lifesitenews--2020-01-06--BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein hit with new rape, sexual assault charges

LOS ANGELES , California , January 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Harvey Weinstein , the Hollywood producer whose alleged sexual misconduct sparked the # MeToo movement , has been hit with new charges .
Weinstein , 67 , has been charged with sexually assaulting one woman and raping another in 2013 .
Specifically , he has been charged with “ one felony count each of forcible rape , forcible oral copulation , sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint , ” according to a press release produced by the Los Angeles County District Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Manhattan courtroom today as part of his sex abuse trial in New York , where he faces separate rape and sexual assault charges .
“ We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them , ” Los Angeles District Attorney Lacey said in the press release .
“ I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them .
It is my hope that all victims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they move forward.
” The D.A.
’ s office specified that on February 18 , 2013 Weinstein allegedly went to a hotel and raped a woman after pushing his way inside her room .
Then , the next evening , he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room in Beverly Hills .
Weinstein faces up to 28 years in prison in California and life in prison in New York .
According to the BBC , Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 80 women .
By 2013 , Weinstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secret to the glitterati of the entertainment industry .
Weinstein ’ s alleged crimes were first exposed in the press by journalists for the New York Times on October 5 , 2017 .
However , Hollywood insider Ronan Farrow , son of actress Mia Farrow , may have brought down the priapic producer for good with his Pulitzer Prize-winning October 2017 report for the New Yorker on Weinstein ’ s sexual assaults and exploitation of women in the film industry .
“ For more than twenty years , Weinstein , who is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rumors of sexual harassment and assault , ” Farrow then wrote .
“ His behavior has been an open secret to many in Hollywood and beyond , but previous attempts by many publications , including The New Yorker , to investigate and publish the story over the years fell short of the demands of journalistic evidence , ” he continued .
“ Too few people were willing to speak , much less allow a reporter to use their names , and Weinstein and his associates used nondisclosure agreements , payoffs , and legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Argento , an Italian film actress and director , said that she did not speak out until now—Weinstein , she told me , forcibly performed oral sex on her—because she feared that Weinstein would ‘ crush ’ her.
” Farrow later revealed that his friendly relationship with Hilary Clinton “ went cold ” while he was investigating Harvey Weinstein .
He had served as a special adviser on global youth issues for Clinton between 2011 and 2012 when she was the Secretary of State .
Weinstein had been a booster for Clinton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Senate in 1999 and encouraging others in Hollywood to back her political ambitions .

Weinstein now faces sexual assault and rape charges in California in addition to New York.
LOS ANGELES, California, January 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer whose alleged sexual misconduct sparked the #MeToo movement, has been hit with new charges.
Weinstein, 67, has been charged with sexually assaulting one woman and raping another in 2013. Specifically, he has been charged with “one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint,” according to a press release produced by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Weinstein appeared in a Manhattan courtroom today as part of his sex abuse trial in New York, where he faces separate rape and sexual assault charges.
“We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them,” Los Angeles District Attorney Lacey said in the press release.
“I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them. It is my hope that all victims of sexual violence find strength and healing as they move forward.”
The D.A.’s office specified that on February 18, 2013 Weinstein allegedly went to a hotel and raped a woman after pushing his way inside her room. Then, the next evening, he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room in Beverly Hills.
Weinstein faces up to 28 years in prison in California and life in prison in New York.
According to the BBC, Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 80 women. By 2013, Weinstein’s misconduct was apparently an open secret to the glitterati of the entertainment industry.
Weinstein’s alleged crimes were first exposed in the press by journalists for the New York Times on October 5, 2017.
However, Hollywood insider Ronan Farrow, son of actress Mia Farrow, may have brought down the priapic producer for good with his Pulitzer Prize-winning October 2017 report for the New Yorker on Weinstein’s sexual assaults and exploitation of women in the film industry.
“For more than twenty years, Weinstein, who is now sixty-five, has also been trailed by rumors of sexual harassment and assault,” Farrow then wrote.
“His behavior has been an open secret to many in Hollywood and beyond, but previous attempts by many publications, including The New Yorker, to investigate and publish the story over the years fell short of the demands of journalistic evidence,” he continued.
“Too few people were willing to speak, much less allow a reporter to use their names, and Weinstein and his associates used nondisclosure agreements, payoffs, and legal threats to suppress their accounts. Asia Argento, an Italian film actress and director, said that she did not speak out until now—Weinstein, she told me, forcibly performed oral sex on her—because she feared that Weinstein would ‘crush’ her.”
Farrow later revealed that his friendly relationship with Hilary Clinton “went cold” while he was investigating Harvey Weinstein. He had served as a special adviser on global youth issues for Clinton between 2011 and 2012 when she was the Secretary of State.
Weinstein had been a booster for Clinton, contributing thousands of dollars to her run for the Senate in 1999 and encouraging others in Hollywood to back her political ambitions.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-06--BREAKING: Court rejects university’s $17,500 ‘security fee’ levied on pro-life group to run campus e

BREAKING: Court rejects university’s $17,500 ‘security fee’ levied on pro-life group to run campus event

EDMONTON , Alberta , January 6 , 2020 ( jccf.ca ) – In a victory for pro-life speech on Alberta campuses , the Alberta Court of Appeal today rejected the University of Alberta ’ s imposition of a $ 17,500 security fee on UAlberta Pro-Life .
Demanded by the University in 2016 , this security fee had prevented the small student club from hosting educational displays on campus .
The case arose in March of 2015 , when the University of Alberta condoned the behaviour of a mob that physically obstructed a peaceful , stationary pro-life display on campus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University .
The mob used sheets , towels , banners , and mega-phones , making it impossible for passers-by to view the signs .
The mob effectively silenced intellectual discussion and inquiry , in violation of the Code of Student Behaviour .
Prior to this physical obstruction and disruption of a university-approved campus event , the University ’ s president had stated publicly that the pro-life group was entitled to express its opinions on campus .
Then-president Indira Samarasekera stated the University must facilitate and protect the peaceful expression of all views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statement was not taken seriously by campus security or by the students who violated the Code of Student Behaviour .
The University ’ s campus security repeatedly told members of the obstructing mob that they were violating the Code of Student Behaviour , which expressly prohibits interrupting and obstructing university-related activities and events .
Yet campus security took no action to stop the obstruction , or to discipline the students who identified themselves publicly and boasted on social media about their success in silencing a message they disagreed with .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-day campus event with a stationary display .
The University then demanded a $ 17,500 security fee as a condition for going ahead with this campus event .
In an email , the University demanded that pro-life students pay for the wages of security guards and police , and costs of barricading the venue , and pay for the potential misconduct of people violating the University ’ s Code of Student Behaviour by obstructing and disrupting the display .
Rather than render an invoice to the self-identified and self-confessed rule-breakers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it could no longer set up a display on campus unless it first paid $ 17,500 in security fees .
Unable to pay $ 17,500 , UAlberta Pro-Life was forced to cancel the event that was planned for February 2016 .
“ In issuing this demand , the University of Alberta ignored the fact that any threat to safety and security that may have existed on campus came uniquely from those who physically obstructed and loudly interrupted a university-approved event , ” stated lawyer John Carpay , president of the Justice Centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students in their court action .
In its court application , filed in April of 2016 , UAlberta Pro-Life sought a declaration that the University ’ s imposition of the $ 17,500 security fee on the club was illegal and unjustifiably violated the fundamental Canadian value of freedom of expression , protected by section 2 ( b ) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms .
The court application asked for an order prohibiting the University from imposing such financial burdens on law-abiding students in future .
The court application also sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unreasonable and therefore illegal decision in March of 2015 to condone the conduct of students who disrupted and blockaded the University-authorized UAlberta Pro-Life campus event , in violation of the Code of Student Behaviour .
Although the University had advance notice that a mob was being organized to obstruct the display , and although Dr. Samarasekera had warned that any misbehaviour would be investigated and prosecuted , the University of Alberta Protective Services ( UAPS ) did nothing to stop the blockading and physical obstruction .
UAPS also did not photograph or seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though the Code clearly prohibits students from disrupting or obstructing University-related functions .
Before taking court action , UAlberta Pro-Life first filed a formal complaint in March 2015 with UAPS against the disruptive students who had violated the Code of Student Behaviour .
It took UAPS over eight months to release a decision .
On November 30 , 2015 , UAPS confirmed that the University would not charge or prosecute students who had disrupted , blocked and obstructed the March 2015 display on campus .
This decision came in spite of UAPS possessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which students had violated the Code of Student Behaviour , in addition to social media posts in which these blockading students publicly boasted about their own behaviour .
The Alberta Court of Queen ’ s Bench ruled in favour of the University in October 2017 .
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association ( BCCLA ) intervened before the Alberta Court of Appeal , in support of freedom of expression .
The students appealed , and now have a decision from the Alberta Court of Appeal .

