lifesitenews--2020-06-12--US Attorney General Barr: Big tech ‘clearly … engaged in censorship’

June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – U.S. Attorney General William Barr backed the calls of President Donald Trump and conservatives to rein in social media companies on Tuesday , agreeing that the likes of Facebook and Twitter are restricting speech like publishers rather than the open forums they claim to be .
“ Clearly , these entities are now engaged in censorship , ” Barr told Fox News ’ Brett Baier in an interview .
And they originally held themselves out as open forums where people , where the third parties could come and express their views , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of eyeballs .
They had a lot of market power based on that presentation.
” “ And now they are acting much more like publishers , ” he explained , “ because they ’ re censoring particular viewpoints and putting their own content in there to diminish the impact of various people ’ s views.
” Pressed about potential remedies , Barr said the administration was “ looking , as many others are , at changing Section 230 ( of the federal Communications Decency Act ) , which is a rule that provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though he acknowledged that changing it would require an act of Congress .
Twitter set off a firestorm last month when it placed a “ fact-check ” on a Trump tweet pertaining to the fraud potential of mail-in voting , then censoring another tweet stating that “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” pertaining to the Minneapolis riots .
The company claimed that the tweet was “ glorifying violence.
” In response , the president signed an executive order aimed at tweaking how federal agencies interpret and enforce Section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being held liable for the third-party content they host .
The order essentially directs the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) to propose an administrative rule that would “ spell out what it means for the tech giants to carry out their takedown policies ‘ in good faith , ’ ” national security attorney Stewart Baker explained .
A more significant modification of the rule , such as language turning the implicit assumption that such platforms would be politically neutral into an explicit prerequisite for immunity , will not make it out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the wish lists of many conservatives for next year , if Trump wins reelection and Republicans keep the Senate while retaking the House of Representatives .
In addition to Twitter , Facebook has a documented history of suppressing conservative content under vague or false pretenses .
Multiple analyses have found that algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites .
Last year , an insider revealed that Facebook “ deboosts ” traffic to several mainstream conservative sites .
Most recently , Facebook has made itself an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmful ” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak , with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the interests of the World Health Organization , which has been accused of covering for the Chinese government ’ s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world .
Though not a social media platform , Amazon has come under similar fire for discriminating against books from conservatives and/or viewpoints perceived to be right-of-center , from banning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for overcoming unwanted homosexual attraction , to most recently temporarily banning a COVID-19 booklet from investigative journalist and lockdown skeptic Alex Berenson .

The Trump administration is looking at ways to rein in the power of companies attempting to silence conservative voices.
PETITION: No to mandatory contact tracing and government surveillance for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – U.S. Attorney General William Barr backed the calls of President Donald Trump and conservatives to rein in social media companies on Tuesday, agreeing that the likes of Facebook and Twitter are restricting speech like publishers rather than the open forums they claim to be.
“Clearly, these entities are now engaged in censorship,” Barr told Fox News’ Brett Baier in an interview. And they originally held themselves out as open forums where people, where the third parties could come and express their views, and they built up a tremendous network of eyeballs. They had a lot of market power based on that presentation.”
“And now they are acting much more like publishers,” he explained, “because they’re censoring particular viewpoints and putting their own content in there to diminish the impact of various people’s views.”
Pressed about potential remedies, Barr said the administration was “looking, as many others are, at changing Section 230 (of the federal Communications Decency Act), which is a rule that provides some protection for these companies,” though he acknowledged that changing it would require an act of Congress.
Twitter set off a firestorm last month when it placed a “fact-check” on a Trump tweet pertaining to the fraud potential of mail-in voting, then censoring another tweet stating that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” pertaining to the Minneapolis riots. The company claimed that the tweet was “glorifying violence.”
In response, the president signed an executive order aimed at tweaking how federal agencies interpret and enforce Section 230, which immunizes websites from potentially being held liable for the third-party content they host. The order essentially directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to propose an administrative rule that would “spell out what it means for the tech giants to carry out their takedown policies ‘in good faith,’” national security attorney Stewart Baker explained.
A more significant modification of the rule, such as language turning the implicit assumption that such platforms would be politically neutral into an explicit prerequisite for immunity, will not make it out of the current Congress, but is high on the wish lists of many conservatives for next year, if Trump wins reelection and Republicans keep the Senate while retaking the House of Representatives.
In addition to Twitter, Facebook has a documented history of suppressing conservative content under vague or false pretenses. Multiple analyses have found that algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites. Last year, an insider revealed that Facebook “deboosts” traffic to several mainstream conservative sites.
Most recently, Facebook has made itself an arbiter of “misinformation” and “harmful” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak, with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the interests of the World Health Organization, which has been accused of covering for the Chinese government’s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world.
Though not a social media platform, Amazon has come under similar fire for discriminating against books from conservatives and/or viewpoints perceived to be right-of-center, from banning the sale of books that promote reparative therapy for overcoming unwanted homosexual attraction, to most recently temporarily banning a COVID-19 booklet from investigative journalist and lockdown skeptic Alex Berenson.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--Pope Francis, Italian bishop join interfaith coronavirus project that calls borders ‘irrelevant’

June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pope Francis and Italian Bishop Domenico Sorrentino have taken part in an interreligious video project which describes borders as “ more and more irrelevant ” and calls on all people to come together in response to the coronavirus .
The “ Coronaspection ” project , produced by The Elijah Interfaith Institute , features more than 30 different religious leaders from various faiths and stresses that “ everything is interconnected.
” The trailer for the project opens with a clip from Pope Francis ’ March “ Ubi et Orbi ” speech , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clips of leaders of various faith communities reflecting on the coronavirus crisis .
The Elijah Interfaith Institute , with which Pope Francis has worked before on interfaith projects , says that the pontiff “ sent a message of support and contribution for the ‘ coronaspection ’ project , based on his ongoing daily teaching.
” Their website also includes a link to a video featuring a collection of his recent reflections on the coronavirus .
“ Corona has given this little idea for us to stop and think .
Corona is saying : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” a collection of religious leaders say .
“ This is an opportunity to understand our interconnection .
Brotherhood of humanity is a scientific fact , ” the video continues .
The video also features Yahya Cholil Staquf , secretary general of one of the world ’ s largest Muslim organizations , the Nahdlatul Ulama Supreme Council in Indonesia , saying that “ physical and social quarters are becoming more and more irrelevant.
” At another moment in the video one of the religious leaders can be heard saying “ everything is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Italy has also contributed to the “ Coronaspection ” project , recording an hour-long interview with The Elijah Interfaith Institute ’ s Executive Director Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein .
The Elijah Interfaith Institute receives funding from a variety of international groups , including the U.N. agency Unesco and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund .
They say that their mission is to “ foster unity in diversity , creating a harmonious world.
” Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI also took part in interreligious events organized by The Elijah Interfaith Institute .
Cardinal Christoph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board of Christian leaders .
Catholic prelates such as Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò , Cardinal Raymond Burke , and Bishop Athanasius Schneider have criticized the Pope ’ s approach to interreligious affairs , which has included the Vatican pushing for a global pact , that will , in the words of Pope Francis , “ create a new humanism , ” and the Abu Dhabi statement which claims that the “ pluralism and the diversity of religions ” is “ willed by God .
”

June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis and Italian Bishop Domenico Sorrentino have taken part in an interreligious video project which describes borders as “more and more irrelevant” and calls on all people to come together in response to the coronavirus.
The “Coronaspection” project, produced by The Elijah Interfaith Institute, features more than 30 different religious leaders from various faiths and stresses that “everything is interconnected.”
The trailer for the project opens with a clip from Pope Francis’ March “Ubi et Orbi” speech, and is followed by a series of video clips of leaders of various faith communities reflecting on the coronavirus crisis.
The Elijah Interfaith Institute, with which Pope Francis has worked before on interfaith projects, says that the pontiff “sent a message of support and contribution for the ‘coronaspection’ project, based on his ongoing daily teaching.” Their website also includes a link to a video featuring a collection of his recent reflections on the coronavirus.
“Corona has given this little idea for us to stop and think. Corona is saying: ‘all of humanity is one,’” a collection of religious leaders say.
“This is an opportunity to understand our interconnection. Brotherhood of humanity is a scientific fact,” the video continues.
The video also features Yahya Cholil Staquf, secretary general of one of the world’s largest Muslim organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama Supreme Council in Indonesia, saying that “physical and social quarters are becoming more and more irrelevant.”
At another moment in the video one of the religious leaders can be heard saying “everything is interconnected.”
Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi in Italy has also contributed to the “Coronaspection” project, recording an hour-long interview with The Elijah Interfaith Institute’s Executive Director Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein.
The Elijah Interfaith Institute receives funding from a variety of international groups, including the U.N. agency Unesco and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. They say that their mission is to “foster unity in diversity, creating a harmonious world.” Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI also took part in interreligious events organized by The Elijah Interfaith Institute. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn is on the institute’s board of Christian leaders.
Catholic prelates such as Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, Cardinal Raymond Burke, and Bishop Athanasius Schneider have criticized the Pope’s approach to interreligious affairs, which has included the Vatican pushing for a global pact, that will, in the words of Pope Francis, “create a new humanism,” and the Abu Dhabi statement which claims that the “pluralism and the diversity of religions” is “willed by God.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--We’re being ‘persecuted’: Catholic dad calls out Cardinal Cupich for severely restricting sacraments

