lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Footnote in Pope’s Amazon exhortation opens door to married priests, female deacons: Jesuit priest

March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Liberation theologian Father Víctor Codina , S.J.
, published on March 6 an essay proposing and presenting the “ interpretive key ” to Pope Francis ' February 12 post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonia , saying that the Pope 's mentioning of an Amazonian rite in a footnote has a similar importance as the footnote in Amoris Laetitia which gave an opening toward Communion for “ remarried ” divorcees .
He claims that , with that new Amazonian rite , married priests can be introduced , as well .
Codina 's essay was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazonian ecclesial network REPAM whose key organizers are also members of the pre-synodal committee , such as Cardinal Claudío Hummes , Bishop Erwin Kräutler , and Mauricio López ( its executive secretary ) .
Both Hummes and Kräutler are also members of the Vatican 's “ special council ” that was established after the October 2019 Amazon Synod .
Codina was also a participant at the Amazon Synod .
The Spanish retired professor of theology ( University of Bolivia ) is a liberation theologian who published his new essay on his blog of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to which also Leonardo Boff and Paulo Suess belong ( with Boff and Codina both having studied under Karl Rahner ) .
Codina was a participant at the secret meeting in Rome that took place ahead of the Amazon Synod and at which also Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri , the general secretary of the Synod of Bishops , as well as Cardinal Hummes and Cardinal Walter Kasper participated .
There are indications that some of Kasper 's fundamental ideas about establishing a non-ordained ministry for lay women might very well have found entrance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his essay that , in his “ ecclesial dream , Francis promotes for the Amazon a native and well-formed laity , a plurality of lay ministries , a permanent diaconate for men , base communities , an incarnated and inculturated religious life , ” as well as a larger role for women , among others .
He then goes on to say that many were “ very disappointed ” when “ the only news that media spread was that the Pope rejected the ordination of married men.
” People now feared that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in danger , ” he adds .
Codina then presents us the “ interpretative key ” that can be found in this new papal document .
As others have done in the recent past , the Jesuit insists that the new document “ does not want to substitute the final document of the Synod , but to help a creative reading of the synodal journey.
” Codina concludes that , since the final document “ proposes the ordination of married men and works towards the female diaconate ( 111 and 103 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these issues remain open and therefore it is false to say that the Pope excludes or forbids them .
Francis is silent , he does not close any door.
” Also returning to the theme as stressed by Father Antonio Spadaro , Codina sees here that the Pope , with his writing , wishes to overcome polarities in the Church .
At the same time , the theologian explains , the Pope wishes to create something larger than just the presence of the Eucharist in the Amazon region .
“ Without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is not Church , but without ecclesial community , the Eucharist becomes a magical or empty rite.
” That means , the Pope wishes to “ initiate a Church that is not pyramidal and vertical from the hierarchical center , but rather a Church centered on the People of God , ” along with its “ broad lay capillary ” action , from the bottom up .
In light of establishing a new ecclesial structure in the Amazon region , Codina reminds us the Pope , already in his post-synodal exhortation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in paragraph 3 , insisted that not all doctrinal , moral and pastoral discussions are to be resolved by the intervention of the Magisterium .
That is to say , the Pope wants the local Church to “ discuss and discern ” the question of “ the ecclesial ministries.
” It is here that Father Codina now speaks about “ a small , unnoticed pastoral footnote ” and then points to the footnote 120 of Querida Amazonia 's paragraph 82 where he speaks about inculturation .
In that footnote , the Pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Amazonian rite ( in the Final Document numbers 116-117 ) .
After referring to the fact that the Church has 23 different rites which include certain “ ecclesial structures ” and that in many of the Eastern Churches , “ there are married priests , ” Codina comes to his key statement : “ This footnote opens up new paths , as was footnote 351 of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia , which opened up the possibility of reconciliation and communion for divorced people who have remarried .
Here the possibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which not only inculturates liturgies but also ecclesial structures , in dialogue and discernment between the Amazonian churches and the universal Church which is presided over in charity by the Bishop of Rome.
” In conclusion , Codina wonders whether “ a new Amazonian rite ” could not be “ one of these novelties of the Spirit that go beyond our ordinary discussions and horizons ?
” There are indeed parallels between Amoris Laetitia ( AL ) and Querida Amazonia ( QA ) .
In both cases the synodal discussions had been heated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the synods – in the case of AL Communion for the “ remarried ” divorcees , in the case of QA the married priesthood and female diaconate .
In both cases , Pope Francis was faced with strong opposition from within the Universal Church against these novelties .
As Archbishop Bruno Forte , the Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto , Italy later revealed in the case of Amoris Laetitia , the Pope had told him during the family synod that “ if we speak explicitly about Communion for the divorced and remarried , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will make .
So we won ’ t speak plainly , do it in a way that the premises are there , then I will draw out the conclusions.
” Forte was then special secretary of the Synod of Bishops .
That is to say , Pope Francis chose a more indirect , if not stealthy , approach , in order to bypass and avoid too strong of a resistance .
He said in paragraph 305 of Amoris Laetitia , that , despite an “ objective situation of sin , ” it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be living in God ’ s grace , can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity , while receiving the Church ’ s help to this end.
” The included footnote 351 then adds that “ In certain cases , this can include the help of the sacraments , ” followed by references to both sacramental Confession and the Eucharist .
It will be seen whether or not footnote 82 of paragraph 120 in Querida Amazonia will prove to be a similar key footnote .
In light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of worth to consider Cardinal Walter Kasper 's statements , since he himself had been involved in a preparatory study meeting before the Amazon Synod , as we mentioned above .
First of all , when asked during an interview at the end of 2019 whether the Pope will even go beyond what was proposed by the Synod 's Final Document , he answered : “ I think he will do it .
And , in fact , he has promised to publish the Exhortation before the end of this year.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Synod “ very good.
” When asked about the female diaconate , the retired curial cardinal answered : “ It is difficult today to explain that , but I think it is an ancient tradition , which we keep with the Eastern Churches .
But I think that , with time , the doors will open .
In addition , there are already many ministries in the Church for which ordination is not needed.
” He added that these women who call for access to ordination “ have the right to be heard.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ – who had been a key man behind Communion for the “ remarried ” divorcees as invited by Amoris Laetitia – made some important remarks that now seem to make more sense .
At the time , he called the discussion of the married priesthood “ urgent , ” and then added that “ the pope thinks that this discussion is worth it ; he sees it positively.
” However , explained the cardinal then : “ He [ the pope ] wants to leave the decision up to the bishops ’ conferences.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and make a request.
” “ If this request is a reasonable request , I have the impression that he is willing to respond then positively to it , ” concluded Kasper .
“ It is now up to the bishops ’ conferences.
” In 2016 , Leonardo Boff said in an interview the following about Kasper : “ Only recently , Cardinal Walter Kasper , a close confidant of the pope , told me that soon there will be some great surprises.
” When asked by the interviewer what they could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perhaps a diaconate for women , after all .
Or the possibility that married priests may be again engaged in pastoral care .
That is an explicit request from the Brazilian bishops to the pope , especially from his friend , the retired Brazilian Curial Cardinal Claudio Hummes .
I have heard that the pope wants to meet this request – for now and for a certain experimental period in Brazil .
”

March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Liberation theologian Father Víctor Codina, S.J., published on March 6 an essay proposing and presenting the “interpretive key” to Pope Francis' February 12 post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonia, saying that the Pope's mentioning of an Amazonian rite in a footnote has a similar importance as the footnote in Amoris Laetitia which gave an opening toward Communion for “remarried” divorcees. He claims that, with that new Amazonian rite, married priests can be introduced, as well.
Codina's essay was immediately picked up and published by the Amazonian ecclesial network REPAM whose key organizers are also members of the pre-synodal committee, such as Cardinal Claudío Hummes, Bishop Erwin Kräutler, and Mauricio López (its executive secretary). Both Hummes and Kräutler are also members of the Vatican's “special council” that was established after the October 2019 Amazon Synod. Codina was also a participant at the Amazon Synod.