EDMONTON, Alberta, January 6, 2020 (jccf.ca) – In a victory for pro-life speech on Alberta campuses, the Alberta Court of Appeal today rejected the University of Alberta’s imposition of a $17,500 security fee on UAlberta Pro-Life. Demanded by the University in 2016, this security fee had prevented the small student club from hosting educational displays on campus. The case arose in March of 2015, when the University of Alberta condoned the behaviour of a mob that physically obstructed a peaceful, stationary pro-life display on campus, which had been authorized and approved by the University. The mob used sheets, towels, banners, and mega-phones, […]
EDMONTON, Alberta, January 6, 2020 (jccf.ca) – In a victory for pro-life speech on Alberta campuses, the Alberta Court of Appeal today rejected the University of Alberta’s imposition of a $17,500 security fee on UAlberta Pro-Life. Demanded by the University in 2016, this security fee had prevented the small student club from hosting educational displays on campus.
The case arose in March of 2015, when the University of Alberta condoned the behaviour of a mob that physically obstructed a peaceful, stationary pro-life display on campus, which had been authorized and approved by the University. The mob used sheets, towels, banners, and mega-phones, making it impossible for passers-by to view the signs. The mob effectively silenced intellectual discussion and inquiry, in violation of the Code of Student Behaviour. Prior to this physical obstruction and disruption of a university-approved campus event, the University’s president had stated publicly that the pro-life group was entitled to express its opinions on campus. Then-president Indira Samarasekera stated the University must facilitate and protect the peaceful expression of all views, regardless of popularity.
Dr. Samarasekera’s statement was not taken seriously by campus security or by the students who violated the Code of Student Behaviour. The University’s campus security repeatedly told members of the obstructing mob that they were violating the Code of Student Behaviour, which expressly prohibits interrupting and obstructing university-related activities and events. Yet campus security took no action to stop the obstruction, or to discipline the students who identified themselves publicly and boasted on social media about their success in silencing a message they disagreed with.
In 2016, UAlberta Pro-Life applied again for a two-day campus event with a stationary display. The University then demanded a $17,500 security fee as a condition for going ahead with this campus event.
In an email, the University demanded that pro-life students pay for the wages of security guards and police, and costs of barricading the venue, and pay for the potential misconduct of people violating the University’s Code of Student Behaviour by obstructing and disrupting the display. Rather than render an invoice to the self-identified and self-confessed rule-breakers, the University instead told the small pro-life club that it could no longer set up a display on campus unless it first paid $17,500 in security fees. Unable to pay $17,500, UAlberta Pro-Life was forced to cancel the event that was planned for February 2016.
“In issuing this demand, the University of Alberta ignored the fact that any threat to safety and security that may have existed on campus came uniquely from those who physically obstructed and loudly interrupted a university-approved event,” stated lawyer John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represented the students in their court action.
In its court application, filed in April of 2016, UAlberta Pro-Life sought a declaration that the University’s imposition of the $17,500 security fee on the club was illegal and unjustifiably violated the fundamental Canadian value of freedom of expression, protected by section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court application asked for an order prohibiting the University from imposing such financial burdens on law-abiding students in future.
The court application also sought a ruling that the University made an unreasonable and therefore illegal decision in March of 2015 to condone the conduct of students who disrupted and blockaded the University-authorized UAlberta Pro-Life campus event, in violation of the Code of Student Behaviour. Although the University had advance notice that a mob was being organized to obstruct the display, and although Dr. Samarasekera had warned that any misbehaviour would be investigated and prosecuted, the University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS) did nothing to stop the blockading and physical obstruction. UAPS also did not photograph or seek to identify any blockading student, even though the Code clearly prohibits students from disrupting or obstructing University-related functions.
Before taking court action, UAlberta Pro-Life first filed a formal complaint in March 2015 with UAPS against the disruptive students who had violated the Code of Student Behaviour. It took UAPS over eight months to release a decision. On November 30, 2015, UAPS confirmed that the University would not charge or prosecute students who had disrupted, blocked and obstructed the March 2015 display on campus. This decision came in spite of UAPS possessing ample photographic and video evidence as to which students had violated the Code of Student Behaviour, in addition to social media posts in which these blockading students publicly boasted about their own behaviour.
The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench ruled in favour of the University in October 2017. The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) intervened before the Alberta Court of Appeal, in support of freedom of expression. The students appealed, and now have a decision from the Alberta Court of Appeal.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-06--Cdl Marx: Homosexual couples can receive ‘blessing’ from Church

January 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Cardinal Reinhard Marx , the head of the German Bishops ' Conference , stated in a recent interview that homosexuals belong to the Church ’ s “ sacramental community ” and has defended “ blessing ” homosexual couples .
On December 23 , 2019 , Cardinal Marx gave an interview to the German magazine Der Stern in which he said : “ I insist : we welcome homosexuals , they belong to the Church , also to the sacramental community.
” Marx said that homosexual couples can receive “ a blessing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can pray together.
” The expression “ sacramental community ” means here that , according to Marx , homosexuals are not excluded from receiving the sacraments .
However , the Church 's teaching is that those who live in the state of mortal sin without the intention to change their way of life are indeed to be excluded from the sacraments .
Cardinal Marx did not further differentiate his statement in the interview with Der Stern .
He went on to tell Der Stern that he had already spoken on the topic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Family ( either in 2014 or in 2015 ) : “ When people in a homosexual relationship are loyal to one another over years , are available to one another , and even take care of each other until death ; then we as Church can not make a bracket around this entire life , placing a minus sign in front of it and say that all of this has no worth because it takes place in a homosexual relationship.
” The German prelate adds that he has received for these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Vatican News , a media outlet run by the Vatican , titled its report on this interview : “ Marx : homosexual couples can receive blessing.
” However , right in the lead , Vatican News differentiates his words by adding that he stated that these couples ' relationship “ can not be a marriage-like relationship.
” Marx had explained that marriage is for “ a man and a woman , with openness for having children.
” On February 3 , 2018 , Cardinal Marx caused a stir with an interview in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blessing for homosexual couples should be placed into the care of the local priest , thus not explicitly ruling out such a blessing as a possibility .
However , a few weeks later he denied having supported the idea of such a blessing , adding “ that there also can be spiritual encouragement ; [ but ] about a blessing of homosexual couples , and even a public one , I did not speak at all.
” However , Cardinal Marx then also referred to an episcopal commission in Germany that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of homosexual couples , and this matter is now also part of the German `` Synodal Path ” that is already underway in Germany , with the official discussions to be starting soon , on January 30 .
One of the four discussion forums aims at questioning the Church 's teaching on homosexuality , and the main architect of this forum – Professor Eberhard Schockenhoff – explicitly proposes to approve of such relationships .
Not long ago , the Vice President of the German Bishops ' Conference , Bishop Franz-Josef Bode , wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of blessing homosexual couples in the Catholic Church .
He also had proposed to discuss publicly a possible blessing for homosexual couples .
He first did so in January of 2018 and then again at the end of December , 2019 .
Several well-informed sources in Germany told LifeSiteNews that such a blessing is actually already being prepared for the Catholic Church in Germany .
In his Der Stern interview , Cardinal Marx himself also covered different other topics , among them being his openness toward the possibility of ordaining married men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Der Stern that Pope Francis told him in person that the door to the female priesthood is definitely closed , but that , despite this , the Cardinal still insists upon discussing it .
“ But the discussion is not closed , ” is what Cardinal Marx has responded to Pope Francis when the Pope told him of his own decision against female priests ( “ the door is closed.
” ) .
When asked as to what God thinks about the fact that there are more than 100,000 abortions per year in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much consumerism on Sundays , Cardinal Marx replied : “ We should not be so bold as to claim : We know what God is thinking , ” thereby echoing the words of Pope Francis , “ who am I to judge ?
” when asked about a practicing homosexual priest .

January 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the head of the German Bishops' Conference, stated in a recent interview that homosexuals belong to the Church’s “sacramental community” and has defended “blessing” homosexual couples.
On December 23, 2019, Cardinal Marx gave an interview to the German magazine Der Stern in which he said: “I insist: we welcome homosexuals, they belong to the Church, also to the sacramental community.”
Marx said that homosexual couples can receive “a blessing in the sense of a pastoral accompaniment, we can pray together.”
The expression “sacramental community” means here that, according to Marx, homosexuals are not excluded from receiving the sacraments. However, the Church's teaching is that those who live in the state of mortal sin without the intention to change their way of life are indeed to be excluded from the sacraments.
Cardinal Marx did not further differentiate his statement in the interview with Der Stern.
He went on to tell Der Stern that he had already spoken on the topic of homosexuality at the Synod of Bishops on the Family (either in 2014 or in 2015): “When people in a homosexual relationship are loyal to one another over years, are available to one another, and even take care of each other until death; then we as Church cannot make a bracket around this entire life, placing a minus sign in front of it and say that all of this has no worth because it takes place in a homosexual relationship.”
The German prelate adds that he has received for these words “much criticism from certain parts.”
Vatican News, a media outlet run by the Vatican, titled its report on this interview: “Marx: homosexual couples can receive blessing.”
However, right in the lead, Vatican News differentiates his words by adding that he stated that these couples' relationship “cannot be a marriage-like relationship.” Marx had explained that marriage is for “a man and a woman, with openness for having children.”
On February 3, 2018, Cardinal Marx caused a stir with an interview in which he stated that the question of a blessing for homosexual couples should be placed into the care of the local priest, thus not explicitly ruling out such a blessing as a possibility. However, a few weeks later he denied having supported the idea of such a blessing, adding “that there also can be spiritual encouragement; [but] about a blessing of homosexual couples, and even a public one, I did not speak at all.”
However, Cardinal Marx then also referred to an episcopal commission in Germany that was then discussing this matter of a blessing of homosexual couples, and this matter is now also part of the German “Synodal Path” that is already underway in Germany, with the official discussions to be starting soon, on January 30. One of the four discussion forums aims at questioning the Church's teaching on homosexuality, and the main architect of this forum – Professor Eberhard Schockenhoff – explicitly proposes to approve of such relationships.
Not long ago, the Vice President of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Franz-Josef Bode, wrote a foreword to a book promoting the idea of blessing homosexual couples in the Catholic Church. He also had proposed to discuss publicly a possible blessing for homosexual couples. He first did so in January of 2018 and then again at the end of December, 2019.
Several well-informed sources in Germany told LifeSiteNews that such a blessing is actually already being prepared for the Catholic Church in Germany.
In his Der Stern interview, Cardinal Marx himself also covered different other topics, among them being his openness toward the possibility of ordaining married men to the priesthood. He also told Der Stern that Pope Francis told him in person that the door to the female priesthood is definitely closed, but that, despite this, the Cardinal still insists upon discussing it. “But the discussion is not closed,” is what Cardinal Marx has responded to Pope Francis when the Pope told him of his own decision against female priests (“the door is closed.”).
When asked as to what God thinks about the fact that there are more than 100,000 abortions per year in Germany, many patchwork families, and much consumerism on Sundays, Cardinal Marx replied: “We should not be so bold as to claim: We know what God is thinking,” thereby echoing the words of Pope Francis, “who am I to judge?” when asked about a practicing homosexual priest.
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-06--Angry feminists torch car of pro-life journalist for promoting German March for Life

