lifesitenews--2020-04-02--US bishop asks his priests to give Communion on Holy Thursday

Urgent appeal to bishops : Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here .
BIRMINGHAM , Alabama , April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Bishop Robert J. Baker , the outgoing head of the Diocese of Birmingham , Alabama , has encouraged his priests to distribute Holy Communion to the faithful on Holy Thursday , the Thursday before Easter .
“ With this letter I wish to appeal to your pastoral sensitivity and ask that you find an appropriate way to distribute Holy Communion to your people on Holy Thursday , April 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 31 .
“ I am very conscious of the hardship that the suspension of public worship has caused for our people , who are so devoted to Our Lord in the Eucharist , ” he continued .
Baker also reminded his clergy that Holy Thursday is “ the day on which we recall the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Priesthood.
” He suggested it might be best to distribute Holy Communion outdoors , during a specified time frame , “ with people driving in their cars.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on public gatherings , adding that priests “ may want to have ushers assist in controlling the line and the flow of people .
If you choose a drive-up option , I ask that you have people exit their vehicle before receiving.
” Baker also advised his priests to set up kneelers , and have a lamp burning .
He said it would be good for priests to offer “ expanded hours for Confession on the days ahead , so that all may be properly disposed to receive Holy Communion.
” At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for having found “ appropriately creative ways the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick during this time , even as we all take the extra health precautions required to slow the pandemic.
” Baker emphasized that the reception of Holy Communion on the Thursday before Easter would be “ a one-time event.
” He also said it was only an “ appeal , ” not a mandate .
“ I understand that some of you have serious concerns about your own health , given underlying conditions or age , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are liberal-leaning and elderly .
“ I am concerned not only with the physical health of our people , but more importantly , with their spiritual health , ” he concluded his letter .
By now , all dioceses within the United States have canceled public Masses .
Often , access to other sacraments has also been restricted .
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor Little Rock , Arkansas , had said giving the sacrament of anointing of the sick to people suffering from coronavirus “ would be problematic.
” The very exposure to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others.
” Instead , the bishop recommended leading “ such persons in prayer for healing , maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet.
” Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Raleigh , North Carolina , prohibited Confessions , “ except for those in danger of death.
” His prohibition even included “ the practice being observed of ‘ stational penance ’ via automobile ‘ drive throughs.
’ ” The Archdiocese of Baltimore , led by Archbishop William Lori , has ordered all of its churches to be locked and instructed priests only to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual is in danger of dying.
” “ No priests are to make themselves available to hear Confessions , ” ordered Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock , Texas .
Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of Springfield , Massachusetts has suspended all Last Rites .
However , the government decrees of individual states are not always to blame for some bishops ’ draconian measures .
In Ohio , for instance , churches are considered an essential business and allowed to stay open .
Also , “ religious gatherings ” may continue .
The bishops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Catholic Conference of Ohio , had already decided on March 16 to cancel all public Masses and liturgies , “ at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.
” On April 1 , a great number of prominent and well-respected Catholics urged the bishops “ to do everything you can to make the sacraments more available to us ” during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Something is terribly wrong with a culture that allows abortion clinics and liquor stores to remain open but shuts down places of worship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baker has been bishop of Birmingham since 2007 .
Pope Francis accepted Baker ’ s resignation on March 25 , which is the regular process for bishops aged 75 .
Before being called to Birmingham , Baker was bishop of Charleston , South Carolina , for roughly ten years .

'I am very conscious of the hardship that the suspension of public worship has caused for our people,' Bishop Baker of Birmingham stated.
Urgent appeal to bishops: Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here.
April 3, 2020, 10:30 AM EST update: Bishop Robert J. Baker wrote today in the Diocese of Birmingham’s newspaper One Voice that he now deems it best to “delay” distribution of Holy Communion: “Conscious of the spiritual needs of our people, I sent a memo to priests, deacons, and others who minister in the diocese earlier this week appealing to them to consider distributing Communion in an appropriate way on Holy Thursday – being careful to observe proper hygiene given our present circumstances. Since then, I have heard arguments for and against this initiative (some of which were even presented in a respectful manner), and have ultimately decided that it is best to delay it a bit longer. It seems that scientists do not yet agree on whether the virus can be passed through the air. As long as the virus is still so prevalent (it has not yet peaked in Alabama) and we do not yet have clear answers on such weighty issues, I now judge it best that we revisit the possibility of distributing Holy Communion after Easter.”
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Bishop Robert J. Baker, the outgoing head of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama, has encouraged his priests to distribute Holy Communion to the faithful on Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter.
“With this letter I wish to appeal to your pastoral sensitivity and ask that you find an appropriate way to distribute Holy Communion to your people on Holy Thursday, April 9, 2020,” the bishop wrote on March 31.
“I am very conscious of the hardship that the suspension of public worship has caused for our people, who are so devoted to Our Lord in the Eucharist,” he continued.
Baker also reminded his clergy that Holy Thursday is “the day on which we recall the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Priesthood.”
He suggested it might be best to distribute Holy Communion outdoors, during a specified time frame, “with people driving in their cars.” The bishop cautioned to respect the local rules on public gatherings, adding that priests “may want to have ushers assist in controlling the line and the flow of people. If you choose a drive-up option, I ask that you have people exit their vehicle before receiving.”
Baker also advised his priests to set up kneelers, and have a lamp burning.
He said it would be good for priests to offer “expanded hours for Confession on the days ahead, so that all may be properly disposed to receive Holy Communion.”
At the same time, Baker commended his priests for having found “appropriately creative ways the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick during this time, even as we all take the extra health precautions required to slow the pandemic.”
Baker emphasized that the reception of Holy Communion on the Thursday before Easter would be “a one-time event.” He also said it was only an “appeal,” not a mandate. “I understand that some of you have serious concerns about your own health, given underlying conditions or age,” he explained. Many priests in his diocese are liberal-leaning and elderly.
“I am concerned not only with the physical health of our people, but more importantly, with their spiritual health,” he concluded his letter.
By now, all dioceses within the United States have canceled public Masses. Often, access to other sacraments has also been restricted.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor Little Rock, Arkansas, had said giving the sacrament of anointing of the sick to people suffering from coronavirus “would be problematic.” The very exposure to them “would make you a danger to others.”
Instead, the bishop recommended leading “such persons in prayer for healing, maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet.”
Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Raleigh, North Carolina, prohibited Confessions, “except for those in danger of death.” His prohibition even included “the practice being observed of ‘stational penance’ via automobile ‘drive throughs.’”
The Archdiocese of Baltimore, led by Archbishop William Lori, has ordered all of its churches to be locked and instructed priests only to administer sacraments to the faithful if “the individual is in danger of dying.”
“No priests are to make themselves available to hear Confessions,” ordered Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock, Texas. Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of Springfield, Massachusetts has suspended all Last Rites.
However, the government decrees of individual states are not always to blame for some bishops’ draconian measures. In Ohio, for instance, churches are considered an essential business and allowed to stay open. Also, “religious gatherings” may continue.
The bishops within the state of Ohio, organized as the Catholic Conference of Ohio, had already decided on March 16 to cancel all public Masses and liturgies, “at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.”
On April 1, a great number of prominent and well-respected Catholics urged the bishops “to do everything you can to make the sacraments more available to us” during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Something is terribly wrong with a culture that allows abortion clinics and liquor stores to remain open but shuts down places of worship,” they pointed out.
Robert J. Baker has been bishop of Birmingham since 2007. Pope Francis accepted Baker’s resignation on March 25, which is the regular process for bishops aged 75. Before being called to Birmingham, Baker was bishop of Charleston, South Carolina, for roughly ten years.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-02--‘Disappeared’ Chinese research paper traced COVID-19 to China biolab in Wuhan

