lifesitenews--2020-09-22--The liturgy should move the faithful away from the world, not secularize the Church

September 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — I once said in an interview : A lady in Germany wrote to me about this interview , sharing with me her thoughts on Pope Benedict ’ s speech in Freiburg on September 25 , 2011 , in which he called for a “ deworldification ” ( Entweltlichung ) of the Church .
Here is the gist of her very interesting observations .
If the Church is supposed to withdraw from the world — not to abandon it to hell , but to call it forth to its ultimate destiny and lift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her liturgy must do the same , pointing us to heavenly realities that abide forever and give meaning to all that passes here below , and relativizing the temporal against the horizons of history and eternity .
This deworldification takes place particularly strongly in the old rite , less so in the new one .
The traditional celebration of the Mass emphasizes that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Golgotha is renewed in a bloodless way .
The Lord mystically joins us to His death on the Cross ; His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment when He gives His life as a sacrifice in atonement for our sins .
Under the Cross stand the Blessed Mother and the disciple whom Jesus loved .
The curtain of the temple is torn in two ; the soldiers fall to the ground .
Darkness descends over the whole country .
The evil forces are thrown into the abyss of hell .
As a result , a deep cleansing takes place , an “ exorcism ” occurs , and this is done in every Holy Mass in which the Holy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glorified by Christ ’ s holy love and at the same time freed from evil powers .
Her enemies are destroyed .
In the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass there is always a deworldification in the sense of purification from evil , strengthening in the good , and the promise of immortality .
In the new rite of Mass , however , the celebration of the “ Last Supper ” is at the center .
Here the aspect of fraternal love is renewed ; it promotes a peaceful coexistence , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the assembly .
Nevertheless , in the Upper Room , Judas is also still present .
The Blessed Mother is missing .
No enemy is destroyed , not even threatened .
Judas goes off by himself , unnoticed , like many who leave the church today .
Almost all those gathered approach the Lord ’ s table to receive Communion , whether they are spiritually in communion or not .
Do they assent in full to the Master ’ s teaching and receive Him as their Lord and God , or are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are plotting His downfall , with Pontius Pilate who shrugs his shoulders and washes , or tries to wash , his hands of complicity ?
This rite of Mass , as a liturgical act , does not exorcise the darkness in our souls and magnify the true Light that enlighteneth every man .
To make a comparison to a drama , it does not make any sense why the final act and climax ( the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross ) is more or less ignored in the play , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lord ’ s Supper ) is performed .
The phenomenological suppression of the sacrificial character of the Holy Mass in favor of its meal character is basically a scandal .
It can be explained only by the fact that the enemies of the Church knew that they could never eliminate the Holy Mass altogether ; they first had to create a weaker form , which becomes ever weaker and at some point is assimilated to mainstream Protestant devotionalism .
That is why Holy Mother Church ’ s enemies , great and small alike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even churchmen who see that under the new form they are surrounded on all sides by problems for themselves continue to cling to it .
The deepest spring of Pope Benedict ’ s decision to “ liberate ” the usus antiquior — that is , the historically continuous Roman rite of Mass handed down by tradition — was not simply reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X , or friendly relations with scattered groups of traditionalists .
As he said in his letter Con Grande Fiducia , it was about reconciling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history and tradition .
What he omitted to say , no doubt for reasons of papal diplomacy , is that it was his predecessor Paul VI who did more than any other pope to sever ties with immemorial Catholic heritage in every aspect of the Church ’ s life .
This was no mere “ misapplication ” of the Second Vatican Council , but a papally endorsed frontal assault on the otherworldliness or supernatural essence and mission of the Church of Christ on earth .
Unfortunately , almost ten years after the speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benedict ’ s message of Entweltlichung or “ deworldification ” has fallen on deaf ears , both in the lavishly funded bureaucracy of the German episcopate and in the wider Church that continues on its not very merry secularizing way .
Courtesy of Juventutem DC , we have these stunning statistics from Germany .
Details have changed somewhat since these plans were originally announced , but the very fact that they were and still are being contemplated gives us an effective “ portrait of the New Springtime ” : • The Archdiocese of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,057 parishes into 40 .
• The Archdiocese of Utrecht , which had 355 parishes in 1965 and is down to 280 today , is cutting down to only 20 over the coming decade .
• The Diocese of Trier — the oldest in Germany — is consolidating 905 parishes into 35 .
• The Diocese of Essen has reduced its parish count from 259 to 43 .
• The Archdiocese of Luxembourg has reduced its parish count from 274 to 33 .
• The Archdiocese of Berlin is reducing its parish count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the other hand , since the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum in July 2007 , the number of ( non-SSPX ) traditional Latin Mass locations in Germany has increased from 35 to over 150 , according to Pro Missa Tridentina .
The SSPX , for its part , reports 42 sites , a number that has steadily climbed over the years .
There are , after all , shoots of green in this strange springtime .
They are precisely where the process of deworldification either has not set in or is conscientiously resisted @

