficient measures to prevent the spread of the virus, thereby contributing to the infection of the inhabitants of all countries on the planet. However, the Chinese communists had a completely different task.
In order to understand the logic of the Chinese authorities, you need to know what China is. In modern China, there is not a traditional nation-state, but a party-state. They have no separation of powers as in Western countries. Nevertheless, there is still a particular division of power in China.
Power in China is divided among several opposing communist groups.
The most famous are the Communist Youth League (CYL) faction and the Shanghai faction. The CYL faction was significantly weakened in 2016 by the secretary-general of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Xi Jinping. Former CCP secretary-general Hu Jintao and current prime minister Li Keqiang belong to the CYL faction. Another former secretary-general of the CCP, Jiang Zemin, belongs to the Shanghai faction.
Xi Jinping came to power in November 2012 entirely unexpectedly. The Hu Jintao faction insisted on one candidate, while the Jiang Zemin faction supported the other. Xi Jinping skillfully played the role of a compromise candidate. He looked like a suitable candidate for all the main warring factions, because, although he was one of the “communist princes” (his father was a close associate of Mao Zedong), he gave the impression of a somewhat “weak” leader. Xi Jinping belongs to the faction long forgotten in China, which at one time was aligned with the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin.
Hopes for easy manipulation of the new party boss did not materialize. Secretary-General Xi Jinping toughened the persecution of those who do not support the party's official line. In 2013, shortly after coming to power, Xi Jinping even banned the teaching of freedom of the press, civil rights, and the rule of law.
The massive party inquisition and the purge of the party apparatus, which began in China in 2013, led to the fact that many supporters of the previous leader of the country, Hu Jintao, appeared on the dock. Xi Jinping not only established effective internet censorship in China, but also achieved almost a lifetime post.
The Chinese communists have been fighting for many years with all kinds of “deviations” from their own dogmatic interpretation of Marxism. On this front, they clashed with the Soviet communists, the Marxist Dalai Lama, the Fourth (Trotskyist) Communist International, and numerous internal factions.
The congress of the CCP, which meets every five years, is the supreme arbiter of all covert battles. But between congresses, the establishment of political influence materializes in the manipulation of cadres — each faction seeks to place as many of its people into leading posts as possible.
Recently, a faction of Wang Qishan, an associate of Xi Jinping in mass party purges, has begun to gain strength in China. Wang Qishan is a representative of the “power bloc” in the government and is a peculiar Chinese analog of Torquemada. Wang's faction is relatively new, but he still managed to put his people in key positions. For example, in 2016, Chen Wenqing became the head of the “Chinese KGB,” and American-educated banker Jiang Chaolyan became the party boss of Hubei Province.
Hubei Province, with its capital in Wuhan, has always been “problematic” for the Chinese communists. The relationship between Beijing and Wuhan is somewhat reminiscent of the relationship between Washington and New York, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Madrid and Barcelona. The parallels here are unambiguous – this is not just a conflict between the current and previous capital of the country (Wuhan was the capital under Chiang Kai-shek). Wuhan has always been a rebellious city that triggered the events that led to the tragedy in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
When the epidemic of the new coronavirus started, Beijing faced the challenge — to ensure that the party authorities of the rebellious and freethinking Wuhan made mistakes, and to deal with them under this pretext.
Now many say that if the Chinese authorities acted three weeks earlier, the number of diseases could have decreased by 95%, and its spread would be significantly limited. This could happen only if the main objective were human health. But in fact, the main task of the Chinese communists was to win the intraspecific struggle.
All these warring factions of China at the most critical time of the outbreak of the epidemic were engaged in what they always did: to protect and strengthen their political positions and interests, and not to fight the spread of the virus.
For China, such an epidemic is a typical phenomenon. Influenza outbreaks occur in China, as in all countries, every year, but generally, in 2019, China was ready for the flu season, and no panic was expected. Xi Jinping needed a crisis to settle accounts with dissent in the party ranks.
Without a doubt, the Chinese left operates on the same principles as the American left: these people “never let a serious crisis to go waste.”
