lifesitenews--2020-09-17--Serious questions are arising about who’s organizing the riots across America

September 17 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — Last week , 50 Republican congressmen sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr asking that the DoJ investigate the groups responsible for the rioting in our cities and use existing federal law to prosecute those `` participating in , inciting , organizing , or funding '' those riots .
It 's about time .
Our pro-family organization , MassResistance , has been involved with on-the-ground activism for over 25 years .
We tend to notice things from that perspective .
As we 've watched what has been taking place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind : • How can there be any doubt that this is an interstate operation ?
In city after city , the tactics , banners , clothing , weaponry , etc .
have been virtually identical .
Vans with supplies traveling cross-country have been intercepted .
Out-of-state perpetrators have been arrested .
It 's obviously being centrally planned and coordinated .
• Where do these `` local protesters '' get their lasers , explosives , military helmets , protective gloves , body armor , and other deadly weaponry ?
Someone selects them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivers them .
Who instructs them how to use all these things ?
• Where do they get their guns ?
Most of the rioters with guns do n't appear to have much experience with firearms .
• How do they happen to bring the right `` tools '' for the job ?
For example , the rioters who destroyed the Kenosha , Wis. car dealership came with sledgehammer-like hardware to bash in all the car windows and firebombs to set everything on fire .
When confronting police , they have lasers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , and bottles of urine to throw at them .
When breaking into stores , they have the weaponry for that .
• Who masterminded all this ?
The idea of staging riots across America , the large-scale propaganda campaign , and the intense ideology behind it did not suddenly appear when George Floyd died .
It has clearly been in the works for a long time by dedicated radicals .
• Who organizes it and carries it out ?
The logistics of bringing together the large numbers of people , materials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the riot sites ( and then bringing them back again ) — along with the communication network — are not insignificant — not to mention training the rioters , housing them , and feeding them .
This is a very professional operation .
• How do they recruit these people ?
It 's clearly more sophisticated than simply social media posts .
There seems to be a mix of intense hate-America types , common criminals , and violent crazies — people who do n't have regular jobs , revel in the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to risk arrest and prosecution .
• Who is funding this horrific destruction ?
That 's not hard to figure out because they brag about .
Enormous funding for Black Lives Matter , its `` civil rights '' front groups , and ultimately Antifa is from Corporate America .
Starting with the National Football League ( and its $ 250 million commitment ) , Apple , Amazon , Walmart , and Google , the number of major corporations is staggering , with their donations easily reaching a billion dollars .
( Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
These same corporations have been funding destructive anti-family ( and anti-American ) causes for years .
This is basically a huge extension of that .
Corporate America is also making sure that the rioters unlucky enough to be arrested get their bail paid and the best lawyers possible .
The rioters ' legal defense funds probably total close to $ 100 million .
( In Boston , even the NAACP is advertising on Pandora for donations for the Black Lives Matter legal defense fund . )
Perhaps the least surprising aspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reticent to arrest these people , and local district attorneys have little interest in prosecuting them .
Just the opposite , in fact : Many police `` take the knee '' at BLM events , and district attorneys are often letting the rioters go free as quickly as they get arrested .
This terrible institutional deference to left-wing lawbreaking has been going on for decades .
For now , let 's suppose that the rioters were right-wingers .
How would the federal government react ?
Very differently .
Here 's what would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal matter .
The FBI , Justice Department , and Dept .
of Homeland Security would take the lead .
The NSA would be helping to intercept the rioters ' communications .
If necessary , federal troops would be involved — certainly federal marshals .
Everyone arrested would be charged with some serious federal violation , likely the federal Interstate Riot Act .
By now , the organization would be broken up and the organizers in custody .
If the funders were n't being charged as accessories , at least the funds would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim that they 've already been investigating and arresting people .
But it seems to be a pretty limp-wristed effort , given the gravity of the situation — sort of like the `` investigation '' of Hillary Clinton 's secret internet server .
Last week , President Trump ordered the Justice Department , the FBI , and other federal agencies to discontinue the toxic `` critical race theory '' propaganda sessions they have required employees to attend .
That should tell all you need to know .
Unfortunately , our federal government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for any serious action to protect Americans from these lawbreakers .
It was reassuring to see that the letter from the congressmen indicates an understanding of the problem : As you know , 18 U.S. § 2101 makes it a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison to incite a riot ; organize , promote , encourage , participate in , or carry on a riot ; commit any act of violence in furtherance of a riot ; or aid or abet any person in inciting or participating in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature and organization of these violent attacks , including the rioters ' use of military grade helmets , gas masks , protective vests , and illegal fireworks , clearly displays the high level of coordination and outside funding supporting these anarchist groups .
It is readily apparent that these individuals were outfitted for war and were clearly part of a planned effort to infiltrate peaceful protests , provoke violence , and further subvert our system of government .
For the time being , we can hope the Republican congressmen can somehow light a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other federal departments ) to do this right .
And let 's pray that President Trump can truly drain the swamp in his second term .
Brian Camenker is the executive director of the pro-family group MassResistance , which has state and local chapters across the country .
Published with permission from the American Thinker .

How can there be any doubt that this is an interstate operation?
September 17, 2020 (American Thinker) — Last week, 50 Republican congressmen sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr asking that the DoJ investigate the groups responsible for the rioting in our cities and use existing federal law to prosecute those “participating in, inciting, organizing, or funding” those riots. It's about time.
Our pro-family organization, MassResistance, has been involved with on-the-ground activism for over 25 years. We tend to notice things from that perspective. As we've watched what has been taking place, a number of obvious questions came to mind:
How can there be any doubt that this is an interstate operation? In city after city, the tactics, banners, clothing, weaponry, etc. have been virtually identical. Vans with supplies traveling cross-country have been intercepted. Out-of-state perpetrators have been arrested. It's obviously being centrally planned and coordinated.
Where do these “local protesters” get their lasers, explosives, military helmets, protective gloves, body armor, and other deadly weaponry? Someone selects them, orders them, pays for them, and delivers them. Who instructs them how to use all these things?
Where do they get their guns? Most of the rioters with guns don't appear to have much experience with firearms.
How do they happen to bring the right “tools” for the job? For example, the rioters who destroyed the Kenosha, Wis. car dealership came with sledgehammer-like hardware to bash in all the car windows and firebombs to set everything on fire. When confronting police, they have lasers to blind them, bricks to injure them, and bottles of urine to throw at them. When breaking into stores, they have the weaponry for that.
Who masterminded all this? The idea of staging riots across America, the large-scale propaganda campaign, and the intense ideology behind it did not suddenly appear when George Floyd died. It has clearly been in the works for a long time by dedicated radicals.
Who organizes it and carries it out? The logistics of bringing together the large numbers of people, materials, and supplies and transporting them to the riot sites (and then bringing them back again) — along with the communication network — are not insignificant — not to mention training the rioters, housing them, and feeding them. This is a very professional operation.
How do they recruit these people? It's clearly more sophisticated than simply social media posts. There seems to be a mix of intense hate-America types, common criminals, and violent crazies — people who don't have regular jobs, revel in the idea of destruction and injuring police, and are willing to risk arrest and prosecution.
Who is funding this horrific destruction? That's not hard to figure out because they brag about. Enormous funding for Black Lives Matter, its “civil rights” front groups, and ultimately Antifa is from Corporate America. Starting with the National Football League (and its $250 million commitment), Apple, Amazon, Walmart, and Google, the number of major corporations is staggering, with their donations easily reaching a billion dollars. (Here and here are sample lists of them.) These same corporations have been funding destructive anti-family (and anti-American) causes for years. This is basically a huge extension of that.
