lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Facebook censors abortion survivor interview for ‘spam,’ violating ‘community standards’

February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Facebook censored yet another piece of pro-life content on opaque pretenses this week , this time labeling as “ spam ” an interview with Abortion Survivors Network director Melissa Ohden .
On Monday , Life Training Institute ’ s Seth Gruber uploaded the following interview with Ohden to YouTube .
Their conversation covers a range of topics , especially Ohden ’ s personal story of miraculously surviving a saline abortion for five days before being transferred to neonatal intensive care and being adopted .
Gruber posted a link to the video on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive a notification that “ your post goes against our community standards on spam .
No one else can see your post .
We have these standards to help prevent people from misleading others .
We may restrict your account if you violate our standards again.
” Gruber tells LifeSiteNews he has appealed the decision , but does not expect a reply .
“ It ’ s ironic , isn ’ t it , that when pro-abortion advocates can ’ t silence unborn children in the womb through dismemberment , they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who survived that procedure under the guise of ‘ misleading others , ’ ” he added .
“ I had been looking forward to posting the link to an interview I did with Seth Gruber , ” but “ Facebook isn ’ t a fan of the message of an abortion survivor , ” Ohden commented .
“ Give FB and the liberal media a piece of your mind on this one .
I will be.
” This is a recurring pattern for Facebook .
The social media giant has been criticized for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pages and posts , while multiple analyses have found that Facebook ’ s 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 .
Pro-life and pro-family voices in particular have faced significant difficulties on Facebook , including LifeSiteNews , Live Action , Save the Storks , the Susan B. Anthony List , the American Pregnancy Association , Choice For Two , Elizabeth “ Activist Mommy ” Johnston , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The Movie .
Facebook often reverses such censorship actions following media coverage and public pressure , but continues to downplay them as isolated errors rather than institutionalized bias in need of corrective action .

"It’s ironic, isn’t it, that when pro-abortion advocates can’t silence unborn children in the womb through dismemberment, they will attempt to silence the voices of those who survived that procedure under the guise of 'misleading others.'"
UPDATE, February 18, 2020: Seth Gruber announced Tuesday afternoon that Facebook has reversed itself and lifted the ban on the interview. LifeSiteNews’ original report follows below.
February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Facebook censored yet another piece of pro-life content on opaque pretenses this week, this time labeling as “spam” an interview with Abortion Survivors Network director Melissa Ohden.
On Monday, Life Training Institute’s Seth Gruber uploaded the following interview with Ohden to YouTube. Their conversation covers a range of topics, especially Ohden’s personal story of miraculously surviving a saline abortion for five days before being transferred to neonatal intensive care and being adopted.
Gruber posted a link to the video on Facebook via his personal account, only to receive a notification that “your post goes against our community standards on spam. No one else can see your post. We have these standards to help prevent people from misleading others. We may restrict your account if you violate our standards again.”
Gruber tells LifeSiteNews he has appealed the decision, but does not expect a reply.
“It’s ironic, isn’t it, that when pro-abortion advocates can’t silence unborn children in the womb through dismemberment, they will attempt to silence the voices of those who survived that procedure under the guise of ‘misleading others,’” he added.
“I had been looking forward to posting the link to an interview I did with Seth Gruber,” but “Facebook isn’t a fan of the message of an abortion survivor,” Ohden commented. “Give FB and the liberal media a piece of your mind on this one. I will be.”
This is a recurring pattern for Facebook. The social media giant has been criticized for suppressing and otherwise discriminating against many right-of-center pages and posts, while multiple analyses have found that Facebook’s 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.
Pro-life and pro-family voices in particular have faced significant difficulties on Facebook, including LifeSiteNews, Live Action, Save the Storks, the Susan B. Anthony List, the American Pregnancy Association, Choice For Two, Elizabeth “Activist Mommy” Johnston, and the pro-life films Gosnell and Roe v. Wade: The Movie.
Facebook often reverses such censorship actions following media coverage and public pressure, but continues to downplay them as isolated errors rather than institutionalized bias in need of corrective action.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Banning US preacher Franklin Graham may be ‘unlawful’ discrimination: UK House leader

WESTMINSTER , London , England , February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― UK venues that dropped American missionary Franklin Graham over his Bible-based teachings on sexuality may have engaged in “ unlawful ” discrimination , the Leader of the British House of Commons warned .
Last Thursday Jacob Rees-Mogg , 50 , responded to a question from fellow Conservative Party Member of Parliament Fiona Bruce , who had objected to the cancellation of venue reservations for the Rev .
Franklin Graham ’ s tour of the United Kingdom .
Graham had planned to visit eight British cities this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with which he had signed contracts have reneged on their agreement .
“ No-platforming is a particularly disagreeable modern trend , ” said Rees-Mogg .
`` And although venues are allowed to take their own decisions about whether or not to host Franklin Graham during his upcoming visit , like all service providers , they must be careful not to discriminate unlawfully on grounds of religion and belief , ” he warned .
`` The UK has robust protections for freedom of speech and freedom of religion , and the price of living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tolerating views and beliefs we disagree with or are even offended by , ” he continued .
`` And this is fundamentally important .
It is a sad truth that many people who tout themselves as being liberal are only liberal about what they like and are very intolerant of the views they disagree with , '' he added .
In her February 13 question to the government , Scottish MP Fiona Bruce , 62 , referred to Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s Christmas message of solidarity with Christians throughout the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Christmas message , ‘ We stand with Christians everywhere , in solidarity , and will defend your right to practise your faith ’ , ” Bruce said .
“ Plainly that was meant to include the UK , so may we have a statement on whether we can really call ourselves a tolerant , inclusive and diverse society that respects freedom of speech , whatever one ’ s religious or beliefs , if we deny the Billy Graham Association a platform in this country ?
” Bruce is herself an Evangelical Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rees-Mogg is a practising Catholic and a pro-life MP .
In an interview with the UK ’ s Premier Christian News , Franklin Graham , son of the late global evangelist Billy Graham , stressed that his tour had not been cancelled .
The tour will begin in Scotland in late May .
Graham agreed that opposition to his appearances in the UK have “ stepped up ” since his last visit , but said that there is a “ real misunderstanding ” about his work .
“ We ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham said .
“ We ’ re here to tell everyone how they can have their sins forgiven , and how they can have a relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
” “ We don ’ t preach against any person or any sin .
We preach against all sins.
” Graham noted that his opponents are “ very good ” at calling people names .
This did not stop him , however , from defining marriage to his interviewer according to Christian teaching .
“ I believe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man and a woman , ” he said .
“ And the Church of England ... that ’ s their position .
[ ... ] It ’ s pretty much the position of the Church worldwide .
This is what the Bible teaches.
” Graham said that he is not going to be preaching against homosexuals or Muslims .
In fact , he wants homosexuals and Muslims to come to his appearances .
“ We want all people to come , ” he said .
“ Our message is for everybody and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I care enough about gay people just to tell them the truth , ” Graham added .
“ I ’ m not going to lie to them .
I want them to know that God sees homosexuality as sin .
Adultery is sin .
Stealing is sin .
Pride is a sin .
And all of us have to repent and turn from our sins.
” “ But I don ’ t hate the guys that are liars .
I don ’ t hate the women and men who are adulterers .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want them to know that they can be saved , that they can be forgiven.
” Regarding the cancellations of the venues , Graham said that he had never experienced anything like this before , but that it does not concern him .
“ It ’ s a little bit of a headache , ” he said , adding that hundreds of churches had been part of the earlier planning .
However , he and his group have spoken to other venues .
Graham thinks that some of the venues he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
Graham plans to appear in eight British cities this year : Glasgow , Newcastle , Sheffield , Milton Keynes , Liverpool , Cardiff , Birmingham , and London .
But in the past few weeks , LGBT activists , including elected representatives in local ( municipal ) governments , have succeeded in getting the Christian preacher barred from all his planned British venues .
However , there has been some pushback from Britons annoyed that elected officials have joined in Graham ’ s deplatforming .
The Scottish Family Party organized a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
Richard Lucas , the founder of the SFP , addressed around 100 protestors in the pouring rain .
“ When Glasgow City Council made their decision [ to pressure SEC Hydro to drop Graham ] , they weren ’ t expecting this , ” Lucas told the crowd .