There is a widespread belief that Beijing was silent about the scale of the epidemic in Wuhan. Initially, that was the case, but only until January 7, 2020. On this day, Xi Jinping intervened and changed the essence of events — from medical, they became political. From that moment, it was Beijing that methodically and purposefully stepped up the situation around the epidemic.
What the Chinese leaders did not take into account was the fact that their ensuing panic would be picked up by the world's mass disinformation media. The surrealistic footage of the Apocalypse from China, created by skillful Chinese propagandists, was very photogenic and was instantly circulated by the world press.
The crisis inflated by the Beijing elite was the result of an ideological confrontation among the Chinese factions, which clashed over some of the nuances of Marxist dogma.
Xi Jinping's ruling group has skillfully used the epidemic to blame the party leadership of Hubei and the leadership of Wuhan. As a result, the political goal was achieved. The party boss of Hubei province, Jiang Chaoliang (from the Wang Qishan faction), and the party boss of Wuhan city, Ma Guoqiang (from the Shanghai faction), “paid for the epidemic” and were removed from their posts on February 13, 2020. Only after this reprisal did Beijing embark on a full-scale suppression of the true extent of the epidemic, which continues to this day.
The connection with the coronavirus is indicative of the fate of Wang Xiaodong, the governor of Hubei province since 2016. As a man of Xi Jinping, Wang Xiaodong remained at his post, even though he is the governor of the province most affected by the coronavirus of China.
From this point of view, the undercover political operation of the Chinese communists was successful. But the panic they created turned out to be more contagious than the coronavirus itself.
As soon as the political reprisal in Hubei was over, Beijing instantly switched from internal to external efforts and began openly accusing the United States of creating and spreading the coronavirus. The Chinese communists simply had to do this because they had lost control of the situation — the panic they created, and then the coronavirus itself, spread throughout the world.
What was initially conceived as a local and time-limited episode of reprisals against party comrades unexpectedly gained a global status. The genie jumped out of the bottle: the situation in China took the form of a comprehensive economic crisis and spread throughout the whole world.
On the surface, the current situation looks as if microorganisms are capable of reformatting the world macroeconomics. However, the difference between the current pandemic and all previous ones is that in 2020, the Information Coronavirus won a convincing economic victory over the real one.
Gary Gindler, Ph.D. is a conservative columnist at Gary Gindler Chronicles and the founder of a new science: politiphysics. Follow him on Twitter and Quodverum.
This article first appeared at the American Thinker. It is published here with the author's permission.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--Scholar shines spotlight on the true, politically incorrect history of Islam

March 31 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — On a 500-acre campus in Carlisle , Pennsylvania , Middle East scholar Raymond Ibrahim was finally allowed to give his speech before a packed , mostly civilian audience at the U.S. Army War College 's Heritage and Education Center .
Based on his book , Sword and Scimitar : Fourteen Centuries of War Between Islam and the West , Ibrahim covered the 7th-century origins of Islam , its conflict with Christianity during the hundreds of years that followed , and revisionist attempts to deny Islam 's history of violent warfare and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosen Writing Fellow with the Middle East Forum , was on the receiving end of such an attempt in June 2019 , when the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other Islamists convinced the U.S. Army War College to disinvite Ibrahim from his original appearance , fallaciously accusing the son of Egyptian immigrants of being a `` bigot '' and `` white nationalist . ''
However , Ibrahim was n't alone .
In its press release , CAIR ridiculed the War College as `` an academic institution run on taxpayer funds '' that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as racism and human rights violations that exist within the US military . ''
Ibrahim explained that CAIR is `` well aware how important it is to dominate the historic narrative . ''
He pointed to his reliance on primary source material and actual quotes from jihadist and Islamists to support his view that there is `` a continuity between past and present ; Muslim religious leaders and jihadists see Christianity as both antithetical to the Islamic world and inherently ripe for conquest or conversion . ''
It took a letter signed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Major General John S. Kem , as well as a National Association of Scholars letter to President Trump that included 5,000 signatories , to convince Army leaders to reinstate Ibrahim 's invitation .