If the Church is supposed to withdraw from the world, then her liturgy must do the same, pointing us to heavenly realities that abide forever.
September 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — I once said in an interview:
In every aspect, the usus antiquior is like a perpetual exorcism of the devil, pointing over and over again to the incarnate God’s triumph over the ancient enemy of human nature. The very fact that the new liturgy abolished or abbreviated exorcisms wherever they were found — in the rite of baptism, in various blessings, in the very rite of exorcism itself! — speaks volumes.
A lady in Germany wrote to me about this interview, sharing with me her thoughts on Pope Benedict’s speech in Freiburg on September 25, 2011, in which he called for a “deworldification” (Entweltlichung) of the Church. Here is the gist of her very interesting observations.
If the Church is supposed to withdraw from the world — not to abandon it to hell, but to call it forth to its ultimate destiny and lift its vision above the ephemeral — then her liturgy must do the same, pointing us to heavenly realities that abide forever and give meaning to all that passes here below, and relativizing the temporal against the horizons of history and eternity.
This deworldification takes place particularly strongly in the old rite, less so in the new one. The traditional celebration of the Mass emphasizes that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Golgotha is renewed in a bloodless way. The Lord mystically joins us to His death on the Cross; His boundless love for men irradiates us at the moment when He gives His life as a sacrifice in atonement for our sins. Under the Cross stand the Blessed Mother and the disciple whom Jesus loved. The curtain of the temple is torn in two; the soldiers fall to the ground. Darkness descends over the whole country. The evil forces are thrown into the abyss of hell. As a result, a deep cleansing takes place, an “exorcism” occurs, and this is done in every Holy Mass in which the Holy Sacrifice is offered. The Church is glorified by Christ’s holy love and at the same time freed from evil powers. Her enemies are destroyed. In the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass there is always a deworldification in the sense of purification from evil, strengthening in the good, and the promise of immortality.
In the new rite of Mass, however, the celebration of the “Last Supper” is at the center. Here the aspect of fraternal love is renewed; it promotes a peaceful coexistence, the idea of community, and the togetherness of the assembly. Nevertheless, in the Upper Room, Judas is also still present. The Blessed Mother is missing. No enemy is destroyed, not even threatened. Judas goes off by himself, unnoticed, like many who leave the church today. Almost all those gathered approach the Lord’s table to receive Communion, whether they are spiritually in communion or not. Do they assent in full to the Master’s teaching and receive Him as their Lord and God, or are they aligned with the Pharisees and Scribes who are plotting His downfall, with Pontius Pilate who shrugs his shoulders and washes, or tries to wash, his hands of complicity? This rite of Mass, as a liturgical act, does not exorcise the darkness in our souls and magnify the true Light that enlighteneth every man.
To make a comparison to a drama, it does not make any sense why the final act and climax (the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross) is more or less ignored in the play, and instead, the penultimate act (the Lord’s Supper) is performed. The phenomenological suppression of the sacrificial character of the Holy Mass in favor of its meal character is basically a scandal. It can be explained only by the fact that the enemies of the Church knew that they could never eliminate the Holy Mass altogether; they first had to create a weaker form, which becomes ever weaker and at some point is assimilated to mainstream Protestant devotionalism.
That is why Holy Mother Church’s enemies, great and small alike, are against the old Mass. Even churchmen who see that under the new form they are surrounded on all sides by problems for themselves continue to cling to it.
The deepest spring of Pope Benedict’s decision to “liberate” the usus antiquior — that is, the historically continuous Roman rite of Mass handed down by tradition — was not simply reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X, or friendly relations with scattered groups of traditionalists. As he said in his letter Con Grande Fiducia, it was about reconciling the Church to herself, to her own history and tradition. What he omitted to say, no doubt for reasons of papal diplomacy, is that it was his predecessor Paul VI who did more than any other pope to sever ties with immemorial Catholic heritage in every aspect of the Church’s life. This was no mere “misapplication” of the Second Vatican Council, but a papally endorsed frontal assault on the otherworldliness or supernatural essence and mission of the Church of Christ on earth.
Unfortunately, almost ten years after the speech in Freiburg, we can say Pope Benedict’s message of Entweltlichung or “deworldification” has fallen on deaf ears, both in the lavishly funded bureaucracy of the German episcopate and in the wider Church that continues on its not very merry secularizing way.
Courtesy of Juventutem DC, we have these stunning statistics from Germany. Details have changed somewhat since these plans were originally announced, but the very fact that they were and still are being contemplated gives us an effective “portrait of the New Springtime”:
The Archdiocese of Freiburg is in the process of consolidating 1,057 parishes into 40.
The Archdiocese of Utrecht, which had 355 parishes in 1965 and is down to 280 today, is cutting down to only 20 over the coming decade.
The Diocese of Trier — the oldest in Germany — is consolidating 905 parishes into 35.
The Diocese of Essen has reduced its parish count from 259 to 43.
The Archdiocese of Luxembourg has reduced its parish count from 274 to 33.
The Archdiocese of Berlin is reducing its parish count from 105 to 30 by 2020.
On the other hand, since the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum in July 2007, the number of (non-SSPX) traditional Latin Mass locations in Germany has increased from 35 to over 150, according to Pro Missa Tridentina. The SSPX, for its part, reports 42 sites, a number that has steadily climbed over the years. There are, after all, shoots of green in this strange springtime. They are precisely where the process of deworldification either has not set in or is conscientiously resisted.
Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer, is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College in California (B.A. Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy). He taught at the International Theological Institute in Austria and the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Austria Program, then helped establish Wyoming Catholic College in 2006. There he taught theology, philosophy, music, and art history and directed the choirs until leaving in 2018 to devote himself full-time to writing and lecturing. Today he contributes regularly to many websites and publications, including New Liturgical Movement, OnePeterFive, LifeSiteNews, Rorate Caeli, The Remnant, and Catholic Family News, and has published thirteen books, including four on traditional Catholicism: Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis (Angelico, 2014, also available in Czech, Polish, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Belarusian), Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness (Angelico, 2017), Tradition and Sanity (Angelico, 2018), and Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright: The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass (Angelico, 2020). His work has been translated into at least eighteen languages. Kwasniewski is a scholar of The Aquinas Institute in Green Bay, which is publishing the Opera Omnia of the Angelic Doctor, a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center. He has published over a thousand articles on Thomistic thought, sacramental and liturgical theology, the history and aesthetics of music, and the social doctrine of the Church. For news, information, article links, sacred music, and the home of Os Justi Press, visit his personal website, www.peterkwasniewski.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-21--Trump to speak at National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday

PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON D.C. , September 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — President Donald J. Trump will address the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast ( NCPB ) in Washington D.C. , this Wednesday , September 23 .
The NCPB hasn ’ t formally announced Trump as their speaker , but a Politico reporter and the advocacy group CatholicVote shared the news on Twitter today .
“ A fitting recognition of the President ’ s and Catholics ’ shared commitment to the defense of human life , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to practice our faith , ” CatholicVote tweeted in response to the news .
The breakfast , which this year is taking place online , is a fixture in the Washington , D.C. annual event calendar .
“ Each year , over 1,500 people gather in our nation ’ s capital to pray for our country , ” the NCPB website reads .
Vice President Mike Pence , who was raised Catholic but is now evangelical , spoke at the NCPB in 2017 .
Earlier this year Trump became the first U.S. president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington , D.C. and is considered by many veteran pro-life activists to be the most pro-life president in history .
In a proclamation issued prior to the march , Trump declared January 22 , the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision imposing abortion on demand across the country , to be “ National Sanctity of Human Life Day.
” “ Every person — the born and unborn , the poor , the downcast , the disabled , the infirm , and the elderly — has inherent value , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proudly and strongly reaffirms our commitment to protect the precious gift of life at every stage , from conception to natural death.
” As president , Trump has reinstated and expanded the ban on foreign aid to abortion-involved groups ( including International Planned Parenthood Federation ) , banned groups that commit or refer abortions from Title X family planning funds , overturned Obama-era regulations that barred states from defunding Planned Parenthood , and issued rules protecting Americans from being forced to subsidize abortion in government-mandated health insurance plans .
The president has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats ’ opposition to anti-infanticide legislation and calling on Congress to send him a ban on late-term abortion to sign .
Most of his judicial nominees have pleased pro-lifers as well .
In addition , the administration has consistently worked to defend life and oppose abortion at the United Nations , from resisting pro-abortion agenda items and resolution language to affirming that abortion isn ’ t a human right and promoting abstinence education .
Also speaking at the the prayer breakfast will be Los Angeles Bishop Robert Barron and U.S. Attorney General William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic , is due to receive the “ Christifideles Laici ” award at the event .

PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON D.C., September 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — President Donald J. Trump will address the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast (NCPB) in Washington D.C., this Wednesday, September 23.
The NCPB hasn’t formally announced Trump as their speaker, but a Politico reporter and the advocacy group CatholicVote shared the news on Twitter today.
NEW: On Wednesday @realDonaldTrump will deliver virtual remarks to the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. It will be his first time speaking at the event, which has welcomed Mulvaney & Pence in past years and will honor AG Barr this week — Gabby Orr (@GabbyOrr_) September 21, 2020
“A fitting recognition of the President’s and Catholics’ shared commitment to the defense of human life, the dignity of workers, and the freedom to practice our faith,” CatholicVote tweeted in response to the news.
BREAKING: President Trump will deliver remarks at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday. A fitting recognition of the President’s and Catholics’ shared commitment to the defense of human life, the dignity of workers, and the freedom to practice our faith. — CatholicVote.org (@CatholicVote) September 21, 2020
The breakfast, which this year is taking place online, is a fixture in the Washington, D.C. annual event calendar.
“Each year, over 1,500 people gather in our nation’s capital to pray for our country,” the NCPB website reads.
Vice President Mike Pence, who was raised Catholic but is now evangelical, spoke at the NCPB in 2017.
Earlier this year Trump became the first U.S. president to attend the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. and is considered by many veteran pro-life activists to be the most pro-life president in history.
In a proclamation issued prior to the march, Trump declared January 22, the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision imposing abortion on demand across the country, to be “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”
“Every person — the born and unborn, the poor, the downcast, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly — has inherent value,” Trump stated and said that the U.S. “proudly and strongly reaffirms our commitment to protect the precious gift of life at every stage, from conception to natural death.”
As president, Trump has reinstated and expanded the ban on foreign aid to abortion-involved groups (including International Planned Parenthood Federation), banned groups that commit or refer abortions from Title X family planning funds, overturned Obama-era regulations that barred states from defunding Planned Parenthood, and issued rules protecting Americans from being forced to subsidize abortion in government-mandated health insurance plans.
The president has also forcefully denounced abortion, calling attention to Democrats’ opposition to anti-infanticide legislation and calling on Congress to send him a ban on late-term abortion to sign. Most of his judicial nominees have pleased pro-lifers as well.
In addition, the administration has consistently worked to defend life and oppose abortion at the United Nations, from resisting pro-abortion agenda items and resolution language to affirming that abortion isn’t a human right and promoting abstinence education.
Also speaking at the the prayer breakfast will be Los Angeles Bishop Robert Barron and U.S. Attorney General William Barr. Barr, who is a Catholic, is due to receive the “Christifideles Laici” award at the event.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-23--Hawley: ‘Republican Party has not done a good job of living up to its pledges to our voters’ on judg

Hawley: ‘Republican Party has not done a good job of living up to its pledges to our voters’ on judges

PETITION : President Trump , nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , September 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri called the impending fight over the latest Supreme Court vacancy a “ turning point ” for the country Tuesday on the first night of the Family Research Council ’ s ( FRC ’ s ) annual Values Voter Summit .
In an interview with FRC president Tony Perkins , Hawley said President Donald Trump ’ s nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ shape the future of this court for decades to come.
” Hawley lamented that , in light of the left-wing decisions of Republican appointees such as John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch , the “ Republican Party has not done a good job of living up to its pledges to our voters ” on judges .
For years , the standard practice of Republican politicians has been to nominate judges with ambiguous records on issues such as abortion so as not to alienate moderate senators .
“ The left doesn ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The left is very good at ” getting what they want out of Democrat-appointed judges .
“ It ’ s time for the pledges to end and action to begin , ” Hawley declared .
Republicans have “ taken our support for granted , ” but “ that time is over.
” The senator also said there was “ plenty of time ” between now and the November election to hold a “ full slate of public hearings ” on Trump ’ s nominee , who will be announced this coming weekend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he declared that he will only vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee if he or she has publicly declared that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided .

'It’s time for the pledges to end and action to begin.'
PETITION: President Trump, nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri called the impending fight over the latest Supreme Court vacancy a “turning point” for the country Tuesday on the first night of the Family Research Council’s (FRC’s) annual Values Voter Summit.
In an interview with FRC president Tony Perkins, Hawley said President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday, could “shape the future of this court for decades to come.”
Hawley lamented that, in light of the left-wing decisions of Republican appointees such as John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch, the “Republican Party has not done a good job of living up to its pledges to our voters” on judges. For years, the standard practice of Republican politicians has been to nominate judges with ambiguous records on issues such as abortion so as not to alienate moderate senators.
“The left doesn’t do this,” he added. “The left is very good at” getting what they want out of Democrat-appointed judges.
“It’s time for the pledges to end and action to begin,” Hawley declared. Republicans have “taken our support for granted,” but “that time is over.”
The senator also said there was “plenty of time” between now and the November election to hold a “full slate of public hearings” on Trump’s nominee, who will be announced this coming weekend.
Hawley ruffled establishment feathers this summer when he declared that he will only vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee if he or she has publicly declared that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--New bill would defund schools that force girls to compete against boys

WASHINGTON , D.C. , September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia announced legislation Tuesday to target the federal funding of any school that forces female athletes to compete against gender-confused males .
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would formally identify male participation in female-specific athletic programs as a violation of federal Title IX rules meant to protect girls ’ sports , Townhall reports .
Schools that violate the new rule could potentially see the loss of their federal funding .
“ Title IX established a fair and equal chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sports should be no exception , ” Loeffler said in a statement .
“ As someone who learned invaluable life lessons and built confidence playing sports throughout my life , I ’ m proud to lead this legislation to ensure girls of all ages can enjoy those same opportunities .
This commonsense bill protects women and girls by safeguarding fairness and leveling the athletic field that Title IX guarantees.
” Research affirms that boys who call themselves girls retain physical advantages over real girls .
Last June , the Journal of Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy young men [ did ] not lose significant muscle mass [ or power ] when their circulating testosterone levels were reduced to [ below International Olympic Committee guidelines ] for 20 weeks , ” and “ indirect effects of testosterone ” on factors such as bone structure , lung volume , and heart size “ will not be altered by hormone therapy.
” Therefore , “ the advantage to transwomen [ men ] afforded by the [ International Olympic Committee ] guidelines is an intolerable unfairness.
” Such findings are consistent with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which contends that “ men naturally have a larger bone structure , higher bone density , stronger connective tissue and higher muscle density than women .
These traits , even with reduced levels of testosterone , do not go away .
While MTF [ ‘ male-to-female , ’ meaning men who drug themselves to appear and perform more like women ] may be weaker and less [ muscular ] than they once were , the biological benefits given them at birth still remain over than [ sic ] of a female.
” Appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retiring Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson , Loeffler ’ s advocacy of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act is the latest reassurance that she intends to act as a conservative despite initial concerns over her association with the WNBA , which has donated to Planned Parenthood , and her sitting on the board of the Grady Health hospital system , which is associated with the state ’ s largest abortionist training program .
In January , Loeffler joined other Republicans in signing a letter to secretary of state Mike Pompeo outlining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico City Policy .
She is currently running an election ad that declares “ she ’ s more conservative than Attila the Hun .
”

Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia wants to 'ensure girls of all ages can enjoy those same opportunities' she did by playing sports.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia announced legislation Tuesday to target the federal funding of any school that forces female athletes to compete against gender-confused males.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would formally identify male participation in female-specific athletic programs as a violation of federal Title IX rules meant to protect girls’ sports, Townhall reports. Schools that violate the new rule could potentially see the loss of their federal funding.
“Title IX established a fair and equal chance for women and girls to compete, and sports should be no exception,” Loeffler said in a statement. “As someone who learned invaluable life lessons and built confidence playing sports throughout my life, I’m proud to lead this legislation to ensure girls of all ages can enjoy those same opportunities. This commonsense bill protects women and girls by safeguarding fairness and leveling the athletic field that Title IX guarantees.”
Research affirms that boys who call themselves girls retain physical advantages over real girls.
Last June, the Journal of Medical Ethics published a paper concluding that “healthy young men [did] not lose significant muscle mass [or power] when their circulating testosterone levels were reduced to [below International Olympic Committee guidelines] for 20 weeks,” and “indirect effects of testosterone” on factors such as bone structure, lung volume, and heart size “will not be altered by hormone therapy.” Therefore, “the advantage to transwomen [men] afforded by the [International Olympic Committee] guidelines is an intolerable unfairness.”
Such findings are consistent with those of organizations like USA Powerlifting, which contends that “men naturally have a larger bone structure, higher bone density, stronger connective tissue and higher muscle density than women. These traits, even with reduced levels of testosterone, do not go away. While MTF [‘male-to-female,’ meaning men who drug themselves to appear and perform more like women] may be weaker and less [muscular] than they once were, the biological benefits given them at birth still remain over than [sic] of a female.”
Appointed last year to fill the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, Loeffler’s advocacy of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act is the latest reassurance that she intends to act as a conservative despite initial concerns over her association with the WNBA, which has donated to Planned Parenthood, and her sitting on the board of the Grady Health hospital system, which is associated with the state’s largest abortionist training program.
In January, Loeffler joined other Republicans in signing a letter to secretary of state Mike Pompeo outlining a proposal to further strengthen the pro-life Mexico City Policy. She is currently running an election ad that declares “she’s more conservative than Attila the Hun.”
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--Petition supporting priest who said Catholics can’t be Democrats approaches 70K signatures

PETITION : Stand with priest who faces Church penalties for saying `` You ca n't be a Catholic and a Democrat. ''
!
Sign the petition here .
September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — LifeSiteNews delivered a petition in support of Fr .
James Altman this past Saturday at his parish , St. James the Less , in La Crosse , Wisconsin .
The petition numbered over 64,000 , and since then , the petition signatures have climbed to over 69,000 .
Elizabeth Garibaldi representing LifeSiteNews presented the petition to Fr .
Altman .
Fr .
Altman sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reverberated around the world in the past three weeks when he published a now viral video entitled “ You can ’ t be a Catholic and a Democrat.
” Shortly after the video garnered thousands of views , Bishop Callahan asked that Fr .
Altman cease the livestreaming of his Masses , and asserted that “ [ c ] anonical penalties are not far away if my attempts at fraternal correction do not work.
” LifeSiteNews launched a petition thereafter asking Bishop Callahan to support Fr .
Altman and , further , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceived or bullied by the Democratic Party or by the mainstream media — neither of which have the best interests of the Church at heart.
” This petition to His Excellency was delivered to the chancery in La Crosse , Wis. , today , Wednesday , September 23 .
It was delivered in conjunction with “ Stand with Fr .
Altman , ” a lay-run Facebook group who started their own petition and accompanying letter .
The letter pleads with the bishop to “ please focus on the truth of his message ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good fruit that Fr .
Altman has born , for “ by their fruits you will know them , ” as Matthew 7:16 states .
Some of the inspiring quotes from viewers online include the following : The letter concludes , “ We respectfully submit to you that this is verification of all the good Fr .
Altman has done to bring the faithful back to the fold with clarity and charity ” and a strong appeal to Bishop Callahan not to impose penalties on a true shepherd who is laying down his @ @ @ @ @

Fr. Altman sent shockwaves through the American Catholic Church with his now viral video entitled 'You can't be a Catholic and a Democrat.' Now he is under fire from his bishop.
PETITION: Stand with priest who faces Church penalties for saying “You can't be a Catholic and a Democrat.”! Sign the petition here.
September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — LifeSiteNews delivered a petition in support of Fr. James Altman this past Saturday at his parish, St. James the Less, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The petition numbered over 64,000, and since then, the petition signatures have climbed to over 69,000. Elizabeth Garibaldi representing LifeSiteNews presented the petition to Fr. Altman.
Fr. Altman sent shockwaves through the American Catholic Church that have reverberated around the world in the past three weeks when he published a now viral video entitled “You can’t be a Catholic and a Democrat.” Shortly after the video garnered thousands of views, Bishop Callahan asked that Fr. Altman cease the livestreaming of his Masses, and asserted that “[c]anonical penalties are not far away if my attempts at fraternal correction do not work.”
LifeSiteNews launched a petition thereafter asking Bishop Callahan to support Fr. Altman and, further, to “not allow yourself to be deceived or bullied by the Democratic Party or by the mainstream media — neither of which have the best interests of the Church at heart.”
This petition to His Excellency was delivered to the chancery in La Crosse, Wis., today, Wednesday, September 23. It was delivered in conjunction with “Stand with Fr. Altman,” a lay-run Facebook group who started their own petition and accompanying letter. The letter pleads with the bishop to “please focus on the truth of his message” and then goes on to list the good fruit that Fr. Altman has born, for “by their fruits you will know them,” as Matthew 7:16 states.
Some of the inspiring quotes from viewers online include the following:
The letter concludes, “We respectfully submit to you that this is verification of all the good Fr. Altman has done to bring the faithful back to the fold with clarity and charity” and a strong appeal to Bishop Callahan not to impose penalties on a true shepherd who is laying down his life for his sheep.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--Famous reporter’s new book suggests ex–Cabinet member tried to overthrow Trump

