lifesitenews--2020-05-21--Judge rules Conservative party leadership race erred in banning pro-life candidate

PETITION : Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society !
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ONTARIO , May 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – An Ontario judge has ruled that banned Conservative Party of Canada ( CPC ) leadership candidate Jim Karahalios can be allowed to re-enter the leadership race , so long as he meets conditions set out by the judge within a two-week window .
On May 20 , Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell ruled Karahalios is again allowed to be a verified candidate , but he must pay $ 100,000 within 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perell ’ s ruling stated that neither the CPC ’ s Dispute Resolution Appeals Committee ( DRAC ) nor the party ’ s Chief Returning Officer ( CRO ) had the authority to disqualify Karahalios .
This ability , Perell says , falls to the CPC ’ s Leadership Election Organizing Committee ( LEOC ) .
“ The authority to disqualify is reserved to the eighteen members of the ( leadership organizing committee ) which has never formally or properly considered the matter of Mr. Karahalios ’ status as a candidate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Mr .
Karahalios [ ’ ] status is properly left to the LEOC to adjudicate .
That was the contractual arrangement of the candidates with the Conservative Party .
LEOC is in the position to determine if the conduct of the Mr. Karahalios was such that he should be disqualified as a candidate.
” Perell ’ s full summary judgment is as follows : a. I declare that the DRAC Decision of March 18 , 2020 to disqualify Mr. Karahalios ’ as a candidate for the Conservative Party leadership was invalid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
b. I declare that if Mr. Karahalios complies with the Ruling of the CRO dated March 17 , 2020 within fourteen days of the release of these Reasons for Decision , he is a Verified Leadership Candidate in good standing .
c. I Order that within twenty days of the release of these Reasons for Decision , the Conservative Fund pay what are known as “ Directed Contributions ” in accordance with Rule 4.4.6 of the Leadership Rules and s. 365 of the Canada Elections Act .
d. I Order that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prejudice to the rights of the LEOC to determine the rules and procedures for the conduct of the leadership selection process , including the right of LEOC to amend the Rules or issue further rules or procedures as it deems necessary to conduct an open , fair , and equitable election Process while respecting the Constitution as passed by the Conservative Party Membership at the start of the leadership process .
Karahalios was banned by the DRAC in March from running for the leadership of the party , even though he had submitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible to do so .
Karahalios launched a lawsuit against the CPC in early April for what he called an “ unlawful ” disqualification during the campaign , with the goal being reinstatement in the leadership race .
In his lawsuit , Karahalios said he felt the party disqualified him in bad faith , “ once it became apparent , he would meet the ballot criteria , ” which he did before the March 25 deadline .
Karahalios ’ s lawyers said the party disqualified him “ as a result of a complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign requesting his disqualification.
” Karahalios sent an email to his followers in early March with the title , “ Say NO to Shariah Law .
Stop Erin O ’ Toole.
” O ’ Toole complained publicly that Karahalios was a “ racist ” for this email .
In a statement sent to his followers on May 20 , Karahalios said the judge ruled that his campaign contributions should be returned to his campaign account , “ as the Leadership Rules have always required but which the Party had resisted.
” He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not have the “ jurisdiction to judge the appropriateness of the CRO Derek Vanstone 's prior sanctions – sanctions which he has not levied on any other candidate in this race for their campaign communications.
” Court documents show that on March 17 , the CPC ’ s CRO Derek Vanstone slapped a $ 50,000 penalty against Karahalios for his O ’ Toole comments .
Vanstone also set out conditions , which along with the penalty , including an increase in his deposit to run to $ 150,000 , instead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Karahalios appealed Vanstone ’ s ruling which subsequently saw him disqualified by the DRAC .
“ The CRO investigated Mr. O ’ Toole ’ s complaint , and he consulted with some members of the Leadership Election Organizing Committee ( LEOC ) .
The CRO made a ruling on March 17 , 2020 .
The CRO imposed a reporting obligation and a financial penalty on Mr. Karahalios .
Mr. Karahalios appealed the CRO ’ s Ruling to the Dispute Resolution Appeal Committee ( DRAC ) , and it disqualified Mr. Karahalios altogether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling .
Perell ruled that in his opinion , “ there was no procedural unfairness and there was no bad faith .
There was nothing untoward or unlawful about the CRO ’ s Ruling , which was to impose a penalty but not to disqualify Mr. Karahalios.
” “ I appreciate that neither party wanted the CRO ’ s Ruling reinstated , but that was because Mr. Karahalios wanted to avoid any sanction at all , which is a result that he is not entitled to , and the Conservative Party wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a result that it is not entitled to .
The appropriate result , which is consistent with contract law doctrine , is that the remedy for a breach of contract is to put the wronged party in the position that he or she would have been had the contract been performed .
In the immediate case , the appropriate result is to restore the CRO Ruling , ” said Perell in his ruling .
“ As a result , the challenge before me is that in order to get on the ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 100,000 without the use of the Party lists as the CRO required .
The Court has given me 14 days to raise this amount in order to be placed on the ballot , ” said Karahalios in his May 20 statement .
Karahalios says that he is looking at the court ’ s ruling to best determine how he can re-enter the race .
“ While I disagree with the CRO 's heavy handed ruling , I have no further means by which to appeal it because of the Court 's limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ I am currently reviewing the Court 's ruling to assess how I can best re-enter the race in a competitive manner that respects the Court 's ruling , the Rules of the race as clarified by the Court , and the will of Conservative Party members.
” The two official pro-life candidates in the running for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada are Dr. Leslyn Lewis , and MP Derek Sloan .
MP Erin O ’ Toole and former MP Peter MacKay are the other two official candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended in late March due to the coronavirus .
The LEOC has set an August 21 date to end the race .
Party members will be voting via mail-in ballots , which will be sent out to members in July .