April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – There are a growing number of people , such as Senator Tom Cotton and myself , who believe that the China coronavirus may have been under study at a Wuhan biolab , that it somehow escaped , and that this is how Wuhan became the epicenter of the pandemic that has changed all of our lives .
In fact , there is a paper , authored by two Chinese scientists , which traces exactly how they think this happened .
Their paper , titled “ The Possible Origins of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China virus came from an animal known as the Intermediate Horseshoe Bat .
Interestingly , the paper , published in February , has since disappeared from the international scholarly database Research Gate , but is still available through the Wayback Machine and is now available on LifeSiteNews here .
On this point about the virus coming from bats , the scientific community is now virtually united .
Genetic analysis has revealed that the China coronavirus is from the same family of coronaviruses carried by the Horseshoe Bat .
But how did the Horseshoe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Wuhan , and how did one of these viruses manage to cross the species barrier and infect humans ?
On these questions , there is wide disagreement .
The Communist Chinese authorities initially put out the story that the bats were sold in the Wuhan wet market as food , and that a worker there accidentally became infected when butchering one of the little beasts for a customer .
This story has been endlessly repeated by compliant American media outlets .
Sorry , China , but your own scientists , Botao Xiao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state-run South China University of Technology , make quick work of this story .
First , they point out that there are no known colonies of this species of bat within 900 kilometers—that ’ s 560 miles—of Wuhan .
Second , they diligently interviewed 59 people with connections to Wuhan and each and every one confirmed that there were no Horseshoe Bats being sold there .
So how did the bats , and the viruses carried by the bats , get to Wuhan ?
They were carried there by humans , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China researchers were extracting and studying deadly bat coronaviruses in two Wuhan biolabs .
Gertz writes that “ Several Chinese state media outlets in recent months touted the virus research and lionized in particular a key researcher in Wuhan , Tian Junhua , as a leader in bat virus work .
… A video posted online in December and funded by the Chinese government shows Mr. Tian inside caves in Hubei province taking samples from captured bats and storing them in vials.
” The seven-minute video , reports Gertz , “ boasts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in global virus research and uncovered over 2,000 viruses in the past 12 years , the time since the outbreak of the bat-origin virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS ) .
” China ’ s frenzied collection efforts , led by Mr. Tian among others , have nearly doubled the number of known viruses .
Aside from collecting samples of bat urine and feces from caves , Mr. Tian also collects the Horseshoe Bats themselves .
According to a May 2017 report by the Wuhan Evening News cited by Gertz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bats for research work on bat viruses since 2012 .
Mr. Tian works at the Wuhan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the national center for China ’ s bat virus research , and one of two Wuhan biolabs identified by the authors of “ The Possible Origins ” paper as the source of the leak .
“ We screened the area around the seafood market and identified two laboratories conducting research on bat coronavirus , ” the Chinese researchers explained .
“ Within 280 meters from the market , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention ( WHCDC ) .
WHCDC hosted animals in laboratories for research purposes , one of which was specialized in pathogens collection and identification.
” Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao note that one WHCDC study used 155 Horseshoe Bats captured from Hubei province and 450 bats captured from Zhejiang province .
They also noted that about 7 miles away was the Wuhan Institute of Virology ( WIV ) , which was also conducting research on the same bats .
They concluded that the first case of a human having contracted the virus was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or WIV who accidentally exposed himself to blood or urine from a bat and infected himself .
They also suggested that infected tissue samples from research animals , or the animals themselves , may have wound up in the wet market .
“ The killer coronavirus probably originated from a laboratory in Wuhan , ” they write .
They conclude that “ safety ” may need to be improved in “ high risk , biohazardous laboratories.
” “ Regulations may be taken to relocate these laboratories far away from city center and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The paper was quickly censored by the Chinese authorities and disappeared online .
But curiously—and just as the authors had recommended -- new regulations governing the “ handling of dangerous viruses like the novel coronavirus ” were in fact quickly put in place .
Deepening the suspicion of a cover-up , Chinese officials not only refused to provide samples of the China coronavirus strains to U.S. researchers , it ordered private labs in China to destroy their samples and gene sequencing data .
Were they afraid that researchers might find out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virus that had been isolated at one of China ’ s research labs ?
It certainly looks that way .
The Mainstream Media seems intent upon protecting China from the accusation that the China Coronavirus escaped from a lab via an accidentally infected worker or the selling of an infected lab animal .
Those of us who criticize the Chinese authorities for unleashing a pandemic upon the world are called “ xenophobic ” and “ racist.
” They seem so intent upon making Trump look bad that they are bending over backward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is simply no question that China has for years been doing research on many dangerous coronaviruses at its Wuhan biolabs .
Not only have the institutions in question openly bragged about their virus collection efforts , but the researchers involved have left a clear paper trail .
Consider a 2013 article co-authored by a WIV researcher that appeared in the scientific journal , Nature .
The article was titled , “ Isolation and characterization of a bat SARS-like coronavirus that uses the ACE2 receptor.
” What the Chinese researcher and his colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are natural reservoirs of SARS-CoV , and that intermediate hosts may not be necessary for direct human infection by some bat SARS-like coronaviruses.
” Here we find the Wuhan biolab involved in collecting a range of SARS-like coronaviruses from horseshoe bats and proving that , like the SARS virus itself , some of these other naturally occurring coronaviruses could directly infect human beings .
And in exactly the same way that the Wuhan Virus does .
A coronavirus-carrying bat living in a remote cave poses little threat to humanity .
Even if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infecting human beings it probably won ’ t , simply because it does not come in contact with them .
But bring that same infected bat into a biolab and start performing experiments on it , and you have dramatically increased the risk that the coronavirus it carries could infect a lab worker .
And , if that biolab is located in the heart of a city of some 12 million people , as the Wuhan labs are , urban crowding will ensure that it quickly spreads to thousands of people .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party leaders determined to deny culpability .
For weeks on end , while five million people ( 5,000,000 ! )
left the epicenter of the epidemic for all parts of China and the world , Beijing pretended the situation was under control .
Even today , they continue to cover up the mounting evidence that the China Coronavirus leaked from one of their biolabs .
If Xi Jinping wants to prove that China is not responsible for the global pandemic now wreaking havoc all over the world , he should order the release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biolabs .
Of course , the likelihood of that actually happening is near zero , which in itself would be tantamount to an admission of guilt .
Steven W. Mosher @ StevenWMosher is the President of the Population Research Institute and the author of Bully of Asia : Why China ’ s Dream is the New Threat to World Order .
Related Video : I found the source of the Coronavirus