CHICAGO , Illinois , June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Catholic dad in Illinois , dismayed over Cardinal Blase Cupich placing severe post-pandemic restrictions on the resumption of public Masses in the Archdiocese of Chicago , has launched a public campaign to have churches fully reopened .
Joe Lazar , a father and pro-life activist , has launched a campaign called “ Reopen my Church.
” “ Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago are being persecuted by our local leadership in an unprecedented fashion , ” Lazar said to LifeSiteNews , pointing out that it is Cardinal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the severe restrictions that , in effect , result in the faithful being denied the Sacraments .
“ Cardinal Cupich has ignored nearly every attempt by credible Catholic leaders in Illinois to dialogue further on the subject , ” Lazar said , adding that “ if action is not taken , it is a matter of time before reverent devotion in the densely Catholic city of Chicago will be dissolved ” and will become an “ unrecognizable practice.
” A petition that Lazar launched online states : “ The Catholic Mass must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores and pharmacies as soon as possible !
Please let your bishops know that you can not quietly accept the ‘ inessential ’ status of the Sacraments in Illinois by signing this petition.
” “ As many in the world today grapple with concern over death , Catholics are unable to receive that which our Lord Himself stated is necessary for eternal life , ” the petition , which can still be signed online , states .
“ The decision to extinguish the Sacraments , while nearly every material good remains available , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This goes against everything the Catholic Church has taught us regarding the Sacraments , ” the petition continued .
Addressed to the auxiliary bishops in the archdiocese of Chicago , the petition concluded with a number of questions : The petition urged Catholics “ to trust in Jesus Christ , regardless of what it might cost us as individuals.
” In a video , Lazar recounted how events in the state of Illinois , as well as in the archdiocese of Chicago , unfolded amid the coronavirus pandemic .
On March 20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his stay-at-home order , “ Pursuant to current guidance from the CDC , any gathering of more than ten people is prohibited unless exempted by this Executive Order.
” Since religious services were not mentioned in the document , public Masses , albeit with only a very small congregation , would still have been possible .
Cupich had not only suspended public Masses , however .
He also told his priests that all baptisms “ must be postponed.
” Even “ emergency ” baptisms , where the child is in danger of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the local ordinary .
Already on April 22 , several Catholic leaders had asked Cupich in a letter “ to get back to a real , present Mass and to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
” “ In some dioceses parking lot Masses have been authorized .
Many of our churches are large enough that we could easily follow the social distancing protocols and advise those at greater risk to refrain from attendance , ” they pointed out .
“ Perhaps you have a plan in mind already , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week later , on April 30 , Catholics in the Windy City formed the St. Charles Borromeo Society for the purpose of reopening the churches in the archdiocese .
Cardinal Cupich refused to meet with the group , letting his flock know that “ after careful review and consideration , the Cardinal regrets that this is not an opportune time for such a meeting.
” Joseph Scheidler , one of the Catholic leaders who had sent the letter on April 22 , asked , “ When would be an opportune time ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership during this pandemic and that is sorely lacking in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
” On May 13 , Cardinal Cupich published his guidelines for reopening Catholic parishes .
“ Phase I allows for parishes to reopen for Baptism , Reconciliation , Weddings and Funerals with a limit of 10 attendees , ” Cupich declared .
“ Phase IA allows for parishes to reopen for private prayer and adoration with a limit of 10 attendees .
Given the training schedule noted above , it is anticipated that all parishes , if they choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by May 23 for Phase I and by May 30 for Phase IA.
” Most parishes are currently in Phase IA .
For those parishes to move on to Phase II , which would allow for the resumption of public Masses , they would have to “ apply for certification to offer daily and Sunday Mass.
” Parishes are required to prepare and submit “ a detailed proposal for implementing Phase II , ” including maintaining “ an on-going procurement program for safety and cleaning supplies ” and developing “ logistical procedures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manage more frequent and larger services that cover actions before , during and after the rites.
” Very few parishes have implemented Phase II , according to the video .
During Phase II , the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue , the traditional practice of the Church , is banned .
Lisa Bergman , one of the founders of the St. Charles Borromeo Society , wholeheartedly rejected the guidelines , saying Cupich ’ s remarks were laced with “ secular wisdom.
” “ Cardinal Cupich has blithely yielded the Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her worship to laws of man which are being successfully challenged by other denominations , ” she said .
“ In doing so , he replaces what has been heroically defended for thousands of years with the absurd perception that the Mass and the Sacraments are less necessary and more potentially dangerous than grocery stores , gas stations , hardware stores , take-out restaurants , laundries , the postal service , and construction trades , all of which are having no trouble observing CDC regulations.
” “ This monstrous triple betrayal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end , normalizes the narrative that the Church is secondary and must abase itself as though it were merely a place of recreation , ” Bergman added .
Meanwhile , already on May 2 , several pastors ministering to Romanian Christian congregations in the Chicago area had told Governor Pritzker that they were going to defy his executive order limiting religious gatherings to only ten people .
“ Please be advised that , beginning on May 10 , 2020 , our congregations will resume in-person church gatherings , and we will no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other unconstitutional restrictions comprised within your orders , ” the pastors wrote .
Governor Pritzer , in turn , was forced to remove all restrictions on religious services following various lawsuits .
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , who was nominated by President Donald Trump , ordered Pritzker to respond to one particular lawsuit by May 28 .
Before that deadline , Pritzker issued new non-mandatory guidelines for churches and other places of worship .
The guidelines continued to recommend social distancing , face masks , and limited attendance , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close physical contact , but church leaders were free to implement them as they saw fit .
In spite of Pritzker ’ s new guidelines , the archdiocese of Chicago under Cardinal Cupich has failed to update his plan for the resumption of public Masses .
As lay Catholics , led by Joe Lazar , said in their petition , “ Essentially , a shorter earthly life with an undying devotion to the Lord through the Sacraments is more essential than a longer life , which is void of a metaphysical reality .
@