When CAIR learned that Ibrahim was set to return to the Carlisle campus , it responded by once again suggesting that the Army War College suffers from an `` internal problem with white supremacists and white nationalists within its ranks , '' while claiming that Ibrahim 's talk would `` instigate hatred against Muslims . ''
Undeterred by his Islamist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that `` since 9/11 , '' it has `` become popular '' for media and academia to whitewash the Koran 's objectionable passages .
`` They say Mohammad may have done bad things , but so did King David and Abraham , '' he said .
The difference , Ibrahim noted , is that the Torah acknowledges the wayward path of these leaders and advises against following them , unlike the Koran .
For argument 's sake , Ibrahim offered to `` put aside what the Koran says '' and `` see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Islamic conquests of the Middle East and North Africa , Ibrahim argued that Islamists ' consistent goal has been Western submission to Islamic supremacy .
This region , which is identified today as Muslim-majority , was home to more Christians than Europe in the 7th century .
What remained after the Arab Muslim invasion became `` the West . ''
Ibrahim quoted historian Franco Cardini , who wrote , `` Repeated Muslim aggression against Europe in the 7th and 8th centuries and again in the 14th and 18th centuries was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to the late historian of Islam Bernard Lewis , who said , `` We forget that for a thousand years since the advent of Islam from the 7th century to the siege of Vienna in 1683 Christian Europe was under constant threat from Islam , the double threat of conquest and conversion violently wrested from Christendom . ''
Ibrahim noted that modern historians often fail to acknowledge this simple truth .
He argued that Mohammad 's guidance to spread Islam was the motivation behind the Islamic conquests .
The only way peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam by conversion , enslavement , or paying the jizya — an enormous annual tribute that the caliphate levied on non-Muslims .
Short of these options , a non-believer 's only recourse was to fight to the death .
Ibrahim quoted what Islamist conqueror Khalid bin Walid said to a Byzantine general before the Battle of Yarmuk in 636 C.E .
: `` We Arabs are in the habit of drinking blood and we are told the Romans are the sweetest of its kind .
Where you love life , we love death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the various inter-civilizational wars of this age as ethnic and nationalistic , Ibrahim emphasized that the primary sources clearly show that these ongoing battles were manifestations of jihad , inspired by Koranic scripture .
He called this tendency `` a historic fact that modern day historians censor . ''
Ibrahim showed that modern jihadists `` belonging to groups such as ISIS are well-versed in Islamic historic military jurisprudence '' and the Koran and point to historical precedents to justify their violence and brutality .
At the fall of Constantinople , Sultan Mehmed II @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invoked by modern-day ISIS : `` Recall the promise of our Prophet regarding fallen warriors in the Koran ; the man who falls in combat will be transported bodily to Paradise [ and ] will dine with Mohammed in the presence of women . ''
Next , Ibrahim recounted the American experience with the Islamic Barbary pirates in 1785 and 1786 that attacked U.S. merchant ships and enslaved American sailors .
In an effort to ransom the slaves , Thomas Jefferson and John Adams entered negotiations with Abdul Rahman , Tripoli 's ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained that they `` had done them no injury '' and `` consider all mankind our friends . ''
Abdul answered that `` it was founded on the laws of their Prophet , written in the Koran that all nations not acknowledging their authority were sinners , that it is their religious right and duty to make slaves of non-believers , and all Muslims slain in battle were sure to go to paradise . ''
America 's conflict with Islam did not begin on 9/11 .
Rather , it dates back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underscore this message , Ibrahim cited Theodore Roosevelt 's 1916 book , Fear God and Take Your Part , where the former president pointed out , `` If the peoples of Europe in the 7th and 8th centuries , and on up to and including the 17th century , had not possessed a military equality with , and gradually a growing superiority over the Mohammedans who invaded Europe , Europe would at this moment be Mohammedan and the Christian religion would be exterminated . ''
The great English statesman Winston Churchill also criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that in Mohammedan law every woman is the absolute property — either as a child , a wife , or a concubine — must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men . ''
Ibrahim rhetorically asked , if the violent history of Islam is so well documented , `` so ironclad , '' then `` why do n't we know about it ? ''
Older historians who studied Islam unprejudiced by political correctness reached conclusions that no longer comport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conversely , modern historians get away with academic malpractice by reducing previous Islamic studies scholarship to outdated myths .