This article originally appeared at the American Thinker on September 10 , 2020 .
It is published here with permission .
September 22 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — With Bob Woodward 's anti-Trump book published , the media are focusing entirely on the easily debunked claim that Trump mishandled the Wuhan virus by `` lying '' to the American people .
What the media are ignoring , however , is a much more serious claim , which is that former secretary of defense General James Mattis plotted to overthrow Trump and his administration .
This fact , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the damage Obama inflicted on the upper echelons of the Pentagon .
According to a pre-release excerpt from the Washington Post Bob Woodward writes about a discussion between General James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats about a plot to overthrow the elected government of the United States .
What do you call a conversation between the Defense Secretary and the head of the U.S. intelligence apparatus where they are talking about taking `` collective action '' to remove an elected President ?
That 's called sedition [ . ]
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clear last October that the Obama administration ( with some help from Bill Clinton 's presidency ) had seeded the Pentagon with leftist generals whose allegiance was to the Deep State , to cultural leftism , and to the infamous and profitable `` military industrial complex '' that Eisenhower warned about in 1961 .
In only five years , Obama had conducted a major Pentagon purge , firing almost 200 senior officers who held the old-fashioned belief that the military exists to protect America and should not be a social justice institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who remained were hardcore Democrats .
While still in the military , Admiral McRaven gave bin Laden a respectful , private burial .
Once out of the military , he wrote an editorial for the New York Times , strongly suggesting a military coup against Trump .
Barry McCaffrey , a Clinton White House officer , likened Trump to Mussolini because he canceled the White House 's newspaper subscriptions .
And Obama 's Joint Chiefs vice chair , James Winnefeld , was deeply offended on behalf of ISIS terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling al-Baghdadi 's followers that he died like a coward .
In November , Sundance , at The Conservative Treehouse , pointed out that , even though Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman used back channels to counteract his commander-in-chief 's foreign policy solely because Vindman disagreed with the policy , the Defense Department invited him right back to the NSC .
To Sundance , there was only one takeaway : `` The United States Military is collaborating with the CIA to remove a U.S. President from office . ''
All of the above says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon .
The implications are n't just in the past .
They 're also in the future .
Michael Anton has written the best article spelling out the fact that the Democrats are openly planning a coup if Biden does n't win .
One of the crucial points about this planned coup is that the Democrats have been explicit about military involvement .
Their plan in the event Trump wins in a given state is to send their Democrat electors to the Electoral College along with ( or even in lieu of ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that results , which will spill onto the streets , Democrats trust `` that the military would take care of the rest . ''
Anton also says retired military officers , such as the ones I discussed above ( and I 'm willing to bet that includes Mattis and McRaven ) , have already said that they will support a coup .
I 'll add that it 's likely that they have allies still within the Pentagon , people who benefit from the perpetual wars that Obama , a supposed anti-war president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also benefit from the pipeline flowing from the Pentagon to that profitable military industrial complex .
The laughable Atlantic article about Trump disrespecting the military was intended not just to get military votes on November 3 , but to get military coup participants after November 3 .
Critical Race Theory training and eight years of Obama 's social justice policies have shifted many of the enlisted ranks from strong conservatives to equally strong Democrats .
The only way to put the kibosh on all of this is for an overwhelming Trump turnout on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no matter where they are — the media , Hollywood , the military , the defense contractors , your neighborhood — that the people are behind Trump .
As I heard someone say , the Democrats have ensured that , after the election , unless a bizarre miracle happens and Biden wins overwhelmingly on ( not after ) November 3 , there will be upheaval .
However , we know from the street battles in Democrat-run cities that , if Biden does win , the disruptions will spread .
If Trump wins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the law ( and due process ) , and America can once again get down to the business of being the best , freest nation on Earth .

This article originally appeared at the American Thinker on September 10, 2020. It is published here with permission.
September 22, 2020 (American Thinker) — With Bob Woodward's anti-Trump book published, the media are focusing entirely on the easily debunked claim that Trump mishandled the Wuhan virus by “lying” to the American people. What the media are ignoring, however, is a much more serious claim, which is that former secretary of defense General James Mattis plotted to overthrow Trump and his administration. This fact, if true, supports my longtime fear about the damage Obama inflicted on the upper echelons of the Pentagon.
The Conservative Treehouse caught the Mattis item:
According to a pre-release excerpt from the Washington Post Bob Woodward writes about a discussion between General James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats about a plot to overthrow the elected government of the United States. [snip] What do you call a conversation between the Defense Secretary and the head of the U.S. intelligence apparatus where they are talking about taking “collective action” to remove an elected President? That's called sedition[.] … A seditious conspiracy.
It began to be clear last October that the Obama administration (with some help from Bill Clinton's presidency) had seeded the Pentagon with leftist generals whose allegiance was to the Deep State, to cultural leftism, and to the infamous and profitable “military industrial complex” that Eisenhower warned about in 1961. In only five years, Obama had conducted a major Pentagon purge, firing almost 200 senior officers who held the old-fashioned belief that the military exists to protect America and should not be a social justice institution with limited firepower.
The upper-level officers who remained were hardcore Democrats. While still in the military, Admiral McRaven gave bin Laden a respectful, private burial. Once out of the military, he wrote an editorial for the New York Times, strongly suggesting a military coup against Trump. Barry McCaffrey, a Clinton White House officer, likened Trump to Mussolini because he canceled the White House's newspaper subscriptions. And Obama's Joint Chiefs vice chair, James Winnefeld, was deeply offended on behalf of ISIS terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi because Trump did the psychologically smart thing of telling al-Baghdadi's followers that he died like a coward.
In November, Sundance, at The Conservative Treehouse, pointed out that, even though Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman used back channels to counteract his commander-in-chief's foreign policy solely because Vindman disagreed with the policy, the Defense Department invited him right back to the NSC. To Sundance, there was only one takeaway: “The United States Military is collaborating with the CIA to remove a U.S. President from office.”
All of the above says there is something rotten happening in the Pentagon. The implications aren't just in the past. They're also in the future. Michael Anton has written the best article spelling out the fact that the Democrats are openly planning a coup if Biden doesn't win. One of the crucial points about this planned coup is that the Democrats have been explicit about military involvement.
Their plan in the event Trump wins in a given state is to send their Democrat electors to the Electoral College along with (or even in lieu of) the Republican electors. In the chaos that results, which will spill onto the streets, Democrats trust “that the military would take care of the rest.”
Anton also says retired military officers, such as the ones I discussed above (and I'm willing to bet that includes Mattis and McRaven), have already said that they will support a coup. I'll add that it's likely that they have allies still within the Pentagon, people who benefit from the perpetual wars that Obama, a supposed anti-war president, nevertheless fought and instigated, and who also benefit from the pipeline flowing from the Pentagon to that profitable military industrial complex.
The laughable Atlantic article about Trump disrespecting the military was intended not just to get military votes on November 3, but to get military coup participants after November 3. Critical Race Theory training and eight years of Obama's social justice policies have shifted many of the enlisted ranks from strong conservatives to equally strong Democrats.
The only way to put the kibosh on all of this is for an overwhelming Trump turnout on November 3, one that reminds Democrats no matter where they are — the media, Hollywood, the military, the defense contractors, your neighborhood — that the people are behind Trump.
As I heard someone say, the Democrats have ensured that, after the election, unless a bizarre miracle happens and Biden wins overwhelmingly on (not after) November 3, there will be upheaval. However, we know from the street battles in Democrat-run cities that, if Biden does win, the disruptions will spread. If Trump wins, the upheavals will meet the full force of the law (and due process), and America can once again get down to the business of being the best, freest nation on Earth.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--Priest invites President Trump to consecrate U.S. to Immaculate Heart of Mary