Cardinal Cupich has restricted access to sacraments, even though the governor of Illinois allowed public Masses without any mandatory restrictions at the end of May.
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock! Sign the petition here.
CHICAGO, Illinois, June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Catholic dad in Illinois, dismayed over Cardinal Blase Cupich placing severe post-pandemic restrictions on the resumption of public Masses in the Archdiocese of Chicago, has launched a public campaign to have churches fully reopened.
Joe Lazar, a father and pro-life activist, has launched a campaign called “Reopen my Church.”
“Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago are being persecuted by our local leadership in an unprecedented fashion,” Lazar said to LifeSiteNews, pointing out that it is Cardinal Blase Cupich who is ultimately responsible for the severe restrictions that, in effect, result in the faithful being denied the Sacraments.
“Cardinal Cupich has ignored nearly every attempt by credible Catholic leaders in Illinois to dialogue further on the subject,” Lazar said, adding that “if action is not taken, it is a matter of time before reverent devotion in the densely Catholic city of Chicago will be dissolved” and will become an “unrecognizable practice.”
A petition that Lazar launched online states: “The Catholic Mass must be restored to a level commensurate with grocery stores and pharmacies as soon as possible! Please let your bishops know that you cannot quietly accept the ‘inessential’ status of the Sacraments in Illinois by signing this petition.”
“As many in the world today grapple with concern over death, Catholics are unable to receive that which our Lord Himself stated is necessary for eternal life,” the petition, which can still be signed online, states.
“The decision to extinguish the Sacraments, while nearly every material good remains available, renders the Sacraments inessential by default. This goes against everything the Catholic Church has taught us regarding the Sacraments,” the petition continued.
Addressed to the auxiliary bishops in the archdiocese of Chicago, the petition concluded with a number of questions:
Are the Sacraments essential, or not? Are we willing to be misunderstood, shamed, and even persecuted by society for our devotion to Jesus Christ? Will we accept the fact that our elected state leaders have clearly made material goods essential and constitutionally protected religious practice inessential, and even, potentially punishable? Will we use this time as an opportunity for bold evangelization through personal witness, or choose to quietly capitulate?
The petition urged Catholics “to trust in Jesus Christ, regardless of what it might cost us as individuals.”
In a video, Lazar recounted how events in the state of Illinois, as well as in the archdiocese of Chicago, unfolded amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Cardinal Cupich had suspended all public Masses beginning March 14.
On March 20, Governor Pritzer, a Democrat, stated in his stay-at-home order, “Pursuant to current guidance from the CDC, any gathering of more than ten people is prohibited unless exempted by this Executive Order.” Since religious services were not mentioned in the document, public Masses, albeit with only a very small congregation, would still have been possible.
Cupich had not only suspended public Masses, however. He also told his priests that all baptisms “must be postponed.” Even “emergency” baptisms, where the child is in danger of death, required the “permission” of the local ordinary.
Already on April 22, several Catholic leaders had asked Cupich in a letter “to get back to a real, present Mass and to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”
“In some dioceses parking lot Masses have been authorized. Many of our churches are large enough that we could easily follow the social distancing protocols and advise those at greater risk to refrain from attendance,” they pointed out.
“Perhaps you have a plan in mind already,” the Catholic leaders were hopeful.
Just over a week later, on April 30, Catholics in the Windy City formed the St. Charles Borromeo Society for the purpose of reopening the churches in the archdiocese.
Cardinal Cupich refused to meet with the group, letting his flock know that “after careful review and consideration, the Cardinal regrets that this is not an opportune time for such a meeting.”
Joseph Scheidler, one of the Catholic leaders who had sent the letter on April 22, asked, “When would be an opportune time? We are desperately in need of spiritual leadership during this pandemic and that is sorely lacking in the Archdiocese of Chicago.”
On May 13, Cardinal Cupich published his guidelines for reopening Catholic parishes.
“Phase I allows for parishes to reopen for Baptism, Reconciliation, Weddings and Funerals with a limit of 10 attendees,” Cupich declared. “Phase IA allows for parishes to reopen for private prayer and adoration with a limit of 10 attendees. Given the training schedule noted above, it is anticipated that all parishes, if they choose to do so, could be opened by May 23 for Phase I and by May 30 for Phase IA.”
Most parishes are currently in Phase IA. For those parishes to move on to Phase II, which would allow for the resumption of public Masses, they would have to “apply for certification to offer daily and Sunday Mass.”
Parishes are required to prepare and submit “a detailed proposal for implementing Phase II,” including maintaining “an on-going procurement program for safety and cleaning supplies” and developing “logistical procedures in accord with the guidelines of the Plan to manage more frequent and larger services that cover actions before, during and after the rites.”
Very few parishes have implemented Phase II, according to the video. During Phase II, the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue, the traditional practice of the Church, is banned.
Lisa Bergman, one of the founders of the St. Charles Borromeo Society, wholeheartedly rejected the guidelines, saying Cupich’s remarks were laced with “secular wisdom.”
“Cardinal Cupich has blithely yielded the Authority of the Church and subjugated the primacy of her worship to laws of man which are being successfully challenged by other denominations,” she said.
“In doing so, he replaces what has been heroically defended for thousands of years with the absurd perception that the Mass and the Sacraments are less necessary and more potentially dangerous than grocery stores, gas stations, hardware stores, take-out restaurants, laundries, the postal service, and construction trades, all of which are having no trouble observing CDC regulations.”
“This monstrous triple betrayal of Christ and His Church, from beginning to end, normalizes the narrative that the Church is secondary and must abase itself as though it were merely a place of recreation,” Bergman added.
Meanwhile, already on May 2, several pastors ministering to Romanian Christian congregations in the Chicago area had told Governor Pritzker that they were going to defy his executive order limiting religious gatherings to only ten people.
“Please be advised that, beginning on May 10, 2020, our congregations will resume in-person church gatherings, and we will no longer adhere to the 10-person limit or the other unconstitutional restrictions comprised within your orders,” the pastors wrote.
Governor Pritzer, in turn, was forced to remove all restrictions on religious services following various lawsuits. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, ordered Pritzker to respond to one particular lawsuit by May 28.
Before that deadline, Pritzker issued new non-mandatory guidelines for churches and other places of worship. The guidelines continued to recommend social distancing, face masks, and limited attendance, as well as excluding singing, refreshments, and close physical contact, but church leaders were free to implement them as they saw fit.
In spite of Pritzker’s new guidelines, the archdiocese of Chicago under Cardinal Cupich has failed to update his plan for the resumption of public Masses.
As lay Catholics, led by Joe Lazar, said in their petition, “Essentially, a shorter earthly life with an undying devotion to the Lord through the Sacraments is more essential than a longer life, which is void of a metaphysical reality.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--Undercover exposé shows anti-Trump protest group admitting to receiving Soros funds

PETITION : Yes to reform .
No to riots & revolution !
Sign the petition here .
UNITED STATES , June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A new video from Project Veritas shows an “ anti-fascist ” group , whose main aim is to take down the Trump administration , admitting to having received funding from globalist billionaire George Soros .
Tee Stern , head of the Atlanta chapter of Refuse Fascism , told an undercover journalist that their organization had received funds from Soros when it was focused on hosting events in support of abortionists .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soros at one point , a long time ago when I was doing more abortion rights and defending clinics , ” Stern said .
“ We actually did get a grant from them [ Soros ] around – we started a thing called a National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers.
” In the same recorded interview Stern spoke of the group ’ s aim to topple the Trump administration through street protests .
“ The ultimate vision is to…for people to break with their comfort and come into the streets day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands , into the millions : and not leave until they have to step down , ” Stern said .
“ The main about this , is that we see that this is not going to happen through ‘ normal channels ’ because we are living in abnormal times , and the way we see this is that there is going to be a need for thousands of people and then millions , to come into the streets , and demand that the Trump-Pence regime must go.
” Explaining the crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization , Stern explained : “ Look , we are not going to reach millions without millions .
That ’ s just straight up .
We are not going to do it .
We need millions of dollars to reach millions of people.
” The Project Veritas video also includes footage of an undercover journalist meeting with Refuse Fascism ’ s national organizer , Andy Zee , talking of his goal to turn major American cities into centers of “ non-violent demonstrations ” that “ [ dominate ] the national news ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Project Veritas has likened Refuse Fascism to the militant far-left group Antifa , which Trump has announced he will declare as a terrorist organization .
The group is believed to have played a key role in the wave of violent riots following the death of George Floyd .
Refuse Fascism insists that they are a distinct group from Antifa , but the two groups have cooperated at protest events in the past .
Last week Project Veritas released undercover footage from Antifa fight-schools where instructors encouraged students to “ practice things like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conflict situations in terms of “ destroying your enemy .
”

'There is going to be a need for thousands of people and then millions, to come into the streets, and demand that the Trump-Pence regime must go.'
PETITION: Yes to reform. No to riots & revolution! Sign the petition here.
UNITED STATES, June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A new video from Project Veritas shows an “anti-fascist” group, whose main aim is to take down the Trump administration, admitting to having received funding from globalist billionaire George Soros.
Tee Stern, head of the Atlanta chapter of Refuse Fascism, told an undercover journalist that their organization had received funds from Soros when it was focused on hosting events in support of abortionists.
“We did apply for a grant from Soros at one point, a long time ago when I was doing more abortion rights and defending clinics,” Stern said.
“We actually did get a grant from them [Soros] around – we started a thing called a National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers.”
In the same recorded interview Stern spoke of the group’s aim to topple the Trump administration through street protests.
“The ultimate vision is to…for people to break with their comfort and come into the streets day after day, night after night into the hundreds of thousands, into the millions: and not leave until they have to step down,” Stern said.
“The main about this, is that we see that this is not going to happen through ‘normal channels’ because we are living in abnormal times, and the way we see this is that there is going to be a need for thousands of people and then millions, to come into the streets, and demand that the Trump-Pence regime must go.”
Explaining the crucial role that major funding plays for the organization, Stern explained: “Look, we are not going to reach millions without millions. That’s just straight up. We are not going to do it. We need millions of dollars to reach millions of people.”
The Project Veritas video also includes footage of an undercover journalist meeting with Refuse Fascism’s national organizer, Andy Zee, talking of his goal to turn major American cities into centers of “non-violent demonstrations” that “[dominate] the national news” and act as a “very disruptive force.”
Project Veritas has likened Refuse Fascism to the militant far-left group Antifa, which Trump has announced he will declare as a terrorist organization. The group is believed to have played a key role in the wave of violent riots following the death of George Floyd. Refuse Fascism insists that they are a distinct group from Antifa, but the two groups have cooperated at protest events in the past.
Last week Project Veritas released undercover footage from Antifa fight-schools where instructors encouraged students to “practice things like an eye gouge” and to think of conflict situations in terms of “destroying your enemy.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--Conservative leadership candidate Sloan promises to ban funding abortion abroad if elected