The Spanish retired professor of theology (University of Bolivia) is a liberation theologian who published his new essay on his blog of the website of the Liberation group Amerindia, to which also Leonardo Boff and Paulo Suess belong (with Boff and Codina both having studied under Karl Rahner). Codina was a participant at the secret meeting in Rome that took place ahead of the Amazon Synod and at which also Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, as well as Cardinal Hummes and Cardinal Walter Kasper participated. There are indications that some of Kasper's fundamental ideas about establishing a non-ordained ministry for lay women might very well have found entrance into Querida Amazonia.
Codina explains in his essay that, in his “ecclesial dream, Francis promotes for the Amazon a native and well-formed laity, a plurality of lay ministries, a permanent diaconate for men, base communities, an incarnated and inculturated religious life,” as well as a larger role for women, among others. He then goes on to say that many were “very disappointed” when “the only news that media spread was that the Pope rejected the ordination of married men.” People now feared that “the ecclesiastical springtime that Francis had begun was in danger,” he adds.
Codina then presents us the “interpretative key” that can be found in this new papal document.
As others have done in the recent past, the Jesuit insists that the new document “does not want to substitute the final document of the Synod, but to help a creative reading of the synodal journey.”
Codina concludes that, since the final document “proposes the ordination of married men and works towards the female diaconate (111 and 103 of the final document), this means that these issues remain open and therefore it is false to say that the Pope excludes or forbids them. Francis is silent, he does not close any door.”
Also returning to the theme as stressed by Father Antonio Spadaro, Codina sees here that the Pope, with his writing, wishes to overcome polarities in the Church. At the same time, the theologian explains, the Pope wishes to create something larger than just the presence of the Eucharist in the Amazon region. “Without the Eucharist,” he explains, “there is not Church, but without ecclesial community, the Eucharist becomes a magical or empty rite.”
That means, the Pope wishes to “initiate a Church that is not pyramidal and vertical from the hierarchical center, but rather a Church centered on the People of God,” along with its “broad lay capillary” action, from the bottom up.
In light of establishing a new ecclesial structure in the Amazon region, Codina reminds us the Pope, already in his post-synodal exhortation on marriage and the family, Amoris Laetitia, in paragraph 3, insisted that not all doctrinal, moral and pastoral discussions are to be resolved by the intervention of the Magisterium. That is to say, the Pope wants the local Church to “discuss and discern” the question of “the ecclesial ministries.”
It is here that Father Codina now speaks about “a small, unnoticed pastoral footnote” and then points to the footnote 120 of Querida Amazonia's paragraph 82 where he speaks about inculturation. In that footnote, the Pope mentions that the Amazon Synod had proposed an Amazonian rite (in the Final Document numbers 116-117). After referring to the fact that the Church has 23 different rites which include certain “ecclesial structures” and that in many of the Eastern Churches, “there are married priests,” Codina comes to his key statement:
“This footnote opens up new paths, as was footnote 351 of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia, which opened up the possibility of reconciliation and communion for divorced people who have remarried. Here the possibility of an Amazonian rite is opened up, which not only inculturates liturgies but also ecclesial structures, in dialogue and discernment between the Amazonian churches and the universal Church which is presided over in charity by the Bishop of Rome.” In conclusion, Codina wonders whether “a new Amazonian rite” could not be “one of these novelties of the Spirit that go beyond our ordinary discussions and horizons?”
There are indeed parallels between Amoris Laetitia (AL) and Querida Amazonia (QA). In both cases the synodal discussions had been heated due to the seriousness of the proposals at the synods – in the case of AL Communion for the “remarried” divorcees, in the case of QA the married priesthood and female diaconate. In both cases, Pope Francis was faced with strong opposition from within the Universal Church against these novelties. As Archbishop Bruno Forte, the Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, Italy later revealed in the case of Amoris Laetitia, the Pope had told him during the family synod that “if we speak explicitly about Communion for the divorced and remarried, you do not know what a terrible mess we will make. So we won’t speak plainly, do it in a way that the premises are there, then I will draw out the conclusions.” Forte was then special secretary of the Synod of Bishops.
That is to say, Pope Francis chose a more indirect, if not stealthy, approach, in order to bypass and avoid too strong of a resistance. He said in paragraph 305 of Amoris Laetitia, that, despite an “objective situation of sin,” it is possible that a person “can be living in God’s grace, can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity, while receiving the Church’s help to this end.” The included footnote 351 then adds that “In certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments,” followed by references to both sacramental Confession and the Eucharist.
It will be seen whether or not footnote 82 of paragraph 120 in Querida Amazonia will prove to be a similar key footnote.
In light of this discussion, it might also be of worth to consider Cardinal Walter Kasper's statements, since he himself had been involved in a preparatory study meeting before the Amazon Synod, as we mentioned above. First of all, when asked during an interview at the end of 2019 whether the Pope will even go beyond what was proposed by the Synod's Final Document, he answered: “I think he will do it. And, in fact, he has promised to publish the Exhortation before the end of this year.” He also called the results of the Amazon Synod “very good.” When asked about the female diaconate, the retired curial cardinal answered: “It is difficult today to explain that, but I think it is an ancient tradition, which we keep with the Eastern Churches. But I think that, with time, the doors will open. In addition, there are already many ministries in the Church for which ordination is not needed.” He added that these women who call for access to ordination “have the right to be heard.”
In 2017, Cardinal Walter Kasper – who had been a key man behind Communion for the “remarried” divorcees as invited by Amoris Laetitia – made some important remarks that now seem to make more sense. At the time, he called the discussion of the married priesthood “urgent,” and then added that “the pope thinks that this discussion is worth it; he sees it positively.” However, explained the cardinal then: “He [the pope] wants to leave the decision up to the bishops’ conferences.” They can “come to him and make a request.” “If this request is a reasonable request, I have the impression that he is willing to respond then positively to it,” concluded Kasper. “It is now up to the bishops’ conferences.”
In 2016, Leonardo Boff said in an interview the following about Kasper: “Only recently, Cardinal Walter Kasper, a close confidant of the pope, told me that soon there will be some great surprises.” When asked by the interviewer what they could be, the liberation theologian answered: “Perhaps a diaconate for women, after all. Or the possibility that married priests may be again engaged in pastoral care. That is an explicit request from the Brazilian bishops to the pope, especially from his friend, the retired Brazilian Curial Cardinal Claudio Hummes. I have heard that the pope wants to meet this request – for now and for a certain experimental period in Brazil.”
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Bishops cancel all public Masses in Italy until April 3, citing coronavirus

ROME , Italy , March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – All public Masses in Italy are suspended until April 3 because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The Italian Bishops ’ Conference has announced that it would accept a decree issued by the Italian government on March 8 , which called for the suspension of “ civil and religious ceremonies , including funeral ceremonies.
” The Italian bishops admitted that it is “ a highly restrictive step ” to cancel all public Masses , “ whose acceptance will be met with suffering and difficulties among pastors , priests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the decree comes solely from a desire to do one ’ s part , even at this juncture , to contribute to the protection of public health , ” the bishops added .
Cardinal Angelo De Donatis , who as Vicar General of His Holiness is responsible for the diocese of Rome , issued a statement on Sunday indicating that churches in the Eternal City will remain open for personal prayer .
At the same time , public Masses are suspended also in Rome .
According to the leading Italian news agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rome , Fr .
Walter Insero , briefly explained the reason for ceasing public Masses in his diocese .
“ The new government decree arranges for it .
We are taking steps to inform the parish priests , ” he said .
Liturgical experts are divided on the sweeping measures .
“ It is absolutely stunning and shows the extent to which naturalism and the loss of any supernatural perspective has triumphed , ” author Dr. Peter Kwasniewski told LifeSiteNews .
“ They are acting as if physical health is the supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ souls should take second place , ” he continued .
“ Press the pause button on sanctifying grace , it can wait till the political and medical authorities give it permission to exist.
” However , the Rome-based editor of the New Liturgical Movement website , Gregory Di Pippo , pointed out that the Italian bishops are obeying the civil authorities .
“ Technically , it is not the bishops who have done this , but the Italian government , ” he told LifeSiteNews .
“ The bishops have simply caved in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to temper it for the good of the faithful.
” Di Pippo noted that all public assemblies have been suspended in Italy and reported that even professional soccer games are being played in empty stadiums .
“ All the theaters , cinemas , and museums are closed , ” he confirmed .