Jacob Rees-Mogg warned UK venues to be 'careful not to discriminate unlawfully on grounds of religion and belief'
WESTMINSTER, London, England, February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― UK venues that dropped American missionary Franklin Graham over his Bible-based teachings on sexuality may have engaged in “unlawful” discrimination, the Leader of the British House of Commons warned.
Last Thursday Jacob Rees-Mogg, 50, responded to a question from fellow Conservative Party Member of Parliament Fiona Bruce, who had objected to the cancellation of venue reservations for the Rev. Franklin Graham’s tour of the United Kingdom. Graham had planned to visit eight British cities this year, but all of the venues with which he had signed contracts have reneged on their agreement.
“No-platforming is a particularly disagreeable modern trend,” said Rees-Mogg.
“And although venues are allowed to take their own decisions about whether or not to host Franklin Graham during his upcoming visit, like all service providers, they must be careful not to discriminate unlawfully on grounds of religion and belief,” he warned.
“The UK has robust protections for freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and the price of living in a free, plural society is tolerating views and beliefs we disagree with or are even offended by,” he continued.
“And this is fundamentally important. It is a sad truth that many people who tout themselves as being liberal are only liberal about what they like and are very intolerant of the views they disagree with,” he added.
In her February 13 question to the government, Scottish MP Fiona Bruce, 62, referred to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Christmas message of solidarity with Christians throughout the world.
“The Prime Minister said in his Christmas message, ‘We stand with Christians everywhere, in solidarity, and will defend your right to practise your faith’,” Bruce said.
“Plainly that was meant to include the UK, so may we have a statement on whether we can really call ourselves a tolerant, inclusive and diverse society that respects freedom of speech, whatever one’s religious or beliefs, if we deny the Billy Graham Association a platform in this country?”
Bruce is herself an Evangelical Christian and a noted pro-life Member of Parliament. Rees-Mogg is a practising Catholic and a pro-life MP.
In an interview with the UK’s Premier Christian News, Franklin Graham, son of the late global evangelist Billy Graham, stressed that his tour had not been cancelled. The tour will begin in Scotland in late May.
Graham agreed that opposition to his appearances in the UK have “stepped up” since his last visit, but said that there is a “real misunderstanding” about his work.
“We’re not here to preach against anyone,” Graham said. “We’re here to tell everyone how they can have their sins forgiven, and how they can have a relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.”
“We don’t preach against any person or any sin. We preach against all sins.”
Graham noted that his opponents are “very good” at calling people names. This did not stop him, however, from defining marriage to his interviewer according to Christian teaching.
“I believe the Bible teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman,” he said.
“And the Church of England…that’s their position. […] It’s pretty much the position of the Church worldwide. This is what the Bible teaches.”
Graham said that he is not going to be preaching against homosexuals or Muslims. In fact, he wants homosexuals and Muslims to come to his appearances.
“We want all people to come,” he said. “Our message is for everybody and it’s not against anybody.”
“I care enough about gay people just to tell them the truth,” Graham added. “I’m not going to lie to them. I want them to know that God sees homosexuality as sin. Adultery is sin. Stealing is sin. Pride is a sin. And all of us have to repent and turn from our sins.”
“But I don’t hate the guys that are liars. I don’t hate the women and men who are adulterers. I don’t hate them. But I want them to know that they can be saved, that they can be forgiven.”
Regarding the cancellations of the venues, Graham said that he had never experienced anything like this before, but that it does not concern him.
“It’s a little bit of a headache,” he said, adding that hundreds of churches had been part of the earlier planning. However, he and his group have spoken to other venues. Graham thinks that some of the venues he will eventually book will be bigger than the others.
Graham plans to appear in eight British cities this year: Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, and London. But in the past few weeks, LGBT activists, including elected representatives in local (municipal) governments, have succeeded in getting the Christian preacher barred from all his planned British venues.
However, there has been some pushback from Britons annoyed that elected officials have joined in Graham’s deplatforming. The Scottish Family Party organized a demonstration outside Glasgow City Chambers this past Saturday. Richard Lucas, the founder of the SFP, addressed around 100 protestors in the pouring rain.
“When Glasgow City Council made their decision [to pressure SEC Hydro to drop Graham], they weren’t expecting this,” Lucas told the crowd.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--WATCH: Pro-transgender UK politician claims children are ‘born without sex’ on live TV

UNITED KINGDOM , February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A British politician has claimed on national television that children are “ born without sex.
” Dawn Butler , a Labour Party MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities , made the comment yesterday on the popular morning TV show Good Morning Britain ( GMB ) while discussing transgender issues .
GMB presenter Richard Madeley asked Butler : `` Do you think somebody that embraces transgender but nevertheless decides that there is a biological difference based on chromosomes , based on a penis that may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you saying that you think that person is transphobic ? ''
Butler replied : `` If you ’ re saying that a trans woman isn ’ t a woman then there are issues around that.
” '' Talking about penises and vaginas doesn ’ t help the conversation because what you ’ re saying then is a trans woman isn ’ t a woman by your own definition , '' she added .
Moments later in the interview Madeley said : `` Look when a child is born they are identified and observed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replied : `` A child is born without sex , a child is formed without sex in the beginning.
” Butler is currently campaigning to become deputy leader of the Labour Party .
She is one of several high-ranking members of the party , including leadership hopeful Rebecca Long-Bailey , who has signed a “ trans-rights ” pledge which commits them to supporting the expulsion from the party anyone who holds so-called “ transphobic ” views .
The pledge and its support from Labour leaders has been criticised for describing groups , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ trans-exclusionist hate groups ” because of their support for women-only spaces for services such as toilets and domestic violence refuges .
Well-known GMB host Piers Morgan , who says he supports “ transgender rights , ” responded to the interview on Twitter by simply posting the word “ Insane.
” Popular UK talk-radio host , Iain Dale , also took to Twitter to mock the Labour politician .
“ It seems Dawn needs some SRE lessons .
I was born with a penis .
That makes me male .
My sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes them female .
Happy to help , ” Dale wrote .

Labour Party MP Dawn Butler said that distinguishing males from females based on reproductive organs 'doesn’t help the conversation.'
UNITED KINGDOM, February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A British politician has claimed on national television that children are “born without sex.”
Dawn Butler, a Labour Party MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, made the comment yesterday on the popular morning TV show Good Morning Britain (GMB) while discussing transgender issues.
GMB presenter Richard Madeley asked Butler: “Do you think somebody that embraces transgender but nevertheless decides that there is a biological difference based on chromosomes, based on a penis that may not have been removed after surgery, are you saying that you think that person is transphobic?”
Butler replied: “If you’re saying that a trans woman isn’t a woman then there are issues around that.”
“Talking about penises and vaginas doesn’t help the conversation because what you’re saying then is a trans woman isn’t a woman by your own definition,” she added.
Moments later in the interview Madeley said: “Look when a child is born they are identified and observed in a particular way.”
Butler replied: “A child is born without sex, a child is formed without sex in the beginning.”
Butler is currently campaigning to become deputy leader of the Labour Party. She is one of several high-ranking members of the party, including leadership hopeful Rebecca Long-Bailey, who has signed a “trans-rights” pledge which commits them to supporting the expulsion from the party anyone who holds so-called “transphobic” views.
The pledge and its support from Labour leaders has been criticised for describing groups, such as Woman’s Place UK, as “trans-exclusionist hate groups” because of their support for women-only spaces for services such as toilets and domestic violence refuges.
Well-known GMB host Piers Morgan, who says he supports “transgender rights,” responded to the interview on Twitter by simply posting the word “Insane.”
Popular UK talk-radio host, Iain Dale, also took to Twitter to mock the Labour politician.
It seems Dawn needs some SRE lessons. I was born with a penis. That makes me male. My sisters were born with a vagina. That makes them female. Happy to help. https://t.co/lCzmCE4t1T — Iain Dale (@IainDale) February 18, 2020
“It seems Dawn needs some SRE lessons. I was born with a penis. That makes me male. My sisters were born with a vagina. That makes them female. Happy to help,” Dale wrote.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Judge muzzles blogger for interviewing Canadian dad trying to stop daughter’s ‘transition’ to male