ONTARIO , June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pro-life Conservative Party of Canada ( CPC ) leadership candidate and member of Parliament ( M.P . )
Derek Sloan said boldly on social media Tuesday that abortion is “ not health care ” in response to news that the Canadian government will use taxpayer money to fund abortions abroad .
“ Abortion is not health care .
I will end all Canadian funding for abortion in foreign countries and redirect that money to make sure seniors receive proper care here in Canada , ” said Sloan on Twitter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a Global News report regarding an announcement Tuesday that the Canadian government , under pro-abortion prime minister Justin Trudeau , will fund $ 8.9 million of taxpayer money to international abortion organizations .
The majority portion of the funding , $ 4.9 million , will go to Marie Stopes International , which is a global organization that provides contraception and abortions in 37 countries .
LifeSiteNews reached out to Sloan asking him to expand on his June 9 Twitter message .
He replied by saying again that “ pregnancy is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handout ” for abortions abroad should be used for senior care instead .
“ Abortion is not health care because pregnancy is not a disease .
The $ 8.9 million handout from the Trudeau Liberals is just part of the $ 850 million per year they devote to abortions in other countries , ” Sloan told LifeSiteNews .
“ I know a majority of Canadians will support redirecting that money to care for our seniors that have been grossly neglected by the LTC system as revealed in recent news reports . ''
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose profile identifies him as a rural medical doctor , replied to Sloan saying he should stop trying to “ to turn clicks into votes.
” “ Fortunately , abortion as an essential health service is something doctors & patients decide on , not uninformed MPs trying to turn clicks into votes on a doomed leadership run .
When was the last time your work served your riding instead of your Lil ' Stephen Miller brand ?
” said @ DocMCohen .
Another Twitter user with the handle @ Elise_ekd , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocate , accused Sloan of promoting the “ death of women ” for his comments .
“ Well then — you are actually supporting the death of women .
History has shown that women will seek and get abortions .
Safely .
Or not , ” said the user .
There were also Twitter users who supported Sloan .
Campaign Life Coalition ( CLC ) ’ s political operations director , Jack Fonseca , replied to Sloan ’ s tweet with a positive message , saying taxpayer money should not be used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent of Canadian taxpayer money should be funneled to kill black babies in Africa .
Our racist Prime Minister should be ashamed of himself .
Thank you , Derek !
” said Fonseca on Twitter .
The Twitter user with the handle @ ticknor_donald and who identifies himself as an “ Executive member in the Conservative Party of Canada , Legion Sergeant-at-Arms , ” tweeted a reply to Sloan with an image of a baby saying , “ Abortion is Murder !
” “ I have a child I love , so my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approximation ) of people that get abortions Pregnant woman are not rape victims .
Rape is the favourite argument used to advocate abortions .
Babies in the womb have a central nervous system , hence , they feel all the pain when murdered , ” said @ ticknor_donald .
As part of his platform , Sloan published a 12-point pro-life plan .
He recently spoke about his proposals with CLC ’ s Fonseca as part of the 2020 Virtual March for Life .
Sloan ’ s plan includes a ban on sex-selective abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom of conscience for health care workers , and a review of the current euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation .
Last week , Sloan came under fire for saying Trudeau is legislating “ child abuse ” with Bill C-8 , which , if passed , would prohibit parents from seeking to help their children overcome gender confusion .
This remark prompted former M.P.
, Cabinet minister , and CPC leadership candidate Peter MacKay to blast Sloan ’ s position on Bill C8 as “ reprehensible.
” Sloan fired back , noticing that MacKay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trudeau ’ s communications director .
The CPC will be hosting its first round of leadership debates on June 17 ( French debate ) and the English debate on June 18 in Toronto .
The debates will be live-streamed at the CPC website conservative.ca starting at 7 P.M .
ET and will be moderated by the Leadership Election Organizing Committee ( LEOC ) co-chairs , Dan Nowlan and former M.P .
Lisa Raitt .

ONTARIO, June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Pro-life Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership candidate and member of Parliament (M.P.) Derek Sloan said boldly on social media Tuesday that abortion is “not health care” in response to news that the Canadian government will use taxpayer money to fund abortions abroad.
“Abortion is not health care. I will end all Canadian funding for abortion in foreign countries and redirect that money to make sure seniors receive proper care here in Canada,” said Sloan on Twitter.
Sloan tweeted his message with a link to a Global News report regarding an announcement Tuesday that the Canadian government, under pro-abortion prime minister Justin Trudeau, will fund $8.9 million of taxpayer money to international abortion organizations.
The majority portion of the funding, $4.9 million, will go to Marie Stopes International, which is a global organization that provides contraception and abortions in 37 countries.
LifeSiteNews reached out to Sloan asking him to expand on his June 9 Twitter message. He replied by saying again that “pregnancy is not a disease” and that the Trudeau “handout” for abortions abroad should be used for senior care instead.
“Abortion is not health care because pregnancy is not a disease. The $8.9 million handout from the Trudeau Liberals is just part of the $850 million per year they devote to abortions in other countries,” Sloan told LifeSiteNews.
“I know a majority of Canadians will support redirecting that money to care for our seniors that have been grossly neglected by the LTC system as revealed in recent news reports.”
Sloan’s June 9 tweet received both positive and negative replies.
One person with the Twitter handle @DocMCohen, whose profile identifies him as a rural medical doctor, replied to Sloan saying he should stop trying to “to turn clicks into votes.”
“Fortunately, abortion as an essential health service is something doctors & patients decide on, not uninformed MPs trying to turn clicks into votes on a doomed leadership run. When was the last time your work served your riding instead of your Lil' Stephen Miller brand?” said @DocMCohen.
Another Twitter user with the handle @Elise_ekd, who claims to be a health and education advocate, accused Sloan of promoting the “death of women” for his comments.
“Well then — you are actually supporting the death of women. History has shown that women will seek and get abortions. Safely. Or not,” said the user.
There were also Twitter users who supported Sloan.
Campaign Life Coalition (CLC)’s political operations director, Jack Fonseca, replied to Sloan’s tweet with a positive message, saying taxpayer money should not be used to fund abortions.
“Not one red cent of Canadian taxpayer money should be funneled to kill black babies in Africa. Our racist Prime Minister should be ashamed of himself. Thank you, Derek!” said Fonseca on Twitter.
The Twitter user with the handle @ticknor_donald and who identifies himself as an “Executive member in the Conservative Party of Canada, Legion Sergeant-at-Arms,” tweeted a reply to Sloan with an image of a baby saying, “Abortion is Murder!”
“I have a child I love, so my words have value. 99% (approximation) of people that get abortions Pregnant woman are not rape victims. Rape is the favourite argument used to advocate abortions. Babies in the womb have a central nervous system, hence, they feel all the pain when murdered,” said @ticknor_donald.
As part of his platform, Sloan published a 12-point pro-life plan. He recently spoke about his proposals with CLC’s Fonseca as part of the 2020 Virtual March for Life.
Sloan’s plan includes a ban on sex-selective abortion, a ban on partial-birth abortion, freedom of conscience for health care workers, and a review of the current euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation.
Last week, Sloan came under fire for saying Trudeau is legislating “child abuse” with Bill C-8, which, if passed, would prohibit parents from seeking to help their children overcome gender confusion.
This remark prompted former M.P., Cabinet minister, and CPC leadership candidate Peter MacKay to blast Sloan’s position on Bill C8 as “reprehensible.” Sloan fired back , noticing that MacKay’s language mirrored similar condemnations from Trudeau’s communications director.
The CPC will be hosting its first round of leadership debates on June 17 (French debate) and the English debate on June 18 in Toronto.
The debates will be live-streamed at the CPC website conservative.ca starting at 7 P.M. ET and will be moderated by the Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) co-chairs, Dan Nowlan and former M.P. Lisa Raitt.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united in praying the rosary together , at the same time , every day at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
To date , Catholics from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as other countries , have been joining in .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we can shape history , change the world , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--Polish president makes re-election promise to protect kids from LGBT propaganda