April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – There are a growing number of people, such as Senator Tom Cotton and myself, who believe that the China coronavirus may have been under study at a Wuhan biolab, that it somehow escaped, and that this is how Wuhan became the epicenter of the pandemic that has changed all of our lives.
In fact, there is a paper, authored by two Chinese scientists, which traces exactly how they think this happened.
Their paper, titled “The Possible Origins of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus,” begins by confirming that the China virus came from an animal known as the Intermediate Horseshoe Bat. Interestingly, the paper, published in February, has since disappeared from the international scholarly database Research Gate, but is still available through the Wayback Machine and is now available on LifeSiteNews here.
On this point about the virus coming from bats, the scientific community is now virtually united. Genetic analysis has revealed that the China coronavirus is from the same family of coronaviruses carried by the Horseshoe Bat.
But how did the Horseshoe Bats and their load of coronaviruses get to Wuhan, and how did one of these viruses manage to cross the species barrier and infect humans? On these questions, there is wide disagreement.
The Communist Chinese authorities initially put out the story that the bats were sold in the Wuhan wet market as food, and that a worker there accidentally became infected when butchering one of the little beasts for a customer. This story has been endlessly repeated by compliant American media outlets.
Sorry, China, but your own scientists, Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao, who work for the state-run South China University of Technology, make quick work of this story. First, they point out that there are no known colonies of this species of bat within 900 kilometers—that’s 560 miles—of Wuhan. Second, they diligently interviewed 59 people with connections to Wuhan and each and every one confirmed that there were no Horseshoe Bats being sold there.
So how did the bats, and the viruses carried by the bats, get to Wuhan? They were carried there by humans, of course. Bill Gertz has documented how China researchers were extracting and studying deadly bat coronaviruses in two Wuhan biolabs.
Gertz writes that “Several Chinese state media outlets in recent months touted the virus research and lionized in particular a key researcher in Wuhan, Tian Junhua, as a leader in bat virus work. … A video posted online in December and funded by the Chinese government shows Mr. Tian inside caves in Hubei province taking samples from captured bats and storing them in vials.”
The seven-minute video, reports Gertz, “boasts that China has ‘taken the lead’ in global virus research and uncovered over 2,000 viruses in the past 12 years, the time since the outbreak of the bat-origin virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).” China’s frenzied collection efforts, led by Mr. Tian among others, have nearly doubled the number of known viruses.
Aside from collecting samples of bat urine and feces from caves, Mr. Tian also collects the Horseshoe Bats themselves. According to a May 2017 report by the Wuhan Evening News cited by Gertz, Mr. Tian has gathered thousands of bats for research work on bat viruses since 2012.
Mr. Tian works at the Wuhan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national center for China’s bat virus research, and one of two Wuhan biolabs identified by the authors of “The Possible Origins” paper as the source of the leak.
“We screened the area around the seafood market and identified two laboratories conducting research on bat coronavirus,” the Chinese researchers explained. “Within 280 meters from the market, there was the Wuhan Center for Disease Control & Prevention (WHCDC). WHCDC hosted animals in laboratories for research purposes, one of which was specialized in pathogens collection and identification.”
Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao note that one WHCDC study used 155 Horseshoe Bats captured from Hubei province and 450 bats captured from Zhejiang province.
They also noted that about 7 miles away was the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which was also conducting research on the same bats.
They concluded that the first case of a human having contracted the virus was probably a biolab worker from the WHCDC or WIV who accidentally exposed himself to blood or urine from a bat and infected himself. They also suggested that infected tissue samples from research animals, or the animals themselves, may have wound up in the wet market.
“The killer coronavirus probably originated from a laboratory in Wuhan,” they write.
They conclude that “safety” may need to be improved in “high risk, biohazardous laboratories.”
“Regulations may be taken to relocate these laboratories far away from city center and other densely populated places,” they state.
The paper was quickly censored by the Chinese authorities and disappeared online. But curiously—and just as the authors had recommended–new regulations governing the “handling of dangerous viruses like the novel coronavirus” were in fact quickly put in place. Deepening the suspicion of a cover-up, Chinese officials not only refused to provide samples of the China coronavirus strains to U.S. researchers, it ordered private labs in China to destroy their samples and gene sequencing data. Were they afraid that researchers might find out that the pandemic was in fact caused by a virus that had been isolated at one of China’s research labs? It certainly looks that way.
The Mainstream Media seems intent upon protecting China from the accusation that the China Coronavirus escaped from a lab via an accidentally infected worker or the selling of an infected lab animal. Those of us who criticize the Chinese authorities for unleashing a pandemic upon the world are called “xenophobic” and “racist.” They seem so intent upon making Trump look bad that they are bending over backward to make China look good.
But there is simply no question that China has for years been doing research on many dangerous coronaviruses at its Wuhan biolabs. Not only have the institutions in question openly bragged about their virus collection efforts, but the researchers involved have left a clear paper trail.
Consider a 2013 article co-authored by a WIV researcher that appeared in the scientific journal, Nature. The article was titled, “Isolation and characterization of a bat SARS-like coronavirus that uses the ACE2 receptor.” What the Chinese researcher and his colleagues concluded was that “Chinese horseshoe bats are natural reservoirs of SARS-CoV, and that intermediate hosts may not be necessary for direct human infection by some bat SARS-like coronaviruses.”
Here we find the Wuhan biolab involved in collecting a range of SARS-like coronaviruses from horseshoe bats and proving that, like the SARS virus itself, some of these other naturally occurring coronaviruses could directly infect human beings. And in exactly the same way that the Wuhan Virus does.
A coronavirus-carrying bat living in a remote cave poses little threat to humanity. Even if it carries a coronavirus strain capable of directly infecting human beings it probably won’t, simply because it does not come in contact with them.
But bring that same infected bat into a biolab and start performing experiments on it, and you have dramatically increased the risk that the coronavirus it carries could infect a lab worker. And, if that biolab is located in the heart of a city of some 12 million people, as the Wuhan labs are, urban crowding will ensure that it quickly spreads to thousands of people.
Then add to this already volatile mix Communist Party leaders determined to deny culpability. For weeks on end, while five million people (5,000,000!) left the epicenter of the epidemic for all parts of China and the world, Beijing pretended the situation was under control. Even today, they continue to cover up the mounting evidence that the China Coronavirus leaked from one of their biolabs.
If Xi Jinping wants to prove that China is not responsible for the global pandemic now wreaking havoc all over the world, he should order the release of the research records of his Wuhan biolabs.
Of course, the likelihood of that actually happening is near zero, which in itself would be tantamount to an admission of guilt.
Steven W. Mosher @StevenWMosher is the President of the Population Research Institute and the author of Bully of Asia: Why China’s Dream is the New Threat to World Order.
Related Video: I found the source of the Coronavirus
Follow Steven Steven Mosher is an internationally recognised authority on China and population issues as well as an acclaimed author and speaker and founder and head of the Population Research Institute. He was the first American social scientist to visit mainland China in 1979 where he witnessed women being forced to have abortion under the new “one-child-policy” which he then exposed to the world. Mr. Mosher was a pro-choice atheist at the time, but witnessing these traumatic abortions led him to reconsider his convictions and to eventually become a practicing, pro-life Roman Catholic. Mosher has appeared numerous times before the US Congress as an expert in world population, China and human Rights abuses. He has also made TV appearances on Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, 20/20, FOX and CNN news, as well as being a regular guest on talk radio shows across the nation. He is the author of the best-selling A Mother’s Ordeal: One woman’s Fight Against China’s One-Child-Policy. His latest book is Bully of Asia, exposing the threat of China to the entire world at this time. Articles by Steve have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, The New Republic, The Washington Post, National Review, Reason, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Freedom Review, Linacre Quarterly, Catholic World Report, Human Life Review, First Things, and numerous other publications. Steven Mosher lives in Virginia with his wife, Vera, and their nine children.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-02--White House Correspondents’ Association blocks outlet that asked about abortions from press briefing

White House Correspondents’ Association blocks outlet that asked about abortions from press briefings

WASHINGTON , D.C. , April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The White House Correspondents ’ Association ( WHCA ) has announced that it has removed the White House briefing room access of One America News Network ( OAN ) , the news agency that earlier this week highlighted the number of abortions every day in America during a press conference on the coronavirus pandemic .
Politico reports that the WHCA sent a statement out by email yesterday advising that an unnamed news outlet has been removed from its rotation of news organizations that get seats in the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice violated temporary “ social distancing ” rules .
These rules include not allowing journalists to stand along the sides or back of the room .
“ We are writing to inform you that the WHCA Board has voted this evening to remove a news outlet from the rotation for a seat in the briefing room , ” it continued .
“ We did this because a reporter for this outlet twice attended press briefings in contravention of this policy .
We do not take this action lightly .
This is a matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not name OAN , but Chanel Rion – the journalist who asked Trump about abortion earlier this week – was seen standing when asking a question yesterday and an OAN anchor responded to the news on Twitter .
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times , Rion was asked by a member of the WHCA to leave Tuesday ’ s press briefing as she wasn ’ t scheduled in their rotation , but she refused , saying she was there “ as a guest of Stephanie Grisham , ” the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an organization of journalists and other media staff and is independent of the White House , but is responsible for handling access to the White House press briefing rooms .
The WHCA ’ s current president is an ABC News correspondent and its vice president is an Associated Press reporter .
Staff from the New York Times , CBS , Politico and the Daily Mail are also represented on its nine person board .
After the news broke yesterday Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted in support of OAN , saying : “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He could tell the press Corp to pound salt .
# FakeNews media doing what it does .
If you can ’ t beat the competition ban them .
Leave @ OANN @ ChanelRion alone !
” While much of the mainstream media have been critical of Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , OAN has consistently praised his handling of the crisis and Trump has openly thanked them for their “ fair ” coverage .
Trump ’ s approval ratings for his handling of the crisis have continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media outlets are complaining that the press should , in the words of the Washington Post ’ s Margaret Sullivan , “ stop live-broadcasting Trump ’ s dangerous , destructive coronavirus briefings.
” Readers can visit LifeSite ’ s homepage at 5:00 p.m. EST each day for a link to the day ’ s live-stream .
Press conferences are scheduled to begin then but they often begin later than that .
Contact President Trump via The White House here .

'This is a matter of public safety,' the WHCA claimed, saying a reporter had violated 'social distancing' guidelines.
PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has announced that it has removed the White House briefing room access of One America News Network (OAN), the news agency that earlier this week highlighted the number of abortions every day in America during a press conference on the coronavirus pandemic.
Politico reports that the WHCA sent a statement out by email yesterday advising that an unnamed news outlet has been removed from its rotation of news organizations that get seats in the White House briefing room, after it allegedly twice violated temporary “social distancing” rules. These rules include not allowing journalists to stand along the sides or back of the room.
“We are writing to inform you that the WHCA Board has voted this evening to remove a news outlet from the rotation for a seat in the briefing room,” it continued. “We did this because a reporter for this outlet twice attended press briefings in contravention of this policy. We do not take this action lightly. This is a matter of public safety.”
The statement did not name OAN, but Chanel Rion – the journalist who asked Trump about abortion earlier this week – was seen standing when asking a question yesterday and an OAN anchor responded to the news on Twitter.
BREAKING: The @WHCA has voted to remove @OANN from seat rotation in the White House briefing room: “We did this because a reporter for this outlet twice attended press briefings in contravention of this policy.” pic.twitter.com/ldqEsFiFWz — Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) April 1, 2020
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Rion was asked by a member of the WHCA to leave Tuesday’s press briefing as she wasn’t scheduled in their rotation, but she refused, saying she was there “as a guest of Stephanie Grisham,” the White House press secretary.
The WHCA is an organization of journalists and other media staff and is independent of the White House, but is responsible for handling access to the White House press briefing rooms. The WHCA’s current president is an ABC News correspondent and its vice president is an Associated Press reporter. Staff from the New York Times, CBS, Politico and the Daily Mail are also represented on its nine person board.
After the news broke yesterday Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted in support of OAN, saying: “It’s Trump’s briefing room. He could tell the press Corp to pound salt. #FakeNews media doing what it does. If you can’t beat the competition ban them. Leave @OANN @ChanelRion alone!”
It’s Trump’s briefing room. He could tell the press Corp to pound salt. #FakeNews media doing what it does. If you can’t beat the competition ban them. Leave @OANN @ChanelRion alone! https://t.co/BBbdRpZihE — Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) April 2, 2020
While much of the mainstream media have been critical of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, OAN has consistently praised his handling of the crisis and Trump has openly thanked them for their “fair” coverage.
Trump’s approval ratings for his handling of the crisis have continued to rise, while a growing chorus of media outlets are complaining that the press should, in the words of the Washington Post’s Margaret Sullivan, “stop live-broadcasting Trump’s dangerous, destructive coronavirus briefings.”
Readers can visit LifeSite’s homepage at 5:00 p.m. EST each day for a link to the day’s live-stream. Press conferences are scheduled to begin then but they often begin later than that.
Contact information:
Contact President Trump via The White House here.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-02--Texas govt designates religious services ‘essential’ during coronavirus panic