January 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Some of you may remember that back in 2015 , the renowned German playwright Falk Richter premiered a play titled FEAR in Berlin .
The play featured five pro-family women , including my friend Gabriele Kuby , who reject gender ideology , portraying them as Nazi zombies .
During the course of the play , the zombies were attacked by actors who poked out their eyes , with one suggesting that they get “ shot in the brain , as only then will they be really dead.
” Richter ’ s play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be prophetic : Two of the women were later targeted by arson attacks and one of them , Hedwig von Beverfoerde , had her van firebombed .
The flames spread from the burning van to her family business , leveling it .
In Germany , the attitude towards pro-life and pro-family figures in the public square has become overtly hostile over the past few years .
Most choose to keep their addresses secret as a result .
So it is sadly not surprising that on New Year ’ s Eve , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schupelius was set ablaze in Berlin by far-left extremists .
Schupelius , who runs his own blog and writes for the newspaper B.Z.
, had been previously condemned for calling on his fellow Germans to join the March for Life , which took place last fall .
This invitation enraged feminists , triggering the arson attack that resulted in Schupelius ’ car being almost completely burned .
“ Every year he heavily promotes the ‘ March for Life ’ of male and female opponents of abortion and repeatedly makes it clear what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duties , ” stated the feminist group claiming responsibility for the attack .
“ We torched his SUV today , ” the group added , and provided explicit details about where the journalist lives while stating that he “ lives there with his children.
” The group claiming responsibility for the attack , Feministische Autonome Zelle , had previously attacked an evangelical church in Tübingen on December 27 , and is unapologetic about its use of violence .
They admitted that Schupelius also does charity work , but scorned his social contribution as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject [ themselves ] to the concept of hetero-normative worldviews.
” Helping the poor and underprivileged , it seems , should only be the purview of abortion enthusiasts .
This second attack has been widely denounced , with Protestant clergy and Catholic bishops releasing a statement of condemnation , noting that this attack was nothing less than an attempt to use violence to intimidate dissenting points of view .
The president of German ’ s journalist union concurred , noting on Twitter that the feminists ’ attack constituted a “ disgusting attack on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life and pro-family activism may be partially due to the fact that the pro-life movement is growing across Europe—Berlin ’ s March for Life in September of last year , the event that so outraged the feminist arsonists , attracted 8,000 marchers , their biggest ever event .
Austria ’ s March for Life the following month , which I had the privilege of attending and speaking at , doubled in size to nearly 5,000 .
The Dutch March for Life has exploded to up to 15,000 in recent years , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 20,000 marched in Northern Ireland , and over 1,000 marched in Switzerland .
The outrage of groups such as Feministische Autonome Zelle is thus partially in response to the fact that , decades after the Sexual Revolution triggered massive social transformation across Europe , there are still those who refuse to accept their ideology of misery and blood .
Their presence on the streets of major cities , as thousands march to express their dissent , is a rebuke to those who have set fire to Western civilization ’ s Christian heritage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love , life , and beauty enrages those who have taken a darker , uglier path .
And so , in the face of this resistance , their fury takes a familiar form : Violence against those they find inconvenient , justified on the feeble premise that anything that contradicts their right to total autonomy , even verbally or in print , is a threat worthy of this response .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews Gianna Jessen , a well known abortion survivor and pro-life advocate .
Ms. Jessen has been mentioned in speeches by President George W Bush .
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Westminster have said that her story could impact the abortion debate .
Jessen survived a saline abortion and now uses her story to show people what an abortion .
“ I am alive .
Just by the miraculous power of Christ.
” You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

January 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Some of you may remember that back in 2015, the renowned German playwright Falk Richter premiered a play titled FEAR in Berlin. The play featured five pro-family women, including my friend Gabriele Kuby, who reject gender ideology, portraying them as Nazi zombies. During the course of the play, the zombies were attacked by actors who poked out their eyes, with one suggesting that they get “shot in the brain, as only then will they be really dead.”
Richter’s play turned out, one hopes unintentionally, to be prophetic: Two of the women were later targeted by arson attacks and one of them, Hedwig von Beverfoerde, had her van firebombed. The flames spread from the burning van to her family business, leveling it. In Germany, the attitude towards pro-life and pro-family figures in the public square has become overtly hostile over the past few years. Most choose to keep their addresses secret as a result.
So it is sadly not surprising that on New Year’s Eve, the car of a Protestant pro-life journalist Gunnar Schupelius was set ablaze in Berlin by far-left extremists. Schupelius, who runs his own blog and writes for the newspaper B.Z., had been previously condemned for calling on his fellow Germans to join the March for Life, which took place last fall. This invitation enraged feminists, triggering the arson attack that resulted in Schupelius’ car being almost completely burned.
“Every year he heavily promotes the ‘March for Life’ of male and female opponents of abortion and repeatedly makes it clear what he thinks of women and their tasks and duties,” stated the feminist group claiming responsibility for the attack. “We torched his SUV today,” the group added, and provided explicit details about where the journalist lives while stating that he “lives there with his children.”
The group claiming responsibility for the attack, Feministische Autonome Zelle, had previously attacked an evangelical church in Tübingen on December 27, and is unapologetic about its use of violence. They admitted that Schupelius also does charity work, but scorned his social contribution as one that only assists “those who subject [themselves] to the concept of hetero-normative worldviews.” Helping the poor and underprivileged, it seems, should only be the purview of abortion enthusiasts.
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
This second attack has been widely denounced, with Protestant clergy and Catholic bishops releasing a statement of condemnation, noting that this attack was nothing less than an attempt to use violence to intimidate dissenting points of view. The president of German’s journalist union concurred, noting on Twitter that the feminists’ attack constituted a “disgusting attack on press freedom.”
The increased backlash to pro-life and pro-family activism may be partially due to the fact that the pro-life movement is growing across Europe—Berlin’s March for Life in September of last year, the event that so outraged the feminist arsonists, attracted 8,000 marchers, their biggest ever event. Austria’s March for Life the following month, which I had the privilege of attending and speaking at, doubled in size to nearly 5,000. The Dutch March for Life has exploded to up to 15,000 in recent years, and this fall 50,000 marched for life in Slovakia, 20,000 marched in Northern Ireland, and over 1,000 marched in Switzerland.
The outrage of groups such as Feministische Autonome Zelle is thus partially in response to the fact that, decades after the Sexual Revolution triggered massive social transformation across Europe, there are still those who refuse to accept their ideology of misery and blood. Their presence on the streets of major cities, as thousands march to express their dissent, is a rebuke to those who have set fire to Western civilization’s Christian heritage and traditions, and their defence of love, life, and beauty enrages those who have taken a darker, uglier path.
And so, in the face of this resistance, their fury takes a familiar form: Violence against those they find inconvenient, justified on the feeble premise that anything that contradicts their right to total autonomy, even verbally or in print, is a threat worthy of this response.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Gianna Jessen, a well known abortion survivor and pro-life advocate. Ms. Jessen has been mentioned in speeches by President George W Bush. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Westminster have said that her story could impact the abortion debate. Jessen survived a saline abortion and now uses her story to show people what an abortion. “I am alive. Just by the miraculous power of Christ.” You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-06--New survey: Since 2013, 367 abortion facilities have closed