Jim Karahalios has a 14-day window to meet conditions set out by the judge for his re-entry.
PETITION: Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society! Sign the petition here.
ONTARIO, May 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – An Ontario judge has ruled that banned Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership candidate Jim Karahalios can be allowed to re-enter the leadership race, so long as he meets conditions set out by the judge within a two-week window.
On May 20, Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell ruled Karahalios is again allowed to be a verified candidate, but he must pay $100,000 within 14 days to be back on the ballot.
Perell’s ruling stated that neither the CPC’s Dispute Resolution Appeals Committee (DRAC) nor the party’s Chief Returning Officer (CRO) had the authority to disqualify Karahalios. This ability, Perell says, falls to the CPC’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC).
“The authority to disqualify is reserved to the eighteen members of the (leadership organizing committee) which has never formally or properly considered the matter of Mr. Karahalios’ status as a candidate,” said Perell in his ruling.
“Mr. Karahalios[’] status is properly left to the LEOC to adjudicate. That was the contractual arrangement of the candidates with the Conservative Party. LEOC is in the position to determine if the conduct of the Mr. Karahalios was such that he should be disqualified as a candidate.”
Perell’s full summary judgment is as follows:
a. I declare that the DRAC Decision of March 18, 2020 to disqualify Mr. Karahalios’ as a candidate for the Conservative Party leadership was invalid, and I set aside the DRAC Decision. b. I declare that if Mr. Karahalios complies with the Ruling of the CRO dated March 17, 2020 within fourteen days of the release of these Reasons for Decision, he is a Verified Leadership Candidate in good standing. c. I Order that within twenty days of the release of these Reasons for Decision, the Conservative Fund pay what are known as “Directed Contributions” in accordance with Rule 4.4.6 of the Leadership Rules and s. 365 of the Canada Elections Act. d. I Order that the above Declarations and the Orders are without prejudice to the rights of the LEOC to determine the rules and procedures for the conduct of the leadership selection process, including the right of LEOC to amend the Rules or issue further rules or procedures as it deems necessary to conduct an open, fair, and equitable election Process while respecting the Constitution as passed by the Conservative Party Membership at the start of the leadership process.
Karahalios was banned by the DRAC in March from running for the leadership of the party, even though he had submitted the required signatures and funds to be eligible to do so.
Karahalios launched a lawsuit against the CPC in early April for what he called an “unlawful” disqualification during the campaign, with the goal being reinstatement in the leadership race.
In his lawsuit, Karahalios said he felt the party disqualified him in bad faith, “once it became apparent, he would meet the ballot criteria,” which he did before the March 25 deadline.
Karahalios’s lawyers said the party disqualified him “as a result of a complaint filed by the Erin O’Toole campaign requesting his disqualification.”
Karahalios sent an email to his followers in early March with the title, “Say NO to Shariah Law. Stop Erin O’Toole.” O’Toole complained publicly that Karahalios was a “racist” for this email.
In a statement sent to his followers on May 20, Karahalios said the judge ruled that his campaign contributions should be returned to his campaign account, “as the Leadership Rules have always required but which the Party had resisted.”
He also said that the court ruled that they do not have the “jurisdiction to judge the appropriateness of the CRO Derek Vanstone's prior sanctions – sanctions which he has not levied on any other candidate in this race for their campaign communications.”
Court documents show that on March 17, the CPC’s CRO Derek Vanstone slapped a $50,000 penalty against Karahalios for his O’Toole comments.
Vanstone also set out conditions, which along with the penalty, including an increase in his deposit to run to $150,000, instead of the $100,000 required for all other candidates. Karahalios appealed Vanstone’s ruling which subsequently saw him disqualified by the DRAC.
“The CRO investigated Mr. O’Toole’s complaint, and he consulted with some members of the Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC). The CRO made a ruling on March 17, 2020. The CRO imposed a reporting obligation and a financial penalty on Mr. Karahalios. Mr. Karahalios appealed the CRO’s Ruling to the Dispute Resolution Appeal Committee (DRAC), and it disqualified Mr. Karahalios altogether from the Leadership Contest,” says the ruling.
Perell ruled that in his opinion, “there was no procedural unfairness and there was no bad faith. There was nothing untoward or unlawful about the CRO’s Ruling, which was to impose a penalty but not to disqualify Mr. Karahalios.”
“I appreciate that neither party wanted the CRO’s Ruling reinstated, but that was because Mr. Karahalios wanted to avoid any sanction at all, which is a result that he is not entitled to, and the Conservative Party wanted to preserve the DRAC decision, which is a result that it is not entitled to. The appropriate result, which is consistent with contract law doctrine, is that the remedy for a breach of contract is to put the wronged party in the position that he or she would have been had the contract been performed. In the immediate case, the appropriate result is to restore the CRO Ruling,” said Perell in his ruling.
“As a result, the challenge before me is that in order to get on the ballot, I have to raise an additional $100,000 without the use of the Party lists as the CRO required. The Court has given me 14 days to raise this amount in order to be placed on the ballot,” said Karahalios in his May 20 statement.
Karahalios says that he is looking at the court’s ruling to best determine how he can re-enter the race.
“While I disagree with the CRO's heavy handed ruling, I have no further means by which to appeal it because of the Court's limited jurisdiction,” said Karahalios in his statement.
“I am currently reviewing the Court's ruling to assess how I can best re-enter the race in a competitive manner that respects the Court's ruling, the Rules of the race as clarified by the Court, and the will of Conservative Party members.”
The two official pro-life candidates in the running for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada are Dr. Leslyn Lewis, and MP Derek Sloan. MP Erin O’Toole and former MP Peter MacKay are the other two official candidates.
The Conservative Party leadership race was suspended in late March due to the coronavirus. The LEOC has set an August 21 date to end the race. Party members will be voting via mail-in ballots, which will be sent out to members in July.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-21--Chinese biotech firm boasts about ‘screening out’ Down syndrome children as huge moneymaker

SHENZHEN , China , May 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A spokeswoman for a Chinese biotech company boasted that helping expectant parents around the world to “ screen out ” Down syndrome babies before they can be born is a “ cash cow ” for the firm .
A video clip from an Al Jazeera report , which one pro-life commentator has called “ profoundly shocking , ” shows a BGI Genomics representative proudly declaring , “ We use our technology ( to ) avoid the birth of birth defect , like Down syndrome birth.
” “ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them out , ” she added .
“ We can avoid the birth of them.
” The unnamed spokeswoman explained that BGI has analyzed millions of blood samples from pregnant women “ to test if the baby has Down syndrome or other chromosome disease.
” “ This part is BGI ’ s , what we call ‘ cash cow , ’ making money to support the growth ” of the other divisions of the company , including “ nutrition , health , medical , insurance , everything , ” she said , smiling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generates more than half of BGI ’ s revenues .
When one of her listeners suggested that her comment about “ screening out ” Down syndrome babies “ seems really scary , ” she remained silent and offered no response .
“ It ’ s difficult to know which is worse : the recognition that the little person being killed is a child or the clinical acceptance that the child can be ‘ screened out , ’ ” wrote Irish pro-life activist Niamh Uí Bhriain .
“ The purpose of matching these aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious : to do exactly what was said in the video , and screen out people who have Down syndrome and other disabilities , ” she continued .
“ In other words , to kill them all before birth , ” she added .
Others , especially parents of Down syndrome children , were equally aghast .
“ She says ‘ defect , ’ I say ‘ difference.
’ That ’ s all it comes down to .
And she had no answer to his questions about ethical implications , ” remarked Vanessa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should turn their attention to the seek and destroy of COVID-19 , instead of perfectly wonderful human beings !
” “ She obviously needs to be educated , ” said Danielle Landers .
“ I ’ m a proud mother of a ( Down syndrome ) child and I wouldn ’ t change anything .
She has labeled it as a disease .
It is not a disease .
It ’ s an extra chromosome.
” “ How much money do they get to tell them to get rid of these beautiful babies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ?
” wondered Kate Brown .
“ Well , we knew this inside , people try to cover it in CHOICE .
But really , no .
It ’ s profiting from discrimination , ” said Colette Lloyd on Twitter .
“ I actually feel sick.
” “ The expression on her face at the end ... She doesn ’ t seem to understand how someone can put ethics above money , ” said Adrienne Nicholas in response .
UK ’ s Right to Life pointed out that this isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its co-founding chairman , Wang Jian , have courted controversy : In 2018 , the businessman caught the media ’ s attention for saying in an interview it would be a “ disgrace ” for any of BGI Group ’ s 7,000 employees to have a child with a birth ‘ defect.
’ Wang said , “ It would mean that we are fooling society and just eyeing others ’ pockets.
” He added that there are no known serious congenital diseases among the 1,400 infants that have been born to the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shiny , fake and heartless future there ’ s no room , it seems , for the people who teach us the most important thing of all ; how to love , ” concluded Bhriain .

The company brags that it has the technology in place to 'avoid the birth of them' and happily acknowledges the procedure is a 'cash cow.'
SHENZHEN, China, May 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A spokeswoman for a Chinese biotech company boasted that helping expectant parents around the world to “screen out” Down syndrome babies before they can be born is a “cash cow” for the firm.
A video clip from an Al Jazeera report, which one pro-life commentator has called “profoundly shocking,”shows a BGI Genomics representative proudly declaring, “We use our technology (to) avoid the birth of birth defect, like Down syndrome birth.”
“A Down syndrome child, we can screen them out,” she added. “We can avoid the birth of them.”
The unnamed spokeswoman explained that BGI has analyzed millions of blood samples from pregnant women “to test if the baby has Down syndrome or other chromosome disease.”
“This part is BGI’s, what we call ‘cash cow,’ making money to support the growth” of the other divisions of the company, including “nutrition, health, medical, insurance, everything,” she said, smiling broadly.
Testing for Down syndrome reportedly generates more than half of BGI’s revenues.
When one of her listeners suggested that her comment about “screening out” Down syndrome babies “seems really scary,” she remained silent and offered no response.
“Screening out” babies with Down’s syndrome is apparently a “cash cow” for this business. �� pic.twitter.com/1wIYlKMZxW — Don't Screen Us Out (@dontscreenusout) May 19, 2020
Profiting from discrimination and killing
“It’s difficult to know which is worse: the recognition that the little person being killed is a child or the clinical acceptance that the child can be ‘screened out,’” wrote Irish pro-life activist Niamh Uí Bhriain.
“The purpose of matching these aggressive screening programs with easily available abortion is obvious: to do exactly what was said in the video, and screen out people who have Down syndrome and other disabilities,” she continued.
“In other words, to kill them all before birth,” she added.
Others, especially parents of Down syndrome children, were equally aghast.
“She says ‘defect,’ I say ‘difference.’ That’s all it comes down to. And she had no answer to his questions about ethical implications,” remarked Vanessa Lindsey on Facebook. “Maybe they should turn their attention to the seek and destroy of COVID-19, instead of perfectly wonderful human beings!”
“She obviously needs to be educated,” said Danielle Landers. “I’m a proud mother of a (Down syndrome) child and I wouldn’t change anything. She has labeled it as a disease. It is not a disease. It’s an extra chromosome.”
“How much money do they get to tell them to get rid of these beautiful babies that bring so much happiness to this world?” wondered Kate Brown.
“ Well, we knew this inside, people try to cover it in CHOICE. But really, no. It’s profiting from discrimination,” said Colette Lloyd on Twitter. “I actually feel sick.”
“The expression on her face at the end … She doesn’t seem to understand how someone can put ethics above money,” said Adrienne Nicholas in response.
The expression on her face at the end ���� She doesn’t seem to understand how someone can put ethics above money ������ — Adrienne Nicholas (@Adrienne2911) May 20, 2020
UK’s Right to Life pointed out that this isn’t the first time the BGI group and its co-founding chairman, Wang Jian, have courted controversy:
In 2018, the businessman caught the media’s attention for saying in an interview it would be a “disgrace” for any of BGI Group’s 7,000 employees to have a child with a birth ‘defect.’
Wang said, “It would mean that we are fooling society and just eyeing others’ pockets.” He added that there are no known serious congenital diseases among the 1,400 infants that have been born to the company’s employees.
“In this shiny, fake and heartless future there’s no room, it seems, for the people who teach us the most important thing of all; how to love,” concluded Bhriain.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-21--In-person religious gatherings begin to resume amid legal fights, public pressure