VANCOUVER , British Columbia , February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A British Columbia judge warned a dad fighting to stop doctors backed by courts from “ transitioning ” his 15-year-old child from female to male to abide by a previous gag order or face a contempt of court charge .
B.C .
Supreme Court Justice Michael Tammen similarly warned Christian blogger Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson who was summoned to court Feb. 12 along with the father for allegedly breaching a publication ban after she posted her hour-long interview with him online the week before .
Vancouver transgender activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for alleged breaches of the publication ban in an action brought against the trio by lawyers for the daughter , reported the Vancouver Sun .
Tammen ordered Smith to cancel his online interview with the father scheduled for that evening , and ordered Thompson to remove her video from the internet .
Tammen warned the three that if they committed further breaches of the court orders , the lawyers for the daughter — who include “ queer ” activist Barbara Findlay — could bring a contempt of court action against them .
Thompson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that morning that the “ atrocity ” of LGBT activists pushing “ transitioning ” on vulnerable children compelled her to engage in civil disobedience .
“ We are not going to be silent about what they are doing to our beautiful British Columbia children , and the only way that this keeps going is that everyone stays silent , ” she said .
The father ’ s case received international attention last February when B.C .
Judge Gregory Bowden ruled that his refusal to refer to his daughter as a boy and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituted “ family violence.
” The father had gone to court to try and stop his daughter ’ s scheduled hormone injections , arguing that his child , who has suffered emotional distress and depression since her parents separated in 2013 , lacked the maturity to understand the radical and long-term consequences of such injection , and that she had been unduly influenced by transgender activists .
In April , Judge Francesca Marzari issued a protection order at the behest of the daughter ’ s lawyers forbidding the dad from speaking to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter as a girl or using female pronouns when referring to her , under penalty of immediate arrest and jail .
This January , the B.C .
appeal court ruled the father had not committed family violence and mitigated the previous rulings by supplanting them with conduct orders , which do not carry the threat of arrest and jail on violation .
But the appeal court ’ s conduct orders still directed the father to refer to his daughter by her preferred male name and with male pronouns , and to not speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 15 , 2020 — unless the daughter ’ s lawyers apply others .
However , remaining “ indefinitely ” in place is the sweeping publication ban forbidding the publication of any information that could identify the parties in the case .
That includes not only the father , the mother ( who supports her daughter ’ s “ transition ” ) , and the child , but the Vancouver psychologist and LGBT activist who counselled the girl at age 13 to “ transition ” to a “ boy.
” The father filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to as IJ in the court documents ) with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia last April , allegedly IJ unethically and unprofessionally led his child to seek a “ transition.
” The ban also protects the identity of the paediatric endocrinologist at the B.C .
Children ’ s Hospital who counselled the girl to begin hormone injections , and told the father in December 2018 his daughter was old enough to decide to “ transition ” without his consent .
All this resulted in Thompson , Smith and the father ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself , and the doctors , by name during his interview with Thompson .
That constituted “ wilful ” breaches of the ban , according to one of the daughter ’ s lawyers , Sarah Chaster , the Vancouver Sun reported .
An interview with the dad posted February 7 was removed two days later after a request from the teen ’ s lawyers , but then the father talked to Thompson , giving her details of the case and referring to his child as his “ daughter.
” That video has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacted those companies but is still online , Chaster told the court Thompson told LifeSiteNews that activist Smith , a man who presents as a woman but does not claim to be one , was accused that some articles he posted violated the ban , but argued these pre-dated the order .
Smith also defended freedom of speech , telling the judge “ you ’ re compelling someone to speak lies , ” according to Thompson .
When it was Thompson ’ s turn to speak in court , she said that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mercy of the court and that I was here not to disregard authority , but that I stand for the protection of children , ” she told LifeSiteNews .
She also told Tammen that gender dysphoria cases in children have risen 4,000 percent , and that 80 to 90 percent of children with gender dysphoria revert to identifying as their biological sex after puberty .
When she was done , the supporters in the courtroom burst into applause , which drew a sharp reprimand from the judge , Thompson said .
She especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity of the LGBT activist psychologist who is pushing “ transition ” on “ thousands of kids ” with impunity , she said .
Carey Linde , one of the father ’ s lawyer up to last month ’ s appeal decision , told LifeSiteNews that the publication ban originally didn ’ t cover the doctors , but was extended to include them after the story broke and they claimed in court they were getting threatening emails .
Linde was at the courthouse on Wednesday , and described “ all of the lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were seven women all dressed in black ” as “ living in a bubble ” with their fixation on trying to prevent information on the case becoming public .
“ The whole world knows who these people are , ” Linde said .
“ It ’ s nuts , it ’ s absolutely nuts .
You start diddling around with freedom of speech , and you have unexpected consequences all over the place.
” Kari Simpson of Culture Guard , one of the first to bring attention to the father ’ s plight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She told LifeSiteNews she plans to file a court challenge to the publication ban within a couple of weeks .
Appeal court rules father must refer to teen daughter as ‘ him ’

'We are not going to be silent about what they are doing to our beautiful British Columbia children, and the only way that this keeps going is that everyone stays silent,' the blogger said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A British Columbia judge warned a dad fighting to stop doctors backed by courts from “transitioning” his 15-year-old child from female to male to abide by a previous gag order or face a contempt of court charge.
B.C. Supreme Court justice Michael Tammen similarly warned Christian blogger Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, who was summoned to court Feb. 12 along with the father for allegedly breaching a publication ban after she posted her hour-long interview with him online the week before.
Vancouver transgender activist Jenn Smith was also hauled into court for alleged breaches of the publication ban in an action brought against the trio by lawyers for the daughter, reported the Vancouver Sun.
Tammen ordered Smith to cancel his online interview with the father, scheduled for that evening, and ordered Thompson to remove her video from the internet.
Tammen warned the three that if they committed further breaches of the court orders, the lawyers for the daughter — who include “queer” activist Barbara Findlay — could bring a contempt of court action against them.
Thompson told LifeSiteNews before she went into court that morning that the “atrocity” of LGBT activists pushing “transitioning” on vulnerable children compelled her to engage in civil disobedience.
“We are not going to be silent about what they are doing to our beautiful British Columbia children, and the only way that this keeps going is that everyone stays silent,” she said.
The father’s case received international attention last February when B.C. Judge Gregory Bowden ruled that his refusal to refer to his daughter as a boy and his efforts to oppose her “transition” constituted “family violence.”
The father had gone to court to stop his daughter’s scheduled hormone injections, arguing that his child, who has suffered emotional distress and depression since her parents separated in 2013, lacked the maturity to understand the radical and long-term consequences of such injections, and that she had been unduly influenced by transgender activists.
In April, Judge Francesca Marzari issued a protection order at the behest of the daughter’s lawyers forbidding the dad from speaking to the media, and from referring to his daughter as a girl or using female pronouns when referring to her, under penalty of immediate arrest and jail.
This January, the B.C. appeal court ruled that the father had not committed family violence and mitigated the previous rulings by supplanting them with conduct orders, which do not carry the threat of arrest and jail on violation.
But the appeal court’s conduct orders still directed the father to refer to his daughter by her preferred male name and with male pronouns, and not to speak to any media.
These orders expire April 15, 2020 — unless the daughter’s lawyers apply others.
However, remaining “indefinitely” in place is the sweeping publication ban forbidding the publication of any information that could identify the parties in the case.
That includes not only the father, the mother (who supports her daughter’s “transition”), and the child, but the Vancouver psychologist and LGBT activist who counseled the girl at age 13 to “transition” to a “boy.”
The father filed a complaint against the psychologist (referred to as IJ in the court documents) with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia last April, alleging that IJ unethically and unprofessionally led his child to seek a “transition.”
The ban also protects the identity of the pediatric endocrinologist at the B.C. Children’s Hospital who counseled the girl to begin hormone injections and told the father in December 2018 his daughter was old enough to decide to “transition” without his consent.
All this resulted in Thompson, Smith, and the father ending up in court after the dad identified himself, and the doctors, by name during his interview with Thompson.
That constituted “willful” breaches of the ban, according to one of the daughter’s lawyers, Sarah Chaster, the Vancouver Sun reported.
An interview with the dad posted February 7 was removed two days later after a request from the teen’s lawyers, but then the father talked to Thompson, giving her details of the case and referring to his child as his “daughter.”
That video has been removed from Twitter and YouTube after lawyers contacted those companies but is still online, Chaster told the court.
Thompson told LifeSiteNews that activist Smith, a man who presents as a woman but does not claim to be one, was accused of violating the ban with some articles he posted, but Smith argued that these pre-dated the order.
Smith also defended freedom of speech, telling the judge, “You’re compelling someone to speak lies,” according to Thompson.
When it was Thompson’s turn to speak in court, she said she “threw” herself “at the mercy of the court and that I was here not to disregard authority, but that I stand for the protection of children,” she told LifeSiteNews.
She also told Tammen that gender dysphoria cases in children have risen 4,000 percent, and that 80 to 90 percent of children with gender dysphoria revert to identifying as their own sex after puberty.
When she was done, the supporters in the courtroom burst into applause, which drew a sharp reprimand from the judge, Thompson said.
She especially objects that the publication ban protects the identity of the LGBT activist psychologist who is pushing “transition” on “thousands of kids” with impunity, she said.
Carey Linde, one of the father’s lawyers up to last month’s appeal decision, told LifeSiteNews that the publication ban originally didn’t cover the doctors but was extended to include them after the story broke and they claimed in court they were getting threatening emails.
Linde was at the courthouse on Wednesday and described “all of the lawyers on the other side, and there were seven women all dressed in black,” as “living in a bubble” with their fixation on trying to prevent information on the case becoming public.
“The whole world knows who these people are,” Linde said. “It’s nuts, it’s absolutely nuts. You start diddling around with freedom of speech, and you have unexpected consequences all over the place.”
Kari Simpson of Culture Guard, one of the first to bring attention to the father’s plight, posted a video from the courthouse. She told LifeSiteNews she plans to file a court challenge to the publication ban within a couple of weeks.
Related:
Appeal court rules father must refer to teen daughter as ‘him’
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Protestant support for same-sex ‘marriage’ stems from mainline denomination pastors