AUSTIN , Texas , April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The state of Texas is treating churches and religious services as “ essential ” amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
As “ essential services , ” religious services are allowed to take place in unlocked churches accessible to all .
“ ‘ Essential services ’ shall consist of everything listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce , Version 2.0 , plus religious services conducted in churches , congregations , and houses of worship , ” Texas governor Greg Abbott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While encouraging all essential services to be provided “ through remote telework , ” Abbott said that if religious services “ can not be conducted from home or through remote services , they should be conducted consistent with the guidelines from the president and the CDC by “ practicing good hygiene , environmental cleanliness , and sanitation , and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
” The executive order mentioned not only the “ providing ” of essential services , for instance a priest saying Mass , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics are now in a position to go to church and receive the sacraments , as long as due precautions are taken .
“ This executive order does not prohibit people from accessing essential services or engaging in essential daily activities , such as going to the grocery store or gas station , providing or obtaining other essential services , ” Abbott wrote .
All dioceses in Texas have already canceled public Masses .
The bishops seem intent on keeping the relevant decrees issued in mid-March in effect .
Bishop Edward J. Burns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order issued on March 31 , saying that “ in consultation with local authorities , and out of a desire to help combat the virus and limit the flock from exposure or risk , ” public Masses “ remain temporarily suspended.
” He added that scheduled confessions , “ which can cause groups to form large lines , remain temporarily suspended .
Individual requests in person can be responded to by priests.
” Burns did not explain how people are capable of practicing social distancing at a grocery store but not while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not allowed to take place , since it might “ attract large numbers.
” Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler published an update on April 1 but did not explicitly refer to the executive order of March 31 .
“ Because we must continue to remain isolated and do our part to slow the spread of this terrible disease , and following the guidelines and orders from our local , state , and national leaders , the measures taken in the March 17 decree remain in effect until further notice , ” Strickland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state to consider religious services essential .
The Ohio Department of Health issued an order on March 22 , taking effect on March 24 , and scheduled to last until April 6 , that allows churches to remain open .
“ Religious facilities , entities and groups and religious gatherings , including weddings and funerals , ” are listed by the state as “ essential businesses and operations ” which still may be accessed .
While all businesses and operations deemed by the state of Ohio to be “ non-essential ” were ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of exceptions included religious entities .
Another exception was organizations providing charitable and social services .
Even though “ religious gatherings ” are explicitly permitted by the order of the Ohio Department of Health , the requirements of social distancing would still have to be practiced , just like in Texas .
This includes “ maintaining at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals , washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer , covering coughs or sneezes ( into the sleeve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces , and not shaking hands.
” Legally , public Masses would be a problem neither in Texas nor in Ohio .
Nevertheless , the bishops of both states never revoked their decisions to forbid all public Masses .

The governor's executive order explicitly allows for public Masses, but at least two Texas bishops insist on continuing to forbid them.
AUSTIN, Texas, April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The state of Texas is treating churches and religious services as “essential” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As “essential services,” religious services are allowed to take place in unlocked churches accessible to all.
“‘Essential services’ shall consist of everything listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, Version 2.0, plus religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship,” Texas governor Greg Abbott stated in an executive order issued Tuesday.
While encouraging all essential services to be provided “through remote telework,” Abbott said that if religious services “cannot be conducted from home or through remote services, they should be conducted consistent with the guidelines from the president and the CDC by “practicing good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation, and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
The executive order mentioned not only the “providing” of essential services, for instance a priest saying Mass, but also the “obtaining.” Accordingly, Catholics are now in a position to go to church and receive the sacraments, as long as due precautions are taken.
“This executive order does not prohibit people from accessing essential services or engaging in essential daily activities, such as going to the grocery store or gas station, providing or obtaining other essential services,” Abbott wrote.
All dioceses in Texas have already canceled public Masses. The bishops seem intent on keeping the relevant decrees issued in mid-March in effect.
Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas acknowledged Governor Abbott’s executive order issued on March 31, saying that “in consultation with local authorities, and out of a desire to help combat the virus and limit the flock from exposure or risk,” public Masses “remain temporarily suspended.”
He added that scheduled confessions, “which can cause groups to form large lines, remain temporarily suspended. Individual requests in person can be responded to by priests.” Burns did not explain how people are capable of practicing social distancing at a grocery store but not while waiting for confession.
Even public adoration is not allowed to take place, since it might “attract large numbers.”
Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler published an update on April 1 but did not explicitly refer to the executive order of March 31.
“Because we must continue to remain isolated and do our part to slow the spread of this terrible disease, and following the guidelines and orders from our local, state, and national leaders, the measures taken in the March 17 decree remain in effect until further notice,” Strickland said.
Texas is not the first state to consider religious services essential. The Ohio Department of Health issued an order on March 22, taking effect on March 24, and scheduled to last until April 6, that allows churches to remain open.
“Religious facilities, entities and groups and religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals,” are listed by the state as “essential businesses and operations” which still may be accessed.
While all businesses and operations deemed by the state of Ohio to be “non-essential” were ordered to stop, a fairly lengthy list of exceptions included religious entities. Another exception was organizations providing charitable and social services.
Even though “religious gatherings” are explicitly permitted by the order of the Ohio Department of Health, the requirements of social distancing would still have to be practiced, just like in Texas.
This includes “maintaining at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands.”
Legally, public Masses would be a problem neither in Texas nor in Ohio. Nevertheless, the bishops of both states never revoked their decisions to forbid all public Masses.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-02--Trump, Pence urge to avoid religious gatherings with large congregations

WASHINGTON , D.C. , April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Both President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have called on priests and other religious ministers to avoid religious gatherings with large congregations .
“ My biggest disappointment is that churches can ’ t meet in a time of need , ” Trump said during his COVID-19 press briefing on April 1 .
“ This is really a great time for a church to be together , for people to get together on a Sunday or any day , and meet , ” the president admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that , if you do it close , then you ’ re really giving this invisible enemy a very big advantage.
” During Nightline on ABC , Vice President Mike Pence said he was “ so grateful to churches and synagogues and places of worship around America that have heeded the president ’ s coronavirus guidelines for America.
” “ We really believe this is a time when people should avoid gatherings of more than ten people , ” he cautioned .
“ And so , we continue to urge churches around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not explain why large facilities — for instance , cathedrals — should be limited to a congregation of only ten people .
In fact , Cardinal Raymond Burke remarked that many “ of our churches and chapels are very large .
They permit a group of the faithful to gather for prayer and worship without violating the requirements of ‘ social distance.
’ ” Pence pointed out that he and his wife Karen , as well as the president , have been “ enjoying worship services online.
” Trump tweeted on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stream of Free Chapel ’ s service .
The Protestant community describes itself as “ a contemporary Christian church.
” On March 21 , Vice President Pence said during a press briefing that he and the president “ want to thank all the religious leaders from every community of faith in the country making the hard choice to suspend services , to have online services , even while those ministries are continuing to support food banks and come alongside the most vulnerable.
” “ And , of course , the chorus of prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith around the country is making the difference that it always has in the life of this nation , ” Pence emphasized .
“ The president and I promised ... to remind people that on the weekends that you ’ re not in the pews , it ’ s still a good ... idea to ... go ahead and make that donation , ” he added .
“ Because all the ministries are continuing to play a vital role in our communities , and we encourage your continued support.
” President Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Prayer ” to ask God “ for protection and strength ” during the COVID-19 pandemic .
In his proclamation , he pointed out that in times of great need , “ Americans have always turned to prayer to help guide us through trials and periods of uncertainty.
” While countless Americans were forbidden to participate in Mass and other religious services already in mid-March , the president said “ we must not cease asking God for added wisdom , comfort , and strength , and we must especially pray for those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved ones.
” President Trump asked believers “ to pray for the health and well-being of your fellow Americans and to remember that no problem is too big for God to handle.
” He quoted “ the holy words ” of 1 Peter 5:7 in his proclamation .
“ Cast [ ] all your care upon him , for he careth for you , ” the Scripture says .
“ Let us pray that all those affected by the virus will feel the presence of our Lord ’ s protection and love during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , we will overcome this threat , ” Trump said .
A second intention listed by Trump was “ to pray for those on the front lines of the response , especially our Nation ’ s outstanding medical professionals and public health officials who are working tirelessly to protect all of us from the coronavirus and treat patients who are infected ; all of our courageous first responders , National Guard , and dedicated individuals who are working to ensure the health and safety of our communities ; and our Federal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion , the president emphasized that through prayer , as well as acts of love , “ we will rise to this challenge and emerge stronger and more united than ever before .
”