PETITION : Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society !
Sign the petition here .
May 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Americans in some parts of the country are regaining their freedom to gather in person for worshipping with fellow believers , as legal challenges to state lockdown orders make their way through the courts and the public ’ s impatience with restrictions on normal life tests their limit .
North Carolina Democrat Gov .
Roy Cooper had suspended various in-person gatherings of more than 10 people , as part of his stay-at-home order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically cited churches as places where “ the virus can spread so much more easily , ” because “ people gather together and are around each other for a long time.
” Federal Judge James C. Denver III blocked the order , the News & Observer reported , noting that the 10-person limit seemed to be selectively applied .
“ The record , at this admittedly early stage of the case , reveals that the governor appears to trust citizens to perform non-religious activities indoors ( such as shopping or working or selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do the same when they worship together indoors , ” the judge wrote in his ruling .
“ The court trusts worshippers and their leaders to look after one another and society while exercising their free exercise rights just as they and their fellow citizens ( whether religious or not ) do when engaged in non-religious activities , ” the ruling continued .
Denver ’ s ruling is not the last word on the state ’ s lockdown order ; a hearing on its legal merits is set for May 29 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be appealing , meaning that North Carolina worshippers will be free to gather for at least the next week .
Meanwhile , Delaware Democrat Gov .
John Carney announced that in-person services can resume in the state , NBC Philadelphia reported , albeit with significant limitations .
Churches and other places of worship may hold one in-person service per week , for just a single hour , limited to 30 percent of the building ’ s maximum occupancy .
Social distancing between members of different households is mandatory , choirs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stagger their arrival time .
Masks are also mandatory and “ exchange of materials of any kind ” – such as hymn books , Holy Communion – “ is strongly discouraged , ” and donations should be collected with a stationary box rather than passing around a basket .
In Oregon , Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew B. Shirtcliff sided with churches in ruling that Democrat Gov .
Kate Brown ’ s lockdown orders were invalid for exceeding a 28-day limit enacted by the state legislature .
However , Brown appealed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown to temporarily continue , Oregon Live reported .
A date has not yet been set for the court to consider the matter on the merits .
`` The governor ’ s orders are not required for public safety when plaintiffs can continue to utilize social distancing and safety protocols at larger gatherings involving spiritual worship , '' Shirtcliff had determined .
“ Plaintiffs have shown that they will be harmed by deprivation of the constitutional right to freely exercise their religion .
Other plaintiffs have also shown great economic harm to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” State Supreme Court Presiding Justice Thomas A. Balmer ’ s ruling announcing the hold on Shirtcliff ’ s ruling did not delve into the reasoning behind the court ’ s decision .
Before the Supreme Court reversed it , Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier had called Shirtcliff ’ s decision a “ powerful reminder that Governor Brown , whatever her intentions , is not a ruler who can ignore Oregon ’ s Constitution and laws.
” As of May 21 , the United States is estimated to have seen more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 95,000 deaths and 373,000 recoveries .
An estimated 40 percent of those deaths have come from nursing homes ( with the percentages for specific states often much higher ) , and mounting evidence suggests far more of the public has contracted and recovered from the virus than the official count indicates .
At the same time , state bans on “ non-essential ” activity across the country have caused massive job losses , with more than 33 million Americans filing for unemployment and studies predicting that tens of thousands of small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The suppression of religious exercise has been one of the focal points for resistance to the COVID-19 lockdowns across the country , along with prohibitions on peaceful protesting outdoors , even when the protestors abide by “ social distancing.
” Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world .

PETITION: Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society! Sign the petition here.
May 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Americans in some parts of the country are regaining their freedom to gather in person for worshipping with fellow believers, as legal challenges to state lockdown orders make their way through the courts and the public’s impatience with restrictions on normal life tests their limit.
North Carolina Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper had suspended various in-person gatherings of more than 10 people, as part of his stay-at-home order to curb the spread of COVID-19, and specifically cited churches as places where “the virus can spread so much more easily,” because “people gather together and are around each other for a long time.”
Federal Judge James C. Denver III blocked the order, the News & Observer reported, noting that the 10-person limit seemed to be selectively applied.
“The record, at this admittedly early stage of the case, reveals that the governor appears to trust citizens to perform non-religious activities indoors (such as shopping or working or selling merchandise) but does not trust them to do the same when they worship together indoors,” the judge wrote in his ruling.
“The court trusts worshippers and their leaders to look after one another and society while exercising their free exercise rights just as they and their fellow citizens (whether religious or not) do when engaged in non-religious activities,” the ruling continued.
Denver’s ruling is not the last word on the state’s lockdown order; a hearing on its legal merits is set for May 29. In the meantime, however, Cooper will not be appealing, meaning that North Carolina worshippers will be free to gather for at least the next week.
Meanwhile, Delaware Democrat Gov. John Carney announced that in-person services can resume in the state, NBC Philadelphia reported, albeit with significant limitations.
Churches and other places of worship may hold one in-person service per week, for just a single hour, limited to 30 percent of the building’s maximum occupancy. Social distancing between members of different households is mandatory, choirs are still forbidden, and attendees must somehow stagger their arrival time.
Masks are also mandatory and “exchange of materials of any kind” – such as hymn books, Holy Communion – “is strongly discouraged,” and donations should be collected with a stationary box rather than passing around a basket.
In Oregon, Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew B. Shirtcliff sided with churches in ruling that Democrat Gov. Kate Brown’s lockdown orders were invalid for exceeding a 28-day limit enacted by the state legislature. However, Brown appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court, which allowed the lockdown to temporarily continue, Oregon Live reported. A date has not yet been set for the court to consider the matter on the merits.
“The governor’s orders are not required for public safety when plaintiffs can continue to utilize social distancing and safety protocols at larger gatherings involving spiritual worship,'' Shirtcliff had determined. “Plaintiffs have shown that they will be harmed by deprivation of the constitutional right to freely exercise their religion. Other plaintiffs have also shown great economic harm to their businesses and their ability to seek livelihood.”
State Supreme Court Presiding Justice Thomas A. Balmer’s ruling announcing the hold on Shirtcliff’s ruling did not delve into the reasoning behind the court’s decision.
Before the Supreme Court reversed it, Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier had called Shirtcliff’s decision a “powerful reminder that Governor Brown, whatever her intentions, is not a ruler who can ignore Oregon’s Constitution and laws.”
As of May 21, the United States is estimated to have seen more than 1.6 million COVID-19 cases, with more than 95,000 deaths and 373,000 recoveries. An estimated 40 percent of those deaths have come from nursing homes (with the percentages for specific states often much higher), and mounting evidence suggests far more of the public has contracted and recovered from the virus than the official count indicates.
At the same time, state bans on “non-essential” activity across the country have caused massive job losses, with more than 33 million Americans filing for unemployment and studies predicting that tens of thousands of small businesses that have closed down will never reopen.
The suppression of religious exercise has been one of the focal points for resistance to the COVID-19 lockdowns across the country, along with prohibitions on peaceful protesting outdoors, even when the protestors abide by “social distancing.”
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-21--LGBT activist targets Catholic teaching as ‘conversion therapy’ that must be banned