February 17 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A newly released survey reveals that the overwhelming source of Protestant support for same-sex “ marriage ” comes from mainline denomination clergymen , while very little originates with evangelical pastors .
The results of the study by LifeWay Research paint a picture of increasing acceptance of same-sex “ marriages ” with nearly 50 % of the mainline pastors – Methodist , Lutheran , Presbyterian/Reformed , and Christian/Church of Christ – now approving .
Support from evangelical pastors has remained flat at 8 % over the last ten years .
Pastors within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is nearly universally accepted , were apparently not included in the survey .
Overall , rejection of the notion of same-sex “ marriage ” remains fairly high : Only 24 % of Protestant pastors “ see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married , ” while 72 % disagree with that statement and 67 % strongly disagree with it .
“ The movement we see among pastors ’ views of same-sex marriage has less to do with their denominational tradition than their view of the Bible , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LifeWay Research , in a published statement .
“ An evangelical distinctive is the ultimate authority the Bible has over one ’ s beliefs despite changing cultural perspectives , ” explained McConnell , so “ it is not surprising then that evangelical pastors across different denominations continue to view same-sex marriage as wrong through this lens.
” “ More than four years after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states , most Protestant pastors still see a moral problem with it , ” said McConnell .
“ More pastors are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil unions also are seen as wrong by most pastors.
” Yet the question of same-sex “ marriage ” remains largely a hypothetical one .
As recently as 2016 , another LifeWay Research survey found that just 11 % of Protestant pastors said they had been asked to perform a same-sex “ wedding ” ceremony .
“ The stability in the views of evangelical pastors means either there has been no growth in acceptance of same-sex marriage among them or the pastors that no longer have moral reservations about it no longer identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presbyterian or Reformed ( 49 % ) , Methodist ( 47 % ) , Lutheran ( 35 % ) and Christian/Church of Christ pastors ( 20 % ) are more likely to see nothing wrong with same-sex “ marriage ” than Baptist ( 3 % ) or Pentecostal pastors ( 1 % ) .
• White pastors ( 27 % ) are more likely to “ agree ” than African-American pastors ( 15 % ) and pastors of other ethnicities ( 6 % ) • Pastors age 18-44 ( 27 % ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to “ agree ” than pastors age 45-54 ( 17 % ) • Female pastors are more likely to “ agree ” than male pastors ( 59 % vs. 18 % ) • Pastors with a master ’ s degree ( 32 % ) or a doctoral degree ( 27 % ) are more likely to “ agree ” than those with no college degree ( 6 % ) or a Bachelor ’ s degree ( 9 % ) • Mainline pastors are more likely to “ agree ” than Evangelical pastors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Pastors in the Northeast are the most likely to “ agree ” ( 39 % ) • Lutherans ( 35 % ) , Methodists ( 47 % ) Presbyterian/Reformed ( 49 % ) , andChristian/Church of Christ ( 20 % ) are more likely to “ agree ” than Baptists ( 3 % ) and Pentecostals ( 1 % ) • Pastors of churches with attendance of 0-49 ( 33 % ) are more likely to “ agree ” than those with attendance of 100-249 ( 21 % ) and 250+ ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and homosexuality remain a source of controversy and division throughout much of Protestant Christianity .
After a year of contention , the United Methodist Church ( UMC ) announced last month that it has elected to deal with ongoing divisions over homosexuality by formally splitting , with the creation of a new denomination for Methodists who hold to a Biblical understanding of sex and marriage .
The plan , which still needs to be approved by the conference in May , was devised by a 16-person committee of bishops and other officials who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolve our differences , allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding.
” Last week , the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan made Rev .
Bonnie A. Perry its first openly lesbian bishop .
Perry is “ married ” to a woman .
The Christian Post ( CP ) reported that Perry ’ s selection provoked no opposition due to her lived homosexuality .
“ We have experienced an overwhelming outpouring of joy , grace and excitement since her election and consecration , ” said Anna Stania , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perry ’ s election is one more item among many that push theological conservatives out of the church , ” Jeff Walton , Anglican program director with the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy , told CP .
In early 2018 , the largest conference of Mennonite congregations in the U.S. officially split from the Mennonite community over concerns that the wider church was beginning to affirm LGBT lifestyles .
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference ( LMC ) voted to leave the Mennonite Church USA ( MC USA ) in 2015 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
The LMC , comprised of 179 congregations in New York , Pennsylvania and Ohio , left over the definition of marriage and the sinfulness of homosexuality , according to a report from Religion News Service .

February 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A newly released survey reveals that the overwhelming source of Protestant support for same-sex “marriage” comes from mainline denomination clergymen, while very little originates with evangelical pastors.
The results of the study by LifeWay Research paint a picture of increasing acceptance of same-sex “marriages” with nearly 50% of the mainline pastors – Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian/Reformed, and Christian/Church of Christ – now approving. Support from evangelical pastors has remained flat at 8% over the last ten years.
Pastors within the Episcopal Church, where same-sex “marriage” is nearly universally accepted, were apparently not included in the survey.
Rejection of same-sex ‘marriage’ outweighs support, three-to-one
Overall, rejection of the notion of same-sex “marriage” remains fairly high: Only 24% of Protestant pastors “see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married,” while 72% disagree with that statement and 67% strongly disagree with it.
“The movement we see among pastors’ views of same-sex marriage has less to do with their denominational tradition than their view of the Bible,” suggested Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, in a published statement.
“An evangelical distinctive is the ultimate authority the Bible has over one’s beliefs despite changing cultural perspectives,” explained McConnell, so “it is not surprising then that evangelical pastors across different denominations continue to view same-sex marriage as wrong through this lens.”
“More than four years after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, most Protestant pastors still see a moral problem with it,” said McConnell. “More pastors are protective of marriage itself, but legal civil unions also are seen as wrong by most pastors.”
Yet the question of same-sex “marriage” remains largely a hypothetical one. As recently as 2016, another LifeWay Research survey found that just 11% of Protestant pastors said they had been asked to perform a same-sex “wedding” ceremony.
“The stability in the views of evangelical pastors means either there has been no growth in acceptance of same-sex marriage among them or the pastors that no longer have moral reservations about it no longer identify as evangelical,” said McConnell.
Acceptance by the numbers
Presbyterian or Reformed (49%), Methodist (47%), Lutheran (35%) and Christian/Church of Christ pastors (20%) are more likely to see nothing wrong with same-sex “marriage” than Baptist (3%) or Pentecostal pastors (1%).
Other findings published by LifeWay Research:
White pastors (27%) are more likely to “agree” than African-American pastors (15%) and pastors of other ethnicities (6%)
Pastors age 18-44 (27%) and 55-64 (28%) are more likely to “agree” than pastors age 45-54 (17%)
Female pastors are more likely to “agree” than male pastors (59% vs. 18%)
Pastors with a master’s degree (32%) or a doctoral degree (27%) are more likely to “agree” than those with no college degree (6%) or a Bachelor’s degree (9%)
Mainline pastors are more likely to “agree” than Evangelical pastors (47% vs. 8%)
Pastors in the Northeast are the most likely to “agree” (39%)
Lutherans (35%), Methodists (47%) Presbyterian/Reformed (49%), andChristian/Church of Christ (20%) are more likely to “agree” than Baptists (3%) and Pentecostals (1%)
Pastors of churches with attendance of 0-49 (33%) are more likely to “agree” than those with attendance of 100-249 (21%) and 250+ (14%)
Controversy and division in Protestant churches
Same-sex “marriage” and homosexuality remain a source of controversy and division throughout much of Protestant Christianity.
After a year of contention, the United Methodist Church (UMC) announced last month that it has elected to deal with ongoing divisions over homosexuality by formally splitting, with the creation of a new denomination for Methodists who hold to a Biblical understanding of sex and marriage.
The plan, which still needs to be approved by the conference in May, was devised by a 16-person committee of bishops and other officials who deemed separation the “best means to resolve our differences, allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding.”
Last week, the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan made Rev. Bonnie A. Perry its first openly lesbian bishop. Perry is “married” to a woman.
The Christian Post (CP) reported that Perry’s selection provoked no opposition due to her lived homosexuality.
“We have experienced an overwhelming outpouring of joy, grace and excitement since her election and consecration,” said Anna Stania, director of Communications for the diocese.
“Perry’s election is one more item among many that push theological conservatives out of the church,” Jeff Walton, Anglican program director with the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy, told CP.
In early 2018, the largest conference of Mennonite congregations in the U.S. officially split from the Mennonite community over concerns that the wider church was beginning to affirm LGBT lifestyles.
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) voted to leave the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) in 2015, and the decision became effective January 1, 2018.
The LMC, comprised of 179 congregations in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, left over the definition of marriage and the sinfulness of homosexuality, according to a report from Religion News Service.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--How JK Rowling outsmarted the LGBT mob when it accused her of bigotry