Corporate America is also making sure that the rioters unlucky enough to be arrested get their bail paid and the best lawyers possible. The rioters' legal defense funds probably total close to $100 million. (In Boston, even the NAACP is advertising on Pandora for donations for the Black Lives Matter legal defense fund.)
Perhaps the least surprising aspect of all this is that local police are reticent to arrest these people, and local district attorneys have little interest in prosecuting them. Just the opposite, in fact: Many police “take the knee” at BLM events, and district attorneys are often letting the rioters go free as quickly as they get arrested. This terrible institutional deference to left-wing lawbreaking has been going on for decades.
For now, let's suppose that the rioters were right-wingers. How would the federal government react? Very differently.
Here's what would happen: this would be considered a federal matter. The FBI, Justice Department, and Dept. of Homeland Security would take the lead. The NSA would be helping to intercept the rioters' communications. If necessary, federal troops would be involved — certainly federal marshals. Everyone arrested would be charged with some serious federal violation, likely the federal Interstate Riot Act. By now, the organization would be broken up and the organizers in custody. If the funders weren't being charged as accessories, at least the funds would be impounded.
Actually, the feds claim that they've already been investigating and arresting people. But it seems to be a pretty limp-wristed effort, given the gravity of the situation — sort of like the “investigation” of Hillary Clinton's secret internet server.
Last week, President Trump ordered the Justice Department, the FBI, and other federal agencies to discontinue the toxic “critical race theory” propaganda sessions they have required employees to attend. That should tell all you need to know. Unfortunately, our federal government is too deep in the left's tank for any serious action to protect Americans from these lawbreakers.
It was reassuring to see that the letter from the congressmen indicates an understanding of the problem:
As you know, 18 U.S. § 2101 makes it a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison to incite a riot; organize, promote, encourage, participate in, or carry on a riot; commit any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or aid or abet any person in inciting or participating in a riot[.] … The prolonged nature and organization of these violent attacks, including the rioters' use of military grade helmets, gas masks, protective vests, and illegal fireworks, clearly displays the high level of coordination and outside funding supporting these anarchist groups. It is readily apparent that these individuals were outfitted for war and were clearly part of a planned effort to infiltrate peaceful protests, provoke violence, and further subvert our system of government.
For the time being, we can hope the Republican congressmen can somehow light a fire under the attorney general (and other federal departments) to do this right. And let's pray that President Trump can truly drain the swamp in his second term.
Brian Camenker is the executive director of the pro-family group MassResistance, which has state and local chapters across the country.
Published with permission from the American Thinker.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-17--CDC director insists masks will save us from COVID. Evidence suggests otherwise

September 17 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — The CDC has had more prominence this year than usual , thanks to the Wuhan virus .
However , when America looked to it for help , it was n't ready , whether with tests or useful advice .
Its lack of preparedness might have been because the CDC 's been expending its time and your money training its people in Critical Race Theory ( CRT ) rather than disease control .
And while I 'm currently agnostic about a vaccination 's efficacy ( I need a lot more information ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC 's director , Dr. Robert Redfield , announces that his surgical mask is what will save him and what will save all of us .
Aside from being inherently distrustful of the CDC thanks to its epic run of errors and unpreparedness , I 'm also suspicious about the timing of Redfield 's attack on Trump 's plans for the vaccination .
The CDC just engaged in a small but significant power struggle with Trump .
Days after Trump exercised his constitutional executive authority to end CRT seminars in federal agencies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a mandatory 13-week CRT seminar .
The administration has canceled the training , but it 's clear that the CDC is at war with the administration .
There 's one more reason why I 'm skeptical about Redfield 's praise for masks when he spoke before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee .
I recently received an email from someone who specializes in masks , and he gave me some fascinating facts that I 'll share with you ( with my correspondent 's permission ) .
Here 's Dr. Redfield .
Please note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the classical surgical mask .
It 's thin and fits relatively loosely over the nose and mouth : To set the stage , the person who sent the email is a chemist who has worked in the filtration industry .
He 's helped develop masks used in medical and industrial settings .
He also holds patents on several filters .
As he says , `` I know a little bit about filters . ''
That 's why he believes that masks of the type Redfield is waiving around are useless : Surgical masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not intended to be used as filters .
Surgical masks were designed to be used by surgeons standing face down over an operating table holding a patient with an open wound .
The surgeon wearing the mask would be able to talk to others in the room without discharging spittle droplets into the patient 's wound .
Spittle droplets are large and can cause infection .
I witnessed a test of surgical masks .
Small plaster particles were generated in a room .
They were visible as a white dust in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surgical mask and spent a short time in the room .
When he came out , the mask was removed .
A camera was focused on the man 's face .
The entire area that had been covered by the mask was coated by the white dust .
The camera showed that his nostrils and his mouth had been penetrated by the white dust .
The dust particles were measured and found to be around 40 micrometers in diameter .
The particles that penetrated the mask were the same diameter .
Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diameter .
That is 400 times smaller than the plaster particles that penetrated the mask .
Surgical masks will not prevent the wearer from inhaling or exhaling viruses or bacteria .
They provide absolutely no protection for either the wearer or anyone nearby .
They create a very dangerous false sense of security for everyone .
They also force the wearer to rebreathe carbon dioxide , which will , over time , reduce the wearer 's blood oxygen level .
That can become very dangerous , especially for older people .
This farce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that if they can convince people that they are protecting them or creating a safe environment for them by pushing this mask farce , those people will re-elect them .
All politicians pushing this dangerous mask farce should be voted out of office as soon as possible .
I 'm already starting to hear anecdotal evidence that students are getting fungal and bacterial infections thanks to the masks they have to wear all day ( especially because students do n't keep their masks very clean ) .
This is worrisome because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the triangle of death '' because it 's close to the brain .
When a doctor who has government power at his back waves around a mask that has no utility and can cause bad infections in vulnerable areas , I start to worry .
Published with permission from the American Thinker .

When a doctor who has government power at his back waves around a mask that has no utility and can cause bad infections in vulnerable areas, it's time to worry.
September 17, 2020 (American Thinker) — The CDC has had more prominence this year than usual, thanks to the Wuhan virus. However, when America looked to it for help, it wasn't ready, whether with tests or useful advice. Its lack of preparedness might have been because the CDC's been expending its time and your money training its people in Critical Race Theory (CRT) rather than disease control. And while I'm currently agnostic about a vaccination's efficacy (I need a lot more information), I'm also suspicious when the CDC's director, Dr. Robert Redfield, announces that his surgical mask is what will save him and what will save all of us.
Aside from being inherently distrustful of the CDC thanks to its epic run of errors and unpreparedness, I'm also suspicious about the timing of Redfield's attack on Trump's plans for the vaccination. The CDC just engaged in a small but significant power struggle with Trump. Days after Trump exercised his constitutional executive authority to end CRT seminars in federal agencies, the CDC announced that it would proceed with a mandatory 13-week CRT seminar. The administration has canceled the training, but it's clear that the CDC is at war with the administration.
There's one more reason why I'm skeptical about Redfield's praise for masks when he spoke before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee. I recently received an email from someone who specializes in masks, and he gave me some fascinating facts that I'll share with you (with my correspondent's permission).