TORONTO , May 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Canada ’ s largest pro-life group is warning the country ’ s Catholic bishops and school trustees that the Trudeau government ’ s ban on so-called “ conversion therapy ” for minors will criminalize counselling based on Catholic teaching , and could make it a crime to teach Catholic sexual morality in Catholic schools .
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual acts are instrinsically disordered and the homosexual inclination itself objectively disordered , and that gender ideology opposes God ’ s plan for human sexuality and His creation of man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently released video , Campaign Life Coalition also renewed its plea to the bishops to voice their opposition to Bill C-8 , which Justice Minister David Lametti tabled in the House of Commons in March .
“ Silence is not an option .
The Church hierarchy needs to speak out , ” said Campaign Life president Jeff Gunnarson .
“ The bishops ’ silence is to the detriment of all Christians and all people of faith , not just Catholics , because other faith-traditions will be adversely impacted by the totalitarian law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five new offences to the Criminal Code .
It will make it a crime punishable by up to five years in prison to : 1 ) cause a minor to undergo conversion therapy , 2 ) remove a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy , 3 ) cause a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will .
It will make it a crime punishable by up to two years in prison to : 4 ) profit from conversion therapy , and 5 ) advertise conversion therapy .
Bill C-8 defines “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , treatment or service designed to change a person ’ s sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender , or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour.
” It adds : “ For greater certainty , this definition does not include a practice , treatment or service that relates ( a ) to a person ’ s gender transition ; or ( b ) to a person ’ s exploration of their identity or to its development.
” Even though the Trudeau Liberals have reduced the age of consent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age , they define a “ minor ” in Bill C-8 as under 18 years of age .
In the video co-produced by Campaign Life and LifeSiteNews , Campaign Life staffer Clinton Somerton explained that Bill C-8 will affect “ our Catholic , faith-based separate schools.
” That ’ s because of the pervasive influence of Edmonton-based LGBTQ activist Dr. Kristopher Wells , who has been lobbying all levels of government to ban “ conversion therapy , ” he said .
“ To know the exact intent of this federal legislation by Justin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where its author intends its tentacles to reach in the future , we need only read the words of Kristopher Wells , ” Somerton said .
Wells is well-known for his homosexual activism .
As director of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta , he created the Alberta NDP government website on Gay-Straight Alliances intended for K-12 students .
The site notoriously included links to sexually graphic material , such as sex toy advertisements , videos of men engaging in homosexual sadomasochistic practices , and advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also shared sexually explicit material on social media , promoted a cartoon comparing Christians to Nazis , defended public sex acts , publicly mocked private correspondences from parents , and promoted various materials that graphically encourage sexual experimentation among minors .
Currently the Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at Edmonton ’ s MacEwan University , Wells most recently was involved in Calgary city council ’ s plans to implement what critics say is an exceptionally dangerous ban , as Jonathan Van Maren reported this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing municipal “ conversion therapy ” bans , Wells makes it clear he intends to criminalize Catholic teaching as a form of “ conversion therapy , ” Somerton pointed out .
Modern forms of conversion therapy are still happening in Canada , particularly in some catholic [ sic ] and faith-based schools , which often occur under the guise of “ pastoral approaches to care.
” Many of these approaches refuse to allow or place restrictions on gay-straight alliances ( GSAs ) , refer to LGBTQ2 students as “ persons with same-sex attractions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth are being influenced by a so-called “ gender ideology , ” and enact policies that call LGBTQ2 youth to live chaste lives .
What is common with all of these practices is how they fundamentally disavow LGBTQ2 identity and reassert the belief that LGBTQ2 people are broken , disordered , or damaged .
… These actions operate on the same premise as conversion therapy , which denies a healthy and happy LGBTQ2 identity and strives to change or suppress a person ’ s sexual orientation , gender identity , or gender expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sinful , or contagious that needs to be managed or contained .
...
These modern conversion therapy practices have the desired effect of rendering LGBTQ2 students silent , invisible , and vulnerable within their school environments ( emphasis added ) .
“ Wells and his transhumanist allies thoroughly understand and can see right through the feeble language of the so-called ‘ Catholic Lens ’ approach to dealing with the LGBT ideological onslaught of recent years , ” Somerton observed .
According to Wells ’ vision , the Courage Apostolate , a 12-step Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaste lives according to Church teaching , would be outlawed as “ conversion therapy.
” Under C-8 , taking a minor to a Courage meeting would be considered a crime punishable by up to five years in jail , and advertising Courage a crime punishable by up to two years in jail .
LifeSiteNews contacted the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to ask if the bishops would be issuing a statement on Bill C-8 , but did not hear back by deadline .
Campaign Life has sent all Canada ’ s bishops a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging Catholics to contact their bishop to ask him to categorically oppose Bill C-8 .
For contact information on the Catholic bishops , visit the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops here .
Campaign Life has also launched a petition against the legislation , which can be found here .

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has yet to issue a statement on the bill.
TORONTO, May 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Canada’s largest pro-life group is warning the country’s Catholic bishops and school trustees that the Trudeau government’s ban on so-called “conversion therapy” for minors will criminalize counselling based on Catholic teaching, and could make it a crime to teach Catholic sexual morality in Catholic schools.
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual acts are instrinsically disordered and the homosexual inclination itself objectively disordered, and that gender ideology opposes God’s plan for human sexuality and His creation of man as male and female.
In a recently released video, Campaign Life Coalition also renewed its plea to the bishops to voice their opposition to Bill C-8, which Justice Minister David Lametti tabled in the House of Commons in March.
“Silence is not an option. The Church hierarchy needs to speak out,” said Campaign Life president Jeff Gunnarson.
“The bishops’ silence is to the detriment of all Christians and all people of faith, not just Catholics, because other faith-traditions will be adversely impacted by the totalitarian law,” added Gunnarson.
Bill C-8 adds five new offences to the Criminal Code. It will make it a crime punishable by up to five years in prison to: 1) cause a minor to undergo conversion therapy, 2) remove a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy, 3) cause a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will.
It will make it a crime punishable by up to two years in prison to: 4) profit from conversion therapy, and 5) advertise conversion therapy.
Bill C-8 defines “conversion therapy” as “a practice, treatment or service designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender, or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour.”
It adds: “For greater certainty, this definition does not include a practice, treatment or service that relates (a) to a person’s gender transition; or (b) to a person’s exploration of their identity or to its development.”
Even though the Trudeau Liberals have reduced the age of consent for anal sex to 16 years of age, they define a “minor” in Bill C-8 as under 18 years of age.
In the video co-produced by Campaign Life and LifeSiteNews, Campaign Life staffer Clinton Somerton explained that Bill C-8 will affect “our Catholic, faith-based separate schools.”
That’s because of the pervasive influence of Edmonton-based LGBTQ activist Dr. Kristopher Wells, who has been lobbying all levels of government to ban “conversion therapy,” he said.
“To know the exact intent of this federal legislation by Justin Trudeau and the Liberal-appointed Senate, and where its author intends its tentacles to reach in the future, we need only read the words of Kristopher Wells,” Somerton said.
Wells is well-known for his homosexual activism. As director of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta, he created the Alberta NDP government website on Gay-Straight Alliances intended for K-12 students.
The site notoriously included links to sexually graphic material, such as sex toy advertisements, videos of men engaging in homosexual sadomasochistic practices, and advice to “pay for porn.”
Wells has also shared sexually explicit material on social media, promoted a cartoon comparing Christians to Nazis, defended public sex acts, publicly mocked private correspondences from parents, and promoted various materials that graphically encourage sexual experimentation among minors.
Currently the Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at Edmonton’s MacEwan University, Wells most recently was involved in Calgary city council’s plans to implement what critics say is an exceptionally dangerous ban, as Jonathan Van Maren reported this week.
And in his published manifesto pushing municipal “conversion therapy” bans, Wells makes it clear he intends to criminalize Catholic teaching as a form of “conversion therapy,” Somerton pointed out.
Wells writes:
Modern forms of conversion therapy are still happening in Canada, particularly in some catholic [sic] and faith-based schools, which often occur under the guise of “pastoral approaches to care.” Many of these approaches refuse to allow or place restrictions on gay-straight alliances (GSAs), refer to LGBTQ2 students as “persons with same-sex attractions,” suggest that transgender and non-binary youth are being influenced by a so-called “gender ideology,” and enact policies that call LGBTQ2 youth to live chaste lives. What is common with all of these practices is how they fundamentally disavow LGBTQ2 identity and reassert the belief that LGBTQ2 people are broken, disordered, or damaged. … These actions operate on the same premise as conversion therapy, which denies a healthy and happy LGBTQ2 identity and strives to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression as though it is something immoral, sinful, or contagious that needs to be managed or contained. … These modern conversion therapy practices have the desired effect of rendering LGBTQ2 students silent, invisible, and vulnerable within their school environments (emphasis added).
“Wells and his transhumanist allies thoroughly understand and can see right through the feeble language of the so-called ‘Catholic Lens’ approach to dealing with the LGBT ideological onslaught of recent years,” Somerton observed.
According to Wells’ vision, the Courage Apostolate, a 12-step Catholic ministry that helps same-sex attracted Catholics live chaste lives according to Church teaching, would be outlawed as “conversion therapy.”
Under C-8, taking a minor to a Courage meeting would be considered a crime punishable by up to five years in jail, and advertising Courage a crime punishable by up to two years in jail.
LifeSiteNews contacted the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to ask if the bishops would be issuing a statement on Bill C-8, but did not hear back by deadline.
Campaign Life has sent all Canada’s bishops a link to the video, and is urging Catholics to contact their bishop to ask him to categorically oppose Bill C-8.
For contact information on the Catholic bishops, visit the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops here.
Campaign Life has also launched a petition against the legislation, which can be found here.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-05-21--Learning more about the feast of Our Lord’s Ascension

Formerly Heart to Heart with Mother Miriam , Mother Miriam Live brings you inspiration and solutions for life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Miriam is a Catholic nun on a mission to bring hope to a world that @ @ @ @ @ let her share that hope and joy with you !
To tune into Mother Miriam @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page here every Monday to Friday at 10am .