This is all part and parcel of what Ibrahim referred to as `` propaganda as a form of jihad , '' misinformation of which academics and groups such as CAIR are the most vociferous defenders .
Meanwhile , CAIR , an unindicted co-conspirator in the nation 's largest terrorism finance trial and an accused Hamas-supporter , engaged in `` propaganda jihad `` by working to suppress Ibrahim 's historical review , a practice consistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the end , Ibrahim gave Army service members and the community a coherent and fact-driven presentation of Islamic history that everyone in America should hear , one that dispels the many false , politically correct notions about the nature of Islam .
It lays bare the inconvenient truth that Islamic ideology is what motivates Muslim jihadists to perpetrate acts of terrorism against non-believers , both domestically and abroad .
Leonard Getz , CPA is the Philadelphia Counter-Islamist Grid research fellow of Middle East Forum and a freelance writer whose work has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Algemeiner , PJMedia , The Clarion , The Daily Wire , Lifestyles Magazine , Nostalgia Magazine , The Philadelphia Inquirer , the Philadelphia Bulletin , the Jewish Exponent , and the Lock Haven Express .
He is the author of the book From Broadway to the Bowery .
This article first appeared at the American Thinker .
It is published here with the author 's permission .

Raymond Ibrahim covers the 7th-century origins of Islam, its conflict with Christianity over the centuries, and revisionist attempts to deny Islam's history of violent warfare and supremacism.
March 31, 2020 (American Thinker) — On a 500-acre campus in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Middle East scholar Raymond Ibrahim was finally allowed to give his speech before a packed, mostly civilian audience at the U.S. Army War College's Heritage and Education Center. Based on his book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War Between Islam and the West, Ibrahim covered the 7th-century origins of Islam, its conflict with Christianity during the hundreds of years that followed, and revisionist attempts to deny Islam's history of violent warfare and supremacism.
Ibrahim, a Judith Friedman Rosen Writing Fellow with the Middle East Forum, was on the receiving end of such an attempt in June 2019, when the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other Islamists convinced the U.S. Army War College to disinvite Ibrahim from his original appearance, fallaciously accusing the son of Egyptian immigrants of being a “bigot” and “white nationalist.”
However, Ibrahim wasn't alone. In its press release, CAIR ridiculed the War College as “an academic institution run on taxpayer funds” that was “poised to exacerbate longstanding problems such as racism and human rights violations that exist within the US military.”
Ibrahim explained that CAIR is “well aware how important it is to dominate the historic narrative.” He pointed to his reliance on primary source material and actual quotes from jihadist and Islamists to support his view that there is “a continuity between past and present; Muslim religious leaders and jihadists see Christianity as both antithetical to the Islamic world and inherently ripe for conquest or conversion.”
It took a letter signed by ten congressmen to Army War College commandant Major General John S. Kem, as well as a National Association of Scholars letter to President Trump that included 5,000 signatories, to convince Army leaders to reinstate Ibrahim's invitation.
When CAIR learned that Ibrahim was set to return to the Carlisle campus, it responded by once again suggesting that the Army War College suffers from an “internal problem with white supremacists and white nationalists within its ranks,” while claiming that Ibrahim's talk would “instigate hatred against Muslims.”
Undeterred by his Islamist critics, Ibrahim began his presentation by saying that “since 9/11,” it has “become popular” for media and academia to whitewash the Koran's objectionable passages. “They say Mohammad may have done bad things, but so did King David and Abraham,” he said. The difference, Ibrahim noted, is that the Torah acknowledges the wayward path of these leaders and advises against following them, unlike the Koran.