Such precautions are also in keeping with Italian attitudes towards health , he said , but also respect the vulnerability of the country ’ s aging population .
“ It is a country with an aging population , and the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the elderly , ” Di Pippo stressed .
At the same time , Di Pippo believes that the Italian bishops should address the spiritual needs of their people .
“ Obviously processions , the classic response , would be against these particular [ government ] rules , but you can still expose the Sacrament , and people can still come and pray in church , as long as they do n't gather up in clumps , ” he said .
“ Expose relics , have the priests recite particular prayers for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick , for the dying , for the dead .
Make a spiritual Communion , and offer it for those intentions.
” Dr. Joseph Shaw of the U.K. ’ s Latin Mass Society said that churches have been closed before because of contagion .
“ There are precedents for shutting churches during times of pestilence , though it should be remembered that this does not in itself mean that priests can not visit the sick and dying , ” he told LifeSiteNews .
“ It would be interesting to know if the bishops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a crowd outside might still represent a danger to public health , ” he continued .
“ It has been pointed out that bars and restaurants have not yet been closed , but it is also true that Italian churches , like most Catholic churches in the developed world , overwhelmingly attract the old , who are far more vulnerable than the young.
” Shaw said that it does seem a severe measure , but also that we are obliged to exercise prudence in relation to health , and especially the good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so for supposedly supernatural motives may be a case of putting God to the test , ” he suggested .
But journalist Riccardo Cascioli wrote in Italy ’ s La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana that the Italian bishops have delivered a “ devastating message : Mass has nothing to say to that which matters most in life .
The important thing is health , not Salvation.
” Cascioli decried the Italian bishops ’ eagerness to do exactly what the state requested without coming up with safe alternatives , and compared them with the schismatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ It is true that many viruses come from China , and Covid-19 is certainly not the most dangerous.
” On Sunday , Pope Francis did not pray the traditional Angelus prayer at one of the windows of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter ’ s Square , his usual practice , but instead prayed it from inside the library .
The short ceremony was live-streamed and could be seen on screens in St. Peter ’ s Square .
The Vatican had announced on Saturday that these measures were “ necessary in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 due to the crowds during the security checks in order to access the square , as was also requested by the Italian authorities.
” At the beginning of the Angelus , Pope Francis referred to himself as being “ caged ” in the library of the Apostolic Palace , adding , “ but I see you , I am close to you.
” Hundreds of faithful had gathered in St. Peter ’ s Square , even though the Angelus was only broadcast to a large screen in the square , without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Pope mentioned that “ this way of praying the Angelus ” was done as a preventative measure , “ in order to avoid small crowds of people , which can favor the transmission of the virus.
” The general audience on Wednesday , March 11 , will be presented in a similar manner , with the Pope speaking from the library , streaming live on the internet .
Even though the Vatican mentioned only the Angelus and Wednesday audience of this week , it is to be expected that no public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least until April 3 .
Daily Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta every morning will not have any faithful participating , as has been the custom since this pontificate beggan .
Instead , his 7:00 a.m. Mass will be streamed live through the official Vatican media channels .
According to Vatican News , Pope Francis never wanted his entire morning Mass to be available as a video .
“ A few weeks after Pope Francis ’ election , Father Federico Lombardi , in his role as Director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
‘ It is necessary to keep in mind the character the Holy Father himself attributed to the morning celebration of the Mass at Santa Marta , ’ he said.
” Lombardi continued , “ It is a Mass with a group of the faithful present in which the Pope wants to preserve a familiar character .
Thus , notwithstanding the requests received , he has explicitly desired that they not be transmitted live in video or audio.
” On Monday morning , Pope Francis said his Masses at Casa Santa Marta this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell ill due to the coronavirus , as well as for doctors , nurses , and volunteers , including their families .
The outbreak of the coronavirus in Italy has also led to the closure of the Vatican Museums , the Excavations Office , and other institutions usually open to the public .
Italian historian Roberto de Mattei described how Pope St. Gregory the Great had a different response to the deadly plague than today ’ s hierarchy has to the coronavirus .
After his election in the year 590 , Gregory led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rome .
“ While the multitude traversed the city , in sepulchral silence , the pestilence reached such a point of fury , that in the brief space of an hour , eighty people fell dead to the ground .
However , Gregory didn ’ t cease for a second in exhorting the people to continue praying and insisted that the picture of the Virgin painted by St. Luke and kept in Santa Maria Maggiore , be brought to the front of the procession , ” de Mattei recounted .
The plague of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punishment .
After the procession , Gregory saw how angels settled themselves in a circle around Our Lady ’ s picture , and , raising his eyes , he “ saw at the top of the castle an angel , who , after drying his sword dripping with blood , put it back in its sheath , as a sign that the punishment was over.
” At the end of February , dioceses in Northern Italy cited coronavirus as they suspended the Sacraments , including Confession , despite bars and stores remaining open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launching a Global Compact on Education .
Scheduled for May , it has now been moved to October .
Italian news agency ANSA reported on Sunday that “ in the last 24 hours , there have been 133 deaths.
” The total number of deaths related to the coronavirus rose to 366 .
The number of sick people increased “ from 5,061 to 6,387.
” Only 622 people have been declared “ healed , ” so far .
On Saturday , the World Health Organization announced that the global number of confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also known , has surpassed 100,000 .
According to Worldometer , there have been almost 4,000 deaths , but roughly 63,000 confirmed recoveries at the time of this writing .
Of 45,000 currently infected patients , around 6,000 are in a serious or critical condition .
China is reporting the highest number of total cases , at around 81,000 patients .
Italy follows in third place .
The United States reported less than 600 cases , 22 of which ended in death .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as many as 45 million Americans were infected with the flu and as many as 52,000 died from it .
Over 61,000 Americans died from the flu during the 2017 to 2018 season , the CDC says .
Between 291,000 and 646,000 people die from the flu around the world every year .

The suspension of public events was done out of a 'desire to do one’s part,' contributing 'to the protection of public health,' the Italian bishops said.
PRAYER PLEDGE: VP Pence is right. We need prayer to fight coronavirus, not political antics Sign the petition here.
ROME, Italy, March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – All public Masses in Italy are suspended until April 3 because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Italian Bishops’ Conference has announced that it would accept a decree issued by the Italian government on March 8, which called for the suspension of “civil and religious ceremonies, including funeral ceremonies.”
The Italian bishops admitted that it is “a highly restrictive step” to cancel all public Masses, “whose acceptance will be met with suffering and difficulties among pastors, priests, and the faithful.”
“The acceptance of the decree comes solely from a desire to do one’s part, even at this juncture, to contribute to the protection of public health,” the bishops added.
Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, who as Vicar General of His Holiness is responsible for the diocese of Rome, issued a statement on Sunday indicating that churches in the Eternal City will remain open for personal prayer. At the same time, public Masses are suspended also in Rome.
According to the leading Italian news agency ANSA, a spokesman for the diocese of Rome, Fr. Walter Insero, briefly explained the reason for ceasing public Masses in his diocese. “The new government decree arranges for it. We are taking steps to inform the parish priests,” he said.
Liturgical experts are divided on the sweeping measures.
“It is absolutely stunning and shows the extent to which naturalism and the loss of any supernatural perspective has triumphed,” author Dr. Peter Kwasniewski told LifeSiteNews.
“They are acting as if physical health is the supreme good and the good of men's souls should take second place,” he continued.
“Press the pause button on sanctifying grace, it can wait till the political and medical authorities give it permission to exist.”
However, the Rome-based editor of the New Liturgical Movement website, Gregory Di Pippo, pointed out that the Italian bishops are obeying the civil authorities.
“Technically, it is not the bishops who have done this, but the Italian government,” he told LifeSiteNews.
“The bishops have simply caved in to their request without in any way trying to temper it for the good of the faithful.”
Di Pippo noted that all public assemblies have been suspended in Italy and reported that even professional soccer games are being played in empty stadiums.
“All the theaters, cinemas, and museums are closed,” he confirmed.
Such precautions are also in keeping with Italian attitudes towards health, he said, but also respect the vulnerability of the country’s aging population.
“It is a country with an aging population, and the virus is very contagious, and particularly dangerous for the elderly,” Di Pippo stressed.