To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate here.
Watch Mother Miriam's Live show from 5.21.2020. Today, Mother encourages listeners to tune in to the last day of the Rome Life Conference tomorrow. You can sign-up here. She also speaks about bishops lifting the obligation to attend mass and the feast of the Ascension.
You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page.
Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live here.


lifesitenews--2020-05-21--70 scientists, doctors tell Trump how to regain control over corona crisis hijacked by radicals

May 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Last week , a letter containing a dozen science-based , common-sense suggestions for handling the China Virus was personally handed to President Trump .
It was signed by 70 US scientists , medical professionals , economists , and other technical experts representing all parts of the political spectrum .
They set their political differences aside because of their shared belief that , as they explained , “ genuine science should be the basis of our technical public policies and subsequent actions .
Unfortunately , far too often real science has been replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the China virus , they noted , “ some of the complaints relating to COVID-19 appear to be from those who see this pandemic as a political opportunity.
” Who among us has not noticed the ridiculous political posturing that some governors and mayors have been engaging in , which has nothing to do with public health and everything to do with political gamesmanship in advance of the upcoming elections ?
These outside experts , on the other hand , promised a “ non-political perspective and recommendations on the way forward with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backgrounds and expertise representing a cross-section of specialties and skills in a number of fields , ranging from health care to the physical sciences to economics .
… We are all in the same fight , so we need to work together.
” Here are their chief suggestions , followed by my comments : • Immediately add a professional statistician to the COVID-19 team , continue flattening the curve , and require more accurate reporting of COVID-19 complications and deaths .
The initial models being used to project China Virus deaths were poorly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections and deaths .
Perverse financial incentives to report even suicides and traffic fatalities as China Virus deaths made the problem worse .
Having an expert statistician , combined with clear reporting guidelines , would help bring the numbers back to reality .
• Federal government should put businesses into four categories ( A thru D ) based on the frequency and duration of close personal contact .
Right now some governors seem to be making entirely arbitrary decisions based more on politics than science .
Those on the Left seldom darken the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it closes them down .
On the other hand , because their followers tend to frequent cannabis shops and liquor stores , it allows these to stay open .
Having federal standards would help to remove politics from these decisions , and inject much-needed rationality .
An “ A ” business might be golf courses , while “ D ” businesses might be restaurants .
• While private-public partnerships aggressively work to increase COVID-19 testing capability , educate citizens on how they can optimize their immune system .
Aside from living a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Vitamins C and D , in combination with Zinc , boosts your immune system and increases your body ’ s ability to fight off COVID-19 disease .
Rather than locking Americans down , health officials should be encouraging them to ramp up their innate immune system by taking supplements .
• The FDA should immediately approve doctor-supervised HCQ+Z-Pak+Zn plus Remdesivir protocols .
Hydroxychloroquine should never have been politicized in the first place but , as soon as President Trump mentioned—accurately—that it was proving to be an effective tool in combating China Virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Even Dr. Fauci denounced evidence of its efficacy as anecdotal , despite the existence of nearly two dozen studies showing “ the use of HCQ-AZ [ Z-Pak ] combination … appears to be a safe and efficient treatment for COVID-19.
” The FDA should get out of the way , and allow physicians to prescribe the drug cocktail to any China Virus patient under their care .
Sensible doctors are doing this already .
• The FDA should recommend steam inhalation as an initial treatment .
Given that the China Virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viruses can be deactivated by heat ( 165 degrees ) , careful steam inhalation may prove to be a simple , low-side initial treatment .
The FDA should quickly investigate this and , if it works , endorse it .
• Congress should refrain from additional COVID-19 outlays , as an economically problematic amount has already been authorized .
An obscene amount of money has already been thrown at the China Virus epidemic , much of which was wasted .
We built hospitals that were never used , and sent hospital ships to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handfuls of patients .
Other sums went to Progressive “ wish list ” items that had nothing whatsoever to do with the epidemic .
Nancy Pelosi ’ s ridiculous 3 trillion dollar “ fast track to socialism ” bill is just more of the same .
Any new expenditures should be specifically tied to dealing with the China Virus .
Our national debt is already close to unsustainable .
We should not be adding to it .
• Continue to exhaustively investigate the origin of COVID-19 .
Evidence is growing that the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but was created there .
An investigation is necessary not only to assign responsibility for the outbreak , but also to prevent a future outbreak from one of China ’ s labs .
Most importantly , it should include an assessment of the damage caused by the China Virus to the U.S. and the global economy , so that it can be used as a basis for seeking reparations from the CCP and its leaders for damages .
If the CCP and its leaders are responsible , as the evidence indicates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their actions , and use all of the avenues at our disposal to recover , one way or another , damages .
• Thoroughly analyze the objectivity , competence and timeliness of all major UN agencies .
Obviously the UN agency most in need of a dedicated investigation concerning the China Virus outbreak is the WHO , but it is by no means the only one .
The CCP has corrupted a number of UN and international agencies whose competence and objectivity can no longer be relied upon .
They should be defunded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove impossible they should be replaced .
Dr. John Droz , the physicist who put together the memo , summarized the joint effort by saying , “ We support the President and wanted to give him several constructive suggestions going forward — and these are evidently somewhat different from what he is hearing from the Coronavirus Team.
” Steven W. Mosher @ StevenWMosher is the President of the Population Research Institute and the author of Bully of Asia : Why China ’ s Dream is the New Threat to World Order .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump .

The US scientists, medical professionals, and economists warned the president that the crisis was being used by some as a 'political opportunity'
PETITION: Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society! Sign the petition here.
May 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Last week, a letter containing a dozen science-based, common-sense suggestions for handling the China Virus was personally handed to President Trump. It was signed by 70 US scientists, medical professionals, economists, and other technical experts representing all parts of the political spectrum.
They set their political differences aside because of their shared belief that, as they explained, “genuine science should be the basis of our technical public policies and subsequent actions. Unfortunately, far too often real science has been replaced by political science.”
In the case of the China virus, they noted, “some of the complaints relating to COVID-19 appear to be from those who see this pandemic as a political opportunity.”
Who among us has not noticed the ridiculous political posturing that some governors and mayors have been engaging in, which has nothing to do with public health and everything to do with political gamesmanship in advance of the upcoming elections?
These outside experts, on the other hand, promised a “non-political perspective and recommendations on the way forward with COVID-19” based on their “diverse backgrounds and expertise representing a cross-section of specialties and skills in a number of fields, ranging from health care to the physical sciences to economics. … We are all in the same fight, so we need to work together.”
Here are their chief suggestions, followed by my comments:
Immediately add a professional statistician to the COVID-19 team, continue flattening the curve, and require more accurate reporting of COVID-19 complications and deaths.
The initial models being used to project China Virus deaths were poorly designed and produced wildly inflated predictions of infections and deaths. Perverse financial incentives to report even suicides and traffic fatalities as China Virus deaths made the problem worse. Having an expert statistician, combined with clear reporting guidelines, would help bring the numbers back to reality.
Federal government should put businesses into four categories (A thru D) based on the frequency and duration of close personal contact.
Right now some governors seem to be making entirely arbitrary decisions based more on politics than science. Those on the Left seldom darken the doors of churches and gun stores, so it closes them down. On the other hand, because their followers tend to frequent cannabis shops and liquor stores, it allows these to stay open.
Having federal standards would help to remove politics from these decisions, and inject much-needed rationality. An “A” business might be golf courses, while “D” businesses might be restaurants.
While private-public partnerships aggressively work to increase COVID-19 testing capability, educate citizens on how they can optimize their immune system.
Aside from living a healthy lifestyle, there is ample evidence that Vitamins C and D, in combination with Zinc, boosts your immune system and increases your body’s ability to fight off COVID-19 disease. Rather than locking Americans down, health officials should be encouraging them to ramp up their innate immune system by taking supplements.
The FDA should immediately approve doctor-supervised HCQ+Z-Pak+Zn plus Remdesivir protocols.
Hydroxychloroquine should never have been politicized in the first place but, as soon as President Trump mentioned—accurately—that it was proving to be an effective tool in combating China Virus, his political enemies began to attack it.
Even Dr. Fauci denounced evidence of its efficacy as anecdotal, despite the existence of nearly two dozen studies showing “the use of HCQ-AZ [Z-Pak] combination … appears to be a safe and efficient treatment for COVID-19.”
The FDA should get out of the way, and allow physicians to prescribe the drug cocktail to any China Virus patient under their care. Sensible doctors are doing this already.
The FDA should recommend steam inhalation as an initial treatment.
Given that the China Virus is a respiratory ailment, and that viruses can be deactivated by heat (165 degrees), careful steam inhalation may prove to be a simple, low-side initial treatment. The FDA should quickly investigate this and, if it works, endorse it.
Congress should refrain from additional COVID-19 outlays, as an economically problematic amount has already been authorized.
An obscene amount of money has already been thrown at the China Virus epidemic, much of which was wasted. We built hospitals that were never used, and sent hospital ships to New York and California that saw mere handfuls of patients. Other sums went to Progressive “wish list” items that had nothing whatsoever to do with the epidemic.
Nancy Pelosi’s ridiculous 3 trillion dollar “fast track to socialism” bill is just more of the same. Any new expenditures should be specifically tied to dealing with the China Virus. Our national debt is already close to unsustainable. We should not be adding to it.
Continue to exhaustively investigate the origin of COVID-19.
Evidence is growing that the coronavirus not only leaked from the Wuhan biolab, but was created there. An investigation is necessary not only to assign responsibility for the outbreak, but also to prevent a future outbreak from one of China’s labs. Most importantly, it should include an assessment of the damage caused by the China Virus to the U.S. and the global economy, so that it can be used as a basis for seeking reparations from the CCP and its leaders for damages.
If the CCP and its leaders are responsible, as the evidence indicates, then we should hold them responsible for their actions, and use all of the avenues at our disposal to recover, one way or another, damages.
Thoroughly analyze the objectivity, competence and timeliness of all major UN agencies.
Obviously the UN agency most in need of a dedicated investigation concerning the China Virus outbreak is the WHO, but it is by no means the only one. The CCP has corrupted a number of UN and international agencies whose competence and objectivity can no longer be relied upon. They should be defunded until they are reformed. Should reform prove impossible they should be replaced.
Dr. John Droz, the physicist who put together the memo, summarized the joint effort by saying, “We support the President and wanted to give him several constructive suggestions going forward — and these are evidently somewhat different from what he is hearing from the Coronavirus Team.”
Steven W. Mosher @StevenWMosher is the President of the Population Research Institute and the author of Bully of Asia: Why China’s Dream is the New Threat to World Order. He is a signatory to the letter to President Trump.
Follow Steven Steven Mosher is an internationally recognised authority on China and population issues as well as an acclaimed author and speaker and founder and head of the Population Research Institute. He was the first American social scientist to visit mainland China in 1979 where he witnessed women being forced to have abortion under the new “one-child-policy” which he then exposed to the world. Mr. Mosher was a pro-choice atheist at the time, but witnessing these traumatic abortions led him to reconsider his convictions and to eventually become a practicing, pro-life Roman Catholic. Mosher has appeared numerous times before the US Congress as an expert in world population, China and human Rights abuses. He has also made TV appearances on Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, 20/20, FOX and CNN news, as well as being a regular guest on talk radio shows across the nation. He is the author of the best-selling A Mother’s Ordeal: One woman’s Fight Against China’s One-Child-Policy. His latest book is Bully of Asia, exposing the threat of China to the entire world at this time. Articles by Steve have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, The New Republic, The Washington Post, National Review, Reason, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Freedom Review, Linacre Quarterly, Catholic World Report, Human Life Review, First Things, and numerous other publications. Steven Mosher lives in Virginia with his wife, Vera, and their nine children.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-21--Apple updates iPhone to work with COVID-19 ‘contact tracing’ apps

May 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Apple has laid the groundwork to support COVID-19 tracking applications on iPhones in the name of containing the coronavirus , despite concerns about user privacy and individual rights .
On Wednesday , Apple and Google both released the first public version of their “ Exposure Notification ” API ( application programming interface ) , TechCrunch reports .
APIs facilitate communication between the programs and data sets on a device .
The APIs do not themselves begin initiating contact tracing on somebody ’ s phone , but rather enable future contact-tracing apps to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ decentralized identifier system that uses randomly generated temporary keys created on a user ’ s device ( but not tied to their specific identity or info ) , ” according to TechCrunch .
“ Apple and Google ’ s API allows public health agencies to define what constitutes potential exposure in terms of exposed time and distance , and they can tweak transmission risk and other factors according to their own standards.
” Exposure Notification is officially being added to iPhones with Thursday ’ s rollout of the iOS 13.5 software @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release that it was working with Google on developing “ contact tracing ” capabilities on devices .
Across the world , governments and health authorities are working together to find solutions to the COVID‑19 pandemic , to protect people and get society back up and running .
Software developers are contributing by crafting technical tools to help combat the virus and save lives .
In this spirit of collaboration , Google and Apple are announcing a joint effort to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ user privacy and security central to the design .
As part of this partnership Google and Apple are releasing draft documentation for an Exposure Notification system in service of privacy-preserving contact tracing .
Apple insists that “ Each user will have to make an explicit choice to turn on the technology , ” which “ can also be turned off by the user at any time , ” and that it “ does not collect location data from your device , and does not share the identities of other users to each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stresses that data will only be given to “ public health authorities ” if their apps “ meet specific criteria around privacy , security , and data control.
” But concerns remain as to just how secure users ’ personal information will be in practice , and what exactly will constitute users ’ “ consent.
” There are some , however , who demand an even more heavy-handed approach to high-tech COVID-19 tracking .
Politico reports that some advocates of locking down society say nothing less than full contact tracing , which entails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people with COVID-19 , will suffice .
Unless societies accept “ privacy trade-offs , ” COVID-19 tracking systems will be “ unlikely to help people navigate their world , to leave their house and feel safe , ” argues University of Washington Law School professor Ryan Calo .
However , others argue there are already examples of how to make people feel safe and be safe without such measures .
Florida , for instance , focused on protecting the elderly early , did not lock down as strictly as other states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In New Jersey , 51 senior care residents out of every 100,000 people died , ” Conservative Review ’ s Daniel Horowitz writes .
“ In New York , nearly 27 per 100,000 have died .
Even in smaller and younger Colorado , more than 10 nursing home residents have died per capita .
In Florida ?
Just 3.5 per 100,000.
” As previously covered by LifeSiteNews , questions also remain as to just how secure Apple and Google ’ s vision really is .
The pan-European technology group DP3T warns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the anonymity of the data they track , hackers or law enforcement agencies would still be able to break them , potentially opening the door to “ long-term persistent surveillance of individuals by third parties.
” “ We need a roadmap of where this is going , who might have access , and without that roadmap and accountability around it , it is very hard to say the system is secure against mission creep , ” warns Michael Veale of University College London .
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all over the world .