February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – As the transgender phenomenon continues to unfold , one of the questions I am most frequently asked is whether I think the momentum of the trans movement has an expiration date .
Considering the staggering amount of territory trans activists have conquered in an incredibly short amount of time , can they be stopped ?
Will the silent majority ( which does not think that men can get pregnant ) push back , or will they ignore everything and go about their lives until society has been effectively restructured and the trans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ binary ” ?
A year ago , I answered that question in this space by noting that the trans ideology is being imposed from the top-down , and that the majority of ordinary people do not actually believe that gender is fluid .
In fact , the trans movement has actually attracted ire by seeking to aggressively persecute men like Harry Miller , who got a visit from the cops for retweeting a scathing poem mocking the trans movement ’ s claim that men identifying as women were , in fact , still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of events , a UK judge ruled that the police visit represented a “ disproportionate interference ” with Miller ’ s freedom of speech and stated that “ In this country , we have never had a Cheka , a Gestapo or a Stasi .
We have never lived in an Orwellian society.
” I might quibble with that last one , but the fact that a judge was willing to say so is , at least , an encouraging development .
And as I wrote earlier this year , the decision of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a tweet in defense of Maya Forstater , the woman fired for expressing her view that men could not become women simply by identifying as women , was very significant due to Rowling ’ s impeccable progressive credentials and her enormous popularity .
“ Dress however you please , ” Rowling tweeted .
“ Call yourself whatever you like .
Sleep with any consenting adult who ’ ll have you .
Live your best life in peace and security .
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J.K. Rowling ’ s stance was significant because this was one of the first times that “ cancel culture ” attempted to take on a figure of this stature .
Media hacks have been easy to cow , and politicians have been even easier .
But J.K. Rowling is the billionaire creator of a fictional world beloved by millions , she ’ s worth more money than the Queen , and she doesn ’ t have to be pushed around if she doesn ’ t want to be .
As it turned out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mood for the trans movement ’ s tactics , and they tried everything : Social media mobs , threatening press releases , and even a kind offer from GLAAD to re-educate her so she wouldn ’ t make such a dangerous mistake again .
They even pulled their trump card and accused her of endangering the lives of young transgender people .
I went back to her twitter feed a few days ago to make sure that the tweet is still there , and it is .
Despite the furious accusations , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last-resort blood libel , Rowling weathered the storm by simply ignoring it entirely , leaving her feed for a while , and then resuming her tweeting as if none of it had happened .
The transgender blitzkrieg suddenly ran stuck as weapon after weapon failed .
J.K. Rowling was not cancelled .
Her fans did not hate her .
Economic sanctions didn ’ t get implemented ( and wouldn ’ t work . )
That tweet , as simple a thing as it might seem to be , is a testament to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans mob can be broken .
Because what did Rowling do ?
She didn ’ t engage in a debate about gender , which the trans activists utilize to play an elaborate game of smoke and mirrors orchestrated by the magicians of the queer studies department and other educational fields of study producing far stranger fiction than Rowling ever has .
She didn ’ t add the proviso that she understood where the trans activists were coming from , or that she would love to meet with GLAAD just to explain that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good will .
She just simply stated her point of view , and ignored the storm .
Eventually , the mob had to disperse before it became too obvious that their rage was impotent—and that they were losing .
I still do not know whether there is enough fight left in Western Civilization to push back against the transgender movement .
I don ’ t know whether they will continue their conquest of our institutions almost unopposed , or whether ordinary people will get fed up and the backlash will come .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all people , showed everybody that it could be done .
She showed everybody something that we all knew , but nobody seemed to say : That the transgender movement only possesses the power we give them .
If people simply ignored their wild accusations and their attempts to cancel people for stating things out loud that virtually everybody believes , what would they do ?
What if we all just stopped playing along ?

Eventually, the LGBT mob had to disperse before it became too obvious that their rage was impotent—and that they were losing.
February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – As the transgender phenomenon continues to unfold, one of the questions I am most frequently asked is whether I think the momentum of the trans movement has an expiration date. Considering the staggering amount of territory trans activists have conquered in an incredibly short amount of time, can they be stopped? Will the silent majority (which does not think that men can get pregnant) push back, or will they ignore everything and go about their lives until society has been effectively restructured and the trans activists have succeeded in “breaking the binary”?
A year ago, I answered that question in this space by noting that the trans ideology is being imposed from the top-down, and that the majority of ordinary people do not actually believe that gender is fluid. In fact, the trans movement has actually attracted ire by seeking to aggressively persecute men like Harry Miller, who got a visit from the cops for retweeting a scathing poem mocking the trans movement’s claim that men identifying as women were, in fact, still men. In a recent positive turn of events, a UK judge ruled that the police visit represented a “disproportionate interference” with Miller’s freedom of speech and stated that “In this country, we have never had a Cheka, a Gestapo or a Stasi. We have never lived in an Orwellian society.”
I might quibble with that last one, but the fact that a judge was willing to say so is, at least, an encouraging development. And as I wrote earlier this year, the decision of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to send out a tweet in defense of Maya Forstater, the woman fired for expressing her view that men could not become women simply by identifying as women, was very significant due to Rowling’s impeccable progressive credentials and her enormous popularity. “Dress however you please,” Rowling tweeted. “Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill.”
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
J.K. Rowling’s stance was significant because this was one of the first times that “cancel culture” attempted to take on a figure of this stature. Media hacks have been easy to cow, and politicians have been even easier. But J.K. Rowling is the billionaire creator of a fictional world beloved by millions, she’s worth more money than the Queen, and she doesn’t have to be pushed around if she doesn’t want to be. As it turned out, she wasn’t in the mood for the trans movement’s tactics, and they tried everything: Social media mobs, threatening press releases, and even a kind offer from GLAAD to re-educate her so she wouldn’t make such a dangerous mistake again. They even pulled their trump card and accused her of endangering the lives of young transgender people.
And nothing worked.
I went back to her twitter feed a few days ago to make sure that the tweet is still there, and it is. Despite the furious accusations, the livid op-eds in left-wing publications, and the last-resort blood libel, Rowling weathered the storm by simply ignoring it entirely, leaving her feed for a while, and then resuming her tweeting as if none of it had happened. The transgender blitzkrieg suddenly ran stuck as weapon after weapon failed. J.K. Rowling was not cancelled. Her fans did not hate her. Economic sanctions didn’t get implemented (and wouldn’t work.) That tweet, as simple a thing as it might seem to be, is a testament to the fact that the power of the trans mob can be broken.
Because what did Rowling do? She didn’t engage in a debate about gender, which the trans activists utilize to play an elaborate game of smoke and mirrors orchestrated by the magicians of the queer studies department and other educational fields of study producing far stranger fiction than Rowling ever has. She didn’t add the proviso that she understood where the trans activists were coming from, or that she would love to meet with GLAAD just to explain that she is, actually, a person of good will. She just simply stated her point of view, and ignored the storm. Eventually, the mob had to disperse before it became too obvious that their rage was impotent—and that they were losing.
I still do not know whether there is enough fight left in Western Civilization to push back against the transgender movement. I don’t know whether they will continue their conquest of our institutions almost unopposed, or whether ordinary people will get fed up and the backlash will come. But I do know that J.K. Rowling, of all people, showed everybody that it could be done. She showed everybody something that we all knew, but nobody seemed to say: That the transgender movement only possesses the power we give them. If people simply ignored their wild accusations and their attempts to cancel people for stating things out loud that virtually everybody believes, what would they do?
What if we all just stopped playing along?
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Joseph Pearce, a man who became quite close to renowned Russian thinker and writer Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn. Pearce shares his stories of Solzhenitsyn and his wisdom that may help save society. You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Heartbeat at 22 days: Students for Life will show colleges the truth about early abortions