At the same time, Di Pippo believes that the Italian bishops should address the spiritual needs of their people.
“Obviously processions, the classic response, would be against these particular [government] rules, but you can still expose the Sacrament, and people can still come and pray in church, as long as they don't gather up in clumps,” he said.
“Expose relics, have the priests recite particular prayers for the end of the virus, for the sick, for the dying, for the dead. Make a spiritual Communion, and offer it for those intentions.”
Dr. Joseph Shaw of the U.K.’s Latin Mass Society said that churches have been closed before because of contagion.
“There are precedents for shutting churches during times of pestilence, though it should be remembered that this does not in itself mean that priests cannot visit the sick and dying,” he told LifeSiteNews.
“It would be interesting to know if the bishops in Italy have considered open-air Masses, but a crowd outside might still represent a danger to public health,” he continued.
“It has been pointed out that bars and restaurants have not yet been closed, but it is also true that Italian churches, like most Catholic churches in the developed world, overwhelmingly attract the old, who are far more vulnerable than the young.”
Shaw said that it does seem a severe measure, but also that we are obliged to exercise prudence in relation to health, and especially the good of others.
“Not to do so for supposedly supernatural motives may be a case of putting God to the test,” he suggested.
But journalist Riccardo Cascioli wrote in Italy’s La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana that the Italian bishops have delivered a “devastating message: Mass has nothing to say to that which matters most in life. The important thing is health, not Salvation.”
Cascioli decried the Italian bishops’ eagerness to do exactly what the state requested without coming up with safe alternatives, and compared them with the schismatic Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. He concluded, “It is true that many viruses come from China, and Covid-19 is certainly not the most dangerous.”
On Sunday, Pope Francis did not pray the traditional Angelus prayer at one of the windows of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square, his usual practice, but instead prayed it from inside the library. The short ceremony was live-streamed and could be seen on screens in St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican had announced on Saturday that these measures were “necessary in order to avoid the risk of diffusion of COVID-19 due to the crowds during the security checks in order to access the square, as was also requested by the Italian authorities.”
At the beginning of the Angelus, Pope Francis referred to himself as being “caged” in the library of the Apostolic Palace, adding, “but I see you, I am close to you.” Hundreds of faithful had gathered in St. Peter’s Square, even though the Angelus was only broadcast to a large screen in the square, without the Holy Father’s physical presence.
The Pope mentioned that “this way of praying the Angelus” was done as a preventative measure, “in order to avoid small crowds of people, which can favor the transmission of the virus.”
The general audience on Wednesday, March 11, will be presented in a similar manner, with the Pope speaking from the library, streaming live on the internet. Even though the Vatican mentioned only the Angelus and Wednesday audience of this week, it is to be expected that no public events with the Pope will take place at least until April 3.
Daily Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta every morning will not have any faithful participating, as has been the custom since this pontificate beggan. Instead, his 7:00 a.m. Mass will be streamed live through the official Vatican media channels.
According to Vatican News, Pope Francis never wanted his entire morning Mass to be available as a video. “A few weeks after Pope Francis’ election, Father Federico Lombardi, in his role as Director of the Holy See Press Office, explained why. ‘It is necessary to keep in mind the character the Holy Father himself attributed to the morning celebration of the Mass at Santa Marta,’ he said.”
Lombardi continued, “It is a Mass with a group of the faithful present in which the Pope wants to preserve a familiar character. Thus, notwithstanding the requests received, he has explicitly desired that they not be transmitted live in video or audio.”
On Monday morning, Pope Francis said his Masses at Casa Santa Marta this week will be celebrated for those who fell ill due to the coronavirus, as well as for doctors, nurses, and volunteers, including their families.
The outbreak of the coronavirus in Italy has also led to the closure of the Vatican Museums, the Excavations Office, and other institutions usually open to the public.
Italian historian Roberto de Mattei described how Pope St. Gregory the Great had a different response to the deadly plague than today’s hierarchy has to the coronavirus. After his election in the year 590, Gregory led a penitential procession of the faithful throughout Rome.
“While the multitude traversed the city, in sepulchral silence, the pestilence reached such a point of fury, that in the brief space of an hour, eighty people fell dead to the ground. However, Gregory didn’t cease for a second in exhorting the people to continue praying and insisted that the picture of the Virgin painted by St. Luke and kept in Santa Maria Maggiore, be brought to the front of the procession,” de Mattei recounted.
The plague of the 6th century was seen as a punishment. After the procession, Gregory saw how angels settled themselves in a circle around Our Lady’s picture, and, raising his eyes, he “saw at the top of the castle an angel, who, after drying his sword dripping with blood, put it back in its sheath, as a sign that the punishment was over.”
At the end of February, dioceses in Northern Italy cited coronavirus as they suspended the Sacraments, including Confession, despite bars and stores remaining open.
The Pope even postponed an event launching a Global Compact on Education. Scheduled for May, it has now been moved to October.
Italian news agency ANSA reported on Sunday that “in the last 24 hours, there have been 133 deaths.” The total number of deaths related to the coronavirus rose to 366. The number of sick people increased “from 5,061 to 6,387.” Only 622 people have been declared “healed,” so far.
On Saturday, the World Health Organization announced that the global number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, as the virus is also known, has surpassed 100,000.
According to Worldometer, there have been almost 4,000 deaths, but roughly 63,000 confirmed recoveries at the time of this writing. Of 45,000 currently infected patients, around 6,000 are in a serious or critical condition.
China is reporting the highest number of total cases, at around 81,000 patients. Italy follows in third place. The United States reported less than 600 cases, 22 of which ended in death.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), meanwhile, estimate that since October 2019, as many as 45 million Americans were infected with the flu and as many as 52,000 died from it. Over 61,000 Americans died from the flu during the 2017 to 2018 season, the CDC says.
Between 291,000 and 646,000 people die from the flu around the world every year.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Cardinal Burke: Pope Francis’ Amazon exhortation ‘could…lead the faithful into error’

March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Cardinal Raymond Burke , one of the two remaining dubia cardinals , has now raised his voice against Pope Francis ' Feb. 12 post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonia .
He says that “ there are passages in the document which gravely contradict theological truths.
” He refutes the document 's idea of a strongly laicized Church by saying that “ if the Amazon Church is going to be a lay Church , then it won ’ t be Catholic.
” He reminds us that in the Church as instituted by Jesus Christ Himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called to be apostles and successors to the apostles is essential.
” Speaking with the National Catholic Register 's Edward Pentin , Burke , while being grateful for the fact that the Pope did not explicitly endorse the married priesthood and the female diaconate , sees that there are hidden agendas in this new papal document .
He responds to the question as to whether there are “ hidden parts in the document ” with the words : “ I don ’ t even find them so hidden , in the sense that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are a number of interpreters who tell us exactly what is intended.
” Cardinal Burke refers here to Archbishop Victor Fernández , the archbishop of La Plata , as the “ most authoritative interpreter , ” who had written “ a front-page article on the apostolic exhortation ” in L'Osservatore Romano .
In it , Burke continues , he “ stated very clearly that none of these issues like clerical celibacy and deaconesses are resolved , that the Pope simply saw that he had to wait a little bit to accomplish his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is clear to him that the Pope is determined to do this .
It ’ s quite an important article.
” Cardinal Burke pointed out that Cardinal Czerny has also said “ openly , too , that all these questions are still on the table , and it ’ s just a question of time.
” As LifeSite had reported , Fernández had written on February 17 that the question of the married priesthood and “ other proposals ” of the synod are not “ off the table , ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with respect to a new “ Amazonian rite ” to be developed .
A ghostwriter of Amoris Laetitia , the prelate added that a key of the document is that Pope Francis wishes that the laity “ take the reins of the Church in Amazonia , ” with laymen leading the communities , thus cutting off the priesthood from the exercise of power .
It is here that the American cardinal is most concerned , namely the laicization of the Church in the Amazon region .
When Pentin asks him whether there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and a “ way of placing the laity on a level with ordained ministry , ” Cardinal Burke answers in the affirmative , saying that in this text , “ there 's this very strong dichotomy between the laity and the ordained in the pastoral activity of the Church.
” “ You can ’ t talk about a lay Church — that the Amazon Church should be a lay Church .