January 6 , 2020 ( Operation Rescue ) – A total of 36 abortion facilities closed nationwide in 2019 , according to a survey of every abortion facility in the U.S. conducted by Operation Rescue .
While the number of closures shows that in certain areas , abortion suppliers have outstripped the demand , abortion numbers and rates continue to drop nationwide , according to the Center for Disease Control .
Other noteworthy facts were revealed by Operation Rescue ’ s survey .
• This year ’ s closures represent a staggering 79 percent drop in the number of abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 2,176 surgical abortion facilities .
• There was a net gain of nine U.S. abortion clinics in 2019 .
• Planned Parenthood doubled down as a supplier of abortion-inducing drugs by opening five new pill clinics , dropping surgical abortions from five others , and adding chemical abortion availability to 14 of its centers that previously did not conduct abortions .
Each year , Operation Rescue conducts a nationwide survey that involves contact with each abortion business in the U.S .
The information gathered about the abortion clinics and their practices represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recent data was compiled by Operation Rescue , which conducted a survey of all abortion facilities in the U.S. from November 18 through December 6 , 2019 .
Operation Rescue defines “ abortion clinics ” as those businesses that conduct abortions outside a hospital setting .
There are two categories of abortion clinics : • Surgical Abortion Clinics : These offices conduct surgical abortions .
Almost always , surgical facilities also distribute abortion-inducing drugs .
• Medical Abortion Clinics : These offices supply abortions through the administration of drugs ( pills ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not conduct surgical abortions .
Today , there are a total of 710 U.S. abortion facilities , up nine facilities from 2018 ’ s record low of 701 .
However , the number of surgical abortion clinics continues to decline with seven fewer today than last year at this time , hitting a record low of 464 .
In fact , the number of surgical abortion clinics has fallen each year for at least the past decade from 713 in 2009 to just 464 in 2019 .
That represents a decrease of 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The decline in surgical abortion facilities is terrible news for the Abortion Cartel , but great news for women and their babies , ” said Troy Newman , President of Operation Rescue .
“ Surgical abortion facilities are still the most profitable , especially if they conduct abortions past the first trimester when prices – and profits – really soar .
When they shut down it saves lives and takes money out of the pockets of the abortionists.
” But when it comes to medication abortion facilities that are dispensaries for abortion-inducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased .
Today , there are 245 abortion pill facilities – an increase of 15 clinics nationwide in 2019 .
Medication abortion facility numbers have been steadily on the rise over the past decade , increasing 47 percent in the past ten years .
Clinic Latina , Phoenix , Arizona — It ’ s likely that most people have never heard of the Clinic Latina in Phoenix , Arizona , but its abortionist , Ronald Yunis , made news October 10 , 2019 , when he was arrested outside another facility where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Center .
Pro-life activists had taken video of Yunis pulling a gun on one activist as he left the clinic ’ s driveway .
Police investigated and later arrested Yunis .
It was after his arrest that the Clinic Latina stopped conducting abortions .
San Diego Women ’ s Medical Clinic , San Diego , California – This facility owner , Michael Wong , who conducted abortions over the better part of four decades , finally stopped in 2019 .
Her Medical Clinic , Pacoima , California – After years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Her Medical Clinic has finally closed .
Operation Rescue ’ s staff has memories of public outreach at this facility and praying for its closure dating back over twenty-five years .
American Women ’ s Services affiliates in Baltimore , Cheverly , and Silver Spring , Maryland – These three chemical abortion facilities were owned by the disgraced New Jersey abortionist Steven Chase Brigham .
The reason for their closure is cloaked in mystery .
These facilities once conducted surgical abortions , but were halted from continuing to do so in 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were illegally administering misoprostol to women without a licensed physician present .
The Baltimore facility was the site of the death of Maria Santiago , 38 , who stopped breathing , then suffered cardiac arrest after an abortion on February 13 , 2013 .
No one at the clinic , including abortionist Iris E. Dominy , had current CPR certification .
A crash cart in the hallway was not used and the defibrillator was broken .
This year , Rhode Island became the seventh state with just one abortion facility .
Those seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Dakota , Rhode Island , South Dakota , and West Virginia .
In all of those states , the last open clinics are surgical abortion facilities .
Three are operated by Planned Parenthood , while the other four are independent abortion businesses .
Abortion clinic numbers increased in twelve states over the past year , while there were fewer abortion facilities in nine states .
Thirty states , including the District of Columbia , had no net change in the number of abortion clinics .
( See map above . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion clinics were New York and New Jersey , which both added four facilities .
This is likely due to the liberalization of abortion laws – including the repeal of safety regulations – in those two states .
There were nine states in which abortion facility numbers decreased .
The states with the largest decrease in abortion clinics were Massachusetts and Maryland , where both states ’ clinic totals fell by three facilities .
Financial considerations appeared to have caused the decrease in Massachusetts , while in Maryland , three abortion pill clinics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steven Chase Brigham inexplicably halted operations .
In Kansas City , Kansas , Planned Parenthood Great Plains was thwarted from opening a new surgical abortion facility when the pro-life group Planned Parenthood Exposed , led by local activist Ron Kelsey , persuaded a landlord to cancel a signed contract with Planned Parenthood .
Of the 710 abortion facilities currently open for business , 381 , or 54 percent , are Planned Parenthood facilities .
Planned Parenthood operates 170 surgical abortion facilities and 211 medication abortion-only clinics – the vast majority of that type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , Planned Parenthood opened 21 new abortion sites in 2019 .
Three were surgical abortion facilities while 18 were “ new ” medication abortion clinics .
Of those eighteen , 14 were existing referral clinics that added abortion drug availability .
While Planned Parenthood operates more facilities than independently owned clinics , it is the independent clinics that still conduct the most abortions , according to a report published by the Abortion Care Network .
That report claims that Planned Parenthood conducts 37 percent of abortions in the U.S. while independent clinics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , when compared to 2018 figures from the same source , this indicates that Planned Parenthood gained two percent of the total abortion market share in 2019 .
Despite Planned Parenthood ’ s modest growth in 2019 , there are still seven states that have no Planned Parenthood abortion facility .
In all , nine states passed pro-abortion legislation in 2019 .
Those states include California , Hawaii , Illinois , Maine , Nevada , New Jersey , New York , Rhode Island , and Vermont .
Of the nine states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion facilities three states recorded a decrease due to a rise in the number of medical abortion facilities .
Three states saw no change .
It usually takes time for legislation passed on the state level to have an impact , especially if the enactment of new laws are delayed by challenges in court , as is the case with most pro-life legislation .
However , New York ’ s new abortion law that eliminated safety regulations and reduced clinic accountability had an immediate impact that was perhaps unexpected by state lawmakers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far has been an increase in the number of botched abortions that require ambulance transport from abortion facilities .
These laws are lowing safety standards and , in turn , hurting women in order to increase abortion profits for chains like Planned Parenthood , ” said Newman .
That is particularly true in New York where , for example , Planned Parenthood ’ s flagship abortion facility , the Margaret Sanger Planned Parenthood in Manhattan has increased the number of known calls for ambulance transport from three in 2018 to thirteen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 states passed pro-life laws in , 2019 , but with most of the new laws tied up in legal challenges , including gestational abortion limits in nine states .
Out of those states , all but five saw no change in the number of abortion facilities .
Nevertheless , pro-life legislation passed in previous years continues to contribute to clinic closures and is providing necessary road-blocks to keep the rapid expansion of abortion chains in check nationwide .
In a significant move , the Department of Health and Human Services enacted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , which prevents clinics that conduct or refer for abortions from receiving Title X family planning grants .
It is estimated that this rule will deprive Planned Parenthood of $ 60 million annually in taxpayer funding .
At least four states have stepped in to replace the Title X grant money from their state coffers .
Those states are Illinois , New Jersey , New York , and Vermont .
The cities of Austin , Texas , and New York City gave a total of $ 400,000 to keep abortion facilities open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been at least partially responsible for the closure of 23 Planned Parenthood centers that did conduct abortions .
That has the benefit of reducing Planned Parenthood ’ s reach and ability to market abortions into communities where those referral clinics no longer exist .
What ’ s behind the increase in chemical abortions ?
The rise in the number of abortion facilities in 2019 is attributable to several factors , including an effort by abortion businesses to increase sales of abortion drugs , which are easier and cheaper to offer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Carafem , the Texas-based Whole Women ’ s Health , and the California-based FPA Women ’ s Health have expanded their clinics that only offer abortion drugs .
Planned Parenthood has continued to expand into the chemical abortion business in three ways .
• Slowly expanding webcam abortion services into areas where they are still allowed .
( They are restricted or banned in 20 states . )
• Experimenting with a new scheme in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere to distribute abortion drugs through the U.S .
Postal Service with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Operation Rescue ’ s research earlier this year explains .
Currently that app is not available to the public .
Earlier this year , Planned Parenthood introduced a smart phone app to the public that can be used to obtain birth control pills .
It is possible that at some point , Planned Parenthood will be able to use that platform to distribute abortion drugs through the mail , as their experimental program seems to indicate .
This is a matter that requires vigilance and new , proactive legislation to protect women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new ways to expand abortion nationwide .
As Operation Rescue reported in an exposé earlier this year , there is a huge profit margin in providing abortion drugs .
Planned Parenthood pays about $ 82 for the mifepristone/misoprostol abortion drug combination , but sells them for a huge mark-up at an average of $ 604 at their abortion pill clinics around the country .
The profit margin for the app-to-mailbox scheme is even greater because women need not ever visit a Planned Parenthood clinic to obtain abortion-inducing drugs .
The pill-by-mail scheme would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws that would ban abortion in many states should Roe v. Wade be overturned – something that appears likely should President Trump win re-election and/or be afforded additional Supreme Court picks .
Abortion businesses are desperately attempting to expand into untapped markets in order to stay solvent in a time when the overall demand for abortion has decreased .
Profitable medication abortions have been the focus of this attempted expansion .
Operation Rescue ’ s survey found , however , that most clinics that only provide chemical abortions tend to be part-time facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days available .
For example , the survey found that some abortion pill clinics are only open to dispense abortion drugs as infrequently as once a month .
Surgical abortion facilities , which tend to be busier clinics , require more overhead to operate and are more costly to staff and equip .
That may explain why the number of surgical abortion facilities has fallen each year over the past decade while medication clinics have increased .
Clinic closures in 2019 were generally due to the following reasons : • Abortionists who quit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Planned Parenthood received massive funding in 2019 through private donations and state and federal disbursements .
This enabled it to dive headlong into the abortion pill market , expanding into twenty-one new locations , ” said Newman .
“ However , that number would have been much worse , had it not been for tough pro-life legislation and vigilant activists all across the nation.
” Newman concluded , “ The closer we get to ending abortion in America , the harder the Abortion Cartel will fight against our efforts .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use alternate methods of dispensing abortion drugs is an indicator that the Abortion Cartel has stepped up their game , sensing the end for them is near .
Our side can not afford complacency , especially as we enter a critical presidential election year that will determine whether our national policies favor greedy abortionists or the protection of babies in the womb .
The outcome of that election – as well as the fate of millions of innocent lives that hang in the balance – will be up to us.
” Up next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 , Part 2 , which will reveal trends in abortion costs , wait times , gestational age limits , and more .