WASHINGTON , D.C. , February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Students for Life of America announced today their latest campaign , which will educate college students about babies killed by abortion early in pregnancy .
Every semester , Students for Life of America ( SFLA ) does a campus “ tour ” display – an interactive , educational banner setup about a specific life-related topic , depending on the current national conversation .
This semester , SFLA created a new display – the Heart to Heart Tour – launching this week in Kansas .
Taking the pro-life conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will engage in conversations about human development and the impact of abortion on infants in the womb .
These conversations will be added to SFLA ’ s goal of having 250,000 pro-life conversations with students this year , addressing the human rights issue of our day with the generation targeted by the abortion industry .
No organization has more face-to-face pro-life conversations than Students for Life of America .
The “ Heart to Heart ” tour takes on one of the most controversial of the abortion issues today – the impact of abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions happen in the first trimester , and the largest demographic getting abortions is college-aged women , so SFLA says acknowledging the humanity of first trimester babies is vital for any meaningful discussion of how abortion impacts real people .
Abortions by pill ( chemical abortions ) , usually taking place earlier in pregnancy , account for almost 40 percent of all lives ended in the womb .
“ Right now , legislators are preparing to debate protections for babies born during botched abortions or abortions on viable infants in the womb who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are important and represent the bare minimum of legal protections we can all agree on , ” said Kristan Hawkins , president of Students for Life of America .
“ But we must talk with this generation about the fact that abortion stops a beating heart even early in pregnancy .
Where there is a heartbeat , there is life .
This fact can lead us to common ground in addressing the needs and rights of living human beings in the womb.
” The tour will “ highlight the science and music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawkins continued .
“ Ultrasounds unveil a picture of a human being in the womb , while the heartbeat is the music of a new life.
” In May 2019 , The Hill Reported : “ More than half of registered voters believe that laws banning abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy are not too restrictive , according to a new Hill-HarrisX survey.
” To put this into perspective , a pre-born baby ’ s heartbeat begins at about 22 days after conception ( three weeks ) and at five weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultrasound .
A Kaiser poll in January found that 49 percent of Americans support prohibitions on abortion once a heartbeat is detected .
Currently , “ heartbeat ” legislation has moved through a number of state legislatures , while California has passed a law to distribute chemical abortion pills on college campuses .
As a national conversation on ending life early in pregnancy is taking place , the Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case in early March about whether abortion at any stage can be regulated to protect women from dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos , fetal models and a number of tools will be available to students to illustrate human development and to affirm for students the impact of abortion on a newly created life with a beating heart .
Tour dates and more information can be found here .

'Ultrasounds unveil a picture of a human being in the womb, while the heartbeat is the music of a new life,' said Students for Life president Kristan Hawkins.
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Students for Life of America announced today their latest campaign, which will educate college students about babies killed by abortion early in pregnancy.
Every semester, Students for Life of America (SFLA) does a campus “tour” display – an interactive, educational banner setup about a specific life-related topic, depending on the current national conversation.
This semester, SFLA created a new display – the Heart to Heart Tour – launching this week in Kansas. Taking the pro-life conversation to students outside the beltway, SFLA will engage in conversations about human development and the impact of abortion on infants in the womb. These conversations will be added to SFLA’s goal of having 250,000 pro-life conversations with students this year, addressing the human rights issue of our day with the generation targeted by the abortion industry. No organization has more face-to-face pro-life conversations than Students for Life of America.
The “Heart to Heart” tour takes on one of the most controversial of the abortion issues today – the impact of abortion early in pregnancy. Ninety-one percent of abortions happen in the first trimester, and the largest demographic getting abortions is college-aged women, so SFLA says acknowledging the humanity of first trimester babies is vital for any meaningful discussion of how abortion impacts real people.
Abortions by pill (chemical abortions), usually taking place earlier in pregnancy, account for almost 40 percent of all lives ended in the womb.
“Right now, legislators are preparing to debate protections for babies born during botched abortions or abortions on viable infants in the womb who can experience great pain. Both of these are important and represent the bare minimum of legal protections we can all agree on,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. “But we must talk with this generation about the fact that abortion stops a beating heart even early in pregnancy. Where there is a heartbeat, there is life. This fact can lead us to common ground in addressing the needs and rights of living human beings in the womb.”
The tour will “highlight the science and music of life in the womb,” Hawkins continued. “Ultrasounds unveil a picture of a human being in the womb, while the heartbeat is the music of a new life.”
In May 2019, The Hill Reported: “More than half of registered voters believe that laws banning abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy are not too restrictive, according to a new Hill-HarrisX survey.”
To put this into perspective, a pre-born baby’s heartbeat begins at about 22 days after conception (three weeks) and at five weeks, the heartbeat can be seen during an ultrasound. A Kaiser poll in January found that 49 percent of Americans support prohibitions on abortion once a heartbeat is detected.
Currently, “heartbeat” legislation has moved through a number of state legislatures, while California has passed a law to distribute chemical abortion pills on college campuses. As a national conversation on ending life early in pregnancy is taking place, the Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case in early March about whether abortion at any stage can be regulated to protect women from dangerous abortion vendors.
Materials, visuals, videos, fetal models and a number of tools will be available to students to illustrate human development and to affirm for students the impact of abortion on a newly created life with a beating heart.
Tour dates and more information can be found here.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--How lectio divina can soften our hard hearts during Lent

February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Now that we are drawing near to the start of Lent , it is good to consider how we will observe it so as to purify ourselves of sin and prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord .
We need to think about what prayers and penances we will take up before Ash Wednesday is suddenly upon us .
That , indeed , was the purpose of the old preparatory period of Septuagesima , which is still observed by communities that utilize the traditional Roman rite .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will do , rather than vague , and we should include something positive , not merely “ giving up ” this or that — although , to be sure , it would be a liberating penance to give up not only dessert or liquor , but something that ( for many ) cuts more into the bone : television , movies , the internet on Sundays , etc .
Here , however , I want to concentrate on a positive Lenten practice that we may very well find so fruitful that we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lectio divina .
The “ Desert Fathers , ” the first monks in the wilderness of Egypt , can teach us a lot of lessons : they fought manfully against the world , the flesh , and the devil and left us their wisdom in the form of stories and aphorisms .
Our basic problem is hardness of heart , so we are looking for any outside source that can carve out an opening for the Spirit , or better , soften it — as if turning stone into soil where new life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bible for many reasons , but surely one of the reasons is that we might let His word work upon us , day by day , to melt that frozen heart , to penetrate into it and bring life .
We have to steep ourselves in God ’ s Word if we expect it to become connatural to us : the air we breathe , the water we drink , the light we see in , the food we live on .
In her book Cistercian Europe : Architecture of Contemplation , Terryl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reading as we understand it nowadays , which is reading for information .
Lectio divina is quite another form of reading , namely , reading for transformation .
It is a slow rumination of the words of Scripture.
” Kinder reminds us that the words were read slowly with the moving of the lips , not just silently in one ’ s mind , as we typically do when we read .
The purpose of actually saying the words softly and repeatedly is to give them room to “ breathe , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be absorbed , and to make a difference in how our thoughts move .
Kinder again : Archbishop Magrassi , in his Praying the Bible : An Introduction to Lectio Divina , emphasizes the same point : This image of a cow chewing its cud ( rumination ) is both amusingly humble and profoundly true .
We stand to benefit the most from picking one Gospel or Epistle of St. Paul and reading it slowly , chapter by chapter , throughout Lent — even re-reading parts of it more than one day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take up a daily missal and read carefully one or the other reading of the day ’ s Mass .
It is good that Scripture is read at Mass , but it usually goes by too quickly to be of much benefit in that particular moment .
We have to “ cut the groove ” more than once .
When we walk slowly through a reading in solitude , something we may have heard many times at Mass without taking much notice can suddenly strike us and transform us .
In this way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ going deeper becomes personalization ” : God speaks to His people , yes , but He is also speaking to each person .
His Word is so inexhaustibly powerful that it is “ custom-made ” for me : “ His Word takes on a special tone and resonance for me , a function of the special and unique plan he has for my life [ . ]
... What the Lord first said to all , I hear addressed to me .
I hear a Word that responds to my problems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Where do we learn how to listen ?
In the quiet ; when we are not working , acting , doing , but simply being present .
We have to fight our fallen tendency to be “ movers and shakers ” rather than humble beggars who receive everything from the hand of the Lord .
Of course , once we receive something , we need to act on it , and so there is not finally a contradiction between receptivity and action , being and doing .
But there is a primacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even denied by the Pelagianism of modern civilization .
“ What have you that you have not received ?
” is the motto of the Christian ; “ I am a self-made man ” is the motto of the modern Westerner .
This Lent , let us first be receivers of the Word , like Our Lady , so that we can then be doers of it .
Set aside ten or fifteen minutes ( or more , if you can ) first thing in your day ; sit down with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coffee or tea , which some find an indispensable aid to early morning prayer ) ; begin with a prayer ; and set to reading that short passage slowly , making the words with your lips , repeating the verses , pondering , and letting the words draw forth from you a response in your own words , in the form of a prayer to the Lord .
For further reading , I highly recommend these items by Dom Mark Kirby , OSB on Vultus Christi : • Lectio Divina : The Eucharist @ @ @