WARSAW , Poland , June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― The Polish president has pledged to protect children from the LGBT agenda .
President Andrzej Duda , 48 , is running for re-election on June 28 .
His campaign includes a “ Family Card ” listing his many pro-family policies .
The manifesto includes a subheading called “ Protection of children from LGBT ideology.
” This section promises “ an end to ideological LGBT propaganda in public institutions ” and “ the right of parents to decide in what spirit to shape their children.
” It includes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for the sexual education of their children ” and expresses support for “ the parents ’ decisive influence on the form and substance of optional classes in schools . ''
It also offers “ help for families who want to homeschool.
” In other sections , the “ Family Card ” pledges financial support for families , help for senior citizens , and help for single parents .
On June 10 , President Duda told supporters that the family is crucial to Poland and that the traditional definition of marriage will prevail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the state , ” he said .
“ The family protects and builds society.
” “ Our identity has helped us to weather the toughest times in childhood .
The Polish family has preserved our values .
The family is a special value , which demands special protection from the state .
...
Marriage is a relationship between women and men , and so it will remain.
” Leading Polish pro-life activist Jacek Kotula , a councilor for the Karpackie region in the southeastern city of Rzeszów , told LifeSiteNews that Duda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Duda is a very religious man and will never sign a law for LGBT , ” Kotula said .
“ There is a fight going on for the future of the Polish people , for the souls of the young generation of Poles .
President Duda supports , just like the majority of Poles , the traditional form of the family.
” DROP Disney+ : New teen film 'Out ' features openly homosexual main character !
Sign the petition here .
In contrast , Duda ’ s principal rival for the presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 48 , is known for promoting the LGBT agenda .
As mayor , he has already introduced progressive sexual education in some Warsaw schools .
“ Trzaskowski is the left wing of the centrist PO [ Civic Platform ] party , ” journalist Krystian Kratiuk told LifeSiteNews .
“ As the Mayor of Warsaw he has done a lot for the LGBT agenda , including signing the ‘ LGBT Card ’ that provided gay people with special hostels , entry to schools with their sex education , tolerance programs , and so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Card got its name as a form of opposition to Trzaskowski ’ s LGBT Card and that Duda ’ s PiS ( Law and Justice ) wants to polarize public opinion on the family issue .
“ This is a clever and good move , ” he added .
“ The Family Card assumes financial social support for families , but also contains a declaration that marriage is always a relationship between a man and a woman only .
This is also written in the Polish constitution , which every president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duda needs the support of social conservatives because there is “ growing dissatisfaction ” with people in power , thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic .
But surveys show that he is doing better in the polls than LGBT activist Trzaskowski .
The majority of Poles are not interested in what some politicians have called a “ foreign ideology.
” “ Of course , today the Left is raging , claiming that Duda has signed a ‘ homophobic card , ’ ” Kratiuk remarked .
“ But nobody except the left wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistle ] ‘ homophobia ’ ; certainly not the ‘ undecided ’ voters.
” Jacek Kotula told LifeSiteNews that most Poles wholeheartedly agree with Duda ’ s proposals and that Trzaskowski is supported in large cities where people are less religious .
But Duda still has to convince the pro-life voters disappointed by the ruling PiS party ’ s foot-dragging over the citizens ’ bill banning eugenic abortion .
Filip Mazurczak , a Polish-American translator and journalist living in Kraków , told LifeSiteNews that Duda is also being challenged from the opposite direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social conservatism card now in order to get the voters of Krzysztof Bosak , or at least get Bosak to endorse him in the second round , ” Mazurczak said .
“ Bosak 's been doing surprisingly well in the polls , most of which put him in fourth place.
” Bosak , 38 , a traditional Catholic skeptical of the European Union ’ s leadership , represents the nationalist Ruch Naradowy ( National Movement ) party .
Marczurak agrees that the great majority of Poles are antithetical to the LGBT agenda , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27.2 % support same-sex “ marriage.
” Whereas 75.8 % have no problem with civil partnerships for heterosexual couples , 50 % oppose them for same-sex couples .
In addition , 73.1 % of Poles are against same-sex couples ’ adopting children ; only 16.7 % support the practice .

President Andrzej Duda told supporters that the family is crucial to Poland and that the traditional definition of marriage will prevail.
WARSAW, Poland, June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― The Polish president has pledged to protect children from the LGBT agenda.
President Andrzej Duda, 48, is running for re-election on June 28. His campaign includes a “Family Card” listing his many pro-family policies. The manifesto includes a subheading called “Protection of children from LGBT ideology.”
This section promises “an end to ideological LGBT propaganda in public institutions” and “the right of parents to decide in what spirit to shape their children.” It includes a belief that “parents above all are responsible for the sexual education of their children” and expresses support for “the parents’ decisive influence on the form and substance of optional classes in schools.”
It also offers “help for families who want to homeschool.”
In other sections, the “Family Card” pledges financial support for families, help for senior citizens, and help for single parents.
On June 10, President Duda told supporters that the family is crucial to Poland and that the traditional definition of marriage will prevail.
“The family deserves special support from the state,” he said. “The family protects and builds society.”
“Our identity has helped us to weather the toughest times in childhood. The Polish family has preserved our values. The family is a special value, which demands special protection from the state. … Marriage is a relationship between women and men, and so it will remain.”
Leading Polish pro-life activist Jacek Kotula, a councilor for the Karpackie region in the southeastern city of Rzeszów, told LifeSiteNews that Duda is sincere in his pro-family beliefs.
“Duda is a very religious man and will never sign a law for LGBT,” Kotula said.
“There is a fight going on for the future of the Polish people, for the souls of the young generation of Poles. President Duda supports, just like the majority of Poles, the traditional form of the family.”
DROP Disney+: New teen film 'Out' features openly homosexual main character! Sign the petition here.
In contrast, Duda’s principal rival for the presidency, Warsaw’s Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, 48, is known for promoting the LGBT agenda. As mayor, he has already introduced progressive sexual education in some Warsaw schools.
“Trzaskowski is the left wing of the centrist PO [Civic Platform] party,” journalist Krystian Kratiuk told LifeSiteNews.
“As the Mayor of Warsaw he has done a lot for the LGBT agenda, including signing the ‘LGBT Card’ that provided gay people with special hostels, entry to schools with their sex education, tolerance programs, and so on.”
Kratiuk said that the Family Card got its name as a form of opposition to Trzaskowski’s LGBT Card and that Duda’s PiS (Law and Justice) wants to polarize public opinion on the family issue.
“This is a clever and good move,” he added.
“The Family Card assumes financial social support for families, but also contains a declaration that marriage is always a relationship between a man and a woman only. This is also written in the Polish constitution, which every president of the country should guard.”
Kratiuk believes that Duda needs the support of social conservatives because there is “growing dissatisfaction” with people in power, thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. But surveys show that he is doing better in the polls than LGBT activist Trzaskowski. The majority of Poles are not interested in what some politicians have called a “foreign ideology.”
“Of course, today the Left is raging, claiming that Duda has signed a ‘homophobic card,’” Kratiuk remarked.
“But nobody except the left wing in Poland cares about the [dog whistle] ‘homophobia’; certainly not the ‘undecided’ voters.”
Jacek Kotula told LifeSiteNews that most Poles wholeheartedly agree with Duda’s proposals and that Trzaskowski is supported in large cities where people are less religious.
But Duda still has to convince the pro-life voters disappointed by the ruling PiS party’s foot-dragging over the citizens’ bill banning eugenic abortion. Filip Mazurczak, a Polish-American translator and journalist living in Kraków, told LifeSiteNews that Duda is also being challenged from the opposite direction.
“Duda may be playing the social conservatism card now in order to get the voters of Krzysztof Bosak, or at least get Bosak to endorse him in the second round,” Mazurczak said.
“Bosak's been doing surprisingly well in the polls, most of which put him in fourth place.”
Bosak, 38, a traditional Catholic skeptical of the European Union’s leadership, represents the nationalist Ruch Naradowy (National Movement) party.
Marczurak agrees that the great majority of Poles are antithetical to the LGBT agenda, pointing to surveys that show that only 27.2% support same-sex “marriage.” Whereas 75.8% have no problem with civil partnerships for heterosexual couples, 50% oppose them for same-sex couples. In addition, 73.1% of Poles are against same-sex couples’ adopting children; only 16.7% support the practice.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--Liberty Univ. stayed open, finished semester with no coronavirus cases: Live updates