Well , if the Amazon Church is going to be a lay Church , then it won ’ t be Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes on to explain how the priestly governing office can not be separated from its spiritual office by adding that “ the very confection of the sacraments as the supreme act of pastoral charity is essentially related also to the teaching office of the priest and his governing office.
” Cardinal Burke calls the concept of the “ priesthood of all believers ” a “ kind of a Protestant idea.
” “ At least among certain Protestant denominations , ” he continues , “ the idea prevails that the priesthood is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therefore that it does not ontologically change the one who receives the sacrament , so that he acts in the person of Christ , the head and shepherd of the flock .
This novelty in the document is “ of the gravest of concern to us .
This has to be clarified , ” Burke says .
Edward Pentin also raises the question of a liturgical role for women without ordination , which could , in the long run , prepare the way for female priests later on .
The curial prelate responds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s happening here.
” He goes on to explain : “ Even as I read the text , there ’ s almost the sense that it ’ s not important whether they ’ re ordained deacons or priests ; effectively they carry out the priestly ministry , except for the fact that they don ’ t confect the sacraments .
Eventually , if you have a Church in which the lay faithful are in effect carrying out the priestly ministry with the exception that they have these priests who come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the next step is to say , well , these women are carrying out the whole priestly ministry — why are they not also [ ordained ] ?
” Cardinal Burke reminds us that this is how some participants such as Bishop Erwin Kräutler actually had argued at the October 2019 Amazon Synod , namely that there would be “ these elders who are effectively leading the community .
Even in some cases , when the priests didn ’ t come for a long while , these people were apparently simulating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and am afraid — that ’ s exactly where the thinking is heading.
” The dubia cardinal , therefore , thinks that “ it would be very questionable to give an overwhelmingly positive presentation of the document , because it could , in fact , lead the faithful into error.
” He referred here especially to Cardinal Gerhard Müller 's praise of the papal document , as well as Bishop Marian Eleganti 's positive statement .
Moreover , Cardinal Burke also makes it clear that the Pope merely “ presents ” the Synod @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you read this document , you have to have with you the final document of the synod .
Yet clearly the final document is quite problematic.
” The final document thus is not off the table .
As to the question of the magisterial character of this February 12 papal document , Cardinal Burke insists that nothing can be magisterial that contradicts the deposit of the faith , saying that if the Pope “ has a teaching of the deposit of faith that contradicts the deposit of faith , then that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this specific case , it is not even yet clear what the status of the new document really is : “ The Pope doesn ’ t say here that Querida Amazonia has magisterial weight , ” Burke explains , “ but the Vatican press spokesman , Matteo Bruni , announced that this is a magisterial document .
I would find that very difficult to believe , in terms of some of the things said here.
” Cardinal Burke then comes back to the fact that married priests and female deacons have been left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He himself thinks that the Holy Spirit might have “ prevented ” a statement weakening priestly celibacy or the ban on female ordination , but then he adds that “ I don ’ t think it bodes well for future synods and so forth , because the very people who were at the heart of this , Archbishop Fernandez ; Cardinal [ Oswald ] Gracias , who is one of the six cardinals who counsels the Holy Father ; Cardinal [ Michael ] Czerny and others , are all saying : 'No , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So you ’ re almost put in a position in which the Holy Spirit seems to be doing one thing and those closest to the Pope are saying , 'Oh no , that ’ s just a temporary measure . '
” Cardinal Oswald Gracias , in a recent intervention , explained that , due to the opposition on the part of the conservatives , the Pope had to go slower , in order “ to carry everybody with him.
” He also stated that Pope Francis is “ very clever ” by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Amazon Synod .
“ The final document remains a valid reference point , ” Gracias said , and therefore , the question regarding the question of married priests , “ it 's open.
” Additionally , news came on March 4 that the Amazon bishops are planning to meet this week in order to present to the Pope their requests for a dispensation so that they can have married priests in their region .
And the new head of the German bishops just announced over the weekend that the German bishops could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Path discussions , obtain a special permission from Rome for female deacons .
Cardinal Burke in this recent interview has thus added his name to the small list of critics of Querida Amazonia .
Earlier , Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes had criticized that the document presents a sort of diluted priesthood which is bereft of its governing duties .
He also discovered that the new papal document quotes canon law in a distorted way , thus leaving out the supreme governing rule of the priest in the parish .
The German cardinal insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person of Christ ” and that therefore , the three spheres of the ecclesial office and duties – the munera docendi ( teaching ) , sanctificendi ( sanctifying ) , regendi ( governing ) – have a “ spiritual interdependency.
” They are “ theologically inseparable ” and they lose their “ efficacy ” when separated .
Furthermore , Monsignor Nicola Bux , a Vatican theologian , has told LifeSite that he sees the danger that the Church “ slips into pantheism ” with this new papal document .
He sees that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps far greater than the theme of celibacy itself.
” Finally , already two days after the publication of Querida Amazonia , Father Frank Unterhalt – a German diocesan priest and the speaker of the priestly group Communio veritatis – had called this new document in an article written for LifeSite “ a Trojan horse.
” He pointed out that , since the Pope did not wish to replace the Synod 's final document , “ it logically means that he wants to leave it as it is .
Thus , the married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still on the table .
He explains : “ Connoisseurs of the scene will pay attention to the latest here .
This strategy seems familiar to the one of Amoris Laetitia .
The priestly group Communio Veritatis pointed this out ( here is an English report on it ) at the time with its declaration “ To follow the Magisterium – to Overcome the Empty Teaching.
” At that time , it was a footnote ; today , it is a Trojan horse made of Amazon wood .
The procedure is similar .
@

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March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the two remaining dubia cardinals, has now raised his voice against Pope Francis' Feb. 12 post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonia. He says that “there are passages in the document which gravely contradict theological truths.” He refutes the document's idea of a strongly laicized Church by saying that “if the Amazon Church is going to be a lay Church, then it won’t be Catholic.” He reminds us that in the Church as instituted by Jesus Christ Himself “the pastoral charity exercised by those called to be apostles and successors to the apostles is essential.”
Speaking with the National Catholic Register's Edward Pentin, Burke, while being grateful for the fact that the Pope did not explicitly endorse the married priesthood and the female diaconate, sees that there are hidden agendas in this new papal document. He responds to the question as to whether there are “hidden parts in the document” with the words: “I don’t even find them so hidden, in the sense that the language is clear enough, and there are a number of interpreters who tell us exactly what is intended.”
Cardinal Burke refers here to Archbishop Victor Fernández, the archbishop of La Plata, as the
“most authoritative interpreter,” who had written “a front-page article on the apostolic exhortation” in L'Osservatore Romano. In it, Burke continues, he “stated very clearly that none of these issues like clerical celibacy and deaconesses are resolved, that the Pope simply saw that he had to wait a little bit to accomplish his agenda because there are people causing difficulty. It is clear to him that the Pope is determined to do this. It’s quite an important article.” Cardinal Burke pointed out that Cardinal Czerny has also said “openly, too, that all these questions are still on the table, and it’s just a question of time.”
As LifeSite had reported, Fernández had written on February 17 that the question of the married priesthood and “other proposals” of the synod are not “off the table,” but, instead, will come up again with respect to a new “Amazonian rite” to be developed. A ghostwriter of Amoris Laetitia, the prelate added that a key of the document is that Pope Francis wishes that the laity “take the reins of the Church in Amazonia,” with laymen leading the communities, thus cutting off the priesthood from the exercise of power.
It is here that the American cardinal is most concerned, namely the laicization of the Church in the Amazon region. When Pentin asks him whether there is an “undue emphasis on lay involvement” and a “way of placing the laity on a level with ordained ministry,” Cardinal Burke answers in the affirmative, saying that in this text, “there's this very strong dichotomy between the laity and the ordained in the pastoral activity of the Church.”
“You can’t talk about a lay Church — that the Amazon Church should be a lay Church. Well, if the Amazon Church is going to be a lay Church, then it won’t be Catholic,” he explains.
He then goes on to explain how the priestly governing office cannot be separated from its spiritual office by adding that “the very confection of the sacraments as the supreme act of pastoral charity is essentially related also to the teaching office of the priest and his governing office.”