Operation Rescue's annual abortion facility survey reveals that there was a net gain of nine abortion facilities in the U.S. in 2019. It also notes Planned Parenthood's effort to increase the sale of abortion pills.
January 6, 2020 (Operation Rescue) – A total of 36 abortion facilities closed nationwide in 2019, according to a survey of every abortion facility in the U.S. conducted by Operation Rescue.
While the number of closures shows that in certain areas, abortion suppliers have outstripped the demand, abortion numbers and rates continue to drop nationwide, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Other noteworthy facts were revealed by Operation Rescue’s survey.
Since 2013, 367 surgical abortion facilities have permanently closed.
have permanently closed. This year’s closures represent a staggering 79 percent drop in the number of surgical abortion facilities nationwide since 1991, when there were 2,176 surgical abortion facilities.
in the number of abortion facilities nationwide since 1991, when there were 2,176 surgical abortion facilities. There was a net gain of nine U.S. abortion clinics in 2019.
of nine U.S. abortion clinics in 2019. Planned Parenthood doubled down as a supplier of abortion-inducing drugs by opening five new pill clinics, dropping surgical abortions from five others, and adding chemical abortion availability to 14 of its centers that previously did not conduct abortions.
Methodology
Each year, Operation Rescue conducts a nationwide survey that involves contact with each abortion business in the U.S. The information gathered about the abortion clinics and their practices represents the most accurate data available.
This most recent data was compiled by Operation Rescue, which conducted a survey of all abortion facilities in the U.S. from November 18 through December 6, 2019.
Operation Rescue defines “abortion clinics” as those businesses that conduct abortions outside a hospital setting. There are two categories of abortion clinics:
Surgical Abortion Clinics: These offices conduct surgical abortions. Almost always, surgical facilities also distribute abortion-inducing drugs.
Medical Abortion Clinics: These offices supply abortions through the administration of drugs (pills) or other chemical means. They do not conduct surgical abortions.
Abortion facility totals
Today, there are a total of 710 U.S. abortion facilities, up nine facilities from 2018’s record low of 701.
In 2019, new abortion facility openings slightly outpaced closures.
However, the number of surgical abortion clinics continues to decline with seven fewer today than last year at this time, hitting a record low of 464.
In fact, the number of surgical abortion clinics has fallen each year for at least the past decade from 713 in 2009 to just 464 in 2019. That represents a decrease of 35 percent over the last ten years.
“The decline in surgical abortion facilities is terrible news for the Abortion Cartel, but great news for women and their babies,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “Surgical abortion facilities are still the most profitable, especially if they conduct abortions past the first trimester when prices – and profits – really soar. When they shut down it saves lives and takes money out of the pockets of the abortionists.”
But when it comes to medication abortion facilities that are dispensaries for abortion-inducing drugs, those clinic numbers have steadily increased.
Today, there are 245 abortion pill facilities – an increase of 15 clinics nationwide in 2019.
Medication abortion facility numbers have been steadily on the rise over the past decade, increasing 47 percent in the past ten years.
Notable Closures
Clinic Latina, Phoenix, Arizona — It’s likely that most people have never heard of the Clinic Latina in Phoenix, Arizona, but its abortionist, Ronald Yunis, made news October 10, 2019, when he was arrested outside another facility where he also conducted abortions, the Acacia Women’s Center. Pro-life activists had taken video of Yunis pulling a gun on one activist as he left the clinic’s driveway. Police investigated and later arrested Yunis. It was after his arrest that the Clinic Latina stopped conducting abortions.
San Diego Women’s Medical Clinic, San Diego, California – This facility owner, Michael Wong, who conducted abortions over the better part of four decades, finally stopped in 2019.
Her Medical Clinic, Pacoima, California – After years of pro-life outreach at this run-down abortion mill, Her Medical Clinic has finally closed. Operation Rescue’s staff has memories of public outreach at this facility and praying for its closure dating back over twenty-five years.
American Women’s Services affiliates in Baltimore, Cheverly, and Silver Spring, Maryland – These three chemical abortion facilities were owned by the disgraced New Jersey abortionist Steven Chase Brigham. The reason for their closure is cloaked in mystery. These facilities once conducted surgical abortions, but were halted from continuing to do so in 2013, after it was discovered that they were illegally administering misoprostol to women without a licensed physician present. The Baltimore facility was the site of the death of Maria Santiago, 38, who stopped breathing, then suffered cardiac arrest after an abortion on February 13, 2013. No one at the clinic, including abortionist Iris E. Dominy, had current CPR certification. A crash cart in the hallway was not used and the defibrillator was broken.
States
This year, Rhode Island became the seventh state with just one abortion facility. Those seven states are Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
In all of those states, the last open clinics are surgical abortion facilities. Three are operated by Planned Parenthood, while the other four are independent abortion businesses.
Abortion clinic numbers increased in twelve states over the past year, while there were fewer abortion facilities in nine states. Thirty states, including the District of Columbia, had no net change in the number of abortion clinics. (See map above.)
The states with the largest increase in abortion clinics were New York and New Jersey, which both added four facilities. This is likely due to the liberalization of abortion laws – including the repeal of safety regulations – in those two states.
There were nine states in which abortion facility numbers decreased. The states with the largest decrease in abortion clinics were Massachusetts and Maryland, where both states’ clinic totals fell by three facilities. Financial considerations appeared to have caused the decrease in Massachusetts, while in Maryland, three abortion pill clinics operated by the disgraced New Jersey abortionist Steven Chase Brigham inexplicably halted operations.
In Kansas City, Kansas, Planned Parenthood Great Plains was thwarted from opening a new surgical abortion facility when the pro-life group Planned Parenthood Exposed, led by local activist Ron Kelsey, persuaded a landlord to cancel a signed contract with Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood
Of the 710 abortion facilities currently open for business, 381, or 54 percent, are Planned Parenthood facilities. Planned Parenthood operates 170 surgical abortion facilities and 211 medication abortion-only clinics – the vast majority of that type of facility currently in operation.
In all, Planned Parenthood opened 21 new abortion sites in 2019. Three were surgical abortion facilities while 18 were “new” medication abortion clinics. Of those eighteen, 14 were existing referral clinics that added abortion drug availability.
While Planned Parenthood operates more facilities than independently owned clinics, it is the independent clinics that still conduct the most abortions, according to a report published by the Abortion Care Network.
That report claims that Planned Parenthood conducts 37 percent of abortions in the U.S. while independent clinics conduct 58 percent — with fewer facilities. However, when compared to 2018 figures from the same source, this indicates that Planned Parenthood gained two percent of the total abortion market share in 2019.
Despite Planned Parenthood’s modest growth in 2019, there are still seven states that have no Planned Parenthood abortion facility.
Impact of state legislation
In all, nine states passed pro-abortion legislation in 2019.
Those states include California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Of the nine states, three states experienced an increase in abortion facilities three states recorded a decrease due to a rise in the number of medical abortion facilities. Three states saw no change.
It usually takes time for legislation passed on the state level to have an impact, especially if the enactment of new laws are delayed by challenges in court, as is the case with most pro-life legislation.
However, New York’s new abortion law that eliminated safety regulations and reduced clinic accountability had an immediate impact that was perhaps unexpected by state lawmakers.
“The impact of these pro-abortion laws so far has been an increase in the number of botched abortions that require ambulance transport from abortion facilities. These laws are lowing safety standards and, in turn, hurting women in order to increase abortion profits for chains like Planned Parenthood,” said Newman.
That is particularly true in New York where, for example, Planned Parenthood’s flagship abortion facility, the Margaret Sanger Planned Parenthood in Manhattan has increased the number of known calls for ambulance transport from three in 2018 to thirteen in 2019.
On the other hand, 17 states passed pro-life laws in, 2019, but with most of the new laws tied up in legal challenges, including gestational abortion limits in nine states.
Those states include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming.
Out of those states, all but five saw no change in the number of abortion facilities.
Nevertheless, pro-life legislation passed in previous years continues to contribute to clinic closures and is providing necessary road-blocks to keep the rapid expansion of abortion chains in check nationwide.
Protect Life Rule
In a significant move, the Department of Health and Human Services enacted the Protect Life Rule in the spring of 2019, which prevents clinics that conduct or refer for abortions from receiving Title X family planning grants. It is estimated that this rule will deprive Planned Parenthood of $60 million annually in taxpayer funding.
At least four states have stepped in to replace the Title X grant money from their state coffers. Those states are Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. The cities of Austin, Texas, and New York City gave a total of $400,000 to keep abortion facilities open.
Nevertheless, the Protect Life Rule may have been at least partially responsible for the closure of 23 Planned Parenthood centers that did not conduct abortions. That has the benefit of reducing Planned Parenthood’s reach and ability to market abortions into communities where those referral clinics no longer exist.
What’s behind the increase in chemical abortions?
The rise in the number of abortion facilities in 2019 is attributable to several factors, including an effort by abortion businesses to increase sales of abortion drugs, which are easier and cheaper to offer than surgical abortions.
Other abortion chains, including Carafem, the Texas-based Whole Women’s Health, and the California-based FPA Women’s Health have expanded their clinics that only offer abortion drugs.
Planned Parenthood has continued to expand into the chemical abortion business in three ways.
Conversion of 14 referral centers into abortion pill dispensaries.
Slowly expanding webcam abortion services into areas where they are still allowed. (They are restricted or banned in 20 states.)
Experimenting with a new scheme in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere to distribute abortion drugs through the U.S. Postal Service with the assistance of a smart phone app, as Operation Rescue’s research earlier this year explains. Currently that app is not available to the public.
Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood introduced a smart phone app to the public that can be used to obtain birth control pills. It is possible that at some point, Planned Parenthood will be able to use that platform to distribute abortion drugs through the mail, as their experimental program seems to indicate.
This is a matter that requires vigilance and new, proactive legislation to protect women and babies as Planned Parenthood aggressively seeks new ways to expand abortion nationwide.
As Operation Rescue reported in an exposé earlier this year, there is a huge profit margin in providing abortion drugs. Planned Parenthood pays about $82 for the mifepristone/misoprostol abortion drug combination, but sells them for a huge mark-up at an average of $604 at their abortion pill clinics around the country.
The profit margin for the app-to-mailbox scheme is even greater because women need not ever visit a Planned Parenthood clinic to obtain abortion-inducing drugs.
The pill-by-mail scheme would be one way to circumvent pro-life trigger laws that would ban abortion in many states should Roe v. Wade be overturned – something that appears likely should President Trump win re-election and/or be afforded additional Supreme Court picks.
Conclusions
Abortion businesses are desperately attempting to expand into untapped markets in order to stay solvent in a time when the overall demand for abortion has decreased. Profitable medication abortions have been the focus of this attempted expansion.
Operation Rescue’s survey found, however, that most clinics that only provide chemical abortions tend to be part-time facilities, whereas surgical facilities have more abortion days available. For example, the survey found that some abortion pill clinics are only open to dispense abortion drugs as infrequently as once a month.
Surgical abortion facilities, which tend to be busier clinics, require more overhead to operate and are more costly to staff and equip. That may explain why the number of surgical abortion facilities has fallen each year over the past decade while medication clinics have increased.
Clinic closures in 2019 were generally due to the following reasons:
Financial problems.
Abortionists who quit or retire and cannot be replaced.
Pro-life legislation and/or activism.
Criminal conduct and/or regulatory violations.
“Planned Parenthood received massive funding in 2019 through private donations and state and federal disbursements. This enabled it to dive headlong into the abortion pill market, expanding into twenty-one new locations,” said Newman. “However, that number would have been much worse, had it not been for tough pro-life legislation and vigilant activists all across the nation.”
Newman concluded, “The closer we get to ending abortion in America, the harder the Abortion Cartel will fight against our efforts. The increase in abortion facilities and attempts to use alternate methods of dispensing abortion drugs is an indicator that the Abortion Cartel has stepped up their game, sensing the end for them is near. Our side cannot afford complacency, especially as we enter a critical presidential election year that will determine whether our national policies favor greedy abortionists or the protection of babies in the womb. The outcome of that election – as well as the fate of millions of innocent lives that hang in the balance – will be up to us.”
Up next: The Status of American Abortion Facilities in 2019, Part 2, which will reveal trends in abortion costs, wait times, gestational age limits, and more.
Reprinted with permission from Operation Rescue.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-06--Planned Parenthood aborted 345,672 babies last year, received $616 million from gov’t