LifeSite ’ s previous ( and future ) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE .
The Western Journal reports that Liberty University “ says it finished its semester without any coronavirus cases despite receiving sharp criticism over its president ’ s decision to keep the campus open for students.
” “ Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. was widely condemned for his decision to reopen his campus to students who had nowhere else to go in March , ” the outlet explained .
Falwell said 1,200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dorms for seven weeks and they were students who either didn ’ t have high-speed internet , had elderly relatives living at home or were international students.
” June 12 , 2020 , 11:06 a.m. EST : The conferencing app Zoom , which has been used all around the world to connect people during the coronavirus lockdowns , has admitted to helping the Chinese communist government by suspending the accounts of human rights activists who were virtually commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre or discussing the Hong Kong freedom protests .
June 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Two Catholic priests – Steven Soos and Nicholas Stamos – and a trio of Orthodox Jewish congregants – Elchanan Perr , Daniel Schonborn , and Mayer Mayerfeld – in Brooklyn , represented by the Thomas More Society , filed the suit in the Northern District of New York after mass protests and looting occurred in the Big Apple following George Floyd 's death , ” Fox News reported an hour ago .
The priests are part of the Society of St. Pius X. June 10 , 2020 , 6:22 p.m. EST : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social scientist and data expert Dr. Michael New analyzed coronavirus-related abortion data .
“ Has the coronavirus increased the U.S. abortion rate ?
” New asked .
“ Certainly the economic slowdown and the sharp increase in the U.S. unemployment rate have led to widespread economic hardship .
Additionally , research has steadily indicated that a significant percentage of women seeking abortions do so for financial reasons.
” New explored the anecdotal and self-reported data about abortion during the pandemic , as well as the “ only hard data ” available , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunshine State during the coronavirus have increased by about 3.5 percent .
Medical effectiveness is irrelevant .
Severe indoctrination begins : Your face must be covered .
To decline to wear the Mask means that you don ’ t care about anyone but yourself .
You are selfish .
Next thing you know , someone will declare it a hate crime .
Listen , they say with forked tongue .
It ’ s a little thing to wear the Mask -- a small act of charity , an expression of kindness .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scarf or a surgical mask .
No problem .
It ’ s the symbol that counts , the badge of caring .
In preparation for this final unification , something that can only be described as a cult is emerging among the people .
Shall we call it the Cult of the Mask ?
It would fit .
In the same way that we reveal our Catholic Faith by wearing crosses or medals , by twining a rosary around our wrist , or wearing a mantilla , so the Mask-wearers signal their belonging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces .
Some don ’ t like it ; others relish it .
Most of them don ’ t even think about it—sort of like fastening your seatbelt .
It ’ ll keep them safe It would be bad enough if the Maskians just kept to themselves and left the rest of us alone .
But they don ’ t .
Mask-wearing has become a pathological obsession .
The freedom of the open-faced is seen as a threat to their safety and , more significantly , to their sense of commitment to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger .
For now , most of their weapons are psychological—shame , ostracism , calumny .
But there are other , more serious attacks on the rise .
Calls to the police , video postings on social media , foul-mouthed confrontations ...
The Archdiocese of Toronto has released a timeline and guidelines for the re-opening of its churches .
They state : Upon the strong recommendation of medical authorities , Holy Communion is received only in the hand at this time .
( Since each communicant has the right to receive communion either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the traditional practice of the option of receiving on the tongue will be restored as soon as the public health situation allows for that ) .
Communicants are instructed to remove their masks , using the straps and without touching the front of their masks , while the person ahead of them is receiving Holy Communion .
June 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Immunity to the coronavirus could be “ a new class system , ” warns an article in The Guardian .
“ Experts predict that if [ coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they could perform a range of jobs and services – such as volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes , caring for coronavirus patients and working in shops and food processing plants – risk-free , ” Miranda Bryant wrote .
“ And , depending on how authorities , business and society at large respond , they could also be entitled to greater freedoms.
” Bryant pointed to Chile issuing “ release certificates ” to people who “ complete quarantine after testing positive ” for the coronavirus and comments from Dr. Anthony Fauci and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of immunity “ certificates ” or “ passports.
” Emanuel is advising former Vice President and 2020 candidate Joe Biden .
Fauci has been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades and is one of the top people leading President Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus response .
Fauci said Tuesday that the coronavirus is his “ worst nightmare.
” “ We ’ re still at the beginning of it , ” said Fauci , who has faded from frontpage headlines as the country focuses on protests and civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fauci ’ s remarks come as the World Health Organization once again flip-flopped its position on whether the coronavirus can be spread through asymptomatic people .
A study by researchers from Harvard medical school , Boston University of Public Health , and Boston Children ’ s Hospital suggests “ coronavirus may have been present and spreading in Wuhan as early as August last year , ” The Guardian reported yesterday .
The study analyzed satellite imagery of parking lots outside major hospitals and search engine data .
“ In the past few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have blatantly violated the free exercise and free speech rights of religious Americans , ” Senator Josh Hawley , R-MO , wrote to Attorney General Bill Barr in a June 9 letter .
Hawley urged Barr to “ launch a full civil rights investigation ” about the violation of Americans ’ First Amendment rights to freedom of assembly and religion under the coronavirus .
“ As our Constitution allows , Americans have the right to peaceably protest .
Millions of people are rightly angry about the death of George Floyd , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hawley wrote ( emphasis added ) .
“ Now , after two weeks of nationwide protests , no uncertainty remains .
Many jurisdictions across the nation are imposing extraordinarily strict caps on religious gatherings—such as restricting religious gatherings to 10 or fewer people—even as those jurisdictions allow thousands of people to gather closely in protests .
States can not allow one but prohibit the other.
” “ Hawley ’ s request to Barr follows a controversial 5–4 Supreme Court decision on May 29 in which the majority upheld California ’ s restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were equally applied to other “ non-essential ” entities , ” the Epoch Times explained .
“ Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority in defending broad state authority in public health matters.
” First Liberty Institute and the Massachusetts Family Institute today sent a letter to Somerville , Massachusetts Mayor Joseph Curtatone informing him that several churches in the city will immediately resume in-person church services on June 14 , 2020 .
The letter was sent on behalf of four churches : Igreja Comunidade Batista Shalom Internacional , Christian Fellowship of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Baptist Church , each represented by First Liberty .
“ Mayor Curtatone ’ s restrictions on churches would prevent even Jesus and the twelve disciples from lawfully gathering in Somerville , ” commented Jeremy Dys , Special Counsel for Litigation and Communications for First Liberty Institute .
“ If thousands of people can peacefully protest in the streets under the First Amendment , certainly churches are able to safely resume in-person religious gatherings.
” In a win for pro-life activists , the New York Times reports : • Are Christians being persecuted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Texas bishop reminds Catholics of Vatican doc affirming right to receive Communion on tongue