The new update does not begin initiating contact tracing on iPhones, but rather enables future contact-tracing apps to work when downloaded
PETITION: No to mandatory contact tracing and government surveillance for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
May 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Apple has laid the groundwork to support COVID-19 tracking applications on iPhones in the name of containing the coronavirus, despite concerns about user privacy and individual rights.
On Wednesday, Apple and Google both released the first public version of their “Exposure Notification” API (application programming interface), TechCrunch reports. APIs facilitate communication between the programs and data sets on a device.
The APIs do not themselves begin initiating contact tracing on somebody’s phone, but rather enable future contact-tracing apps to work when downloaded. Exposure Notification employs a “decentralized identifier system that uses randomly generated temporary keys created on a user’s device (but not tied to their specific identity or info),” according to TechCrunch. “Apple and Google’s API allows public health agencies to define what constitutes potential exposure in terms of exposed time and distance, and they can tweak transmission risk and other factors according to their own standards.”
Exposure Notification is officially being added to iPhones with Thursday’s rollout of the iOS 13.5 software update:
Apple stated in a recent press release that it was working with Google on developing “contact tracing” capabilities on devices.
Across the world, governments and health authorities are working together to find solutions to the COVID‑19 pandemic, to protect people and get society back up and running. Software developers are contributing by crafting technical tools to help combat the virus and save lives. In this spirit of collaboration, Google and Apple are announcing a joint effort to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design. As part of this partnership Google and Apple are releasing draft documentation for an Exposure Notification system in service of privacy-preserving contact tracing.
Apple insists that “Each user will have to make an explicit choice to turn on the technology,” which “can also be turned off by the user at any time,” and that it “does not collect location data from your device, and does not share the identities of other users to each other, Google or Apple.”
It also stresses that data will only be given to “public health authorities” if their apps “meet specific criteria around privacy, security, and data control.” But concerns remain as to just how secure users’ personal information will be in practice, and what exactly will constitute users’ “consent.”
There are some, however, who demand an even more heavy-handed approach to high-tech COVID-19 tracking. Politico reports that some advocates of locking down society say nothing less than full contact tracing, which entails not only identifying but tracking the movements of people with COVID-19, will suffice.
Unless societies accept “privacy trade-offs,” COVID-19 tracking systems will be “unlikely to help people navigate their world, to leave their house and feel safe,” argues University of Washington Law School professor Ryan Calo.
However, others argue there are already examples of how to make people feel safe and be safe without such measures. Florida, for instance, focused on protecting the elderly early, did not lock down as strictly as other states, and is seeing hospitalizations after upon reopening.
“In New Jersey, 51 senior care residents out of every 100,000 people died,” Conservative Review’s Daniel Horowitz writes. “In New York, nearly 27 per 100,000 have died. Even in smaller and younger Colorado, more than 10 nursing home residents have died per capita. In Florida? Just 3.5 per 100,000.”
As previously covered by LifeSiteNews, questions also remain as to just how secure Apple and Google’s vision really is.
The pan-European technology group DP3T warns that while the incoming apps promise safeguards for the anonymity of the data they track, hackers or law enforcement agencies would still be able to break them, potentially opening the door to “long-term persistent surveillance of individuals by third parties.”
“We need a roadmap of where this is going, who might have access, and without that roadmap and accountability around it, it is very hard to say the system is secure against mission creep,” warns Michael Veale of University College London.
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-05-21--Minnesota Catholic, Lutheran bishops to gov: We’re opening up regardless of your order – live update