PETITION : President Trump , nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court !
Sign the petition here .
September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Catholic priest in Baltimore has invited President Donald Trump to consecrate the United States to the Blessed Virgin Mary .
Father Ian Bozant , a Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter ( FSSP ) priest at the National Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori , said he was inspired to ask President Trump to consecrate the nation to Our Lady after witnessing Christopher Macchio sing “ Ave Maria ” at the Republican National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feast of the Nativity of Our Lady , Fr .
Bozant sent a letter to President Trump asking him to consecrate the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 7th , the feast of Our Lady of Victory .
“ Mr .
President , you have been given the authority to govern this nation from Almighty God , for all authority comes from Him ( cf .
Romans 13:1 ) , ” Fr .
Bozant wrote .
“ As a result , you and all leaders of this world are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evil , light and darkness .
This battle should not be fought alone .
...
I ask you to consecrate this great nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary ... so that you may invoke the protection of the great Mother of God.
” Because Fr .
Bozant understands that authority comes from God and that humanity is engaged in a spiritual battle , he urged the President to consecrate the United States to Mary ’ s protection and aid .
“ In light of recent events in our nation , an act of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more important , entrusting ourselves and our nation to Her powerful intercession , ” Fr .
Bozant told his parishioners in an email .
Historically , October 7th has great significance for Catholics .
On that day , in 1571 , the Catholic armies defeated the Ottoman empire in the Battle of Lepanto through Our Lady 's intercession and the power of the Rosary .
Additionally , the Archdiocese of Baltimore ’ s history makes it an ideal location for President Trump to consecrate the United States to the Immaculate Heart of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first Catholic diocese established in the country , with Bishop John Carroll as its first bishop in 1789 .
Just three years after Bishop Carroll was appointed bishop of the new diocese , he consecrated the young nation to Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception .
The Archdiocese of Baltimore has been at the forefront of the nation ’ s history , and that ’ s why Fr .
Bozant is asking President Trump to consecrate the country to the Blessed Mother ’ s protection at the Shrine of St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the invitation , he will have the opportunity to ask Our Lady of Victory to “ bring the light of victory to the darkness that gathers ” to the United States , just as she did at the Battle of Lepanto .
In his letter , Fr .
Bozant thanked President Trump for invoking Our Lady ’ s intercession in the “ Ave Maria ” at the RNC .
He also reminded the President of the importance of calling on Mary ’ s aid and protection through prayer .
“ The Catholic Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and patronesses for all of the countries throughout the world .
The patroness of the U.S. is the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception and so , it was most fitting that a prayer invoking her aid be sung from the seat of power of the Executive Branch of this great nation and I commend you for it , ” Fr .
Bozant told President Trump .
Fr .
Bozant commended President Trump for invoking Our Lady ’ s aid and explained how fitting it would be for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Blessed Virgin Mary ’ s protection since he is the nation ’ s Commander in Chief .
In the same email , Fr .
Bozant reminded his parishioners of their duty to pray for our nation ’ s leaders and hope that they will consecrate the country to Our Lady ’ s protection .

The request to the President is for October 7th, the feast of Our Lady of Victory, to come the National Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Baltimore.
PETITION: President Trump, nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court! Sign the petition here.
September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Catholic priest in Baltimore has invited President Donald Trump to consecrate the United States to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Father Ian Bozant, a Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) priest at the National Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori, said he was inspired to ask President Trump to consecrate the nation to Our Lady after witnessing Christopher Macchio sing “Ave Maria” at the Republican National Convention.
On September 8th, the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, Fr. Bozant sent a letter to President Trump asking him to consecrate the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 7th, the feast of Our Lady of Victory.
“Mr. President, you have been given the authority to govern this nation from Almighty God, for all authority comes from Him (cf. Romans 13:1),” Fr. Bozant wrote. “As a result, you and all leaders of this world are engaged in a battle between good and evil, light and darkness. This battle should not be fought alone. … I ask you to consecrate this great nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary … so that you may invoke the protection of the great Mother of God.”
Because Fr. Bozant understands that authority comes from God and that humanity is engaged in a spiritual battle, he urged the President to consecrate the United States to Mary’s protection and aid.
“In light of recent events in our nation, an act of consecration to the Blessed Mother seems more and more important, entrusting ourselves and our nation to Her powerful intercession,” Fr. Bozant told his parishioners in an email.
Historically, October 7th has great significance for Catholics. On that day, in 1571, the Catholic armies defeated the Ottoman empire in the Battle of Lepanto through Our Lady's intercession and the power of the Rosary.
Additionally, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s history makes it an ideal location for President Trump to consecrate the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Archdiocese of Baltimore was the first Catholic diocese established in the country, with Bishop John Carroll as its first bishop in 1789. Just three years after Bishop Carroll was appointed bishop of the new diocese, he consecrated the young nation to Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore has been at the forefront of the nation’s history, and that’s why Fr. Bozant is asking President Trump to consecrate the country to the Blessed Mother’s protection at the Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori. Should President Trump accept the invitation, he will have the opportunity to ask Our Lady of Victory to “bring the light of victory to the darkness that gathers” to the United States, just as she did at the Battle of Lepanto.
In his letter, Fr. Bozant thanked President Trump for invoking Our Lady’s intercession in the “Ave Maria” at the RNC. He also reminded the President of the importance of calling on Mary’s aid and protection through prayer.
“The Catholic Church has invoked the intercession of particular saints and patronesses for all of the countries throughout the world. The patroness of the U.S. is the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception and so, it was most fitting that a prayer invoking her aid be sung from the seat of power of the Executive Branch of this great nation and I commend you for it,” Fr. Bozant told President Trump.
Fr. Bozant commended President Trump for invoking Our Lady’s aid and explained how fitting it would be for the President to consecrate the United States to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s protection since he is the nation’s Commander in Chief.
In the same email, Fr. Bozant reminded his parishioners of their duty to pray for our nation’s leaders and hope that they will consecrate the country to Our Lady’s protection.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-23--No religious services for half a year and counting: Church sues DC mayor