Cardinal Burke calls the concept of the “priesthood of all believers” a “kind of a Protestant idea.” “At least among certain Protestant denominations,” he continues, “the idea prevails that the priesthood is not a sacrament, first of all, and therefore that it does not ontologically change the one who receives the sacrament, so that he acts in the person of Christ, the head and shepherd of the flock. This novelty in the document is “of the gravest of concern to us. This has to be clarified,” Burke says.
Edward Pentin also raises the question of a liturgical role for women without ordination, which could, in the long run, prepare the way for female priests later on. The curial prelate responds: “I think that’s what’s happening here.”
He goes on to explain: “Even as I read the text, there’s almost the sense that it’s not important whether they’re ordained deacons or priests; effectively they carry out the priestly ministry, except for the fact that they don’t confect the sacraments. Eventually, if you have a Church in which the lay faithful are in effect carrying out the priestly ministry with the exception that they have these priests who come to say Holy Mass and to hear confessions, the next step is to say, well, these women are carrying out the whole priestly ministry — why are they not also [ordained]?”
Cardinal Burke reminds us that this is how some participants such as Bishop Erwin Kräutler actually had argued at the October 2019 Amazon Synod, namely that there would be “these elders who are effectively leading the community. Even in some cases, when the priests didn’t come for a long while, these people were apparently simulating the Holy Mass. So I think — and am afraid — that’s exactly where the thinking is heading.”
The dubia cardinal, therefore, thinks that “it would be very questionable to give an overwhelmingly positive presentation of the document, because it could, in fact, lead the faithful into error.” He referred here especially to Cardinal Gerhard Müller's praise of the papal document, as well as Bishop Marian Eleganti's positive statement.
Moreover, Cardinal Burke also makes it clear that the Pope merely “presents” the Synod's final document, adding that “as you read this document, you have to have with you the final document of the synod. Yet clearly the final document is quite problematic.” The final document thus is not off the table.
As to the question of the magisterial character of this February 12 papal document, Cardinal Burke insists that nothing can be magisterial that contradicts the deposit of the faith, saying that if the Pope “has a teaching of the deposit of faith that contradicts the deposit of faith, then that’s not acceptable.” However, in this specific case, it is not even yet clear what the status of the new document really is: “The Pope doesn’t say here that Querida Amazonia has magisterial weight,” Burke explains, “but the Vatican press spokesman, Matteo Bruni, announced that this is a magisterial document. I would find that very difficult to believe, in terms of some of the things said here.”
Cardinal Burke then comes back to the fact that married priests and female deacons have been left out of this new papal document. He himself thinks that the Holy Spirit might have “prevented” a statement weakening priestly celibacy or the ban on female ordination, but then he adds that “I don’t think it bodes well for future synods and so forth, because the very people who were at the heart of this, Archbishop Fernandez; Cardinal [Oswald] Gracias, who is one of the six cardinals who counsels the Holy Father; Cardinal [Michael] Czerny and others, are all saying: 'No, this agenda is going forward.' So you’re almost put in a position in which the Holy Spirit seems to be doing one thing and those closest to the Pope are saying, 'Oh no, that’s just a temporary measure.'”
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, in a recent intervention, explained that, due to the opposition on the part of the conservatives, the Pope had to go slower, in order “to carry everybody with him.” He also stated that Pope Francis is “very clever” by “endorsing the final document” of the Amazon Synod. “The final document remains a valid reference point,” Gracias said, and therefore, the question regarding the question of married priests, “it's open.”
Additionally, news came on March 4 that the Amazon bishops are planning to meet this week in order to present to the Pope their requests for a dispensation so that they can have married priests in their region. And the new head of the German bishops just announced over the weekend that the German bishops could, at the end of their Synodal Path discussions, obtain a special permission from Rome for female deacons.
Cardinal Burke in this recent interview has thus added his name to the small list of critics of Querida Amazonia. Earlier, Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes had criticized that the document presents a sort of diluted priesthood which is bereft of its governing duties. He also discovered that the new papal document quotes canon law in a distorted way, thus leaving out the supreme governing rule of the priest in the parish. The German cardinal insisted that a priest acts “in the person of Christ” and that therefore, the three spheres of the ecclesial office and duties – the munera docendi (teaching), sanctificendi (sanctifying), regendi (governing) – have a “spiritual interdependency.” They are “theologically inseparable” and they lose their “efficacy” when separated.
Furthermore, Monsignor Nicola Bux, a Vatican theologian, has told LifeSite that he sees the danger that the Church “slips into pantheism” with this new papal document. He sees that the document has “problematic openings that are perhaps far greater than the theme of celibacy itself.”
Finally, already two days after the publication of Querida Amazonia, Father Frank Unterhalt – a German diocesan priest and the speaker of the priestly group Communio veritatis – had called this new document in an article written for LifeSite “a Trojan horse.” He pointed out that, since the Pope did not wish to replace the Synod's final document, “it logically means that he wants to leave it as it is. Thus, the married priesthood and the female diaconate issue is still on the table. He explains:
“Connoisseurs of the scene will pay attention to the latest here. This strategy seems familiar to the one of Amoris Laetitia. The priestly group Communio Veritatis pointed this out (here is an English report on it) at the time with its declaration “To follow the Magisterium – to Overcome the Empty Teaching.” At that time, it was a footnote; today, it is a Trojan horse made of Amazon wood. The procedure is similar.”
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--WATCH: Woman yells ‘Hail Satan’ at pro-life students peacefully praying

BELLINGHAM , Washington , March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Abortion supporters threw a glass vial of liquid at pro-life students who were praying outside of an abortion facility on Saturday , yelled “ Hail Satan , ” and masturbated in a car towards them .
“ Satan is the one true lord !
” one abortion supporter says in a video released by Students for Life of America ( SFLA ) .
Reacting to the news , SFLA president Kristan Hawkins said that the violence and ugliness on behalf of pro-abortion advocates can not be tolerated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped , ” said Hawkins .
“ Every day it seems like we hear of a new account of vandalism , threat of violence , or acts of intimidation towards peaceful pro-lifers.
” The student group targeted on Saturday were Whatcom Community College Students for Life , who were participating in 40 Days for Life .
According to Autumn Lindsey , a student spokesperson for Students for Life and a leader in Whatcom Community College Students for Life , the attacks included : • People driving by the group , yelling obscenities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masturbating in a car towards the group , many of whom were students , as his friend drove near the peaceful protestors ; • A woman flashing the group while yelling , “ My body , my choice ” ; • A group of people yelling threateningly in one young student 's face , calling him a “ c**ksucker ” ; and • A man on a bike throwing a glass vial at four students .
It shattered and police were called to make sure it wasn ’ t dangerous or harmful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fluid , washing it away .
“ This kind of intimidation causes some [ of ] our volunteers to feel uneasy to sign up to pray for mothers and preborn children during a 40 Days for Life event .
We are only 11 days in , and we have already been bullied and threatened to the point where our volunteers are nervous to go alone , ” commented Lindsey .
“ But we will not back down because this just demonstrates how evil the abortion industry is .
We will stand united @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us even though the violence of abortion is celebrated by increasingly violent people.
” READ : Chuck Schumer tells Supreme Court they ’ ll ‘ pay the price ’ if they rule against abortion This is not the first incident of violence at a Students for Life/40 Days for Life event , either .
Recent instances of pro-abortion threats and violence include a bomb threat in Minnesota , a September death threat against Hawkins , and arson at Western Washington University .
“ What happened Saturday shows us the worst of the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawkins : “ obscenity , Satan worship , and lewdness towards students.
” “ Whatcom Students for Life bravely stood up against the threats of intimidation and the obscenities hurled at them by violent pro-choicers , ” she said .
“ Such violence is always tragic , but more and more commonplace , especially in a time in which the Senate Minority Leader threatened two Supreme Court Justices for possibly being pro-life.
” SFLA keeps tracks vandalism against pro-life students on an interactive map here .

One man threw a glass vial filled with mysterious liquid at the students as they prayed outside an abortion facility. The fire department had to test and clean up the fluid.
BELLINGHAM, Washington, March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Abortion supporters threw a glass vial of liquid at pro-life students who were praying outside of an abortion facility on Saturday, yelled “Hail Satan,” and masturbated in a car towards them.
“Satan is the one true lord!” one abortion supporter says in a video released by Students for Life of America (SFLA).