Here's Dr. Redfield. Please note that the mask he's waving around is the classical surgical mask. It's thin and fits relatively loosely over the nose and mouth:
CDC Director Redfield: “These facemasks are the important, powerful public health tool we have— I might even go so far as to say that this facemask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine.”pic.twitter.com/r7InIImX9u — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 16, 2020
To set the stage, the person who sent the email is a chemist who has worked in the filtration industry. He's helped develop masks used in medical and industrial settings. He also holds patents on several filters. As he says, “I know a little bit about filters.” That's why he believes that masks of the type Redfield is waiving around are useless:
Surgical masks were not designed as filters and were not intended to be used as filters. Surgical masks were designed to be used by surgeons standing face down over an operating table holding a patient with an open wound. The surgeon wearing the mask would be able to talk to others in the room without discharging spittle droplets into the patient's wound. Spittle droplets are large and can cause infection. I witnessed a test of surgical masks. Small plaster particles were generated in a room. They were visible as a white dust in the air. A man was properly fitted with a surgical mask and spent a short time in the room. When he came out, the mask was removed. A camera was focused on the man's face. The entire area that had been covered by the mask was coated by the white dust. The camera showed that his nostrils and his mouth had been penetrated by the white dust. The dust particles were measured and found to be around 40 micrometers in diameter. The particles that penetrated the mask were the same diameter. Covid-19 virus molecules are about 0.1 micrometers in diameter. That is 400 times smaller than the plaster particles that penetrated the mask. Surgical masks will not prevent the wearer from inhaling or exhaling viruses or bacteria. They provide absolutely no protection for either the wearer or anyone nearby. They create a very dangerous false sense of security for everyone. They also force the wearer to rebreathe carbon dioxide, which will, over time, reduce the wearer's blood oxygen level. That can become very dangerous, especially for older people. This farce is being promoted by sleazy politicians who believe that if they can convince people that they are protecting them or creating a safe environment for them by pushing this mask farce, those people will re-elect them. All politicians pushing this dangerous mask farce should be voted out of office as soon as possible.
I'm already starting to hear anecdotal evidence that students are getting fungal and bacterial infections thanks to the masks they have to wear all day (especially because students don't keep their masks very clean). This is worrisome because the front of the face is called “the triangle of death” because it's close to the brain. When a doctor who has government power at his back waves around a mask that has no utility and can cause bad infections in vulnerable areas, I start to worry.
Published with permission from the American Thinker.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-17--Reports continue of Russia torturing Jehovah’s Witnesses for proselytizing

September 17 , 2020 ( Family Research Council ) — When Seo Jin Wook met with a small group in a private home in Izhevsk , Russia to share the gospel with them , he had no idea it would lead to his deportation and an approximately $ 400 fine by the Russian government .
Yet , under a so-called `` anti-extremism '' law passed in 2016 , this is the new normal for religious people in Russia looking to share their faith .
The vague nature of the law means anyone is at risk of violating it .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a court in Kazan , Russia for organizing a Catholic Mass in a hotel conference hall .
He was charged in part for inviting what the court called a `` foreign preacher '' to celebrate Mass without written authorization to engage in missionary activity .
Glazunov is one of at least 42 people who have been prosecuted for missionary activity in Russia in the first half of 2020 alone .
Russia 's consistent violations of religious freedom drew the attention of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in a hearing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be designated a Country of Particular Concern by the State Department this year due to the country 's repressive policies .
Unfortunately , the legacy of the Soviet Union 's attitude toward religious groups lingers in contemporary Russia .
At the hearing , Elizabeth Clark described the Russian government 's attitude toward religions by saying the `` Soviet-era view of religion as permissible so long as it supports the state continues ... '' Many religious groups fall victim to the discriminatory 2016 `` anti-extremism '' law known as the `` Yarovaya law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted .
USCIRF Vice-Chair and FRC President Tony Perkins noted , `` In February 2019 , Russian law enforcement detained and tortured a group of 19 Jehovah 's Witnesses , who were beaten , suffocated and subjected to electric shocks while in custody .
Sadly , similar reports of torture continue at present . ''
Emily Baran testified at the hearing that Soviet propaganda painted wild tales about Jehovah 's Witnesses for decades , `` accusing them of theft , adultery , anti-state behavior , corruption , greed , sexual violence , murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' That propaganda has never been un-taught , and Russian media does nothing to correct the decades of lies told under communist rule .
During the Cold War , the United States developed a legacy for exposing and highlighting cases of religious persecution in the Soviet Union .
When Natan Sharansky , a Jewish dissident in the Soviet Union , spoke out against government oppression in the 1970 's , he was imprisoned and banished to the Gulag .
When the situation came to the attention of U.S. President Ronald Reagan , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sharansky 's release .
The efforts paid off and Sharansky was freed in 1987 , going on to serve as a member of the Israeli parliament .
The world has largely moved on from Russia to focus on today 's emerging threats .
However , we ought not forget the religious freedom violations occurring in Russia every day .
Advocacy from the United States made a difference in the lives of religious adherents in Russia in the past , and it can do so today .
Published with permission from the Family Research @ @

Many religious groups in Russia fall victim to the 2016 'anti-extremism' law known as the 'Yarovaya law.'
September 17, 2020 (Family Research Council) — When Seo Jin Wook met with a small group in a private home in Izhevsk, Russia to share the gospel with them, he had no idea it would lead to his deportation and an approximately $400 fine by the Russian government. Yet, under a so-called “anti-extremism” law passed in 2016, this is the new normal for religious people in Russia looking to share their faith.
The vague nature of the law means anyone is at risk of violating it.
Earlier this month, Nikita Glazunov was fined by a court in Kazan, Russia for organizing a Catholic Mass in a hotel conference hall. He was charged in part for inviting what the court called a “foreign preacher” to celebrate Mass without written authorization to engage in missionary activity.
Glazunov is one of at least 42 people who have been prosecuted for missionary activity in Russia in the first half of 2020 alone.
Russia's consistent violations of religious freedom drew the attention of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in a hearing on Wednesday. USCIRF has recommended that Russia be designated a Country of Particular Concern by the State Department this year due to the country's repressive policies.
Unfortunately, the legacy of the Soviet Union's attitude toward religious groups lingers in contemporary Russia. At the hearing, Elizabeth Clark described the Russian government's attitude toward religions by saying the “Soviet-era view of religion as permissible so long as it supports the state continues…”
Many religious groups fall victim to the discriminatory 2016 “anti-extremism” law known as the “Yarovaya law.” Jehovah's Witnesses have been particularly targeted. USCIRF Vice-Chair and FRC President Tony Perkins noted, “In February 2019, Russian law enforcement detained and tortured a group of 19 Jehovah's Witnesses, who were beaten, suffocated and subjected to electric shocks while in custody. Sadly, similar reports of torture continue at present.”
Emily Baran testified at the hearing that Soviet propaganda painted wild tales about Jehovah's Witnesses for decades, “accusing them of theft, adultery, anti-state behavior, corruption, greed, sexual violence, murder, and collaboration with the Nazis.” That propaganda has never been un-taught, and Russian media does nothing to correct the decades of lies told under communist rule.
During the Cold War, the United States developed a legacy for exposing and highlighting cases of religious persecution in the Soviet Union.
When Natan Sharansky, a Jewish dissident in the Soviet Union, spoke out against government oppression in the 1970's, he was imprisoned and banished to the Gulag. When the situation came to the attention of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, he raised it regularly and applied pressure for Sharansky's release. The efforts paid off and Sharansky was freed in 1987, going on to serve as a member of the Israeli parliament.
The world has largely moved on from Russia to focus on today's emerging threats. However, we ought not forget the religious freedom violations occurring in Russia every day. Advocacy from the United States made a difference in the lives of religious adherents in Russia in the past, and it can do so today.