January 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Planned Parenthood ’ s latest annual report reveals it aborted 345,672 babies and received just over $ 616 million from taxpayers during its 2018 to 2019 fiscal year .
Planned Parenthood also distributed over 2 million contraceptives during that time , many of which have the potential to act as abortifacients .
Planned Parenthood ’ s main sources of taxpayer money come from Medicaid , Title X ( from which Planned Parenthood has since withdrawn in protest of modestly pro-life Trump administration regulations ) , state family planning slush funds , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Live Action analysis , Planned Parenthood ’ s taxpayer funding has increased by nearly 70 percent since 2008 .
Its total revenue was over $ 1.6 billion and its net assets were almost $ 2 billion .
Taxpayer funding made up almost 38 percent of Planned Parenthood ’ s total revenue .
The abortion company ’ s annual report boasts that it provides “ services for transgender patients ” in 31 states , offers telemedicine abortions in 16 states , and promotes abortion through its “ National Storytellers of Planned Parenthood ” program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in states across the country , telemedicine is becoming increasingly important for ensuring access where providers are scarce , ” the report says .
Planned Parenthood provided just 4,279 adoption referrals and 9,798 “ prenatal services ” last year .
The report also details some of Planned Parenthood ’ s collaboration with Hollywood and corporations : “ Planned Parenthood continued our longstanding work to engage culture creators and storytellers , including at this year ’ s Sundance Film Festival , where we built connections with more than 40 TV , film and entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” At the Golden Globe award ceremony last night , the audience cheered as Michelle Williams , winner of best actress in a limited series or television movie , hinted that she had killed her baby in order to enjoy the success she does today .
“ Once again , Planned Parenthood ’ s own numbers show abortion and profit are their top priorities , ” said Marjorie Dannenfelser , President of the Susan B. Anthony List .
“ Their cancer screening and prevention services , breast exams , pap tests , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Planned Parenthood is a bad investment for taxpayers .
We thank President Trump for working to curb Planned Parenthood ’ s taxpayer funding and urge our allies at every level of government to do the same.
” Planned Parenthood ’ s descriptions of the current political climate are fraught with panic .
Roe v. Wade , the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that imposed abortion on demand across the nation , is “ at risk , ” a bright pink heading warns in the annual report .
“ This year , the reproductive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme bans on abortion .
Anti-abortion politicians in state houses , galvanized by the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , are racing to pass laws that will challenge Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal.
” “ Planned Parenthood is preparing for a future where abortion is no longer a guaranteed right , ” the report admits .
At another point , Planned Parenthood Acting President Alexis McGill Johnson writes in a “ message from our leadership ” that “ [ we ] stand at an inflection point for reproductive health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as recent successes pro-abortion laws enacted in Hawaii , Illinois , Maine , Nevada , New York , Rhode Island , Vermont , and Washington .
It also hailed its birth control-dispensing app PPDirect and new AI sex chatbot “ Roo ” as accomplishments .
This year ’ s report indicates that Planned Parenthood can no longer tout a much-repeated bogus statistic that abortion only constitutes three percent of its services ; they now say abortion is four percent of their services .
Ninty-five percent of Planned Parenthood ’ s pregnancy-related services were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Students for Life trains far more youth than Planned Parenthood “ Even as the abortion rate is reported to be falling , Planned Parenthood ’ s share of the abortion business is up , and of course given their political connections , so is their misappropriation of funds from taxpayers , ” said Kristan Hawkins , president of Students for Life of America ( SFLA ) .
“ Planned Parenthood should not be able to operate their deadly business on the taxpayers ’ dime.
” The abortion business started 81 new campus chapters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Generation ” program , 18 of which were “ Historically Black Universities and/or Minority Serving Institutions.
” Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was a racist and a eugenicist who wrote in 1939 , “ We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.
” An undercover investigation by Live Action found Planned Parenthood was willing to accept money earmarked for the abortion of a black baby .
“ Over 120 campuses engaged in the Campus Campaigns Program to get young people the training , resources , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create concrete change in their community , ” the annual report says .
“ Over 400 young people were trained as a part of this program.
” There are more than 1,200 Students for Life groups on college , university , and high school campuses in all 50 states .
Every year , around 2,000 young people attend SFLA ’ s national conference .
An SFLA spokeswoman told LifeSiteNews more than 125 new pro-life clubs were established in 2019 .
In 2019 , Students for Life Regional Coordinators visited 878 different campuses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 2,800 one-on-one mentoring sessions .
In addition to losing around $ 60 million in taxpayer funds for refusing to comply with Trump administration rules for receiving Title X money ( the period covered by the annual report was before this happened ) , 2019 was a turbulent time for Planned Parenthood ’ s leadership .
In late 2018 , Dr. Leana Wen was selected to replace former president Cecile Richards , but lasted less than a year in that role because she wanted the organization to focus on more than abortion .