'This is really a great time for a church to be together,' Trump commented, but 'if you do that, if you do it close, then you're really giving this invisible enemy a very big advantage.'
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Both President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have called on priests and other religious ministers to avoid religious gatherings with large congregations.
“My biggest disappointment is that churches can’t meet in a time of need,” Trump said during his COVID-19 press briefing on April 1.
“This is really a great time for a church to be together, for people to get together on a Sunday or any day, and meet,” the president admitted. “And yet, if you do that, if you do it close, then you’re really giving this invisible enemy a very big advantage.”
During Nightline on ABC, Vice President Mike Pence said he was “so grateful to churches and synagogues and places of worship around America that have heeded the president’s coronavirus guidelines for America.”
“We really believe this is a time when people should avoid gatherings of more than ten people,” he cautioned. “And so, we continue to urge churches around America to heed to that.”
He did not explain why large facilities — for instance, cathedrals — should be limited to a congregation of only ten people.
In fact, Cardinal Raymond Burke remarked that many “of our churches and chapels are very large. They permit a group of the faithful to gather for prayer and worship without violating the requirements of ‘social distance.’”
Pence pointed out that he and his wife Karen, as well as the president, have been “enjoying worship services online.”
Trump tweeted on March 15 that he was watching a live stream of Free Chapel’s service. The Protestant community describes itself as “a contemporary Christian church.”
I am watching a great and beautiful service by Pastor Jentezen Franklin. Thank you! @Jentezen — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2020
On March 21, Vice President Pence said during a press briefing that he and the president “want to thank all the religious leaders from every community of faith in the country making the hard choice to suspend services, to have online services, even while those ministries are continuing to support food banks and come alongside the most vulnerable.”
“And, of course, the chorus of prayers that is coming up from communities of faith around the country is making the difference that it always has in the life of this nation,” Pence emphasized.
“The president and I promised … to remind people that on the weekends that you’re not in the pews, it’s still a good … idea to … go ahead and make that donation,” he added. “Because all the ministries are continuing to play a vital role in our communities, and we encourage your continued support.”
President Trump had declared March 15 a “National Day of Prayer” to ask God “for protection and strength” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his proclamation, he pointed out that in times of great need, “Americans have always turned to prayer to help guide us through trials and periods of uncertainty.”
While countless Americans were forbidden to participate in Mass and other religious services already in mid-March, the president said “we must not cease asking God for added wisdom, comfort, and strength, and we must especially pray for those who have suffered harm or who have lost loved ones.”
President Trump asked believers “to pray for the health and well-being of your fellow Americans and to remember that no problem is too big for God to handle.”
He quoted “the holy words” of 1 Peter 5:7 in his proclamation. “Cast[] all your care upon him, for he careth for you,” the Scripture says.
“Let us pray that all those affected by the virus will feel the presence of our Lord’s protection and love during this time. With God’s help, we will overcome this threat,” Trump said.
A second intention listed by Trump was “to pray for those on the front lines of the response, especially our Nation’s outstanding medical professionals and public health officials who are working tirelessly to protect all of us from the coronavirus and treat patients who are infected; all of our courageous first responders, National Guard, and dedicated individuals who are working to ensure the health and safety of our communities; and our Federal, State, and local leaders.”
In conclusion, the president emphasized that through prayer, as well as acts of love, “we will rise to this challenge and emerge stronger and more united than ever before.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-02--Australian High Court to pass judgment on Cardinal Pell Tuesday

AUSTRALIA , April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Australian High Court has announced that it will hand down its judgment on Cardinal George Pell ’ s appeal against his convictions for historic child sex offenses next Tuesday , April 7 .
Australia ’ s top court held two days of an appeal hearing last month , with one legal expert present at the hearing saying he believes that it is a possibility that Pell will be acquitted and the Australian media reporting that the second day of the hearing as having been a “ good day ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pell guilty of two counts of sexual assault against a child on December 11 , 2018 .
He has always denied the charges , which hinge on the uncorroborated testimony of one person .
Last year , the Victorian Court of Appeal upheld the guilty verdict .
During last month ’ s appeal hearing , Pell ’ s prosecutors , led by Victorian director of public prosecutions Kerry Judd QC , shifted their position on key evidence relating to Pell ’ s alleged sexual assault of two choirboys after Sunday Mass at St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prosecution has previously argued that there was a five- to six-minute window of opportunity during private prayer time immediately after Mass for Pell to have committed the offenses .
But last month , Judd changed her position , saying instead that it could not be stated for certain how long the private prayer time had lasted .
Several witnesses , including Church officials , have testified that Pell — who had recently been appointed the archbishop of Melbourne at the time of the alleged offense — would never have been alone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was his invariable practice to greet churchgoers at the front doors of the building immediately after Mass ended .
Pell ’ s defense has also pointed out that he would have been fully vested immediately after Mass , making the logistics of the alleged offenses highly improbable .
Pell was not permitted to attend the hearing and remained in a maximum-security prison in Victoria .
Following last month ’ s hearing , John Macauley , a former altar server at St. Patrick ’ s Cathedral in Melbourne who was present in court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s case had collapsed under the weight of its own malicious absurdity.
” Pell ’ s supporters are therefore hopeful that the justices will acquit the cardinal and order his immediate release .
However , it is possible that the court will decline even to consider Pell ’ s appeal , meaning he would have to serve a minimum prison term of three years and eight months .
Another possibility is for the case to be returned to the Victorian Court of Appeal , which upheld Pell ’ s original conviction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could also order a full retrial , which would effectively send the legal battle back to the very beginning .

Australia’s top court held two days of an appeal hearing last month. Pell was not permitted to attend the hearing.
AUSTRALIA, April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Australian High Court has announced that it will hand down its judgment on Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his convictions for historic child sex offenses next Tuesday, April 7.
Judgment will be delivered in Pell v The Queen at 10 am on 7 April 2020 in Brisbane — High Court of Australia (@HighCourtofAus) April 2, 2020
Australia’s top court held two days of an appeal hearing last month, with one legal expert present at the hearing saying he believes that it is a possibility that Pell will be acquitted and the Australian media reporting that the second day of the hearing as having been a “good day” for the cardinal.
A jury found Pell guilty of two counts of sexual assault against a child on December 11, 2018. He has always denied the charges, which hinge on the uncorroborated testimony of one person. Last year, the Victorian Court of Appeal upheld the guilty verdict.
During last month’s appeal hearing, Pell’s prosecutors, led by Victorian director of public prosecutions Kerry Judd QC, shifted their position on key evidence relating to Pell’s alleged sexual assault of two choirboys after Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne.
The prosecution has previously argued that there was a five- to six-minute window of opportunity during private prayer time immediately after Mass for Pell to have committed the offenses. But last month, Judd changed her position, saying instead that it could not be stated for certain how long the private prayer time had lasted.
Several witnesses, including Church officials, have testified that Pell — who had recently been appointed the archbishop of Melbourne at the time of the alleged offense — would never have been alone in the cathedral. Moreover, they say it was his invariable practice to greet churchgoers at the front doors of the building immediately after Mass ended. Pell’s defense has also pointed out that he would have been fully vested immediately after Mass, making the logistics of the alleged offenses highly improbable.
Pell was not permitted to attend the hearing and remained in a maximum-security prison in Victoria.
Following last month’s hearing, John Macauley, a former altar server at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne who was present in court throughout, said that “the crown’s case had collapsed under the weight of its own malicious absurdity.”
Pell’s supporters are therefore hopeful that the justices will acquit the cardinal and order his immediate release.
However, it is possible that the court will decline even to consider Pell’s appeal, meaning he would have to serve a minimum prison term of three years and eight months.
Another possibility is for the case to be returned to the Victorian Court of Appeal, which upheld Pell’s original conviction in August last year. The High Court could also order a full retrial, which would effectively send the legal battle back to the very beginning.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-03--Bishops need to act now! Theologian says Eucharist is not dispensable

John-Henry interviews some of the most well-known clergy and laity in the Church while offering commentary on the most important @ @ @ @ @ around the world .