Published with permission from the Family Research Council.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-17--93-page ‘Biden report’ exposes Democrat candidate’s strongly anti-Catholic platform

PETITION : Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden !
Sign the petition here .
MADISON , Wisconsin , September 17 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A Catholic advocacy group has released a 93-page report detailing how Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , a baptized Catholic , has a record of embracing policy positions contrary to the Catholic faith .
CatholicVote will be spending almost $ 10 million , targeting Catholic voters in key swing states , to expose Biden ’ s agenda .
“ The organization also announced that it has full-time staff in 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique Catholic parishes across these states , and thousands of volunteers , ” a press release stated .
“ CatholicVote plans to reach over 5 million active Catholics in battleground states during this election cycle.
” A 30-second ad released by CatholicVote features Sister Dede Byrne of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary saying , “ Biden-Harris , the most anti-life presidential ticket ever.
” CatholicVote president Brian Burch said , “ Joe Biden ’ s record makes clear he will not protect our Catholic values or defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who cherish the Faith and their freedom to live it , a Biden presidency represents an existential threat.
” “ Catholics are less focused on Joe Biden ’ s claims about his personal faith , and instead on what his policies would do to the culture , and their freedom to live out their own beliefs , ” he added .
In this endeavor , Catholics are aided by the 93-page “ Biden Report.
” CatholicVote compiled Biden ’ s record and agenda on several key issues for Catholic voters , abortion being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s record on the sanctity of life , more than any other , most fully represents his transformation in public life , away from the core tenets of Catholic belief , ” the report concluded .
“ Early in his Senate career , Biden was critical of Roe v. Wade saying it ‘ went too far ’ and voting to allow states to set tougher abortion restrictions than the federal government , ” according to the document .
“ In the 2000 ’ s , Biden began to shift to the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important issues in the country .
Today , as a presidential candidate , Biden says he would permanently codify Roe v. Wade into law.
” Roe v. Wade is the 1973 Supreme Court ruling imposing legal abortion across the country under the guise of a woman ’ s right to privacy .
A similar shift occurred in relation to the Hyde Amendment , which prohibits federal funding for most abortions , excepting those that are said to save the life of the mother and those committed against children conceived from rape or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime supporter of the Hyde Amendment , bragging in 1994 that he had voted for it on ‘ no fewer than 50 occasions , ’ ” CatholicVote pointed out .
“ In 2019 , Biden fully surrendered his previous stance after facing only ‘ two days of intense criticism.
’ Joe Biden now represents the most pro-abortion presidential nominee in American history.
” All claims made in the report are backed by numerous lengthy quotes from Biden .
On the issue of religious liberty , CatholicVote wrote , among other things , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama-Biden administration sought to prohibit faith-based foster care and adoption agencies from receiving federal funds .
The administration also opposed the ‘ ministerial exception ’ which allows religious institutions to make employment decisions consistent with their beliefs.
” Regarding marriage , the report found that before the Obama presidency , “ Biden supported civil unions but not marriage for same-sex couples and said he thought the government could not dictate the definition of marriage to religious institutions.
” Then , when Biden became Barack Obama ’ s vice president , he “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same-sex marriage and officiated a same-sex marriage at the vice president ’ s residence .
As a presidential candidate , Biden said LGBT rights would be his number one legislative priority if elected.
” CatholicVote also criticized Biden ’ s position on health care .
President Obama had required required religious organizations “ to cover the cost of contraceptives , sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs , which are contrary to their religious beliefs .
Biden objected to the mandate , but claimed during his 2012 vice presidential debate , it would not force Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ‘ get contraception in any insurance policy they provide.
’ ” In reality , “ Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters of the Poor were forced to take their cases to the Supreme Court to push back and Biden now calls for re-imposing the contraceptive mandate to its pre-Hobby Lobby ruling state.
” The “ Biden Report ” also looked at several other issues , including the nomination of judges , the dignity of work , education , and immigration .
Catholic voters are not one monolithic bloc either political party can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate following the 2016 presidential election showed that 48 percent of Catholics voted for Hillary Clinton and 45 percent for Donald Trump .
The Pew Research Center had said that Trump received 52 percent of the Catholic vote , while Clinton came up with 45 percent .
Exit polls like these generally don ’ t take into account if somebody is a practicing Catholic who accepts Church teaching or simply a person who was baptized but doesn ’ t live the faith .

With the aid of the Biden Report, CatholicVote will be spending almost $10 million in swing states to expose the Democrats' presidential candidate.
PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
MADISON, Wisconsin, September 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Catholic advocacy group has released a 93-page report detailing how Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, a baptized Catholic, has a record of embracing policy positions contrary to the Catholic faith. CatholicVote will be spending almost $10 million, targeting Catholic voters in key swing states, to expose Biden’s agenda.
“The organization also announced that it has full-time staff in 6 states and over 2,000 community captains representing unique Catholic parishes across these states, and thousands of volunteers,” a press release stated. “CatholicVote plans to reach over 5 million active Catholics in battleground states during this election cycle.”
A 30-second ad released by CatholicVote features Sister Dede Byrne of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary saying, “Biden-Harris, the most anti-life presidential ticket ever.”
CatholicVote president Brian Burch said, “Joe Biden’s record makes clear he will not protect our Catholic values or defend our way of life. For Catholics who cherish the Faith and their freedom to live it, a Biden presidency represents an existential threat.”
“Catholics are less focused on Joe Biden’s claims about his personal faith, and instead on what his policies would do to the culture, and their freedom to live out their own beliefs,” he added.
In this endeavor, Catholics are aided by the 93-page “Biden Report.” CatholicVote compiled Biden’s record and agenda on several key issues for Catholic voters, abortion being the pre-eminent issue.
“Joe Biden’s record on the sanctity of life, more than any other, most fully represents his transformation in public life, away from the core tenets of Catholic belief,” the report concluded.
“Early in his Senate career, Biden was critical of Roe v. Wade saying it ‘went too far’ and voting to allow states to set tougher abortion restrictions than the federal government,” according to the document. “In the 2000’s, Biden began to shift to the left saying it was not one of the most important issues in the country. Today, as a presidential candidate, Biden says he would permanently codify Roe v. Wade into law.”
Roe v. Wade is the 1973 Supreme Court ruling imposing legal abortion across the country under the guise of a woman’s right to privacy.
A similar shift occurred in relation to the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for most abortions, excepting those that are said to save the life of the mother and those committed against children conceived from rape or incest.
“Biden was likewise a longtime supporter of the Hyde Amendment, bragging in 1994 that he had voted for it on ‘no fewer than 50 occasions,’” CatholicVote pointed out. “In 2019, Biden fully surrendered his previous stance after facing only ‘two days of intense criticism.’ Joe Biden now represents the most pro-abortion presidential nominee in American history.”
All claims made in the report are backed by numerous lengthy quotes from Biden.
On the issue of religious liberty, CatholicVote wrote, among other things, “In addition to the HHS Mandate, the Obama-Biden administration sought to prohibit faith-based foster care and adoption agencies from receiving federal funds. The administration also opposed the ‘ministerial exception’ which allows religious institutions to make employment decisions consistent with their beliefs.”
Regarding marriage, the report found that before the Obama presidency, “Biden supported civil unions but not marriage for same-sex couples and said he thought the government could not dictate the definition of marriage to religious institutions.”
Then, when Biden became Barack Obama’s vice president, he “reversed himself, and expressed support for same-sex marriage and officiated a same-sex marriage at the vice president’s residence. As a presidential candidate, Biden said LGBT rights would be his number one legislative priority if elected.”