January 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report reveals it aborted 345,672 babies and received just over $616 million from taxpayers during its 2018 to 2019 fiscal year.
Planned Parenthood also distributed over 2 million contraceptives during that time, many of which have the potential to act as abortifacients.
Planned Parenthood’s main sources of taxpayer money come from Medicaid, Title X (from which Planned Parenthood has since withdrawn in protest of modestly pro-life Trump administration regulations), state family planning slush funds, and sex ed grants. According to a Live Action analysis, Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer funding has increased by nearly 70 percent since 2008. Its total revenue was over $1.6 billion and its net assets were almost $2 billion.
Taxpayer funding made up almost 38 percent of Planned Parenthood’s total revenue.
The abortion company’s annual report boasts that it provides “services for transgender patients” in 31 states, offers telemedicine abortions in 16 states, and promotes abortion through its “National Storytellers of Planned Parenthood” program.
“As access to abortion shrinks in states across the country, telemedicine is becoming increasingly important for ensuring access where providers are scarce,” the report says.
Planned Parenthood provided just 4,279 adoption referrals and 9,798 “prenatal services” last year.
The report also details some of Planned Parenthood’s collaboration with Hollywood and corporations: “Planned Parenthood continued our longstanding work to engage culture creators and storytellers, including at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where we built connections with more than 40 TV, film and entertainment creators, and nearly 20 new artists.”
At the Golden Globe award ceremony last night, the audience cheered as Michelle Williams, winner of best actress in a limited series or television movie, hinted that she had killed her baby in order to enjoy the success she does today.
“Once again, Planned Parenthood’s own numbers show abortion and profit are their top priorities,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List. “Their cancer screening and prevention services, breast exams, pap tests, and even contraceptive services have steeply declined. Planned Parenthood is a bad investment for taxpayers. We thank President Trump for working to curb Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer funding and urge our allies at every level of government to do the same.”
‘Unprecedented wave’ of pro-life laws
Planned Parenthood’s descriptions of the current political climate are fraught with panic. Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that imposed abortion on demand across the nation, is “at risk,” a bright pink heading warns in the annual report.
“This year, the reproductive rights movement faced an unprecedented wave of extreme bans on abortion. Anti-abortion politicians in state houses, galvanized by the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, are racing to pass laws that will challenge Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal.”
“Planned Parenthood is preparing for a future where abortion is no longer a guaranteed right,” the report admits. At another point, Planned Parenthood Acting President Alexis McGill Johnson writes in a “message from our leadership” that “[we] stand at an inflection point for reproductive health and rights.”
“Legislatures in 12 states passed 25 abortion bans in 2019 alone,” Johnson fretted.
The abortion business listed as recent successes pro-abortion laws enacted in Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. It also hailed its birth control-dispensing app PPDirect and new AI sex chatbot “Roo” as accomplishments.
This year’s report indicates that Planned Parenthood can no longer tout a much-repeated bogus statistic that abortion only constitutes three percent of its services; they now say abortion is four percent of their services.
Ninty-five percent of Planned Parenthood’s pregnancy-related services were abortion, according to this report.
Students for Life trains far more youth than Planned Parenthood
“Even as the abortion rate is reported to be falling, Planned Parenthood’s share of the abortion business is up, and of course given their political connections, so is their misappropriation of funds from taxpayers,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America (SFLA). “Planned Parenthood should not be able to operate their deadly business on the taxpayers’ dime.”
The abortion business started 81 new campus chapters as part of its “Planned Parenthood Generation” program, 18 of which were “Historically Black Universities and/or Minority Serving Institutions.”
Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was a racist and a eugenicist who wrote in 1939, “We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.” An undercover investigation by Live Action found Planned Parenthood was willing to accept money earmarked for the abortion of a black baby.
“Over 120 campuses engaged in the Campus Campaigns Program to get young people the training, resources, and deep organizing skills they need to create concrete change in their community,” the annual report says. “Over 400 young people were trained as a part of this program.”
There are more than 1,200 Students for Life groups on college, university, and high school campuses in all 50 states. Every year, around 2,000 young people attend SFLA’s national conference.
An SFLA spokeswoman told LifeSiteNews more than 125 new pro-life clubs were established in 2019. In 2019, Students for Life Regional Coordinators visited 878 different campuses, provided 936 trainings, and held more than 2,800 one-on-one mentoring sessions.
In addition to losing around $60 million in taxpayer funds for refusing to comply with Trump administration rules for receiving Title X money (the period covered by the annual report was before this happened), 2019 was a turbulent time for Planned Parenthood’s leadership. In late 2018, Dr. Leana Wen was selected to replace former president Cecile Richards, but lasted less than a year in that role because she wanted the organization to focus on more than abortion.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-06--Golden Globes attendees cheer as Michelle Williams hints she killed her baby

HOLLYWOOD , January 5 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Actress Michelle Williams , who played Charity Barnum in The Greatest Showman , used her fame to promote abortion at the Golden Globes Sunday .
As she took the stage for the award of best actress in a limited series or television movie , Williams seemed to admit to killing her baby by abortion to the applause and cheers of attendees .
“ I 'm grateful for the acknowledgement of the choices I 've made and also grateful to have lived at a moment in our society where choice exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women and as girls things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice , ” she added .
“ I 've tried my very best to live a life of my own making and not just a series of events that happened to me , but one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over it – sometimes messy and scrawling , sometimes careful and precise , but one that I have carved with my own hand.
” “ I would n't have been able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's right to choose , ” she added .
In an interview scrum afterward , when asked by a reporter if she had personal experience to back up her statement , Williams refused to elaborate .
The actress also used the occasion to show off her new pregnancy at the ceremony with fiancé Thomas Kail , a film director .
Williams encouraged women to vote to support abortion .
“ So women , 18 to 118 , when it is time to vote , please do so in your own self-interest ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , ” she said .

Williams encouraged women to vote pro-abortion and suggested she wouldn't have been successful without 'employing a woman's right to choose.'
HOLLYWOOD, January 5, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Actress Michelle Williams, who played Charity Barnum in The Greatest Showman, used her fame to promote abortion at the Golden Globes Sunday. As she took the stage for the award of best actress in a limited series or television movie, Williams seemed to admit to killing her baby by abortion to the applause and cheers of attendees.
“I'm grateful for the acknowledgement of the choices I've made and also grateful to have lived at a moment in our society where choice exists,” she said.
“As women and as girls things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice,” she added. “I've tried my very best to live a life of my own making and not just a series of events that happened to me, but one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over it – sometimes messy and scrawling, sometimes careful and precise, but one that I have carved with my own hand.”
“I wouldn't have been able to do this without employing a woman's right to choose,” she added. In an interview scrum afterward, when asked by a reporter if she had personal experience to back up her statement, Williams refused to elaborate.
The actress also used the occasion to show off her new pregnancy at the ceremony with fiancé Thomas Kail, a film director.
Williams encouraged women to vote to support abortion. “So women, 18 to 118, when it is time to vote, please do so in your own self-interest; it's what men have been doing for years,” she said.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-04--Revered theologian defends value of new Catholic media for exposing Church crisis