Reacting to the news, SFLA president Kristan Hawkins said that the violence and ugliness on behalf of pro-abortion advocates cannot be tolerated.
“The threats and vitriol must be stopped,” said Hawkins. “Every day it seems like we hear of a new account of vandalism, threat of violence, or acts of intimidation towards peaceful pro-lifers.”
The student group targeted on Saturday were Whatcom Community College Students for Life, who were participating in 40 Days for Life.
According to Autumn Lindsey, a student spokesperson for Students for Life and a leader in Whatcom Community College Students for Life, the attacks included:
People driving by the group, yelling obscenities and displaying crude gestures;
A man masturbating in a car towards the group, many of whom were students, as his friend drove near the peaceful protestors;
A woman, caught on video, yelling “Hail Satan”;
A woman flashing the group while yelling, “My body, my choice”;
A group of people yelling threateningly in one young student's face, calling him a “c**ksucker”; and
A man on a bike throwing a glass vial at four students. It shattered and police were called to make sure it wasn’t dangerous or harmful. The fire department tested and cleaned up the fluid, washing it away.
“This kind of intimidation causes some [of] our volunteers to feel uneasy to sign up to pray for mothers and preborn children during a 40 Days for Life event. We are only 11 days in, and we have already been bullied and threatened to the point where our volunteers are nervous to go alone,” commented Lindsey. “But we will not back down because this just demonstrates how evil the abortion industry is. We will stand united together and not let the bullies stop us even though the violence of abortion is celebrated by increasingly violent people.”
READ: Chuck Schumer tells Supreme Court they’ll ‘pay the price’ if they rule against abortion
This is not the first incident of violence at a Students for Life/40 Days for Life event, either. Recent instances of pro-abortion threats and violence include a bomb threat in Minnesota, a September death threat against Hawkins, and arson at Western Washington University.
“What happened Saturday shows us the worst of the worst of” the pro-abortion movement, observed Hawkins: “obscenity, Satan worship, and lewdness towards students.”
“Whatcom Students for Life bravely stood up against the threats of intimidation and the obscenities hurled at them by violent pro-choicers,” she said. “Such violence is always tragic, but more and more commonplace, especially in a time in which the Senate Minority Leader threatened two Supreme Court Justices for possibly being pro-life.”
SFLA keeps tracks vandalism against pro-life students on an interactive map here.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Minnesota bishops issue Catholic school guidelines to forbid transgender bathrooms, pronouns

ST. PAUL , Minnesota , March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The bishops of Minnesota have released new human sexuality and sexual identity “ guiding principles , ” which ignore prevailing secular gender theory and insist that schoolchildren be related to according to their true biological sex .
The document is titled “ Guiding Principles for Catholic Schools and Religious Education Concerning Human Sexuality and Sexual Identity ” and says sexual identity as it relates to a child ’ s biological sex is a “ gift from ” God that can not change .
It goes onto say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each student in a way that is respectful of and consistent with each student ’ s God-given sexual identity and biological sex ” and gives examples of how the “ guiding principles ” should be applied to Minnesota Catholic schools .
The first point of the “ guiding principles ” document states , “ All school policies , procedures , resources , employee training , and assistance given to families are consistent with the Church ’ s teaching on the dignity of the human person , including human sexuality.
” It then lists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” can be applied in a school setting , but when the term “ sexual identity ” is used , the direct reference to “ biological sex ” does not appear in parallel , but the term , “ see definitions ” is used as can be seen in the example below .
The full list can be read at the link above .
In an analysis of the bishops ’ “ guiding principles ” document for LifeSiteNews , Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse , Founder and president of the Ruth Institute , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said it is of significance the document used the term `` sexual identity ” and not the term “ gender identity.
” “ The Minnesota bishops ' document uses the term ‘ sexual identity , ’ NOT the term ‘ gender identity.
’ In my opinion , the bishops are on solid ground here , ” said Morse to LifeSiteNews .
“ I applaud the care with which the Minnesota bishops wrote this document.
” Morse asked LifeSiteNews to provide readers with her in-depth analysis of the term “ gender , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota bishops ’ document does not form official policy , but rather serves as a “ guide ” for schools to use in the development of their own policies .
LifeSiteNews reached out to officials in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to provide context as to how the bishops will oversee schools adopting the “ guiding principles.
” Jason Slattery , director of the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis , said the bishops worked with all the leaders in Catholic education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality and excellence in Catholic education in the Archdiocese , ” adding that the “ work begins with a firm commitment to the mission of Catholic education.
” He then said they sought out resources “ that help us faithfully give the gift of the Gospel that we have received .
These Guiding Principles are rooted in the gift of the Gospel , a gift that we have the joy of sharing.
” Executive director Jason Adkins of the public policy arm of the Minnesota Bishops , the Minnesota Catholic Conference ( MCC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ each individual diocese to work with schools and parishes , and ministries to put the principles into practice.
” As reported in the official news outlet for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis , The Catholic Spirit , the bishops adopted the guidelines last June , before their public debut in February of this year by the MCC .
This was around the same time the Vatican ’ s Congregation for Catholic Education released the much debated document “ ‘ Male and Female He Created Them ’ : Towards a Path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory in Education.
” According to The Catholic Spirit ’ s report , the bishops ’ “ guiding principles ” document was created as a response to the call to action from the Vatican ’ s document , as well as Pope Francis ’ s teaching on the issue from as far back as 2015 .
The Vatican document urged a “ path of dialogue ” with regard to “ gender theory ” in schools and was described as a “ toothless lion ” in an analysis posted on LifeSiteNews by Catholic sociologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gerard J.M .
van den Aardweg also gave a critique blasting the Vatican document on gender theory , saying it did not have “ one sentence of sound advice for parents who try to educate their children towards the virtues necessary for a Christian life.
” Auxiliary bishop Andrew Cozzens , who serves as the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis ’ s vicar for Catholic education , said about the “ guiding principles ” document , “ One of the things we have to do in our pastoral care is be willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and walk with them with an eye toward the greater good.
” “ We knew that we had to do this in a way that ’ s calling people to a higher standard of these truths than our culture currently is , to help people get beyond the ideology and to the truth of who they are , ” he added .
LifeSiteNews asked the archdiocese if the term “ sexual identity ” might be construed as unclear in relation to biological sex due to the document wording .
Slattery answered that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in the context of the church ’ s “ beautiful teachings on the human person particularly related to our understanding and belief that God created each person male or female , which is affirmed by our use of the term “ sexual identity .
”

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The bishops of Minnesota have released new human sexuality and sexual identity “guiding principles,” which ignore prevailing secular gender theory and insist that schoolchildren be related to according to their true biological sex.
The document is titled “Guiding Principles for Catholic Schools and Religious Education Concerning Human Sexuality and Sexual Identity” and says sexual identity as it relates to a child’s biological sex is a “gift from” God that cannot change.
It goes onto say that Catholic schools should “relate to each student in a way that is respectful of and consistent with each student’s God-given sexual identity and biological sex” and gives examples of how the “guiding principles” should be applied to Minnesota Catholic schools.
The first point of the “guiding principles” document states, “All school policies, procedures, resources, employee training, and assistance given to families are consistent with the Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person, including human sexuality.”
It then lists examples of how the “guiding principles” can be applied in a school setting, but when the term “sexual identity” is used, the direct reference to “biological sex” does not appear in parallel, but the term, “see definitions” is used as can be seen in the example below. The full list can be read at the link above.
2. Student’s name and pronouns usage will correspond to his/her sexual identity (see definitions)[.] 3. Student access to facilities and overnight accommodations will align with his/her sexual identity[.] 4. Eligibility for single-sex curricular and extracurricular activities is based on the sexual identity of the child[.] 5. Expressions of a student’s sexual identity are prohibited when they cause disruption or confusion regarding the Church’s teaching on human sexuality[.]
In an analysis of the bishops’ “guiding principles” document for LifeSiteNews, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, Founder and president of the Ruth Institute, an international interfaith coalition to defend the family, said it is of significance the document used the term “sexual identity” and not the term “gender identity.”