Live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to pro-life issues, faith, and freedom.
LifeSite’s previous (and future) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE.
The Western Journal reports that Liberty University “says it finished its semester without any coronavirus cases despite receiving sharp criticism over its president’s decision to keep the campus open for students.”
“Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. was widely condemned for his decision to reopen his campus to students who had nowhere else to go in March,” the outlet explained. Falwell said 1,200 students “came back to stay in the dorms for seven weeks and they were students who either didn’t have high-speed internet, had elderly relatives living at home or were international students.”
June 12, 2020, 11:06 a.m. EST: The conferencing app Zoom, which has been used all around the world to connect people during the coronavirus lockdowns, has admitted to helping the Chinese communist government by suspending the accounts of human rights activists who were virtually commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre or discussing the Hong Kong freedom protests.
June 12, 2020, 10:19 a.m. EST: “Two Catholic priests – Steven Soos and Nicholas Stamos – and a trio of Orthodox Jewish congregants – Elchanan Perr, Daniel Schonborn, and Mayer Mayerfeld – in Brooklyn, represented by the Thomas More Society, filed the suit in the Northern District of New York after mass protests and looting occurred in the Big Apple following George Floyd's death,” Fox News reported an hour ago.
The priests are part of the Society of St. Pius X.
June 10, 2020, 6:22 p.m. EST: At the National Catholic Register, pro-life social scientist and data expert Dr. Michael New analyzed coronavirus-related abortion data.
“Has the coronavirus increased the U.S. abortion rate?” New asked. “Certainly the economic slowdown and the sharp increase in the U.S. unemployment rate have led to widespread economic hardship. Additionally, research has steadily indicated that a significant percentage of women seeking abortions do so for financial reasons.”
New explored the anecdotal and self-reported data about abortion during the pandemic, as well as the “only hard data” available, which comes from Florida. Abortions in the Sunshine State during the coronavirus have increased by about 3.5 percent.
At The Remnant, Susan Claire Potts, Ph.D. wrote today:
Medical effectiveness is irrelevant. Severe indoctrination begins: Your face must be covered. To decline to wear the Mask means that you don’t care about anyone but yourself. You are selfish. Next thing you know, someone will declare it a hate crime. Listen, they say with forked tongue. It’s a little thing to wear the Mask–a small act of charity, an expression of kindness. You could wear a bandana or a lace scarf or a surgical mask. No problem. It’s the symbol that counts, the badge of caring. … In preparation for this final unification, something that can only be described as a cult is emerging among the people. Shall we call it the Cult of the Mask? It would fit. In the same way that we reveal our Catholic Faith by wearing crosses or medals, by twining a rosary around our wrist, or wearing a mantilla, so the Mask-wearers signal their belonging to the new consensus by covering their faces. Some don’t like it; others relish it. Most of them don’t even think about it—sort of like fastening your seatbelt. It’ll keep them safe … It would be bad enough if the Maskians just kept to themselves and left the rest of us alone. But they don’t. Mask-wearing has become a pathological obsession. The freedom of the open-faced is seen as a threat to their safety and, more significantly, to their sense of commitment to a great cause. They fight the phantom danger. For now, most of their weapons are psychological—shame, ostracism, calumny. But there are other, more serious attacks on the rise. Calls to the police, video postings on social media, foul-mouthed confrontations…
The Archdiocese of Toronto has released a timeline and guidelines for the re-opening of its churches. They state:
Upon the strong recommendation of medical authorities, Holy Communion is received only in the hand at this time. (Since each communicant has the right to receive communion either on the tongue or in the hand, the traditional practice of the option of receiving on the tongue will be restored as soon as the public health situation allows for that). Communicants are instructed to remove their masks, using the straps and without touching the front of their masks, while the person ahead of them is receiving Holy Communion.
June 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Immunity to the coronavirus could be “a new class system,” warns an article in The Guardian.
“Experts predict that if [coronavirus] survivors are found to be immune, they could perform a range of jobs and services – such as volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes, caring for coronavirus patients and working in shops and food processing plants – risk-free,” Miranda Bryant wrote. “And, depending on how authorities, business and society at large respond, they could also be entitled to greater freedoms.”
Bryant pointed to Chile issuing “release certificates” to people who “complete quarantine after testing positive” for the coronavirus and comments from Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Ezekiel J Emanuel supporting the idea of immunity “certificates” or “passports.”
Emanuel is advising former Vice President and 2020 candidate Joe Biden. Fauci has been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades and is one of the top people leading President Donald Trump’s coronavirus response.
Fauci said Tuesday that the coronavirus is his “worst nightmare.”
“We’re still at the beginning of it,” said Fauci, who has faded from frontpage headlines as the country focuses on protests and civil unrest over the killing of George Floyd.
Fauci’s remarks come as the World Health Organization once again flip-flopped its position on whether the coronavirus can be spread through asymptomatic people.
A study by researchers from Harvard medical school, Boston University of Public Health, and Boston Children’s Hospital suggests “coronavirus may have been present and spreading in Wuhan as early as August last year,” The Guardian reported yesterday. The study analyzed satellite imagery of parking lots outside major hospitals and search engine data.
“In the past few weeks, state officials across the country have blatantly violated the free exercise and free speech rights of religious Americans,” Senator Josh Hawley, R-MO, wrote to Attorney General Bill Barr in a June 9 letter.
Hawley urged Barr to “launch a full civil rights investigation” about the violation of Americans’ First Amendment rights to freedom of assembly and religion under the coronavirus.
“As our Constitution allows, Americans have the right to peaceably protest. Millions of people are rightly angry about the death of George Floyd, and they should be able to protest peacefully,” Hawley wrote (emphasis added). “Now, after two weeks of nationwide protests, no uncertainty remains. Many jurisdictions across the nation are imposing extraordinarily strict caps on religious gatherings—such as restricting religious gatherings to 10 or fewer people—even as those jurisdictions allow thousands of people to gather closely in protests. States cannot allow one but prohibit the other.”
“Hawley’s request to Barr follows a controversial 5–4 Supreme Court decision on May 29 in which the majority upheld California’s restrictions on church gatherings as long as they were equally applied to other “non-essential” entities,” the Epoch Times explained. “Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority in defending broad state authority in public health matters.”
First Liberty Institute and the Massachusetts Family Institute today sent a letter to Somerville, Massachusetts Mayor Joseph Curtatone informing him that several churches in the city will immediately resume in-person church services on June 14, 2020. The letter was sent on behalf of four churches: Igreja Comunidade Batista Shalom Internacional, Christian Fellowship of Boston, International Church, and Safe House Baptist Church, each represented by First Liberty.
“Mayor Curtatone’s restrictions on churches would prevent even Jesus and the twelve disciples from lawfully gathering in Somerville,” commented Jeremy Dys, Special Counsel for Litigation and Communications for First Liberty Institute. “If thousands of people can peacefully protest in the streets under the First Amendment, certainly churches are able to safely resume in-person religious gatherings.”
In a win for pro-life activists, the New York Times reports:
Connecticut’s top health official on Tuesday ordered hospitals that were barring visitors because of the coronavirus to make exceptions for patients with disabilities, after a complaint that the policy violated the civil rights of people who were unable to obtain adequate care for themselves. A family member or care provider, the order says, may now accompany a patient who has a mental, intellectual or physical impairment and requires special assistance. The change came after disability groups filed a complaint with the federal Office for Civil Rights, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, saying that the lack of visitation rights deprived some patients “of their right to make informed decisions and provide informed consent,” and subjected others “to the unnecessary use of physical and chemical restraints.”
Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes:
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lifesitenews--2020-06-12--Frontlines 2020: Join these LifeSite Sustainers on the Battlefield!

June 11 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Sustainer Army of monthly supporters is a joyful , faithful , @ @ @ @ @ warriors who come from places all across the world .
They are proud to Sustain @ @ @ @ @ donor to LifeSiteNews .
But do n't take our word for it .
Check out @ @ @ @ @ and their invitation for you to join them on the battlefield !

Hear from our Sustainer Army of monthly supporters about why they support the LifeSite mission!
June 11, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Sustainer Army of monthly supporters is a joyful, faithful, and diverse group of dedicated warriors who come from places all across the world. They are proud to Sustain Life by being a monthly donor to LifeSiteNews. But don't take our word for it. Check out what they have to say and their invitation for you to join them on the battlefield!
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lifesitenews--2020-06-13--Priests sue NY governor, NYC mayor for oppressing churches in COVID reopening