January 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Catholic scholar Dr. Janet E. Smith , renowned worldwide as an expert on Humanae Vitae , has defended hard-hitting Catholic online media outlets against George Weigel ’ s advice to Catholics not to read them .
Smith turned to social media yesterday to critique a column by author and papal biographer Weigel that appeared in the National Catholic Register on December 31 and in First Things on January 1 .
In his column , Weigel suggested that for 2020 , readers “ resolve to limit [ their ] exposure to the Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Resolutions for Concerned Catholics : A Few Suggestions , ” Weigel wrote : In 2019 , many Catholic websites went bonkers .
There is no need to click on sites that specialize in all-hysteria or all-propaganda all-the-time .
If you want reliable Catholic news , visit the websites of Catholic News Agency and the National Catholic Register .
If you want sane commentary on the turbulent Catholic scene , go to the websites of Catholic World Report , First Things and The Catholic Thing .
That ’ s more than enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to these sites , while ignoring the hysteria-mongers and propagandists , will lower your blood pressure while keeping you well-informed .
Smith , however , stated that this advice contains both “ short-sightedness and even foolishness.
” “ Weigel recommends a limited number of news services that Catholics should consult and warns people against others , ” the retired seminary professor wrote on Facebook .
“ While many don ’ t like the tone of some sources , several of these are responsible for much of what we know about the corruption in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invaluable in achieving the few successes there have been.
” Smith agreed that those who are “ excessively troubled ” by bad news in the Church should read only “ safe ” sources but argued that those who break the bad news shouldn ’ t be ostracized .
“ [ D ] on ’ t blame the messenger in respect to the news sources that investigate and report upon events that the others eventually report , somewhat less sensationally , ” she advised .
“ Remember that the news being reported is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flair for highlighting just how outrageous is ‘ news ’ that is no longer news.
” The philosopher mourned that some Catholics have “ become inured to scandal in the Church ” and praise bishops “ for minimally doing their jobs ” while being more reluctant to “ rebuke those who continue to engage in cover up and tolerance of corruption ” in their dioceses .
She believes that hard-hitting news outlets are necessary for cleaning up the Church .
“ The Church rather desperately needs news outlets that realize that ‘ business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the corruption is so pervasive , ” she wrote .
“ I am all for reporting good news and having hope and providing just and balanced treatment of all people and issues , but I think it unwise and unfair to try to marginalize those who have been and are in the forefront of exposing corruption , ” she continued .
“ [ W ] hen the history is written of this period , some of what are now considered to be extreme and fringe outfits will be lauded as heroes.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” first used to describe American journalists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who exposed the terrible working and living conditions of the American urban poor .
Invented by President Theodore Roosevelt , the word “ muckraker ” or “ muck-raker ” was a badge worn with pride by such reporters as Upton Sinclair .
“ Muck-rakers are rarely ‘ balanced ’ but they often expose corruption that other ‘ more respectable ’ reporters and analysts wo n't for fear of seeming sensationalist or alarmist , ” Smith wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dirt without getting a bit dirty.
” Church Militant republished Complicit Clergy ’ s praise of the scholar for her defense .
“ If it were left up to Weigel ’ s ‘ reliable ’ news outlets , ” the piece read , “ it is likely we would have largely remained in the dark about the Church ’ s sex abuse and financial scandals .
These outlets are beholden to the bishops .
While they are now covering the scandals , they were largely forced to by the new Catholic media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told LifeSiteNews that Weigel ’ s remarks were “ insulting in the extreme.
” “ Weigel ’ s derogatory characterization of authentic journalists as ‘ propagandists ’ — people who ’ ve stuck their necks out , sometimes at the cost of their careers and even at times their safety , to expose corruption in the hierarchy , all while establishment media maintained a safe and comfortable silence — is insulting in the extreme , and makes his comments not worth taking seriously , ” Niles said .
Steve Skojec , founder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LifeSiteNews that Weigel ’ s advice is “ tone-deaf.
” “ George Weigel ’ s admonishment that in 2020 people should avoid Catholic websites ‘ that specialize in all-hysteria or all-propaganda all-the-time ’ while sticking to the safety of establishment Catholic publications is stunningly tone-deaf , ” Skojec said , “ particularly for a man who admitted during an interview with Raymond Arroyo that [ Archbishop Carlo Maria ] Viganò had personally told him about the allegations that [ disgraced ex-cardinal Theodore ] McCarrick was under Vatican sanctions years ago , but who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Viganò had to go into hiding for his testimony about the McCarrick cover-up.
” “ People have turned to alternative Catholic media precisely because establishment publications ― and establishment Catholic writers like Weigel ― were failing to adequately expose or cover the very ‘ disturbing ’ ecclesiastical revelations Weigel concedes we 'll be hearing more about in the coming year , ” Skojec continued .
Skojec noted that it was alternative Catholic media that “ pushed through the barrier of silence that had become the status quo ” and made examination of Vatican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily Catholic conversation.
” “ It was alternative Catholic media that forced establishment publications to allow such stories to run because everyone was already talking about them , ” he added .
“ It is precisely because alternative Catholic media aren ’ t beholden to bishops or bishops ’ conferences or other insider influences that they have the freedom to address stories that would have traditionally been seen as untouchable.
” Whereas the remarks made by readers in the comments box of First Things indicated a willingness to take Weigel ’ s advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were indignant at the idea of limiting their reading to Weigel ’ s list .
Correction , 01-06-20 , 11:12 A.M. EST : A previous edition of this article attributed Complicit Clergy ’ s praise of Janet Smith to Church Militant .
LifeSite regrets the error .

Catholic scholar Dr. Janet E. Smith was one of a number of critics of George Weigel's advice to Catholics for the new year.
January 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Catholic scholar Dr. Janet E. Smith, renowned worldwide as an expert on Humanae Vitae, has defended hard-hitting Catholic online media outlets against George Weigel’s advice to Catholics not to read them.
Smith turned to social media yesterday to critique a column by author and papal biographer Weigel that appeared in the National Catholic Register on December 31 and in First Things on January 1. In his column, Weigel suggested that for 2020, readers “resolve to limit [their] exposure to the Catholic blogosphere.”
In his “New Year’s Resolutions for Concerned Catholics: A Few Suggestions,” Weigel wrote:
In 2019, many Catholic websites went bonkers. There is no need to click on sites that specialize in all-hysteria or all-propaganda all-the-time. If you want reliable Catholic news, visit the websites of Catholic News Agency and the National Catholic Register. If you want sane commentary on the turbulent Catholic scene, go to the websites of Catholic World Report, First Things and The Catholic Thing. That’s more than enough for anyone. Limiting your blogosphere browsing to these sites, while ignoring the hysteria-mongers and propagandists, will lower your blood pressure while keeping you well-informed.
Smith, however, stated that this advice contains both “short-sightedness and even foolishness.”
“Weigel recommends a limited number of news services that Catholics should consult and warns people against others,” the retired seminary professor wrote on Facebook. “While many don’t like the tone of some sources, several of these are responsible for much of what we know about the corruption in the Church and their persistence has been invaluable in achieving the few successes there have been.”
Smith agreed that those who are “excessively troubled” by bad news in the Church should read only “safe” sources but argued that those who break the bad news shouldn’t be ostracized.
“[D]on’t blame the messenger in respect to the news sources that investigate and report upon events that the others eventually report, somewhat less sensationally,” she advised.
“Remember that the news being reported is in itself sensational and some reporters have a flair for highlighting just how outrageous is ‘news’ that is no longer news.”
The philosopher mourned that some Catholics have “become inured to scandal in the Church” and praise bishops “for minimally doing their jobs” while being more reluctant to “rebuke those who continue to engage in cover up and tolerance of corruption” in their dioceses. She believes that hard-hitting news outlets are necessary for cleaning up the Church.
“The Church rather desperately needs news outlets that realize that ‘business as usual’ is not an option when the corruption is so pervasive,” she wrote.
“I am all for reporting good news and having hope and providing just and balanced treatment of all people and issues, but I think it unwise and unfair to try to marginalize those who have been and are in the forefront of exposing corruption,” she continued.
“[W]hen the history is written of this period, some of what are now considered to be extreme and fringe outfits will be lauded as heroes.”
Smith then employed the term “muckraker,” first used to describe American journalists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who exposed the terrible working and living conditions of the American urban poor. Invented by President Theodore Roosevelt, the word “muckraker” or “muck-raker” was a badge worn with pride by such reporters as Upton Sinclair.
“Muck-rakers are rarely ‘balanced’ but they often expose corruption that other ‘more respectable’ reporters and analysts won't for fear of seeming sensationalist or alarmist,” Smith wrote. “It is hard to clean up the dirt without getting a bit dirty.”
Church Militant republished Complicit Clergy’s praise of the scholar for her defense.
“If it were left up to Weigel’s ‘reliable’ news outlets,” the piece read, “it is likely we would have largely remained in the dark about the Church’s sex abuse and financial scandals. These outlets are beholden to the bishops. While they are now covering the scandals, they were largely forced to by the new Catholic media outlets.”
Christine Niles of Church Militant told LifeSiteNews that Weigel’s remarks were “insulting in the extreme.” “Weigel’s derogatory characterization of authentic journalists as ‘propagandists’ — people who’ve stuck their necks out, sometimes at the cost of their careers and even at times their safety, to expose corruption in the hierarchy, all while establishment media maintained a safe and comfortable silence — is insulting in the extreme, and makes his comments not worth taking seriously,” Niles said.
Steve Skojec, founder and editor of online magazine OnePeterFive, told LifeSiteNews that Weigel’s advice is “tone-deaf.”
“George Weigel’s admonishment that in 2020 people should avoid Catholic websites ‘that specialize in all-hysteria or all-propaganda all-the-time’ while sticking to the safety of establishment Catholic publications is stunningly tone-deaf,” Skojec said, “particularly for a man who admitted during an interview with Raymond Arroyo that [Archbishop Carlo Maria] Viganò had personally told him about the allegations that [disgraced ex-cardinal Theodore] McCarrick was under Vatican sanctions years ago, but who apparently never reported on this until after Viganò had to go into hiding for his testimony about the McCarrick cover-up.”
“People have turned to alternative Catholic media precisely because establishment publications ― and establishment Catholic writers like Weigel ― were failing to adequately expose or cover the very ‘disturbing’ ecclesiastical revelations Weigel concedes we'll be hearing more about in the coming year,” Skojec continued.
Skojec noted that it was alternative Catholic media that “pushed through the barrier of silence that had become the status quo” and made examination of Vatican and episcopal corruption “part of the daily Catholic conversation.”
“It was alternative Catholic media that forced establishment publications to allow such stories to run because everyone was already talking about them,” he added.
“It is precisely because alternative Catholic media aren’t beholden to bishops or bishops’ conferences or other insider influences that they have the freedom to address stories that would have traditionally been seen as untouchable.”
Whereas the remarks made by readers in the comments box of First Things indicated a willingness to take Weigel’s advice, most commentators at National Catholic Register were indignant at the idea of limiting their reading to Weigel’s list.
Correction, 01-06-20, 11:12 A.M. EST: A previous edition of this article attributed Complicit Clergy’s praise of Janet Smith to Church Militant. LifeSite regrets the error.
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