Earlier this week, a group of prominent Catholic theologians, writers, and public figures lead by moral theologian Dr. Janet Smith signed an open letter urging bishops to “do everything” they can to “make the sacraments more available to us” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-03--US eases restrictions on gays donating blood during pandemic

NEW YORK , April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The United States has significantly eased restrictions on homosexual and bisexual men donating blood , citing as its reason rising concerns over scarce blood supplies during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) announced Thursday that homosexual and bisexual men can donate blood three months after having sex with other men , rather than the 12 months deferral period previously required .
The FDA , an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , cited an “ urgent and immediate need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reason for the policy change , which is effective immediately .
The federal agency stated it had “ concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply.
” Among the changes to the FDA ’ s policy in Thursday ’ s announcement are : • For male donors who would have been deferred for having sex with another man : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to three months .
• For female donors who would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who had sex with another man : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to three months .
• For those with recent tattoos and piercings : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to three months .
The new recommendations will remain in place after the pandemic ends , the FDA said .
According to Reuters , the FDA stated that “ ( t ) his guidance is being implemented without prior public comment because the FDA has determined that prior public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or appropriate.
” The announcement came after a “ long-running campaign by LGBT+ rights groups and some U.S. lawmakers for parity with heterosexuals regarding blood donations , ” Reuters added .
“ LGBTQ Americans can hold their heads up today and know that our voices will always triumph over discrimination , ” Sarah Kate Ellis , the president and chief executive of GLAAD , as quoted in The New York Times .
“ This is a victory for all of us who spoke out against the discriminatory ban on gay and bisexual men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-President Ronald Reagan and at the height of the AIDS crisis , the FDA banned homosexuals from donating blood in order to protect people needing blood transfusions .
That policy helped reduce HIV transmission rates from blood transfusions from 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 1.47 million .
In May 2015 , the FDA , under former President Barack Obama , proposed lifting the ban , and asked for public comment .
Most of the 700 comments received urged the government to keep the ban , LifeSiteNews reported at that time .
Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truth , told LifeSiteNews then that there are “ several highly disturbing aspects to this politically-motivated change in the United States ’ blood donation policy .
First of all , homosexual activists frame this entire issue in terms of so-called ‘ anti-gay discrimination ’ and equality instead of prioritizing above all the safety of the American blood supply.
” When the FDA was contemplating a 12-month deferral period , its report “ shows that a small percentage of homosexual men have ignored the blood donation ban .
Now we are going to trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” LaBarbera said then .
“ It is sad , yet instructive , to see homosexual activists place their gay agenda above the blood safety interests of the American people .
If just one person contracts HIV due to these more lax standards , that will be an outrageous and needless injustice .
”

Relaxed standards allow homosexual and bisexual men to donate blood three months after having sex rather than 12 months.
NEW YORK, April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The United States has significantly eased restrictions on homosexual and bisexual men donating blood, citing as its reason rising concerns over scarce blood supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday that homosexual and bisexual men can donate blood three months after having sex with other men, rather than the 12 months deferral period previously required.
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cited an “urgent and immediate need for blood and blood components” as the reason for the policy change, which is effective immediately.
The federal agency stated it had “concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply.”
Among the changes to the FDA’s policy in Thursday’s announcement are:
For male donors who would have been deferred for having sex with another man: the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to three months.
For female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man: the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to three months.
For those with recent tattoos and piercings: the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to three months.
The new recommendations will remain in place after the pandemic ends, the FDA said.
According to Reuters, the FDA stated that “(t)his guidance is being implemented without prior public comment because the FDA has determined that prior public participation for this guidance is not feasible or appropriate.”
The announcement came after a “long-running campaign by LGBT+ rights groups and some U.S. lawmakers for parity with heterosexuals regarding blood donations,” Reuters added.
“LGBTQ Americans can hold their heads up today and know that our voices will always triumph over discrimination,” Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and chief executive of GLAAD, as quoted in The New York Times.
“This is a victory for all of us who spoke out against the discriminatory ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.”
In 1983, under then-President Ronald Reagan and at the height of the AIDS crisis, the FDA banned homosexuals from donating blood in order to protect people needing blood transfusions. That policy helped reduce HIV transmission rates from blood transfusions from 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 1.47 million.
In May 2015, the FDA, under former President Barack Obama, proposed lifting the ban, and asked for public comment. Most of the 700 comments received urged the government to keep the ban, LifeSiteNews reported at that time.
Peter LaBarbera, the president of Americans for Truth, told LifeSiteNews then that there are “several highly disturbing aspects to this politically-motivated change in the United States’ blood donation policy. First of all, homosexual activists frame this entire issue in terms of so-called ‘anti-gay discrimination’ and equality instead of prioritizing above all the safety of the American blood supply.”
When the FDA was contemplating a 12-month deferral period, its report “shows that a small percentage of homosexual men have ignored the blood donation ban. Now we are going to trust practicing homosexuals with an even looser regulation?” LaBarbera said then.
“It is sad, yet instructive, to see homosexual activists place their gay agenda above the blood safety interests of the American people. If just one person contracts HIV due to these more lax standards, that will be an outrageous and needless injustice.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-03--US bishop flipflops on confession ban after Governor tells churches they’re ‘essential services’

LUBBOCK , Texas , April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A Texas bishop today reversed his Sunday order banning priests from hearing confessions after the Governor of Texas deemed churches as “ essential services ” on Tuesday .
“ No priests are to make themselves available to hear Confessions , ” Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock , Texas , had originally ordered priests within his diocese in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Coerver noted in an April 2 statement that Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday “ with which we are to comply in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ essential services ’ as Church.
” The bishop had gone ahead and banned confessions without any previous directives .
In his executive order , Abbot encouraged essential services be provided “ through remote telework , ” but said that if religious services “ can not be conducted from home or through remote services , ” they should be conducted consistent with the guidelines from the president and the CDC by “ practicing good hygiene , environmental cleanliness , and sanitation , and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ providing ” of essential services , for instance a priest saying Mass , but also the “ obtaining.
” Accordingly , Catholics are now in a position to go to church and receive the sacraments , as long as due precautions are taken .
The governor offered as an example a “ drive-up service ” where people remain in their cars , according to Texas news outlet KBTX.TV .
“ That seems like it would satisfy the criteria that we 're talking about , '' he said .
Abbott also prohibited local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deemed permissible restrictions , citing religious services as an example , KBTX.TV reported .
“ So to the extent , for example , that religious services are permitted as specified in this executive order , they can not be denied by a local ordinance under this order , '' said Abbott .
Coerver said he and “ most of the Bishops of Texas ” took part in a conference call Wednesday , and decided to keep Masses private .
( There are 15 dioceses in Texas and about 17 active bishops and auxiliary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of retired bishops . )
While Abbott designated churches as essential services , “ we are still under orders to carry out such services in keeping with the national guidelines set forth by the federal government , ” Coerver said .
That includes gatherings of no more than ten people who must keep the “ social distance ” between them of least six feet .
“ In keeping with those guidelines , there is a consensus among the Bishops of Texas that the practice of only private Masses be continued , hopefully live-streamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video technicians present , never to exceed a total of 10 persons ( counting the priest ) , ” Coerver stated .
“ Due to the danger of contagion , Holy Communion can not be distributed to persons not within the church building , ” he added , leaving open the possibility that Holy Communion could be distributed without the church building .
The bishops also discussed “ the sensitive issue of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation , ” he said .
While about 30 dioceses across the country have suspended confession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he issued in response to a stay-in-place order by Lubbock ’ s mayor , was notable in that he made no exception for Catholics in danger of imminent death .
In his April 2 statement , Coerver said he has now decided to implement the “ best practice ” for confession which the bishops discussed on the conference call .
“ Given the situation of pervasive fear and serious illness , any member of the Faithful in serious need of making a Confession can contact a priest to make an appointment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ The Sacrament must be celebrated either outside or in a large well-ventilated space , with ‘ social distancing ’ scrupulously observed.was not the first bishop to suspend confession because of the pandemic , ” Coerver noted .
“ I am asking our good priests , who have made so many concessions and adaptations on behalf of our Faithful , to now make themselves available in this manner to penitents who are experiencing grave necessity for Confession.
” Coerver added that regularly scheduled confessions were not possible “ because that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would violate ‘ Stay at Home ’ and ‘ Shelter in Place ’ orders.
” According to an April 1 tweet by Eric Sammons , 30 American dioceses so far have banned confession except in the danger of death .
Meanwhile , a number of prominent and well-respected Catholics have urged the bishops “ to do everything you can to make the sacraments more available to us ” during the COVID-19 pandemic in an April 1 open letter , titled “ We Are An Easter People.
” LifeSiteNews is collaborating with the initiative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal to bishops ” on the LifePetitions platform .
“ Something is terribly wrong with a culture that allows abortion clinics and liquor stores to remain open but shuts down places of worship , ” the open letter pointed out .
“ While safety and cooperation with civil authorities is necessary , we must do everything we can to have access to what is essential for our spiritual lives .
We should certainly not voluntarily deprive ourselves of the sacraments.
” Sign LifeSite ’ s petition to the bishops here .