PETITION : Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Christian church in Washington , D.C. , is suing Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser for her ongoing ban on religious gatherings of more than 100 people .
The lawsuit claims a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as well as the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution .
For Capitol Hill Baptist Church ( CHBC ) in the nation ’ s capital , “ a weekly in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a religious conviction for which there is no substitute , ” the complaint states .
“ The Church does not offer virtual worship services , it does not utilize a multi-site model , and it does not offer multiple Sunday morning worship services.
” About half a year after the coronavirus lockdowns first caused in-person religious services to cease , “ that ban on CHBC ’ s corporate worship gatherings remains in effect in the District of Columbia.
” According to the local government of the District of Columbia , “ In no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 percent of the capacity of the facility or space where the service is occurring as set forth in its Certificate of Occupancy , or 100 persons , whichever is fewer.
” Unlike other states with restrictive measures imposed during the coronavirus crisis , churches in Washington , D.C. , don ’ t have the option of moving religious services outdoors to allow for greater crowds .
Instead , the same limits apply .
The local government recommended participation “ limited to virtual worship services , ” especially “ for older adults and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
” Critics have argued that forcing churches into virtual worship services online essentially means the government dictates how congregations should worship their god .
“ Under the District ’ s four-stage plan , CHBC ’ s in-person worship gatherings will be prohibited until scientists develop either a widely-available vaccine or an effective therapy for COVID-19 , ” the lawsuit points out .
“ In hopes of resuming its corporate worship gatherings in the District of Columbia , CHBC filed an application with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 , 2020 , seeking a waiver from Mayor Bowser ’ s prohibition on large gatherings.
” However , “ the District refused to rule on the Church ’ s application for months before rejecting the application last week , leaving CHBC subject to the Mayor ’ s executive order , the violation of which is punishable by civil and administrative penalties.
” The lawsuit also called out Bowser for being hypocritical when it comes to large gatherings .
“ For example , on June 6 , 2020 , Mayor Bowser appeared personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of people at the corner of 16th and H Streets NW and delivered a speech describing the large gathering as ‘ wonderful to see.
’ Similarly , on four occasions between June and August 2020 , the District ’ s Metropolitan Police Department closed city streets to accommodate protests and marches of thousands to tens of thousands of people.
” CHBC made a point of taking “ no issue with Defendants ’ decision to permit these gatherings , which are themselves protected by the First Amendment.
” Precisely because of its support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does , however , take exception to Defendants ’ decision to favor certain expressive gatherings over others .
The First Amendment protects both mass protests and religious worship.
” When Mayor Bowser was asked “ why she celebrates mass protests while houses of worship remain closed , she responded that ‘ First Amendment protests and large gatherings are not the same ’ because ‘ in the United States of America , people can protest.
’ ” The lawsuit simply commented , “ In the United States of America , people can gather for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Across the country , lawsuits have been filed by churches throughout the six months of coronavirus restrictions .
While some of them have been successful , state and local governments are still trying to restrict religious gatherings in many places .
Tony Perkins , president of pro-family and pro-life Family Research Council , summarized earlier this week that “ religious worship is still prohibited or subjected to unequal treatment ( compared to secular activities ) in six states — California , Nevada , Maine , Connecticut , New Jersey , and Virginia.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ where some of the most egregious bias has surfaced , 30 of the state ’ s 58 counties continue to prohibit churches from holding indoor worship services , ” he continued .
“ In counties where churches can meet indoors , singing and chanting activities are forbidden , and churches are subject to strict attendance limits.
” “ Under the guise of enforcing emergency public safety guidelines , too many officials have overstepped their authority and unfairly targeted churches , ” Perkins pointed out .
“ It is time for Americans of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their constitutionally protected freedoms and remind officials that church is essential.
” Readers may contact the office of Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and ask her to lift the restrictions imposed on religious gatherings .
Email : [ email protected ] .
Phone : ( 202 ) 727-2643 .

Congregations are not even allowed to meet outside if more than 100 people are present. Protests, however, are allowed.
PETITION: Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Christian church in Washington, D.C., is suing Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser for her ongoing ban on religious gatherings of more than 100 people. The lawsuit claims a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as well as the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
For Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in the nation’s capital, “a weekly in-person worship gathering of the entire congregation is a religious conviction for which there is no substitute,” the complaint states. “The Church does not offer virtual worship services, it does not utilize a multi-site model, and it does not offer multiple Sunday morning worship services.”
About half a year after the coronavirus lockdowns first caused in-person religious services to cease, “that ban on CHBC’s corporate worship gatherings remains in effect in the District of Columbia.”
According to the local government of the District of Columbia, “In no event shall attendance at any service exceed 50 percent of the capacity of the facility or space where the service is occurring as set forth in its Certificate of Occupancy, or 100 persons, whichever is fewer.”
Unlike other states with restrictive measures imposed during the coronavirus crisis, churches in Washington, D.C., don’t have the option of moving religious services outdoors to allow for greater crowds. Instead, the same limits apply.
The local government recommended participation “limited to virtual worship services,” especially “for older adults and people of all ages with chronic medical conditions who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.”
Critics have argued that forcing churches into virtual worship services online essentially means the government dictates how congregations should worship their god.
“Under the District’s four-stage plan, CHBC’s in-person worship gatherings will be prohibited until scientists develop either a widely-available vaccine or an effective therapy for COVID-19,” the lawsuit points out.
“In hopes of resuming its corporate worship gatherings in the District of Columbia, CHBC filed an application with the Mayor’s Office on June 10, 2020, seeking a waiver from Mayor Bowser’s prohibition on large gatherings.”
However, “the District refused to rule on the Church’s application for months before rejecting the application last week, leaving CHBC subject to the Mayor’s executive order, the violation of which is punishable by civil and administrative penalties.”
The lawsuit also called out Bowser for being hypocritical when it comes to large gatherings.
“For example, on June 6, 2020, Mayor Bowser appeared personally at an outdoor gathering of tens of thousands of people at the corner of 16th and H Streets NW and delivered a speech describing the large gathering as ‘wonderful to see.’ Similarly, on four occasions between June and August 2020, the District’s Metropolitan Police Department closed city streets to accommodate protests and marches of thousands to tens of thousands of people.”
CHBC made a point of taking “no issue with Defendants’ decision to permit these gatherings, which are themselves protected by the First Amendment.” Precisely because of its support of the First Amendment, CHBC “does, however, take exception to Defendants’ decision to favor certain expressive gatherings over others. The First Amendment protects both mass protests and religious worship.”
When Mayor Bowser was asked “why she celebrates mass protests while houses of worship remain closed, she responded that ‘First Amendment protests and large gatherings are not the same’ because ‘in the United States of America, people can protest.’”
The lawsuit simply commented, “In the United States of America, people can gather for worship under the First Amendment as well.”
Across the country, lawsuits have been filed by churches throughout the six months of coronavirus restrictions. While some of them have been successful, state and local governments are still trying to restrict religious gatherings in many places.
Tony Perkins, president of pro-family and pro-life Family Research Council, summarized earlier this week that “religious worship is still prohibited or subjected to unequal treatment (compared to secular activities) in six states — California, Nevada, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Virginia.”
“In California, the state where some of the most egregious bias has surfaced, 30 of the state’s 58 counties continue to prohibit churches from holding indoor worship services,” he continued. “In counties where churches can meet indoors, singing and chanting activities are forbidden, and churches are subject to strict attendance limits.”
“Under the guise of enforcing emergency public safety guidelines, too many officials have overstepped their authority and unfairly targeted churches,” Perkins pointed out. “It is time for Americans of all faiths and religious backgrounds to stand up for their constitutionally protected freedoms and remind officials that church is essential.”
Readers may contact the office of Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and ask her to lift the restrictions imposed on religious gatherings. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (202) 727-2643.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-23--Bishop contrasts pro-abortion Biden with pro-life Trump to help voters decide