Here is a positive Lenten practice that we may very well find so fruitful that we will decide to keep it going afterward.
February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Now that we are drawing near to the start of Lent, it is good to consider how we will observe it so as to purify ourselves of sin and prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. We need to think about what prayers and penances we will take up before Ash Wednesday is suddenly upon us. That, indeed, was the purpose of the old preparatory period of Septuagesima, which is still observed by communities that utilize the traditional Roman rite.
We need to be concrete about what we will do, rather than vague, and we should include something positive, not merely “giving up” this or that — although, to be sure, it would be a liberating penance to give up not only dessert or liquor, but something that (for many) cuts more into the bone: television, movies, the internet on Sundays, etc. Here, however, I want to concentrate on a positive Lenten practice that we may very well find so fruitful that we will decide to keep it going afterward: lectio divina.
The “Desert Fathers,” the first monks in the wilderness of Egypt, can teach us a lot of lessons: they fought manfully against the world, the flesh, and the devil and left us their wisdom in the form of stories and aphorisms.
Abba Poemen once said: “The nature of water is soft, that of stone is hard. But if water ceaselessly falls drop by drop, the stone is worn away. So it is with the word of God. It is soft and our heart is hard; but the one who hears the word of God often, opens his heart to the fear of God.”
Our basic problem is hardness of heart, so we are looking for any outside source that can carve out an opening for the Spirit, or better, soften it — as if turning stone into soil where new life can grow. God gave us the Bible for many reasons, but surely one of the reasons is that we might let His word work upon us, day by day, to melt that frozen heart, to penetrate into it and bring life. We have to steep ourselves in God’s Word if we expect it to become connatural to us: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the light we see in, the food we live on.
In her book Cistercian Europe: Architecture of Contemplation, Terryl Kinder writes: “Lectio divina is not reading as we understand it nowadays, which is reading for information. Lectio divina is quite another form of reading, namely, reading for transformation. It is a slow rumination of the words of Scripture.” Kinder reminds us that the words were read slowly with the moving of the lips, not just silently in one’s mind, as we typically do when we read. The purpose of actually saying the words softly and repeatedly is to give them room to “breathe,” to burrow into our memories, to be absorbed, and to make a difference in how our thoughts move. Kinder again:
In lectio divina — unlike lectio scholastica [i.e., reading for study or curiosity] — the words are chewed, digested, and absorbed as food is chewed, digested, and absorbed; and just as physical food is metabolized and transformed into the material of one’s own body, so in lectio divina the spiritual food of the sacred texts is metabolized and transformed into the substance of one’s own soul. It is an assimilation of the text into oneself[.]
Archbishop Magrassi, in his Praying the Bible: An Introduction to Lectio Divina, emphasizes the same point:
The biblical text … obviously does not reveal all its riches at first hearing. Much less can it sink immediately into the deeper part of human life and become a vital part of each one’s inner world. Vital hearing requires loving, calm, reflective, personal poring over the text[.] … It is not enough to eat; we must assimilate, or as the ancients would say, “ruminate.”
This image of a cow chewing its cud (rumination) is both amusingly humble and profoundly true. We stand to benefit the most from picking one Gospel or Epistle of St. Paul and reading it slowly, chapter by chapter, throughout Lent — even re-reading parts of it more than one day in a row. We can also profitably take up a daily missal and read carefully one or the other reading of the day’s Mass. It is good that Scripture is read at Mass, but it usually goes by too quickly to be of much benefit in that particular moment. We have to “cut the groove” more than once. When we walk slowly through a reading in solitude, something we may have heard many times at Mass without taking much notice can suddenly strike us and transform us.
In this way, in Magrassi’s words, “going deeper becomes personalization”: God speaks to His people, yes, but He is also speaking to each person. His Word is so inexhaustibly powerful that it is “custom-made” for me: “His Word takes on a special tone and resonance for me, a function of the special and unique plan he has for my life[.] … What the Lord first said to all, I hear addressed to me. I hear a Word that responds to my problems, enlightens my steps, expresses my ideal.”
Where do we learn how to listen? In the quiet; when we are not working, acting, doing, but simply being present. We have to fight our fallen tendency to be “movers and shakers” rather than humble beggars who receive everything from the hand of the Lord. Of course, once we receive something, we need to act on it, and so there is not finally a contradiction between receptivity and action, being and doing. But there is a primacy to the former that is largely neglected or even denied by the Pelagianism of modern civilization. “What have you that you have not received?” is the motto of the Christian; “I am a self-made man” is the motto of the modern Westerner.
This Lent, let us first be receivers of the Word, like Our Lady, so that we can then be doers of it. Set aside ten or fifteen minutes (or more, if you can) first thing in your day; sit down with the Bible (and perhaps a cup of coffee or tea, which some find an indispensable aid to early morning prayer); begin with a prayer; and set to reading that short passage slowly, making the words with your lips, repeating the verses, pondering, and letting the words draw forth from you a response in your own words, in the form of a prayer to the Lord.
For further reading, I highly recommend these items by Dom Mark Kirby, OSB on Vultus Christi:
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--2020-02-19--Europe’s slide into destruction is a grim preview for America