Texas Bishop Robert Coerver had declared that 'No priests are to make themselves available to hear Confessions'
Urgent appeal to bishops: Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here.
LUBBOCK, Texas, April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Texas bishop today reversed his Sunday order banning priests from hearing confessions after the Governor of Texas deemed churches as “essential services” on Tuesday.
“No priests are to make themselves available to hear Confessions,” Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock, Texas, had originally ordered priests within his diocese in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Coerver noted in an April 2 statement that Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday “with which we are to comply in carrying out what he defined as our ‘essential services’ as Church.”
The bishop had banned confessions without any explicit directive to do so. The bishop said in his Sunday statement, however, that he had banned confession because Mayor Don Pope had issued a stay-in-place order.
In his executive order, Abbot encouraged essential services be provided “through remote telework,” but said that if religious services “cannot be conducted from home or through remote services,” they should be conducted consistent with the guidelines from the president and the CDC by “practicing good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation, and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
The order mentioned not only the “providing” of essential services, for instance a priest saying Mass, but also the “obtaining.” Accordingly, Catholics are now in a position to go to church and receive the sacraments, as long as due precautions are taken.
The governor offered as an example a “drive-up service” where people remain in their cars, according to Texas news outlet KBTX.TV.
“That seems like it would satisfy the criteria that we're talking about,” he said.
Abbott also prohibited local authorities from going beyond what he had deemed permissible restrictions, citing religious services as an example, KBTX.TV reported.
“So to the extent, for example, that religious services are permitted as specified in this executive order, they cannot be denied by a local ordinance under this order,” said Abbott.
Coerver said he and “most of the Bishops of Texas” took part in a conference call Wednesday, and decided to keep Masses private. (There are 15 dioceses in Texas and about 17 active bishops and auxiliary bishops, as well as a number of retired bishops.)
While Abbott designated churches as essential services, “we are still under orders to carry out such services in keeping with the national guidelines set forth by the federal government,” Coerver said.
That includes gatherings of no more than ten people who must keep the “social distance” between them of least six feet.
“In keeping with those guidelines, there is a consensus among the Bishops of Texas that the practice of only private Masses be continued, hopefully live-streamed, with only needed liturgical ministers and video technicians present, never to exceed a total of 10 persons (counting the priest),” Coerver stated.
“Due to the danger of contagion, Holy Communion cannot be distributed to persons not within the church building,” he added, leaving open the possibility that Holy Communion could be distributed without the church building.
The bishops also discussed “the sensitive issue of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation,” he said.
While about 30 dioceses across the country have suspended confession, Coerver’s March 29 directive, which he issued in response to a stay-in-place order by Lubbock’s mayor, was notable in that he made no exception for Catholics in danger of imminent death.
In his April 2 statement, Coerver said he has now decided to implement the “best practice” for confession which the bishops discussed on the conference call.
“Given the situation of pervasive fear and serious illness, any member of the Faithful in serious need of making a Confession can contact a priest to make an appointment to have their Confession heard,” he said.
“The Sacrament must be celebrated either outside or in a large well-ventilated space, with ‘social distancing’ scrupulously observed.was not the first bishop to suspend confession because of the pandemic,” Coerver noted.
“I am asking our good priests, who have made so many concessions and adaptations on behalf of our Faithful, to now make themselves available in this manner to penitents who are experiencing grave necessity for Confession.”
Coerver added that regularly scheduled confessions were not possible “because that would equate to gathering a group that would violate ‘Stay at Home’ and ‘Shelter in Place’ orders.”
According to an April 1 tweet by Eric Sammons, 30 American dioceses so far have banned confession except in the danger of death.
The latest map showing which dioceses have stopped confessions (except in danger of death). The good news: I made two mistakes on my last map—Kansas City and Little Rock *do* allow for confession. The bad news: 30 dioceses have banned confessions, except in danger of death. pic.twitter.com/3MpXFRC6ge — Eric Sammons (@EricRSammons) April 1, 2020
Meanwhile, a number of prominent and well-respected Catholics have urged the bishops “to do everything you can to make the sacraments more available to us” during the COVID-19 pandemic in an April 1 open letter, titled “We Are An Easter People.”
LifeSiteNews is collaborating with the initiative as well, launching an “urgent appeal to bishops” on the LifePetitions platform.
“Something is terribly wrong with a culture that allows abortion clinics and liquor stores to remain open but shuts down places of worship,” the open letter pointed out.
“While safety and cooperation with civil authorities is necessary, we must do everything we can to have access to what is essential for our spiritual lives. We should certainly not voluntarily deprive ourselves of the sacraments.”
Sign LifeSite’s petition to the bishops here.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-03--Pro-lifers call on Dem governors to label abortion ‘non-essential’ during COVID-19

April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pro-lifers in Michigan and Illinois are pressuring their state ’ s Democratic governors to consider making abortion a “ non-essential ” medical procedure during the coronavirus outbreak .
Their calls echo the demands of other abortion opponents across the country .
Since COVID-19 spread to the United States from China several weeks ago , liberal activists have been lobbying lawmakers and filing lawsuits to ensure that the killing of unborn babies continues without interruption .
Their efforts have been somewhat though not entirely successful .
According to recent statistics released by Created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight states have ordered abortions to stop altogether while surgical abortions have been specifically ordered to stop in Ohio , Texas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Tennessee , Kentucky , Oklahoma , and Iowa .
Non-essential surgeries have been banned , yet abortions continue in Maryland , Florida , Colorado , Michigan , Rhode Island , Arizona , New York , Alaska , Indiana , West Virginia , Georgia , and Vermont .
In a statement issued March 25 , Right to Life of Michigan called on Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer to treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whitmer is the state ’ s liberal , first-term Democratic governor .
Former vice president Joe Biden has said he is considering her as a possible running mate .
“ Botched abortions can require follow-up surgical procedures or emergency room visits , ” the press release reads .
“ Use of the abortion pill often results in complications such as excessive bleeding requiring visits to a doctor ’ s office .
Patients and staff inside abortion facilities increases the likelihood of coronavirus spreading from close contact.
” Whitmer ’ s executive order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ necessary to address a medical emergency or to preserve the health and safety of a patient.
” Barbara Listing , the president of Right to Life Michigan , rejects the claim that abortion falls into that category .
“ The vast majority of abortions are performed for economic or social reasons , ” she said .
“ Right now , people with legitimate medical needs are suffering in pain .
We ’ re postponing hip replacements or fixing cracked teeth to ensure our front-line doctors and nurses are equipped .
These procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and expensive for people in need because they had to wait .
Why aren ’ t we treating them fairly ?
Why should abortion facilities get to be above the law ?
” “ We ’ re seeing a pattern of pro-abortion elected officials putting ideology first , and people at risk of the coronavirus second , '' she added .
The Michigan Heartbeat Coalition and Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Laura Cox have also called on Whitmer to consider labeling abortion a non-essential procedure .
Activist Lynn Mills of Pro Life Michigan has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to LifeSite via email , Mills said , “ For all of Gov .
Whitmer 's posturing , juxtapositioning and defending her every move and her ORDERS , she can not bring herself to defend or even mention her allowing abortion as a life sustaining exemption and why they can remain OPEN as a choice elective surgical option.
” In nearby Illinois , an organization called Illinois Citizens for Ethics has launched a petition demanding Democratic Gov .
J.B. Pritzker back off his decision to consider abortion an “ essential ” medical procedure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 can be transferred through close human interaction and because front-line medical personnel need health and safety equipment , the Department of Health and Human Resources has asked for all non-essential medical procedures to be postponed until COVID-19 is defeated , ” the petition reads .
“ Masks , gowns , gloves , and more can then be allocated to the front-life personnel battling COVID-19 .
Plus , any unnecessary medical interactions ONLY risk increasing the spread of COVID-19 .
We ask Governor Pritzker , like other governors have done , to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help end COVID-19 ; therefore , saving many lives.
” “ In this critical point in human history , where millions of lives are at stake , Governor Pritzker and his team have chosen ideology over the lives of Illinois residents , ” the group ’ s website adds .
Governors in the Midwest are not the only one ’ s coming out in favor of abortion at this time .
Ralph Northam , the pro-infanticide Democratic governor of Virginia , recently exempted abortion centers , as well as “ the full suite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being considered non-essential services during the COVID-19 outbreak .