CatholicVote also criticized Biden’s position on health care. President Obama had required required religious organizations “to cover the cost of contraceptives, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, which are contrary to their religious beliefs. Biden objected to the mandate, but claimed during his 2012 vice presidential debate, it would not force Catholic health care providers to be a vehicle to ‘get contraception in any insurance policy they provide.’”
In reality, “Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters of the Poor were forced to take their cases to the Supreme Court to push back and Biden now calls for re-imposing the contraceptive mandate to its pre-Hobby Lobby ruling state.”
The “Biden Report” also looked at several other issues, including the nomination of judges, the dignity of work, education, and immigration.
Catholic voters are not one monolithic bloc either political party can count on.
Data provided by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate following the 2016 presidential election showed that 48 percent of Catholics voted for Hillary Clinton and 45 percent for Donald Trump.
The Pew Research Center had said that Trump received 52 percent of the Catholic vote, while Clinton came up with 45 percent.
Exit polls like these generally don’t take into account if somebody is a practicing Catholic who accepts Church teaching or simply a person who was baptized but doesn’t live the faith.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-17--Victoria, Australia police foundation selling face masks with Freemason logo

PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
VICTORIA , Australia , September 17 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A Victoria Police not-for-profit organization is selling masks emblazoned with the symbol of the Freemasons .
“ The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation perpetuates the memory of members of the Victoria Police who have died in the line of duty through the support of worthwhile community projects within Victoria , ” their website explains .
The Freemasons Foundation Victoria is likewise listed first on The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation website as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board members of the The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation is Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius .
Cornelius has played a conspicuous role as one of the spokespeople for the heavy-handed policing in Victoria amid a draconian lockdown regime .
He recently described anti-lockdown protestors as “ selfish , ” “ boofheads , ” and “ bats***t crazy.
” Mainstream Australian media celebrated Cornelius ’ comments , describing them as a “ stunning take-down of the ‘ tin foil hat brigade.
’ ” In recent weeks Victoria Police have been gaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those not complying with lockdown restrictions .
Videos which have gone “ viral ” online on social media in recent weeks include Victoria Police arresting a pregnant woman in her own home for the “ crime ” of promoting an anti-lockdown event ; Victoria Police smashing the door down of a man ’ s home and arresting him for allegedly promoting anti-lockdown events online ; and a video which shows a young woman being forced to the ground by a large , male police officer for the “ crime ” of not wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend , Victoria ’ s senior politician , State Premier Daniel Andrews , said that “ all this can be avoided if people do n't protest ” coronavirus restrictions in response to questions about video of police first knocking down a mentally ill man with their vehicle and subsequently stomping on his head .
An official police statement described the stomp as “ inappropriate use of force ” and the “ use of force in using a police vehicle ” as “ concerning.
” The man had to be put in a medically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will pursue legal action against the police .
Also this past weekend , according to reports in Australian media , almost 200 people were fined and 74 arrested at events protesting the Victoria coronavirus restrictions , with multiple videos of dramatic arrests posted online .
Victoria currently has one of the strictest coronavirus lockdowns anywhere in the world , with daily curfews and mandatory mask wearing in public .
People are severely restricted in where they can go and what they can do .
Thirteen top Australian doctors recently urged Premier Dan Andrews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unjustifiable ” state of emergency .
Last month Victoria police chief commissioner Shane Patton was unapologetic as he explained that police had in some instances been smashing car windows due to people inside the cars not cooperating with police or following the government ’ s coronavirus restrictions .
The Victoria Police have received further recent media attention due to a Royal Commission investigation into the Management of Public Informants which has identified 124 criminal convictions in Victoria as “ tainted ” due to the police using evidence given to them by barrister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Victoria Police have issued an apology and admitted that they were “ profoundly wrong ” to allow Gobbo to inform on her own clients .
Victoria Police also played a crucial role in the conviction and imprisonment of Cardinal George Pell for more than a year before his unanimous acquittal by the Australian High Court in April .
The charges were originally laid after an Australian police investigation , code-named “ Operation Tethering , ” actively sought evidence that Pell committed sex crimes , even though no complaint had been made against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with stories ; all but one were dismissed .
Ultimately , only one man , known as “ Witness J , ” testified against Pell .
The other former choir boy named in the charges died before the case came to trial , but before he died he told his mother that the abuse never took place .
Last year an Australian-based Catholic priest publicly admitted to having been a Freemason for more than a decade .
Father Kerry Costigan also claimed to have a letter from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This permission was said to be based on the erroneous conclusion that 'Australian ' Freemasonry is somehow different from any other form of Freemasonry , ” Kathy Clubb wrote in a December 2019 article re-printed on LifeSiteNews .
The Catholic Church has repeatedly and authoritatively condemned Freemasonry for almost 300 years , dating from Pope Clement XII ’ s 1738 papal bull In Eminenti .
In his 1884 encyclical Humanum Genus , His Holiness Pope Leo XIII described Freemasonry as the chief organizing force of the “ partisans of evil ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , the partisans of evil [ seem ] to be combining together , and to be struggling with united vehemence , led on or assisted by that strongly organized and widespread association called the Freemasons .
No longer making any secret of their purposes , they are now boldly rising up against God Himself .
They are planning the destruction of holy Church publicly and openly , and this with the set purpose of utterly despoiling the nations of Christendom , if it were possible , of the blessings obtained for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these evils , We are constrained by the charity which urges Our heart to cry out often to God : “ For lo , Thy enemies have made a noise ; and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head .
They have taken a malicious counsel against Thy people , and they have consulted against Thy saints .
They have said , ‘ come , and let us destroy them , so that they be not a nation .
’ ”

The Freemasons Foundation Victoria is listed first on The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation website as one of their 'major partners.'
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
VICTORIA, Australia, September 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Victoria Police not-for-profit organization is selling masks emblazoned with the symbol of the Freemasons.
“The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation perpetuates the memory of members of the Victoria Police who have died in the line of duty through the support of worthwhile community projects within Victoria,” their website explains.
The Freemasons Foundation Victoria is likewise listed first on The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation website as one of their “major partners.”
Among the board members of the The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation is Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius.
Cornelius has played a conspicuous role as one of the spokespeople for the heavy-handed policing in Victoria amid a draconian lockdown regime. He recently described anti-lockdown protestors as “selfish,” “boofheads,” and “bats***t crazy.” Mainstream Australian media celebrated Cornelius’ comments, describing them as a “stunning take-down of the ‘tin foil hat brigade.’”
In recent weeks Victoria Police have been gaining worldwide attention for their heavy-handed treatment of those not complying with lockdown restrictions. Videos which have gone “viral” online on social media in recent weeks include Victoria Police arresting a pregnant woman in her own home for the “crime” of promoting an anti-lockdown event; Victoria Police smashing the door down of a man’s home and arresting him for allegedly promoting anti-lockdown events online; and a video which shows a young woman being forced to the ground by a large, male police officer for the “crime” of not wearing a mask in public.
How is this OK Victorians? pic.twitter.com/p6MiuFg0CC — val glass (@AussieVal10) August 10, 2020
This past weekend, Victoria’s senior politician, State Premier Daniel Andrews, said that “all this can be avoided if people don’t protest” coronavirus restrictions in response to questions about video of police first knocking down a mentally ill man with their vehicle and subsequently stomping on his head. An official police statement described the stomp as “inappropriate use of force” and the “use of force in using a police vehicle” as “concerning.”