For argument's sake, Ibrahim offered to “put aside what the Koran says” and “see what Islamists have done.” Beginning with the Islamic conquests of the Middle East and North Africa, Ibrahim argued that Islamists' consistent goal has been Western submission to Islamic supremacy. This region, which is identified today as Muslim-majority, was home to more Christians than Europe in the 7th century. What remained after the Arab Muslim invasion became “the West.” Ibrahim quoted historian Franco Cardini, who wrote, “Repeated Muslim aggression against Europe in the 7th and 8th centuries and again in the 14th and 18th centuries was a violent midwife to Europe.”
Ibrahim referred to the late historian of Islam Bernard Lewis, who said, “We forget that for a thousand years since the advent of Islam from the 7th century to the siege of Vienna in 1683 Christian Europe was under constant threat from Islam, the double threat of conquest and conversion violently wrested from Christendom.” Ibrahim noted that modern historians often fail to acknowledge this simple truth.
He argued that Mohammad's guidance to spread Islam was the motivation behind the Islamic conquests. The only way peace could be achieved was through acceptance of Islam by conversion, enslavement, or paying the jizya — an enormous annual tribute that the caliphate levied on non-Muslims.
Short of these options, a non-believer's only recourse was to fight to the death. Ibrahim quoted what Islamist conqueror Khalid bin Walid said to a Byzantine general before the Battle of Yarmuk in 636 C.E.: “We Arabs are in the habit of drinking blood and we are told the Romans are the sweetest of its kind. Where you love life, we love death.”
Unlike modern historians who identify the various inter-civilizational wars of this age as ethnic and nationalistic, Ibrahim emphasized that the primary sources clearly show that these ongoing battles were manifestations of jihad, inspired by Koranic scripture. He called this tendency “a historic fact that modern day historians censor.”
Ibrahim showed that modern jihadists “belonging to groups such as ISIS are well-versed in Islamic historic military jurisprudence” and the Koran and point to historical precedents to justify their violence and brutality.
At the fall of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed II motivated his jihadists with the same instructions invoked by modern-day ISIS: “Recall the promise of our Prophet regarding fallen warriors in the Koran; the man who falls in combat will be transported bodily to Paradise [and] will dine with Mohammed in the presence of women.”
Next, Ibrahim recounted the American experience with the Islamic Barbary pirates in 1785 and 1786 that attacked U.S. merchant ships and enslaved American sailors. In an effort to ransom the slaves, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams entered negotiations with Abdul Rahman, Tripoli's ambassador to Britain. The American diplomats futilely explained that they “had done them no injury” and “consider all mankind our friends.”
Abdul answered that “it was founded on the laws of their Prophet, written in the Koran that all nations not acknowledging their authority were sinners, that it is their religious right and duty to make slaves of non-believers, and all Muslims slain in battle were sure to go to paradise.” America's conflict with Islam did not begin on 9/11. Rather, it dates back to the time of America's Founders.
To underscore this message, Ibrahim cited Theodore Roosevelt's 1916 book, Fear God and Take Your Part, where the former president pointed out, “If the peoples of Europe in the 7th and 8th centuries, and on up to and including the 17th century, had not possessed a military equality with, and gradually a growing superiority over the Mohammedans who invaded Europe, Europe would at this moment be Mohammedan and the Christian religion would be exterminated.”
The great English statesman Winston Churchill also criticized Islam for institutionalizing slavery. “The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman is the absolute property — either as a child, a wife, or a concubine — must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.”
Ibrahim rhetorically asked, if the violent history of Islam is so well documented, “so ironclad,” then “why don't we know about it?” Older historians who studied Islam unprejudiced by political correctness reached conclusions that no longer comport with what the public is told. Conversely, modern historians get away with academic malpractice by reducing previous Islamic studies scholarship to outdated myths.
This is all part and parcel of what Ibrahim referred to as “propaganda as a form of jihad,” misinformation of which academics and groups such as CAIR are the most vociferous defenders.
Meanwhile, CAIR, an unindicted co-conspirator in the nation's largest terrorism finance trial and an accused Hamas-supporter, engaged in “propaganda jihad “by working to suppress Ibrahim's historical review, a practice consistent with Islamist suppression of different religious beliefs.