Pro-lifers in Michigan and Illinois are pressuring their state’s Democratic governors to consider making abortion a “non-essential” medical procedure during the coronavirus outbreak.
PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Pro-lifers in Michigan and Illinois are pressuring their state’s Democratic governors to consider making abortion a “non-essential” medical procedure during the coronavirus outbreak. Their calls echo the demands of other abortion opponents across the country.
Since COVID-19 spread to the United States from China several weeks ago, liberal activists have been lobbying lawmakers and filing lawsuits to ensure that the killing of unborn babies continues without interruption. Their efforts have been somewhat though not entirely successful.
According to recent statistics released by Created Equal, an Ohio-based pro-life group, eight states have ordered abortions to stop altogether while surgical abortions have been specifically ordered to stop in Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Non-essential surgeries have been banned, yet abortions continue in Maryland, Florida, Colorado, Michigan, Rhode Island, Arizona, New York, Alaska, Indiana, West Virginia, Georgia, and Vermont.
In a statement issued March 25, Right to Life of Michigan called on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to treat abortion facilities like other outpatient surgical facilities. Whitmer is the state’s liberal, first-term Democratic governor. Former vice president Joe Biden has said he is considering her as a possible running mate.
“Botched abortions can require follow-up surgical procedures or emergency room visits,” the press release reads. “Use of the abortion pill often results in complications such as excessive bleeding requiring visits to a doctor’s office. Patients and staff inside abortion facilities increases the likelihood of coronavirus spreading from close contact.”
Whitmer’s executive order defines essential services as those that are “necessary to address a medical emergency or to preserve the health and safety of a patient.”
Barbara Listing, the president of Right to Life Michigan, rejects the claim that abortion falls into that category.
“The vast majority of abortions are performed for economic or social reasons,” she said. “Right now, people with legitimate medical needs are suffering in pain. We’re postponing hip replacements or fixing cracked teeth to ensure our front-line doctors and nurses are equipped. These procedures in many cases will be more burdensome and expensive for people in need because they had to wait. Why aren’t we treating them fairly? Why should abortion facilities get to be above the law?”
“We’re seeing a pattern of pro-abortion elected officials putting ideology first, and people at risk of the coronavirus second,” she added.
The Michigan Heartbeat Coalition and Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Laura Cox have also called on Whitmer to consider labeling abortion a non-essential procedure. Activist Lynn Mills of Pro Life Michigan has as well.
In a statement provided to LifeSite via email, Mills said, “For all of Gov. Whitmer's posturing, juxtapositioning and defending her every move and her ORDERS, she cannot bring herself to defend or even mention her allowing abortion as a life sustaining exemption and why they can remain OPEN as a choice elective surgical option.”
In nearby Illinois, an organization called Illinois Citizens for Ethics has launched a petition demanding Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker back off his decision to consider abortion an “essential” medical procedure during the coronavirus outbreak.
“Because COVID-19 can be transferred through close human interaction and because front-line medical personnel need health and safety equipment, the Department of Health and Human Resources has asked for all non-essential medical procedures to be postponed until COVID-19 is defeated,” the petition reads.
“Masks, gowns, gloves, and more can then be allocated to the front-life personnel battling COVID-19. Plus, any unnecessary medical interactions ONLY risk increasing the spread of COVID-19. We ask Governor Pritzker, like other governors have done, to include abortion clinics as non-essential medical centers to help end COVID-19; therefore, saving many lives.”
“In this critical point in human history, where millions of lives are at stake, Governor Pritzker and his team have chosen ideology over the lives of Illinois residents,” the group’s website adds.
Governors in the Midwest are not the only one’s coming out in favor of abortion at this time. Ralph Northam, the pro-infanticide Democratic governor of Virginia, recently exempted abortion centers, as well as “the full suite of family planning services,” from being considered non-essential services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
For charitable comments only, contact:
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan
Lansing, Michigan office
(517) 373-3400
J.B. Pritzker
Governor of Illinois
Chicago, Illinois office
(312) 814-2121
Springfield, Illinois office
(217) 782-6830
Ralph Northam
Governor of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia office
(804) 786-2211
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lifesitenews--2020-04-03--Far-left SPLC claims anti-LGBT ‘hate groups’ on the rise in annual report

April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The far-left Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC ) has released its annual report on so-called “ hate groups ” in the United States , a highlight of which is a 43 percent increase in the number of organizations the SPLC deems “ anti-LGBT.
” “ Overall , the SPLC identified 940 hate groups operating across the country in 2019 , a slight decline from the all-time high of 1,020 in 2018 , ” the group says in its press release .
“ More than half of the decline was due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups , as two main factions collapsed amid leadership turmoil.
” In February , Andrew Anglin of the virulently anti-Semitic Daily Stormer complained to his readers that “ even after I told you people that the site lost $ 50,000 last year , fewer than 60 of you decided to send money , ” necessitating layoffs .
Despite this fairly clear sign of declining interest in the already-fringe world of neo-Nazism , SPLC claims that a “ white nationalist movement that was emboldened by the election of Donald Trump ” nevertheless “ grew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Make no mistake : We have a crisis of hate and extremism in our country – and the toxic ideas propagated by these hate groups not only lead to violence but erode the very foundations of our democracy , ” said SPLC spokesperson Lecia Brooks .
“ The attacks in El Paso , Texas , and Poway , California , are stark reminders of the serious threat posed by white supremacist ideology and those it motivates to act .
Each of these attacks – as well as thousands of hate crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white supremacist propaganda.
” In particular , 2019 saw a “ sharp increase of anti-LGBTQ hate groups , which rose from 49 in 2018 to 70 last year.
” The report does not define “ anti-LGBTQ hate ” or acknowledge the concept of non-hateful disagreement with homosexual conduct , but its list names numerous mainstream conservative groups that merely advocate religious liberty and/or a biblical view of human sexuality , such as Alliance Defending Freedom , the Family Research Council , Faith2Action , and Liberty Counsel .
“ This important new report shines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups across our country , ” claimed Shannon Minter , legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights .
“ The resurgence of these groups poses a real danger to LGBTQ people and to the progress we have made , which feels increasingly precarious in the face of this administration ’ s shocking support for anti-LGBTQ hate groups and apparent determination to roll back even the most basic legal protections for LGBTQ people.
” The SPLC has long been controversial for its history of labeling mainstream Christian and/or conservative organizations – such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horowitz Freedom Center , and Jihad Watch – “ hate groups ” to be distrusted by the public and blacklisted from various online platforms and services .
Over the past two years , it was forced to make a public apology and pay $ 3.4 million in defamation damages to Maajid Nawaz ’ s Quilliam Foundation , ousted co-founder Morris Dees for “ inappropriate conduct , ” and endured testimony from insiders that the organization is a “ highly profitable scam ” and that Dees saw “ civil-rights work mainly as a marketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2012 , would-be mass shooter Floyd Lee Corkins II entered the socially conservative Family Research Council ’ s ( FRC ’ s ) lobby , armed with SPLC ’ s “ hate group ” list and planning to , in his own words , “ kill as many as possible and smear the Chick-fil-A sandwiches in victims ' faces , and kill the guard.
” Nobody was killed thanks to the intervention of security guard Leo Johnson , who was wounded .

April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The far-left Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has released its annual report on so-called “hate groups” in the United States, a highlight of which is a 43 percent increase in the number of organizations the SPLC deems “anti-LGBT.”
“Overall, the SPLC identified 940 hate groups operating across the country in 2019, a slight decline from the all-time high of 1,020 in 2018,” the group says in its press release. “More than half of the decline was due to a drop in the number of neo-Nazi groups, as two main factions collapsed amid leadership turmoil.”
In February, Andrew Anglin of the virulently anti-Semitic Daily Stormer complained to his readers that “even after I told you people that the site lost $50,000 last year, fewer than 60 of you decided to send money,” necessitating layoffs. Despite this fairly clear sign of declining interest in the already-fringe world of neo-Nazism, SPLC claims that a “white nationalist movement that was emboldened by the election of Donald Trump” nevertheless “grew for a second straight year in 2019.”
“Make no mistake: We have a crisis of hate and extremism in our country – and the toxic ideas propagated by these hate groups not only lead to violence but erode the very foundations of our democracy,” said SPLC spokesperson Lecia Brooks. “The attacks in El Paso, Texas, and Poway, California, are stark reminders of the serious threat posed by white supremacist ideology and those it motivates to act. Each of these attacks – as well as thousands of hate crimes across the country – was inspired by white supremacist propaganda.”
In particular, 2019 saw a “sharp increase of anti-LGBTQ hate groups, which rose from 49 in 2018 to 70 last year.” The report does not define “anti-LGBTQ hate” or acknowledge the concept of non-hateful disagreement with homosexual conduct, but its list names numerous mainstream conservative groups that merely advocate religious liberty and/or a biblical view of human sexuality, such as Alliance Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, Faith2Action, and Liberty Counsel.
“This important new report shines a light on the explosion of anti-LGBTQ groups across our country,” claimed Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “The resurgence of these groups poses a real danger to LGBTQ people and to the progress we have made, which feels increasingly precarious in the face of this administration’s shocking support for anti-LGBTQ hate groups and apparent determination to roll back even the most basic legal protections for LGBTQ people.”
The SPLC has long been controversial for its history of labeling mainstream Christian and/or conservative organizations – such as the Ruth Institute, the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and Jihad Watch – “hate groups” to be distrusted by the public and blacklisted from various online platforms and services.
Over the past two years, it was forced to make a public apology and pay $3.4 million in defamation damages to Maajid Nawaz’s Quilliam Foundation, ousted co-founder Morris Dees for “inappropriate conduct,” and endured testimony from insiders that the organization is a “highly profitable scam” and that Dees saw “civil-rights work mainly as a marketing tool for bilking gullible Northern liberals.”
In 2012, would-be mass shooter Floyd Lee Corkins II entered the socially conservative Family Research Council’s (FRC’s) lobby, armed with SPLC’s “hate group” list and planning to, in his own words, “kill as many as possible and smear the Chick-fil-A sandwiches in victims' faces, and kill the guard.” Nobody was killed thanks to the intervention of security guard Leo Johnson, who was wounded.
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