The man had to be put in a medically induced coma. His family says they will pursue legal action against the police.
Also this past weekend, according to reports in Australian media, almost 200 people were fined and 74 arrested at events protesting the Victoria coronavirus restrictions, with multiple videos of dramatic arrests posted online.
Victoria currently has one of the strictest coronavirus lockdowns anywhere in the world, with daily curfews and mandatory mask wearing in public. People are severely restricted in where they can go and what they can do.
Thirteen top Australian doctors recently urged Premier Dan Andrews to end what they denounced as an “unjustifiable” state of emergency.
Last month Victoria police chief commissioner Shane Patton was unapologetic as he explained that police had in some instances been smashing car windows due to people inside the cars not cooperating with police or following the government’s coronavirus restrictions.
The Victoria Police have received further recent media attention due to a Royal Commission investigation into the Management of Public Informants which has identified 124 criminal convictions in Victoria as “tainted” due to the police using evidence given to them by barrister Nicola Gobbo about her own clients. Victoria Police have issued an apology and admitted that they were “profoundly wrong” to allow Gobbo to inform on her own clients.
Victoria Police also played a crucial role in the conviction and imprisonment of Cardinal George Pell for more than a year before his unanimous acquittal by the Australian High Court in April.
The charges were originally laid after an Australian police investigation, code-named “Operation Tethering,” actively sought evidence that Pell committed sex crimes, even though no complaint had been made against him. A number of men came forward with stories; all but one were dismissed.
Ultimately, only one man, known as “Witness J,” testified against Pell. The other former choir boy named in the charges died before the case came to trial, but before he died he told his mother that the abuse never took place.
Last year, an Australian-based Catholic priest publicly admitted to having been a Freemason for more than a decade. Father Kerry Costigan also claimed to have a letter from the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC), giving permission for Catholics to become Masons. “This permission was said to be based on the erroneous conclusion that ‘Australian’ Freemasonry is somehow different from any other form of Freemasonry,” Australian journalist Kathy Clubb wrote in a December 2019 article re-printed on LifeSiteNews.
The 1917 Code of Catholic Canon Law made clear in Canon 2335 that Catholics who become Freemasons are automatically excommunicated — that is, they cease to be members of the Catholic Church and may not receive Holy Communion.
In 1983, when a new Code of Canon Law was published, the explicit reference to the Freemasons was removed. The new relevant canon, 1374, states: “A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict.”
Subsequently, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) issued a Directive on Masonic Associations that stated:
1. The Church’s negative judgment on Masonry remains unchanged, because the Masonic principles are irreconcilable with the Church’s teaching.
2. Catholics who join the Masons are in the state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
3. “No local ecclesiastical authority has the competence to derogate from these judgments of the Sacred Congregation.”
But Klubb’s investigation revealed that in 2017, Fr. Stephen Hackett, then ACBC secretary, wrote to the former Masonic grand master of Northern Territory/South Australia, Mr. Stephen Michalak, to advise him that the Bishops’ Conference had stated that “no penalty attaches to Catholic membership of the Masonic order.” The letter said that the ACBC first issued a directive to that effect in 1984 and had affirmed it in 2017.
The letters in question from Grand Master Stephen Michalak and the response from Father Stephen Hackett, MSC on letterhead of the ACBC can be viewed at the website of Family Life International Australia.
The Catholic Church has repeatedly and authoritatively condemned Freemasonry for almost 300 years, dating from Pope Clement XII’s 1738 papal bull In Eminenti.
In his 1884 encyclical Humanum Genus, His Holiness Pope Leo XIII described Freemasonry as the chief organizing force of the “partisans of evil” in society.
At this period, however, the partisans of evil [seem] to be combining together, and to be struggling with united vehemence, led on or assisted by that strongly organized and widespread association called the Freemasons. No longer making any secret of their purposes, they are now boldly rising up against God Himself. They are planning the destruction of holy Church publicly and openly, and this with the set purpose of utterly despoiling the nations of Christendom, if it were possible, of the blessings obtained for us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Lamenting these evils, We are constrained by the charity which urges Our heart to cry out often to God: “For lo, Thy enemies have made a noise; and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head. They have taken a malicious counsel against Thy people, and they have consulted against Thy saints. They have said, ‘come, and let us destroy them, so that they be not a nation.’”
Update 09-22-20 09:53 EDT: This article was updated to provide more background information on the Church’s stance on Freemasonry, among other updates.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-16--US bishop says environment should be ‘preeminent issue’ for voters, not abortion

PETITION : Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden !
Sign the petition here .
LEXINGTON , Kentucky , September 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Bishop John Stowe suggested last Thursday that the environment is the preeminent issues for Catholic voters to consider , not abortion .
“ They are both critical issues , ” the pro-homosexual bishop of Lexington , Kentucky , admitted .
“ I think an argument could be made that … creation is the preeminent issue , because without the environment to sustain human life , you can ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kentucky , made his remarks during a webinar hosted by Catholic Climate Covenant .
“ We have to look at what office are we voting people into – what office are we electing for and what is their role in that office , ” Stowe continued .
“ We ’ ve seen what the current President can do by withdrawing from an international treaty about protecting the environment , and the effect that that has had immediately.
” On the other hand , the bishop said , “ We have unfortunately lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 1973 .
After many administrations of both parties , that hasn ’ t changed , so when we look at just the immediacy and the role of office and what effect they have , I think that can weigh in on that decision.
” Stowe also criticized the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) for its document “ Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship , ” which included language qualifying abortion as the “ preeminent priority ” for voters to be concerned about .
“ The threat of abortion remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life itself , because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family , and because of the number of lives destroyed , ” the bishops wrote .
In another place , they added , “ In our nation , ‘ abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself , the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others.
’ ” “ I voted against the inclusion of that language , ” said Stowe , arguing it was confusing terminology .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preeminent , ” he conceded , “ because without the right to life the other human rights don ’ t come into existence .
So I do understand it on one level , but unfortunately it gives people the permission to think it ’ s the only one that matters , and I don ’ t think that was the intention of the document.
” “ It goes against other parts of the document that tell us not to be single issue voters , so if we do take that web of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interconnectedness of all these issues , ” Stowe pointed out .
“ Pope Francis has done a great job of leading us towards that .
I think the unnecessary inclusion of that word took a step backward.
” The USCCB ’ s document itself indeed asked Catholics to focus not simply on one issue .
However , it qualified that any candidate ’ s “ position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter ’ s support .
Yet if a candidate ’ s position on a single issue promotes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal abortion , redefining marriage in a way that denies its essential meaning , or racist behavior , a voter may legitimately disqualify a candidate from receiving support.
” For faithful Catholics , a politician ’ s position on abortion and other life issues , including euthanasia , is of key importance .
Pope Benedict XVI , in 2006 , identified three “ principles which are not negotiable ” in politics .
He first mentioned the “ protection of life in all its stages , from the first moment of conception until natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family – as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage – and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization , obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role.
” Finally , the Pope emeritus listed “ the protection of the right of parents to educate their children.
” In July , Bishop Stowe had discredited President Trump as not really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call himself pro-life , and for anybody to back him because of claims of being pro-life , is almost willful ignorance , ” he said .
“ He is so much anti-life because he is only concerned about himself , and he gives us every , every , every indication of that.
” “ Yes , we have to be concerned for the unborn children , ” the bishop said at the time .
“ It ’ s foundational for us , but it ’ s all connected , ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vision that was described as the seamless garment vision.
” The term “ seamless garment ” refers to a theory first spelled out by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin .
According to that theory , intrinsic evils like abortion are essentially morally equivalent to societal ills like poverty .
“ Pope Francis has given us a great definition of what pro-life means , ” Bishop Stowe said .
“ He basically tells us we can ’ t claim to be pro-life if we support the separation of children from their parents at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposing people at the border to COVID-19 because of the facilities that they ’ re in , if we support denying people who have need to adequate health care access to that health care , if we keep people from getting the housing or the education that they need , we can not call ourselves pro-life.
” Bishop Stowe also used the July webinar to once again express his support for homosexuality and gender ideology , explicitly saying , “ Our understanding of family has to change.
” “ We have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that ’ s where the LGBT issues come into play , ” he said .
“ I agree completely with ( another webinar participant ) that our credibility is on the line with the whole generation , and more , of young people who just don ’ t buy that teaching , and know from their experience , and know from the people that they know , that there are good and loving people that happen to identify as LGBT , and that ’ s part of who they are .
”

Pro-homosexual Bishop John Stowe justified his dissent from the USCCB by stating that 'without the environment to sustain human life, you can't have human life.'
PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, September 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Bishop John Stowe suggested last Thursday that the environment is the preeminent issues for Catholic voters to consider, not abortion. “They are both critical issues,” the pro-homosexual bishop of Lexington, Kentucky, admitted. “I think an argument could be made that … creation is the preeminent issue, because without the environment to sustain human life, you can’t have human life.”
The bishop of Lexington, Kentucky, made his remarks during a webinar hosted by Catholic Climate Covenant.
“We have to look at what office are we voting people into – what office are we electing for and what is their role in that office,” Stowe continued. “We’ve seen what the current President can do by withdrawing from an international treaty about protecting the environment, and the effect that that has had immediately.”
On the other hand, the bishop said, “We have unfortunately lived with abortion as interpreted as a right since 1973. After many administrations of both parties, that hasn’t changed, so when we look at just the immediacy and the role of office and what effect they have, I think that can weigh in on that decision.”
Stowe also criticized the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for its document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” which included language qualifying abortion as the “preeminent priority” for voters to be concerned about.
“The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed,” the bishops wrote.
In another place, they added, “In our nation, ‘abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others.’”
“I voted against the inclusion of that language,” said Stowe, arguing it was confusing terminology.
“I do understand the logic of it being preeminent,” he conceded, “because without the right to life the other human rights don’t come into existence. So I do understand it on one level, but unfortunately it gives people the permission to think it’s the only one that matters, and I don’t think that was the intention of the document.”
“It goes against other parts of the document that tell us not to be single issue voters, so if we do take that web of life kind of spirituality, we see the interconnectedness of all these issues,” Stowe pointed out. “Pope Francis has done a great job of leading us towards that. I think the unnecessary inclusion of that word took a step backward.”
The USCCB’s document itself indeed asked Catholics to focus not simply on one issue. However, it qualified that any candidate’s “position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter’s support. Yet if a candidate’s position on a single issue promotes an intrinsically evil act, such as legal abortion, redefining marriage in a way that denies its essential meaning, or racist behavior, a voter may legitimately disqualify a candidate from receiving support.”
For faithful Catholics, a politician’s position on abortion and other life issues, including euthanasia, is of key importance.
Pope Benedict XVI, in 2006, identified three “principles which are not negotiable” in politics.
He first mentioned the “protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death.”
Also, he referenced the “recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family – as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage – and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role.”
Finally, the Pope emeritus listed “the protection of the right of parents to educate their children.”
In July, Bishop Stowe had discredited President Trump as not really being pro-life.
“For this President to call himself pro-life, and for anybody to back him because of claims of being pro-life, is almost willful ignorance,” he said. “He is so much anti-life because he is only concerned about himself, and he gives us every, every, every indication of that.”
“Yes, we have to be concerned for the unborn children,” the bishop said at the time. “It’s foundational for us, but it’s all connected,” and “our understanding of pro-life has to be the vision that was described as the seamless garment vision.”
The term “seamless garment” refers to a theory first spelled out by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. According to that theory, intrinsic evils like abortion are essentially morally equivalent to societal ills like poverty.
“Pope Francis has given us a great definition of what pro-life means,” Bishop Stowe said. “He basically tells us we can’t claim to be pro-life if we support the separation of children from their parents at the U.S. border, if we support exposing people at the border to COVID-19 because of the facilities that they’re in, if we support denying people who have need to adequate health care access to that health care, if we keep people from getting the housing or the education that they need, we cannot call ourselves pro-life.”
Bishop Stowe also used the July webinar to once again express his support for homosexuality and gender ideology, explicitly saying, “Our understanding of family has to change.”
“We have to be in a different understanding of family, and that’s where the LGBT issues come into play,” he said. “I agree completely with (another webinar participant) that our credibility is on the line with the whole generation, and more, of young people who just don’t buy that teaching, and know from their experience, and know from the people that they know, that there are good and loving people that happen to identify as LGBT, and that’s part of who they are.”
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lifesitenews--2020-09-16--COVID-19 deaths plummet to zero for the first time since spring in Canada

PETITION : No to radical mandatory mask mandates !
Sign the petition here .
OTTAWA , September 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – According to federal public health agency data , Canada reported zero deaths attributed to the coronavirus in a 24-hour period for the first time in six months .
On September 11 , Canada reported 9,163 deaths related to COVID-19 , which was the same amount reported September 10 .
On the same day , there were 135,626 total positive cases overall , with most of these cases , more than 121,000 , marked as recoveries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this past Friday and caught the attention of Concerned Ontario Doctors , a grassroots nonprofit organization advocating for healthcare issues affecting frontline doctors .
The group took to Twitter to bring attention to the fact that deaths and hospital admissions , including those admitted to the ICU , have flat-lined nationwide , despite an apparent rise in cases .
“ September 11 , 2020 : Day 178 of harmful lockdown that started as ‘ 2 weeks to flatten the curve ’ 0 deaths reported in all of Canada popn : 37,971,020 ) 66,764 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1.05 % ) 1.8 active cases per 10,000 ppl in Canada # EndLockdown # ReturnToNormal , ” wrote the group in a September 12 tweet .
As of today , Canada has 9,188 deaths attributed to the virus since the nation 's first death was reported on March 9 .
Data also show that while positive COVID-19 cases have risen in the past few weeks , hospitalization rates , including ICU admissions , as well as deaths , have remained low .
This is especially the case in the provinces of Ontario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast majority of both COVID-19 deaths and cases in Canada .
As of today , Ontario reported 44 people in hospital because of COVID-19 and 20 of them in ICU , including 12 on ventilators .
Quebec statistics indicate 120 people are in hospital due to the virus .
Dr. Kulvinder Gill , president and co-founder of Concerned Ontario Doctors , has been a critical opponent of the lockdown measures and the need for a vaccine .
She recently said the “ smears against Hydroxychloroquine ” as an effective treatment for COVID-19 need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire for saying on social media that a COVID-19 vaccine is not necessary and that extended lockdowns do not accomplish anything .
In response to the report of no new deaths , Gill took to social media to voice her opinions , which included highlighting herd immunity as an effective strategy in fighting the virus .
“ US & UK media finally reporting what we 've known for months from published peer-reviewed research by leading scientists : pre-existing cross-protective Tcell immunity & strong Tcell responses bode well for long-term # SARSCoV2 immunity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand , ” Gill wrote on Twitter .
Dr. Harvey Risch , an epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health , told LifeSiteNews that Canada “ should not replicate the Israeli experience ” in terms of what Israel did to combat the coronavirus .