February 18 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — When Notre Dame Cathedral burned in 2019 , it was symbolic of a greater Europe-wide collapse of religious faith that had already taken place .
That great cathedral , like most of the others in Europe , had long since passed from being a vibrant community of active worshipers to an architectural showpiece attracting millions of tourists , taking millions of photographs .
The process , which has brought about the death of Judeo-Christian culture in Europe , is now being replicated in America .
If America wants to know its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consult the facts of present-day European society .
From the earliest days of American history , religion played an outsized role .
Even during the 1700s , when it was intellectually fashionable for some of our leaders like Thomas Jefferson to scoff at supernaturalism and prefer deism to theism , they still held tightly to the moral and spiritual truths expressed in the Holy Bible .
They could do without belief in miracles in general but not the necessary miracle of a creator God who established an unchanging moral order .
French philosopher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1800s , took particular note of America 's highly religious national character as compared to European society .
He knew the horrors into which French society was plunged as a result of extreme anti-religious sentiment .
The history of the world is littered with failed revolutions that promised to remake their societies in a better image .
The American Revolution is among the few which have actually succeeded .
The bad news is that we are now no longer on the same path .
We have opted for the European model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history reveal that we have been on a new path .
It is a path that leads away from freedom and individual responsibility .
It is a path that mistakes vice for freedom and socialism for progress .
Because Europe began this journey before us , we can now see our future in their present If we begin with a comparison of religious practice , the surveys of American society show a number between 37 % and 22 % for Americans who attend weekly services .
The average of these numbers , below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern American history , but if you are a person of faith in Europe , you would be celebrating this as the sign of a great religious revival .
The average church attendance for the countries of Northern Europe is 4 % .
There are only three countries in Europe where more than 10 % of young people attend religious services on a weekly basis .
What must be understood are the characteristics of this new post-Judeo-Christian Europe .
What do the sociological data tell us is happening there ?
Sociologists , psychologists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point : the family unit is the basis of all societies .
The present European family is in a state of crisis .
As much as we lament America 's high divorce rate of 53 % , Europe 's is higher , in some countries reaching 60 % .
Worse than the high divorce rates are the high out-of-wedlock birth rates and the huge increase in single-parent families .
The `` Max Planck Society '' published the following in 2016 : The same process is taking place in America .
The difference is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than Europe 's when the process started .
We are moving in the same direction as Europe but at a slower pace .
The fact that European societies are still relatively prosperous and orderly in spite of these demographic changes is only a testament to what historian Will Durant called `` living in the after- glow of one 's faith . ''
No society will collapse immediately , but already these changes are showing themselves in a variety of dark statistics .
The crisis in the European family is rapidly becoming a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large-scale study of Europe , covering 514 million people , found that mental illness had increased to 38 % .
Based upon World Health Organization statistics , Europeans commit suicide more than the people of any other region of the world .
Russia has the highest rate , followed by other Eastern European nations , all of which were until recent years ruled by communist governments , which viewed religion as taboo .
Following these Eastern European nations , the most secular parts of Western and Northern Europe have the next highest rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative parts of Europe have the lowest rates of suicide .
Lagging behind Europe , America is making great strides to catch up .
The CDC reported in 2018 that America now has the highest rate of suicide in 50 years .
In Europe , this is not just a problem of highly depressed people wanting to end their lives .
There is a concerted effort on the part of medical professionals to assist others in doing so .
Belgium now carries the label of the `` world 's euthanasia capital '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
Following the same guiding principle of utility , Europe is now number four on the list of continents that carry out the most abortions .
The fact that the primary victim of an abortion is an unborn child without a voice makes the problem easier to ignore .
Much harder to ignore is the explosion in human-trafficking taking place in Europe .
The Department of Homeland Security has described the problem of human-trafficking , as a `` modern day form of slavery ... among the world 's fastest growing criminal industries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` children now account for 30 per cent of those being trafficked [ . ]
...
Trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most prevalent form in European countries [ . ]
'' Three of the top ten areas for sex tourism are located in Europe , and all the others are located in poor , less developed regions of the world .
In America , the same thing is happening .
Feminists , pro–homosexual rights advocates and cultural celebrities are using terms like `` pansexual , '' `` gender fluidity , '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major re-education of American society .
Harvard professor Sarah Richardson , a supporter of this task , has described the necessary change in this way : Well , the Europeans have both imagined and are realizing that this `` Brave New World '' and the `` New Morality '' look a lot like the `` Old Immorality . ''
The imagined utopian welfare state of Europe is now being realized for what it is : a dystopian society where the soul of mankind dies , and selfish appetites reign .
In America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which include the death of faith , the death of the family , and the de-humanization of mankind .
William D. Howard is a freelance writer who had a long career as an educator .
He holds degrees in philosophy and history and has traveled widely in over 40 countries .
Published with permission from the American Thinker .

The process that brought about the death of Judeo-Christian culture in Europe, is now being replicated in America.
February 18, 2020 (American Thinker) — When Notre Dame Cathedral burned in 2019, it was symbolic of a greater Europe-wide collapse of religious faith that had already taken place. That great cathedral, like most of the others in Europe, had long since passed from being a vibrant community of active worshipers to an architectural showpiece attracting millions of tourists, taking millions of photographs.
The process, which has brought about the death of Judeo-Christian culture in Europe, is now being replicated in America. If America wants to know its grim future, it only has to consult the facts of present-day European society.
From the earliest days of American history, religion played an outsized role. Even during the 1700s, when it was intellectually fashionable for some of our leaders like Thomas Jefferson to scoff at supernaturalism and prefer deism to theism, they still held tightly to the moral and spiritual truths expressed in the Holy Bible. They could do without belief in miracles in general but not the necessary miracle of a creator God who established an unchanging moral order. French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in the 1800s, took particular note of America's highly religious national character as compared to European society. He knew the horrors into which French society was plunged as a result of extreme anti-religious sentiment.
The history of the world is littered with failed revolutions that promised to remake their societies in a better image. The American Revolution is among the few which have actually succeeded.
The bad news is that we are now no longer on the same path. We have opted for the European model.
The last sixty years of American history reveal that we have been on a new path. It is a path that leads away from freedom and individual responsibility. It is a path that mistakes vice for freedom and socialism for progress. Because Europe began this journey before us, we can now see our future in their present
If we begin with a comparison of religious practice, the surveys of American society show a number between 37% and 22% for Americans who attend weekly services.
The average of these numbers, below 30%, is the lowest in modern American history, but if you are a person of faith in Europe, you would be celebrating this as the sign of a great religious revival. The average church attendance for the countries of Northern Europe is 4%. There are only three countries in Europe where more than 10% of young people attend religious services on a weekly basis.
What must be understood are the characteristics of this new post-Judeo-Christian Europe. What do the sociological data tell us is happening there? Sociologists, psychologists, and historians all agree on one point: the family unit is the basis of all societies. The present European family is in a state of crisis. As much as we lament America's high divorce rate of 53%, Europe's is higher, in some countries reaching 60%. Worse than the high divorce rates are the high out-of-wedlock birth rates and the huge increase in single-parent families. The “Max Planck Society” published the following in 2016:
The significance of marriage slowly started to decline as early as 1970, a process linked to the advance of secularization in many countries[.] … By 1990, the share of unmarried births had already increased fourfold[.] … In many parts of Northern and Western Europe, there are already more births out of wedlock than births within marriage.
The same process is taking place in America. The difference is that America's religious attendance was much higher than Europe's when the process started. We are moving in the same direction as Europe but at a slower pace.
The fact that European societies are still relatively prosperous and orderly in spite of these demographic changes is only a testament to what historian Will Durant called “living in the after- glow of one's faith.” No society will collapse immediately, but already these changes are showing themselves in a variety of dark statistics.
The crisis in the European family is rapidly becoming a mental health crisis.
The most recent large-scale study of Europe, covering 514 million people, found that mental illness had increased to 38%.
Based upon World Health Organization statistics, Europeans commit suicide more than the people of any other region of the world. Russia has the highest rate, followed by other Eastern European nations, all of which were until recent years ruled by communist governments, which viewed religion as taboo. Following these Eastern European nations, the most secular parts of Western and Northern Europe have the next highest rates of suicide. The more traditional culturally conservative parts of Europe have the lowest rates of suicide. Lagging behind Europe, America is making great strides to catch up. The CDC reported in 2018 that America now has the highest rate of suicide in 50 years.
In Europe, this is not just a problem of highly depressed people wanting to end their lives. There is a concerted effort on the part of medical professionals to assist others in doing so. Belgium now carries the label of the “world's euthanasia capital” and even allows suicide by lethal injection for children.
Following the same guiding principle of utility, Europe is now number four on the list of continents that carry out the most abortions. The fact that the primary victim of an abortion is an unborn child without a voice makes the problem easier to ignore. Much harder to ignore is the explosion in human-trafficking taking place in Europe.
The Department of Homeland Security has described the problem of human-trafficking, as a “modern day form of slavery … among the world's fastest growing criminal industries.” BusinessLine reported in 2019 that “children now account for 30 per cent of those being trafficked[.] … Trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most prevalent form in European countries[.]”
Three of the top ten areas for sex tourism are located in Europe, and all the others are located in poor, less developed regions of the world. In America, the same thing is happening. Feminists, pro–homosexual rights advocates and cultural celebrities are using terms like “pansexual,” “gender fluidity,” and “One Love” to begin the major re-education of American society. Harvard professor Sarah Richardson, a supporter of this task, has described the necessary change in this way:
Young people will lead us in directions that we have never imagined[.] … [M]ore and more young people are transcending gender norms[.] … [A] more sophisticated view of gender seems to be everywhere we look … [i]s expanding our ideas of identify and love.
Well, the Europeans have both imagined and are realizing that this “Brave New World” and the “New Morality” look a lot like the “Old Immorality.” The imagined utopian welfare state of Europe is now being realized for what it is: a dystopian society where the soul of mankind dies, and selfish appetites reign. In America, we are faithfully retracing the European steps, which include the death of faith, the death of the family, and the de-humanization of mankind.
William D. Howard is a freelance writer who had a long career as an educator. He holds degrees in philosophy and history and has traveled widely in over 40 countries.
Published with permission from the American Thinker.
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