“The Minnesota bishops' document uses the term ‘sexual identity,’ NOT the term ‘gender identity.’ In my opinion, the bishops are on solid ground here,” said Morse to LifeSiteNews. “I applaud the care with which the Minnesota bishops wrote this document.”
Morse asked LifeSiteNews to provide readers with her in-depth analysis of the term “gender,” which you can read below.
The Minnesota bishops’ document does not form official policy, but rather serves as a “guide” for schools to use in the development of their own policies. LifeSiteNews reached out to officials in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to provide context as to how the bishops will oversee schools adopting the “guiding principles.”
Jason Slattery, director of the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, said the bishops worked with all the leaders in Catholic education “to create a unified vision for quality and excellence in Catholic education in the Archdiocese,” adding that the “work begins with a firm commitment to the mission of Catholic education.”
He then said they sought out resources “that help us faithfully give the gift of the Gospel that we have received. These Guiding Principles are rooted in the gift of the Gospel, a gift that we have the joy of sharing.”
Executive director Jason Adkins of the public policy arm of the Minnesota Bishops, the Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC), said it is up to “each individual diocese to work with schools and parishes, and ministries to put the principles into practice.”
As reported in the official news outlet for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, The Catholic Spirit, the bishops adopted the guidelines last June, before their public debut in February of this year by the MCC. This was around the same time the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education released the much debated document “‘Male and Female He Created Them’: Towards a Path of Dialogue on the Question of Gender theory in Education.”
According to The Catholic Spirit’s report, the bishops’ “guiding principles” document was created as a response to the call to action from the Vatican’s document, as well as Pope Francis’s teaching on the issue from as far back as 2015.
The Vatican document urged a “path of dialogue” with regard to “gender theory” in schools and was described as a “toothless lion” in an analysis posted on LifeSiteNews by Catholic sociologist Gabriele Kuby.
Dutch Catholic psychologist Dr. Gerard J.M. van den Aardweg also gave a critique blasting the Vatican document on gender theory, saying it did not have “one sentence of sound advice for parents who try to educate their children towards the virtues necessary for a Christian life.”
Auxiliary bishop Andrew Cozzens, who serves as the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’s vicar for Catholic education, said about the “guiding principles” document, “One of the things we have to do in our pastoral care is be willing to stand with people in their pain, and walk with them with an eye toward the greater good.”
“We knew that we had to do this in a way that’s calling people to a higher standard of these truths than our culture currently is, to help people get beyond the ideology and to the truth of who they are,” he added.
LifeSiteNews asked the archdiocese if the term “sexual identity” might be construed as unclear in relation to biological sex due to the document wording.
Slattery answered that the term “sexual identity” is used in the context of the church’s “beautiful teachings on the human person particularly related to our understanding and belief that God created each person male or female, which is affirmed by our use of the term “sexual identity.”
Dr. Morse’s analysis of the term “gender”
The crucial distinction is between the words “sex” and “gender.” Sexual Revolutionary activists created the term “gender” to stand for everything that is culturally conditioned or created. This term is in opposition to “sex” which is based on the biological differences between men and women, and which is presumably, less subject to cultural change or manipulation. These same activists then turn around and apply the term “gender identity” in a cavalier manner. The activists suggest (without proof) that a person can change their personal identity, not simply the behaviors that are culturally associated with biological sex differences. This is the basis for the idea that “gender affirmation” which “affirms” the child’s “gender identity” is not only possible, but desirable and necessary for the child's mental health. This is a verbal sleight of hand.
Contact:
Minnesota Catholic Conference
475 University Ave. W.
St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: (651) 227-8777
Fax: 651-227-2675
mncatholic.org
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
777 Forest Street
Saint Paul, MN 55106-3857
Phone: (651) 291-4400
https://www.archspm.org/
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Stressed, overworked, underpaid women can thank feminism for their misery

March 9 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — Here 's a bit of background on the biggest complaint from young women today : how they are stressed , overworked , and underpaid and do n't have enough time with their families .
Welcome to the `` freedom '' you were promised in the 1960s and '70s by people Rush Limbaugh referred to as `` feminazis '' for their strident , demanding , man-hating ways .
When I first married in the mid-'60s , my wife quit her job .
This was the norm .
Men worked , and married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , care for the children , and often handle family finances .
But the nuclear family was , and still is , seen by liberals as evil and unnatural .
People like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan gained fame by purporting to speak for women and insisting that they were oppressed and unhappy .
Friedan called it `` the problem with no name '' and said , `` The problem lay buried , unspoken , for many years in the minds of American women .
It was a strange stirring , a sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered in the middle of the 20th century in the United States .
Each suburban [ house ] wife struggled with it alone .
As she made the beds , shopped for groceries ... she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — 'Is this all ? '
'' Friedan described herself as `` a bad-tempered b -- -- . ''
Steinem once described her version of Utopia : What will exist is a variety of alternative life-styles .
Since the population explosion dictates that childbearing be kept to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of many `` families '' : couples , age groups , working groups , mixed communes , blood-related clans , class groups , creative groups .
Single women will have the right to stay single without ridicule , without the attitudes now betrayed by `` spinster '' and `` bachelor . ''
Lesbians or homosexuals will no longer be denied legally binding marriages , complete with mutual-support agreements and inheritance rights .
The prescribed cure for the problem with no name was for women to go to work and begin having more abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and companies began to accommodate .
So today , married couples both work .
Their children are in day care from the time they are infants — at a huge cost in both money and family cohesiveness , and the couples hope the nursery will care for them safely and properly .
The two salaries together equal about what the man used to earn .
One of their salaries is used up by the need for a second car , day care costs , and other incidentals , including higher taxes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and from day care , squeezing in time to go to the grocery ; prepare meals ; shop for clothes ; and do household chores , which both now perform .
How onerous were the jobs previously assigned by default to the wife ?
A breeze in comparison to what their grandmothers faced .
Today , they do half as much at home , perhaps , but also work 40 hours a week or more in an office or other workplace .
But they 've been `` liberated . ''
So all is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared at the American Thinker .
It is published here with the author 's permission .

The prescribed cure for the problem with no name was for women to go to work and begin having more abortions. Look how all that turned out.
March 9, 2020 (American Thinker) — Here's a bit of background on the biggest complaint from young women today: how they are stressed, overworked, and underpaid and don't have enough time with their families.
Welcome to the “freedom” you were promised in the 1960s and '70s by people Rush Limbaugh referred to as “feminazis” for their strident, demanding, man-hating ways.
When I first married in the mid-'60s, my wife quit her job. This was the norm. Men worked, and married women stayed home to cook, clean, care for the children, and often handle family finances.
But the nuclear family was, and still is, seen by liberals as evil and unnatural.
People like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan gained fame by purporting to speak for women and insisting that they were oppressed and unhappy.
Friedan called it “the problem with no name” and said, “The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the 20th century in the United States. Each suburban [house]wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries … she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — 'Is this all?'”
Friedan described herself as “a bad-tempered b—-.” Steinem once described her version of Utopia:
What will exist is a variety of alternative life-styles. Since the population explosion dictates that childbearing be kept to a minimum, parents-and-children will be only one of many “families”: couples, age groups, working groups, mixed communes, blood-related clans, class groups, creative groups. Single women will have the right to stay single without ridicule, without the attitudes now betrayed by “spinster” and “bachelor.” Lesbians or homosexuals will no longer be denied legally binding marriages, complete with mutual-support agreements and inheritance rights.
The prescribed cure for the problem with no name was for women to go to work and begin having more abortions. Politicians obliged with the demanded policies, and companies began to accommodate.
So today, married couples both work. Their children are in day care from the time they are infants — at a huge cost in both money and family cohesiveness, and the couples hope the nursery will care for them safely and properly.
The two salaries together equal about what the man used to earn. One of their salaries is used up by the need for a second car, day care costs, and other incidentals, including higher taxes.
Meanwhile, they juggle trips daily to and from day care, squeezing in time to go to the grocery; prepare meals; shop for clothes; and do household chores, which both now perform.
How onerous were the jobs previously assigned by default to the wife? A breeze in comparison to what their grandmothers faced.
Today, they do half as much at home, perhaps, but also work 40 hours a week or more in an office or other workplace.
But they've been “liberated.” So all is well and just.
This post originally appeared at the American Thinker. It is published here with the author's permission.
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