“ The original ( Israeli ) lockdown achieved about no new cases for two weeks and yet a massive second wave occurred when the lockdown reopened because there was no understanding of the reservoir of asymptomatic infected people in the population , ” Risch told LifeSiteNews .
Risch also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to COVID-19 is herd immunity , which is what Dr. Gill has advocated for , and that lockdowns “ postpone the inevitable.
” “ The only solution to this is the development of herd immunity .
That will start to show when 40-50 percent of people have become immune , ” Risch told LifeSiteNews .
“ Given that the pandemic will continue no matter how , lockdowns just postpone the inevitable , the only way to manage this is to protect people at medium or high risk .
Those individuals can either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal life , or have rapid outpatient treatment available in case they need it .
That rapid outpatient treatment is of course hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin , plus zinc , plus azithromycin or doxycycline , plus vitamin D. ” Risch has praised hydroxychloroquine ( HCQ ) as an effective treatment in combating the effects of COVID-19 .
He recently said that opponents to HCQ have no science to back up their opposition to the drug , which has been approved for use for decades to combat Malaria .
Risch said of HCQ to LifeSiteNews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs and go kaput , or it can make use of them and survive .
That 's the choice.
” Ontario Premier Doug Ford , who himself has been a vocal opponent of those opposing the lockdown measures put in place in Ontario , has been critical of rising cases and recently threatened to bring in a rash of new lockdowns should numbers continue to rise .
“ We will take every step necessary including further shutdowns , ” Ford said earlier in the week .
Ford has also been critical of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis in the United States .
In July , he told reporters that the United States has “ been reckless .
They moved forward too quickly , ” in a jab clearly directed at Trump and governors of states such as Texas and Florida , who have reopened their states to near-normal conditions .
Despite the criticism of the United States and its case counts and death rates , a recent opinion piece published on LifeSiteNews by Robert L. Kinney III suggests that the U.S. death toll related to COVID-19 may have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dr. Gill blasted politicians on Twitter for saying they are looking into imposing new restrictions .
“ Why are politicians , who ’ ve secretly broken their own lockdowns & arbitrary restrictions w/out consequence , the very ones to demand/impose more illogical , unethical & unscientific lockdowns/restrictions on citizens ?
Their blatant hypocrisy/disregard for our liberties is appalling , ” Gill wrote on Twitter .

In addition to no fatalities reported from coronavirus, hospitalizations have flat-lined.
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OTTAWA, September 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – According to federal public health agency data, Canada reported zero deaths attributed to the coronavirus in a 24-hour period for the first time in six months.
On September 11, Canada reported 9,163 deaths related to COVID-19, which was the same amount reported September 10. On the same day, there were 135,626 total positive cases overall, with most of these cases, more than 121,000, marked as recoveries.
The report of zero coronavirus deaths came this past Friday and caught the attention of Concerned Ontario Doctors, a grassroots nonprofit organization advocating for healthcare issues affecting frontline doctors.
The group took to Twitter to bring attention to the fact that deaths and hospital admissions, including those admitted to the ICU, have flat-lined nationwide, despite an apparent rise in cases.
“September 11, 2020: Day 178 of harmful lockdown that started as ‘2 weeks to flatten the curve’ 0 deaths reported in all of Canada popn: 37,971,020) 66,764 additional tests to confirm 702 additional cases (1.05%) 1.8 active cases per 10,000 ppl in Canada #EndLockdown #ReturnToNormal,” wrote the group in a September 12 tweet.
As of today, Canada has 9,188 deaths attributed to the virus since the nation's first death was reported on March 9.
Data also show that while positive COVID-19 cases have risen in the past few weeks, hospitalization rates, including ICU admissions, as well as deaths, have remained low.
This is especially the case in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, which make up the vast majority of both COVID-19 deaths and cases in Canada.
As of today, Ontario reported 44 people in hospital because of COVID-19 and 20 of them in ICU, including 12 on ventilators. Quebec statistics indicate 120 people are in hospital due to the virus.
Dr. Kulvinder Gill, president and co-founder of Concerned Ontario Doctors, has been a critical opponent of the lockdown measures and the need for a vaccine.
She recently said the “smears against Hydroxychloroquine” as an effective treatment for COVID-19 need to stop. She also came under fire for saying on social media that a COVID-19 vaccine is not necessary and that extended lockdowns do not accomplish anything.
In response to the report of no new deaths, Gill took to social media to voice her opinions, which included highlighting herd immunity as an effective strategy in fighting the virus.
“US & UK media finally reporting what we've known for months from published peer-reviewed research by leading scientists: pre-existing cross-protective Tcell immunity & strong Tcell responses bode well for long-term #SARSCoV2 immunity, and #HerdImmunity may already be at hand,” Gill wrote on Twitter.
Dr. Harvey Risch, an epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health, told LifeSiteNews that Canada “should not replicate the Israeli experience” in terms of what Israel did to combat the coronavirus.
“The original (Israeli) lockdown achieved about no new cases for two weeks and yet a massive second wave occurred when the lockdown reopened because there was no understanding of the reservoir of asymptomatic infected people in the population,” Risch told LifeSiteNews.
Risch also told LifeSiteNews that the only “solution” to COVID-19 is herd immunity, which is what Dr. Gill has advocated for, and that lockdowns “postpone the inevitable.”
“The only solution to this is the development of herd immunity. That will start to show when 40-50 percent of people have become immune,” Risch told LifeSiteNews.
“Given that the pandemic will continue no matter how, lockdowns just postpone the inevitable, the only way to manage this is to protect people at medium or high risk. Those individuals can either remain completely isolated while everyone else resumes normal life, or have rapid outpatient treatment available in case they need it. That rapid outpatient treatment is of course hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin, plus zinc, plus azithromycin or doxycycline, plus vitamin D.”
Risch has praised hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as an effective treatment in combating the effects of COVID-19. He recently said that opponents to HCQ have no science to back up their opposition to the drug, which has been approved for use for decades to combat Malaria.
Risch said of HCQ to LifeSiteNews, “A population can politicize these drugs and go kaput, or it can make use of them and survive. That's the choice.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who himself has been a vocal opponent of those opposing the lockdown measures put in place in Ontario, has been critical of rising cases and recently threatened to bring in a rash of new lockdowns should numbers continue to rise.
“We will take every step necessary including further shutdowns,” Ford said earlier in the week.
Ford has also been critical of how the Trump administration has handled the coronavirus crisis in the United States.
In July, he told reporters that the United States has “been reckless. They moved forward too quickly,” in a jab clearly directed at Trump and governors of states such as Texas and Florida, who have reopened their states to near-normal conditions.
Despite the criticism of the United States and its case counts and death rates, a recent opinion piece published on LifeSiteNews by Robert L. Kinney III suggests that the U.S. death toll related to COVID-19 may have been exaggerated by over “100,000.”
Today, Dr. Gill blasted politicians on Twitter for saying they are looking into imposing new restrictions.
“Why are politicians, who’ve secretly broken their own lockdowns & arbitrary restrictions w/out consequence, the very ones to demand/impose more illogical, unethical & unscientific lockdowns/restrictions on citizens? Their blatant hypocrisy/disregard for our liberties is appalling,” Gill wrote on Twitter.
Contact information:
Office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford Room 281 Legislative Building, Queen's Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Tel.416-325-1941 Fax.416-325-3745 [email protected] Website contact form: https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/EN/feedback/default.aspx Ontario MPP Contact information page https://www.ola.org/en/members/current/contact-information
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