Minnesota Catholic, Lutheran bishops to gov: We’re opening up regardless of your order – 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 .
May 20 , 2020 , 7:21 p.m. EST : BREAKING : The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz ’ s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people ( more information on the letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , 2:24 p.m. EST : Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes : The 2020 Rome Life Forum , Coronavirus in the Light of Fatima : A Tragedy and a Source of Hope is happening online right now .
It is free to participate .
LifeSiteNews will have additional coverage of the event this week .
Reason reported yesterday , “ Developments abroad put a damper on hopes that U.S. life will return to normal soon .
Areas of Argentina , Germany , Iran , and elsewhere have seen COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Now , authorities in these places are once again tightening the screws on citizens ' movement , fraternization , and economic activity.
” More than 600 doctors signed onto a letter sent to President Trump Tuesday pushing him to end the “ national shutdown ” aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus , calling the widespread state orders keeping businesses closed and kids home from school a “ mass casualty incident ” with “ exponentially growing health consequences.
” The letter outlines a variety of consequences that the doctors have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including patients missing routine checkups that could detect things like heart problems or cancer , increases in substance and alcohol abuse , and increases in financial instability that could lead to “ [ p ] overty and financial uncertainty , ” which “ is closely linked to poor health.
” A Mississippi church suing its city over the coronavirus lockdown has been destroyed by arson .
May 20 , 2020 , 7:21 p.m. EST : BREAKING : The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz ’ s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people .
Governor Walz ’ s latest re-opening order allows the Mall of America to open its doors to those seeking retail therapy but disallows churches from providing spiritual healing to their congregations .
At the same time , The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison a legal letter explaining why continuing to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also representing the Catholic and Lutheran Churches is global law firm Sidley Austin LLP .
On May 13 , 2020 , Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order with guidelines for reopening commerce in the State of Minnesota .
The order allows malls , shops , and other retailers to open their doors at fifty percent capacity , allows businesses—from pet-grooming services to medical cannabis operations—to resume in-person operations , and even announces a phased plan for reopening bars and restaurants , but explicitly leaves in place bans on in-person worship services for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casinos are reopening starting May 26 .
After weeks of dialogue with Governor Walz to try to achieve equal treatment for houses of worship , today the Catholic and Lutheran Churches announced that they would resume worship services for their congregations at thirty-three percent capacity on Tuesday , May 26 , with Pentecost Sunday , May 31 , as the first day of Sunday services .
The churches have committed to instituting rigorous social distancing and hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
“ Darkness and despair have taken hold of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the face of the economic and social hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic , ” said Archbishop Hebda .
“ Faith has always been a source of comfort and strength and now more than ever it is of the utmost importance that we are able to meet the spiritual needs of our community.
” Since the beginning of Minnesota ’ s stay-at-home order suicide hotlines have seen spikes in calls as high as 300 percent in parts of the State , as well as a 25 percent increase in calls about domestic violence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their faith communities , which also serve as safe spaces for victims of domestic violence and those suffering with addictions .
“ Throughout this crisis , we have been committed to modeling Christ ’ s love by protecting people from the spread of illness .
That ’ s why it is so disheartening that the Governor has subordinated our spiritual well-being to the economic well-being of the State , ” said Rev .
Dr. Lucas Woodford , president of the Minnesota South District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod .
“ Now that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading coronavirus low enough to reopen non-essential business , we respectfully believe that it is our right and duty to safely resume public ministry to the faithful even without the support of the Governor.
” In March , well before statewide stay-at-home orders came into effect , both the Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod voluntarily suspended in-person worship services to preserve the health and safety of their communities .
On May 7 , and again on May 16 the churches presented Governor Walz with proposed protocols for resuming in-person worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organization and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ If malls , casinos , liquor stores , bars , and restaurants are reopening , why can ’ t Minnesota churches ?
” said Eric Rassbach , vice president and senior counsel at Becket .
“ Our Constitution stands for ‘ equal justice under law ’ and imposing a special disability on churches is anything but .
Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison should ensure equal treatment for churches and houses of worship—especially because they are crucial to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 19 , 2020 , 11:37 a.m. EST : Trump has given the World Health Organization ( WHO ) 30 days to reform or it will permanently lose U.S. funding .
“ The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China , ” he said in a letter to the pro-abortion United Nations entity .
“ I can not allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to finance an organization that , in its present state , is so clearly not serving America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9:59 a.m. EST : Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes : • We can ’ t let coronavirus fear paralyze our society .
Time to resume public Masses • Stanford medical prof says pandemic lockdowns are ‘ doomed to fail ’ • Chicago Catholic group : Cupich ’ s plan to re-open churches is ‘ betrayal of Christ ’ May 19 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – President Donald Trump has revealed he has been taking hydroxychloroquine , the drug some doctors say has been highly effective at treating the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The drug is normally prescribed to treat malaria , arthritis , and lupus .
He has also been taking a zinc supplement .
The president has repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus but is taking the drugs as a prophylactic .
A cafe in Germany is providing patrons with pool noodles to wear on their heads to aid in “ social distancing.
” People who try to swim at public beaches over Memorial Day weekend will be “ taken right out of the water , ” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned from being on duty .
It is unclear who will be tasked with extracting swimmers .
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) Alex Azar said on CNN that “ in places that are opening , we 're not seeing this spike in cases . ''
“ We still see spikes in some areas that are , in fact , closed , ” he added .
According to Axios , Trump “ declined an invitation to address a virtual gathering of the World Health Organization , which proceeded today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only a blistering rebuke from the U.S. ” China 's President Xi Jinping accepted an invitation to speak at the gathering .
The pro-abortion World Health Organization is a United Nations entity .
Its connections to communist China are currently under scrutiny , and Trump has frozen U.S. funding to it .
The Epoch Times has a list of where all 50 states and the District of Columbia are in their lockdowns or easing of them .
Idaho , Florida , Mississippi , Montana , and South Carolina are among the freer states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. , New Mexico , New York , Hawaii , and Washington state are among the least free .
Massachusetts churches are allowed to open at 40 percent capacity now .
“ Places of worship are encouraged to modify communal rituals , like taking communion or passing of the peace , so as to limit contact with others , ” its government health guidelines urge .
“ Consider distributing , where applicable , prepackaged communion or sacraments.
” Correction 05-20-2020 21:25 EDT : St. Paul ’ s Cathedral is in St. Paul , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to pro-life issues, faith, and freedom.
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May 20, 2020, 7:21 p.m. EST: BREAKING: The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz’s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people (more information on the letters is below).
May 22, 2020, 4:48 p.m. EST: This afternoon, President Trump demanded states allow churches to re-open. He said:
“Today I am identifying houses of worship – churches, synagogue, mosques – as essential places that provide essential services. Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential but have left out churches and other houses of worship. It’s not right. So I’m correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential. I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now. If there’s any question, they’re gonna have to call me, but they’re not gonna be successful in that call. These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united. The people are demanding to go to church and synagogue, go to their mosque – many millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life. The ministers, pastors, rabbis, imams, and other faith leaders will make sure that their congregations are safe as they gather and pray. I know them well. They love their congregations. They love their people. They don’t want anything bad to happen to them or to anybody else. The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, for this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors. In America, we need more prayer, not less.”
May 22, 2020, 1:28 p.m. EST: LifeSite’s petition against a mandatory coronavirus vaccine has surged past half a million signatures.
Cardinal Raymond Burke spoke against a mandatory vaccine at the 2020 Rome Life Forum, which is being held online.
“There is a certain movement to insist that now everyone must be vaccinated against the coronavirus,” he said.
The cardinal also mentioned that some groups suggest “a kind of microchip needs to be placed under the skin of every person, so that at any moment he or she can be controlled by the State regarding health and about other matters which we can only imagine.”
A state mandating vaccinations or even microchips “violates the integrity of its citizens,” said Burke. “While the State can provide reasonable regulations for the safeguarding of health, it is not the ultimate provider of health. God is. Whatever the State proposes must respect God and His Law.”
President Trump says he wants churches to reopen.
500 doctors have warned the president that there will be “millions of casualties” if the shutdowns continue.
May 21, 2020, 2:24 p.m. EST: Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes:
The 2020 Rome Life Forum, Coronavirus in the Light of Fatima: A Tragedy and a Source of Hope is happening online right now. It is free to participate. LifeSiteNews will have additional coverage of the event this week.
Reason reported yesterday, “Developments abroad put a damper on hopes that U.S. life will return to normal soon. Areas of Argentina, Germany, Iran, and elsewhere have seen COVID-19 cases surge again after starting to ease shutdown rules. Now, authorities in these places are once again tightening the screws on citizens' movement, fraternization, and economic activity.”
May 21, 2020, 12:48 p.m. EST: FOX News reported yesterday:
More than 600 doctors signed onto a letter sent to President Trump Tuesday pushing him to end the “national shutdown” aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, calling the widespread state orders keeping businesses closed and kids home from school a “mass casualty incident” with “exponentially growing health consequences.” The letter outlines a variety of consequences that the doctors have observed resulting from the coronavirus shutdowns, including patients missing routine checkups that could detect things like heart problems or cancer, increases in substance and alcohol abuse, and increases in financial instability that could lead to “[p]overty and financial uncertainty,” which “is closely linked to poor health.”
A Mississippi church suing its city over the coronavirus lockdown has been destroyed by arson.
May 20, 2020, 7:21 p.m. EST: BREAKING: The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz’s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people.
Governor Walz’s latest re-opening order allows the Mall of America to open its doors to those seeking retail therapy but disallows churches from providing spiritual healing to their congregations. At the same time, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison a legal letter explaining why continuing to keep churches closed violates the First Amendment. Also representing the Catholic and Lutheran Churches is global law firm Sidley Austin LLP.
Becket explained in a press release:
On May 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order with guidelines for reopening commerce in the State of Minnesota. The order allows malls, shops, and other retailers to open their doors at fifty percent capacity, allows businesses—from pet-grooming services to medical cannabis operations—to resume in-person operations, and even announces a phased plan for reopening bars and restaurants, but explicitly leaves in place bans on in-person worship services for more than ten people. Even Minnesota casinos are reopening starting May 26. After weeks of dialogue with Governor Walz to try to achieve equal treatment for houses of worship, today the Catholic and Lutheran Churches announced that they would resume worship services for their congregations at thirty-three percent capacity on Tuesday, May 26, with Pentecost Sunday, May 31, as the first day of Sunday services. The churches have committed to instituting rigorous social distancing and hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus. “Darkness and despair have taken hold of so many of our fellow Americans in the face of the economic and social hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Archbishop Hebda. “Faith has always been a source of comfort and strength and now more than ever it is of the utmost importance that we are able to meet the spiritual needs of our community.” Since the beginning of Minnesota’s stay-at-home order suicide hotlines have seen spikes in calls as high as 300 percent in parts of the State, as well as a 25 percent increase in calls about domestic violence. Millions of Americans seek comfort and strength in their faith communities, which also serve as safe spaces for victims of domestic violence and those suffering with addictions. “Throughout this crisis, we have been committed to modeling Christ’s love by protecting people from the spread of illness. That’s why it is so disheartening that the Governor has subordinated our spiritual well-being to the economic well-being of the State,” said Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford, president of the Minnesota South District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. “Now that the State has deemed the risk of spreading coronavirus low enough to reopen non-essential business, we respectfully believe that it is our right and duty to safely resume public ministry to the faithful even without the support of the Governor.” In March, well before statewide stay-at-home orders came into effect, both the Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod voluntarily suspended in-person worship services to preserve the health and safety of their communities. On May 7, and again on May 16 the churches presented Governor Walz with proposed protocols for resuming in-person worship services in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If malls, casinos, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants are reopening, why can’t Minnesota churches?” said Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. “Our Constitution stands for ‘equal justice under law’ and imposing a special disability on churches is anything but. Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison should ensure equal treatment for churches and houses of worship—especially because they are crucial to helping our nation overcome this crisis.
BREAKING: The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will NOT comply with the new guidance from Governor Walz that only allows 10 people inside or outside churches. A letter to parishes across the state is signed by Archbishop Hebda and all six bishops in the state. https://t.co/PyzFIorMed — Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) May 20, 2020
May 19, 2020, 11:37 a.m. EST: Trump has given the World Health Organization (WHO) 30 days to reform or it will permanently lose U.S. funding.
“The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China,” he said in a letter to the pro-abortion United Nations entity. “I cannot allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to finance an organization that, in its present state, is so clearly not serving America’s interests.”
May 19, 2020, 9:59 a.m. EST: Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes:
May 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – President Donald Trump has revealed he has been taking hydroxychloroquine, the drug some doctors say has been highly effective at treating the coronavirus, for “a few weeks.” The drug is normally prescribed to treat malaria, arthritis, and lupus. He has also been taking a zinc supplement. The president has repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus but is taking the drugs as a prophylactic.
A cafe in Germany is providing patrons with pool noodles to wear on their heads to aid in “social distancing.”
People who try to swim at public beaches over Memorial Day weekend will be “taken right out of the water,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said. He also said lifeguards are banned from being on duty. It is unclear who will be tasked with extracting swimmers.
The Associated Press reports:
A county judge has declared Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s coronavirus restrictions “null and void” because she didn’t have her emergency orders approved by the Legislature. Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff made the ruling Monday in a lawsuit brought by churches that had sued saying the social-distancing directives were unconstitutional. … Brown said she would immediately appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court to try to keep the emergency orders in effect.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar said on CNN that “in places that are opening, we're not seeing this spike in cases.”
“We still see spikes in some areas that are, in fact, closed,” he added.
Breitbart reports:
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar during Monday’s “America’s Newsroom” on Fox News Channel revealed that at President Donald Trump’s request, he has delivered “an extremely stern warning” to the World Health Organization in regards to its handling of the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak in China. Azar said his message included a call for “significant structural reform” in the organization, adding the W.H.O. and China need “to be held accountable” for their actions that allowed the virus to spread around the world.
According to Axios, Trump “declined an invitation to address a virtual gathering of the World Health Organization, which proceeded today with addresses from several world leaders but only a blistering rebuke from the U.S.”
China's President Xi Jinping accepted an invitation to speak at the gathering.
The pro-abortion World Health Organization is a United Nations entity. Its connections to communist China are currently under scrutiny, and Trump has frozen U.S. funding to it.
The Epoch Times has a list of where all 50 states and the District of Columbia are in their lockdowns or easing of them.
Idaho, Florida, Mississippi, Montana, and South Carolina are among the freer states.
California, Illinois, Washington, D.C., New Mexico, New York, Hawaii, and Washington state are among the least free.
Massachusetts churches are allowed to open at 40 percent capacity now. “Places of worship are encouraged to modify communal rituals, like taking communion or passing of the peace, so as to limit contact with others,” its government health guidelines urge. “Consider distributing, where applicable, prepackaged communion or sacraments.”
Correction 05-20-2020 21:25 EDT: St. Paul’s Cathedral is in St. Paul, not Minneapolis. LifeSite regrets the error.
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