In the end, Ibrahim gave Army service members and the community a coherent and fact-driven presentation of Islamic history that everyone in America should hear, one that dispels the many false, politically correct notions about the nature of Islam. It lays bare the inconvenient truth that Islamic ideology is what motivates Muslim jihadists to perpetrate acts of terrorism against non-believers, both domestically and abroad.
Leonard Getz, CPA is the Philadelphia Counter-Islamist Grid research fellow of Middle East Forum and a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the American Thinker, The Algemeiner, PJMedia, The Clarion, The Daily Wire, Lifestyles Magazine, Nostalgia Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Bulletin, the Jewish Exponent, and the Lock Haven Express. He is the author of the book From Broadway to the Bowery.
This article first appeared at the American Thinker. It is published here with the author's permission.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--LGBT ‘Pride’ parade organizers refuse to cancel summer event

BRIGHTON , United Kingdom , March 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — While the UK enters its second week of lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , the organisers of the LGBT Brighton “ Pride ” parade are continuing their plans for the event due to be held in August .
Like many other public events , including the 2020 Olympics , other “ Pride ” events in the UK and around the world have been postponed or cancelled , but at this stage the organisers of the Brighton event say they will “ continue contingency planning and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a safe and successful event , ” and they “ hope the summer brings brighter news so that we can all celebrate our wonderful community . ''
Brighton is unofficially regarded as the “ LGBT capital ” of the UK .
This year ’ s event will be the 30th anniversary of the parade , with international acts Mariah Carey and the Pussycat Dolls scheduled to perform .
UK newspaper The Mirror reported that organisers have faced criticism online for their decision not to cancel the event .
One regular attendee of such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the over-70s and the vulnerable being told to self isolate for three months and emergency services no longer providing support for large events , I think unfortunately it 's time to cancel just for this year … Emergency services won 't have the time to give to organise Pride . ''
The newspaper also reports users on social media questioning the decision to host an event that will see large crowds gathered in close proximity to each other .
One social media user is reported to have commented : “ It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
If it 's to do with money , insurance and contracts etc then shame on the Pride organisers for putting profit and money over the health and safety of people.
” As part of the ongoing lockdown , the British government has ordered all shops , restaurants , parks , gyms , and places of worship to close .
Gatherings of more than two people who do not live in the same household are banned .
The lockdown is due to be reviewed after three weeks , but on Sunday Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for England , suggested that life in the UK may not return to normal for another six months .

The UK's unofficial 'LGBT capital' has so far ignored criticism for not changing its plans in the wake of the global pandemic.
BRIGHTON, United Kingdom, March 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — While the UK enters its second week of lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the organisers of the LGBT Brighton “Pride” parade are continuing their plans for the event due to be held in August.
Like many other public events, including the 2020 Olympics, other “Pride” events in the UK and around the world have been postponed or cancelled, but at this stage the organisers of the Brighton event say they will “continue contingency planning and working with our partner agencies to deliver a safe and successful event,” and they “hope the summer brings brighter news so that we can all celebrate our wonderful community.”
Brighton is unofficially regarded as the “LGBT capital” of the UK. This year’s event will be the 30th anniversary of the parade, with international acts Mariah Carey and the Pussycat Dolls scheduled to perform.
UK newspaper The Mirror reported that organisers have faced criticism online for their decision not to cancel the event.
One regular attendee of such events is reported to have said ”With the over-70s and the vulnerable being told to self isolate for three months and emergency services no longer providing support for large events, I think unfortunately it's time to cancel just for this year … Emergency services won 't have the time to give to organise Pride.”
The newspaper also reports users on social media questioning the decision to host an event that will see large crowds gathered in close proximity to each other.
One social media user is reported to have commented: “It's madness to even consider holding Pride this year. If it's to do with money, insurance and contracts etc then shame on the Pride organisers for putting profit and money over the health and safety of people.”
As part of the ongoing lockdown, the British government has ordered all shops, restaurants, parks, gyms, and places of worship to close. Gatherings of more than two people who do not live in the same household are banned. The lockdown is due to be reviewed after three weeks, but on Sunday Dr. Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, suggested that life in the UK may not return to normal for another six months.
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