SYRACUSE , New York , June 12 , 2020 ( Thomas More Society ) — New York ’ s Governor Andrew Cuomo , his Attorney General Letitia James , and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio are being sued by two Catholic priests from upstate New York and a trio of Orthodox Jewish congregants from Brooklyn for violation of civil rights by prejudicial orders and selective enforcement .
The federal lawsuit , filed June 10 , 2020 , in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York , charges the governor , attorney general , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to free exercise of religion , freedom of speech , assembly and expressive association , and due process , under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution .
Governor Cuomo is also accused of acting against New York state law and the New York State Constitution .
Senior Judge Gary L. Sharpe has ordered the defendants to file a response by noon ( Eastern ) on June 15 , 2020 .
Thomas More Society Special Counsel Christopher Ferrara explained the key points of the lawsuit : “ These orders , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , clearly discriminate against houses of worship .
They are illegally content based , elaborate , arbitrary and pseudo-scientific .
The governor and his agents , along with New York City ’ s mayor have employed favoritism and political platforms against people of faith.
” He noted that , in addition to the unconstitutional and discriminatory nature of Governor Cuomo ’ s orders , and Attorney General James ’ and Mayor de Blasio ’ s enforcement thereof , the “ so-called science ” is irrational .
“ Why is a large worship gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , full of shouting , arm-waving people in close proximity to one another ?
” The question points to what the plaintiffs view as particularly egregious — the blatant double standard that Cuomo and de Blasio have applied .
During the time that religious worship services have been banned or restricted , mass protests have gone unchecked .
On June 4 , de Blasio , not wearing the face mask he requires of others , attended and addressed a mass political gathering at New York City ’ s Cadman Plaza .
Neither the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Cuomo prescribe for “ non-essential gatherings ” were observed at the rally .
Days later , in Williamsburg , New York , a small group of Hasidic Jewish children was kicked out of a park by a police officer enforcing Cuomo ’ s and de Blasio ’ s ten-person limit on “ non-essential gatherings.
” In late April , de Blasio had threatened the Jewish community with arrests and prosecutions for “ illegal ” mass religious gatherings and personally appeared on the scene to ensure the New York Police Department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York theaters that are supposed to be closed until the yet to occur “ Phase Four ” of Cuomo ’ s reopening plan have opened their premises to protestors for rest , wi-fi use , bathroom visits , and provision of water and snacks — with instructions to keep police out of the premises .
There has been no objection or interference by de Blasio or Cuomo in these operations that conflict with the same executive orders used to disrupt and deny religious worship gatherings .
“ It is time to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monarchy , ” said Ferrara .
“ We are asking the court to put an end to these unconstitutional executive orders and their prejudicial enforcement.
” • In an unprecedented abuse of power , defendants have exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to create , over the past three months , a veritable dictatorship by means of a complex web of defendant Cuomo ’ s executive orders .
• By these executive orders , the defendants have imposed and selectively enforced “ social distancing ” under a “ lockdown ” of virtually every aspect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic life of New York ’ s 8.3 million residents on the pretext of “ public health , ” but with numerous exceptions that these defendants have deemed permissible according to their value judgments , including mass demonstrations of thousands of people of which they approve .
• Defendants Cuomo , James , and de Blasio have enforced Cuomo ’ s “ lockdown ” by threat of criminal prosecution and actual prosecution , including $ 1000 fines for the newly created offense of violating Cuomo ’ s “ Social Distancing Protocol.
” • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Document for the interpretation and application of his executive orders and the “ Social Distancing Protocol ” have specifically forbidden “ congregate services within houses of worship ” and “ congregations of groups for religious service or ceremony , ” thus singling out the free exercise of religion for strict regulation under the “ Social Distancing Protocol.
” • This explicit ban on “ congregate worship ” was followed by a strict ban on “ nonessential gatherings ” of more than ten people that still applies in New York City and other regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendant Cuomo ’ s elaborate , arbitrary and pseudo-scientific “ NY Forward ” Plan “ reopening New York and building back better.
” • The ten-person limit on “ non-essential ” gatherings has reduced the religious services that plaintiffs participate in or conduct to miniscule congregations .
• On or about June 5 , however , defendant Cuomo announced that he had “ relaxed ” his “ Social Distancing Protocol ” to “ allow ” religious gatherings at 25 % of the capacity of houses of worship in some regions , thereby specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once again .
Read the Thomas More Society ’ s Verified Complaint for Civil Rights Violations , Injunctive Relief and a Declaratory Judgement on behalf of Rev .
Steven Soos , Rev .
Nicholas Stamos , Daniel Schonbrun , Elchanan Perr , and Mayer Mayerfeld , filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in Rev .
Steven Soos , et al v. Andrew M. Cuomo , et al on June 10 , 2020 , here .
Published with permission from the Thomas More Society .

SYRACUSE, New York, June 12, 2020 (Thomas More Society) — New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, his Attorney General Letitia James, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio are being sued by two Catholic priests from upstate New York and a trio of Orthodox Jewish congregants from Brooklyn for violation of civil rights by prejudicial orders and selective enforcement. The federal lawsuit, filed June 10, 2020, in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, charges the governor, attorney general, and mayor with violating the plaintiffs’ rights to free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, assembly and expressive association, and due process, under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Governor Cuomo is also accused of acting against New York state law and the New York State Constitution. Senior Judge Gary L. Sharpe has ordered the defendants to file a response by noon (Eastern) on June 15, 2020.
Thomas More Society Special Counsel Christopher Ferrara explained the key points of the lawsuit: “These orders, both the emergency stay-home and reopening plan declarations, clearly discriminate against houses of worship. They are illegally content based, elaborate, arbitrary and pseudo-scientific. The governor and his agents, along with New York City’s mayor have employed favoritism and political platforms against people of faith.” He noted that, in addition to the unconstitutional and discriminatory nature of Governor Cuomo’s orders, and Attorney General James’ and Mayor de Blasio’s enforcement thereof, the “so-called science” is irrational. “Why is a large worship gathering deemed more dangerous than a mass protest, full of shouting, arm-waving people in close proximity to one another?”
The question points to what the plaintiffs view as particularly egregious — the blatant double standard that Cuomo and de Blasio have applied. During the time that religious worship services have been banned or restricted, mass protests have gone unchecked. On June 4, de Blasio, not wearing the face mask he requires of others, attended and addressed a mass political gathering at New York City’s Cadman Plaza. Neither the ten-person limit nor the social distancing he and Cuomo prescribe for “non-essential gatherings” were observed at the rally. Days later, in Williamsburg, New York, a small group of Hasidic Jewish children was kicked out of a park by a police officer enforcing Cuomo’s and de Blasio’s ten-person limit on “non-essential gatherings.” In late April, de Blasio had threatened the Jewish community with arrests and prosecutions for “illegal” mass religious gatherings and personally appeared on the scene to ensure the New York Police Department’s dispersal of a Jewish funeral gathering.
New York theaters that are supposed to be closed until the yet to occur “Phase Four” of Cuomo’s reopening plan have opened their premises to protestors for rest, wi-fi use, bathroom visits, and provision of water and snacks — with instructions to keep police out of the premises. There has been no objection or interference by de Blasio or Cuomo in these operations that conflict with the same executive orders used to disrupt and deny religious worship gatherings.
“It is time to end New York’s experiment in absolute monarchy,” said Ferrara. “We are asking the court to put an end to these unconstitutional executive orders and their prejudicial enforcement.”
The complaint details many abuses, including:
In an unprecedented abuse of power, defendants have exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to create, over the past three months, a veritable dictatorship by means of a complex web of defendant Cuomo’s executive orders.
By these executive orders, the defendants have imposed and selectively enforced “social distancing” under a “lockdown” of virtually every aspect of the social, political, religious and economic life of New York’s 8.3 million residents on the pretext of “public health,” but with numerous exceptions that these defendants have deemed permissible according to their value judgments, including mass demonstrations of thousands of people of which they approve.
Defendants Cuomo, James, and de Blasio have enforced Cuomo’s “lockdown” by threat of criminal prosecution and actual prosecution, including $1000 fines for the newly created offense of violating Cuomo’s “Social Distancing Protocol.”
Cuomo’s constantly morphing official Guidance Document for the interpretation and application of his executive orders and the“Social Distancing Protocol” have specifically forbidden “congregate services within houses of worship” and “congregations of groups for religious service or ceremony,” thus singling out the free exercise of religion for strict regulation under the “Social Distancing Protocol.”
This explicit ban on “congregate worship” was followed by a strict ban on “nonessential gatherings” of more than ten people that still applies in New York City and other regions not in “Phase Two” of defendant Cuomo’s elaborate, arbitrary and pseudo-scientific “NY Forward” Plan “reopening New York and building back better.”
The ten-person limit on “non-essential” gatherings has reduced the religious services that plaintiffs participate in or conduct to miniscule congregations.
On or about June 5, however, defendant Cuomo announced that he had “relaxed” his “Social Distancing Protocol” to “allow” religious gatherings at 25% of the capacity of houses of worship in some regions, thereby specifically regulating religion – and only religion – once again.
Read the Thomas More Society’s Verified Complaint for Civil Rights Violations, Injunctive Relief and a Declaratory Judgement on behalf of Rev. Steven Soos, Rev. Nicholas Stamos, Daniel Schonbrun, Elchanan Perr, and Mayer Mayerfeld, filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in Rev. Steven Soos, et al v. Andrew M. Cuomo, et al on June 10, 2020, here.
Published with permission from the Thomas More Society.
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