SPRINGFIELD , Illinois , September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Bishop Thomas Paprocki last Sunday informed the faithful of his diocese that abortion is “ the preeminent issue of our time ” while also calling out Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden by name for being pro-abortion .
Arguing that he “ can not endorse candidates for office , ” the bishop of Springfield , Illinois , explicitly contrasted the pro-abortion platform of the Democratic Party and its candidate for President with the pro-life platform of the Republican Party and President Donald Trump .
“ The 2020 Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every woman should be able to ‘ access safe and legal abortion , ’ ” Paprocki explained .
“ They also pledge to ‘ restore federal funding for Planned Parenthood , ’ the largest single provider of abortions in the U.S. , and repeal the Hyde Amendment , which since 1976 has prohibited federal funds to pay for abortions except in rare cases to save the life of the mother , or if the pregnancy arises from incest or rape.
” “ The platform also pledges that Democrats will appoint U.S. Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roe v. Wade , ” he added .
The bishop said Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris “ support the Democratic Party Platform promoting abortion and calling for the use of federal taxpayer funding of abortion and the appointment of pro-abortion judges .
Biden also pledged to restore the Obama-Biden policy that mandates churches , businesses , colleges , and religious orders like the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide coverage for abortion pills in their employees ’ health insurance plans.
” On the other hand , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unchanged since 2016 , asserts “ the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which can not be infringed.
” Paprocki said Republicans “ oppose the use of public funds to perform or promote abortion or to fund organizations , like Planned Parenthood , so long as they provide or refer for elective abortions or sell fetal body parts rather than provide healthcare , ” and “ support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pence “ promote laws that restrict abortion , oppose federal funding for abortions , and support the appointment of judges who respect the life of unborn babies.
” The bishop , coming as close to a formal endorsement as possible without actually saying it , encouraged his flock to “ keep this preeminent issue in mind as you form your conscience before casting your ballot and pray for our country that we may all live the Gospel of Life.
” Throughout the video and the corresponding column , Paprocki referred to various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Catholics in deciding who to vote for .
One key document is the 53-page “ Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship , ” released in an updated version in 2019 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) .
“ The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself , because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family , and because of the number of lives destroyed , ” Paprocki quoted from the document .
He quoted from Pope John Paul II ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value and inviolability of human life .
“ In the case of an intrinsically unjust law , such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia , it is therefore never licit to obey it , or to take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law , or vote for it , ” the Pope asserted in that document .
Paprocki also mentioned Pope Francis , who “ has called abortion a ‘ very grave sin ’ and a ‘ horrendous crime.
’ He indicated that he agreed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unborn as a preeminent priority , ’ according to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City , Kansas , who is also chairman of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops ( USCCB ) Committee for Pro-Life Activities.
” “ Commenting on his region ’ s ad limina visit with the Holy Father last January , Archbishop Naumann also told Catholic News Service that Pope Francis was ‘ stunned ’ when Archbishop Naumann told him that an estimated 61 million abortions have taken place in the United States since 1973 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Wade decision made the procedure legal , ” Paprocki added .
Fr .
Frank Pavone , head of Priests for Life , said Biden ’ s “ failure to protect the unborn puts him not only in conflict with the Catholic faith but with the Christian Gospel , the founding principles of America , the very meaning of public service , and basic human decency .
You can ’ t kill babies , and you can ’ t authorize anyone else to do so.
” Fr .
Stephen Imbarrato , a regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Rescue , explained , “ Many people respond to my comments with , ‘ What about Trump ?
’ This is not about Trump .
Trump isn ’ t even Catholic .
This is a Catholic issue .
A Catholic can ’ t vote for Biden whether they feel in good conscience they can or can ’ t vote for Trump.
” In an attempt to reach out to Catholic voters across the nation , Biden ’ s campaign formed “ Catholics for Biden ” earlier this month .
Pro-life priests denounced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Catholics for Biden is a scam , ” said Fr .
Michael Orsi , a former chaplain of Ave Maria School of Law in Naples , Florida , who currently serves as parochial vicar for St. Agnes Parish in the same city .
The group seeks “ to gloss over his hostility to the Catholic teaching condemning abortion , ” Orsi told LifeSiteNews .
“ It grasps onto the Seamless Garment canard and encourages voters to weigh all of the perceived ‘ good things ’ that the Democrats promote for social justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitlements presume an equality in the issues .
Unless a person has the right to life , all else is meaningless.
” “ People who talk about ‘ single-issue Catholic voting ’ are setting up a straw man , ” Fr .
Pavone said .
“ We all know there are many issues .
But if a candidate came along and said , ‘ I support terrorism , ’ voters would not ask , ‘ OK , but what ’ s your healthcare plan ?
’ Certain issues disqualify candidates.
” Pro-life groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ most pro-abortion presidential ticket in American history .
”

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Bishop Thomas Paprocki last Sunday informed the faithful of his diocese that abortion is “the preeminent issue of our time” while also calling out Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden by name for being pro-abortion.
Arguing that he “cannot endorse candidates for office,” the bishop of Springfield, Illinois, explicitly contrasted the pro-abortion platform of the Democratic Party and its candidate for President with the pro-life platform of the Republican Party and President Donald Trump.
“The 2020 Democratic Party platform states that Democrats believe unequivocally that every woman should be able to ‘access safe and legal abortion,’” Paprocki explained. “They also pledge to ‘restore federal funding for Planned Parenthood,’ the largest single provider of abortions in the U.S., and repeal the Hyde Amendment, which since 1976 has prohibited federal funds to pay for abortions except in rare cases to save the life of the mother, or if the pregnancy arises from incest or rape.”
“The platform also pledges that Democrats will appoint U.S. Supreme Court justices and federal judges who will uphold Roe v. Wade,” he added.
The bishop said Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris “support the Democratic Party Platform promoting abortion and calling for the use of federal taxpayer funding of abortion and the appointment of pro-abortion judges. Biden also pledged to restore the Obama-Biden policy that mandates churches, businesses, colleges, and religious orders like the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide coverage for abortion pills in their employees’ health insurance plans.”
On the other hand, the Republican Party Platform, which has remained unchanged since 2016, asserts “the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.”
Paprocki said Republicans “oppose the use of public funds to perform or promote abortion or to fund organizations, like Planned Parenthood, so long as they provide or refer for elective abortions or sell fetal body parts rather than provide healthcare,” and “support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.”
Both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence “promote laws that restrict abortion, oppose federal funding for abortions, and support the appointment of judges who respect the life of unborn babies.”
The bishop, coming as close to a formal endorsement as possible without actually saying it, encouraged his flock to “keep this preeminent issue in mind as you form your conscience before casting your ballot and pray for our country that we may all live the Gospel of Life.”
Throughout the video and the corresponding column, Paprocki referred to various Church documents indicating the importance of abortion for Catholics in deciding who to vote for.
One key document is the 53-page “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” released in an updated version in 2019 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
“The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed,” Paprocki quoted from the document.
He quoted from Pope John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae on the value and inviolability of human life. “In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it,” the Pope asserted in that document.
Paprocki also mentioned Pope Francis, who “has called abortion a ‘very grave sin’ and a ‘horrendous crime.’ He indicated that he agreed with the U.S. bishops ‘identifying the protection of the unborn as a preeminent priority,’ according to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who is also chairman of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) Committee for Pro-Life Activities.”
“Commenting on his region’s ad limina visit with the Holy Father last January, Archbishop Naumann also told Catholic News Service that Pope Francis was ‘stunned’ when Archbishop Naumann told him that an estimated 61 million abortions have taken place in the United States since 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision made the procedure legal,” Paprocki added.
Fr. Frank Pavone, head of Priests for Life, said Biden’s “failure to protect the unborn puts him not only in conflict with the Catholic faith but with the Christian Gospel, the founding principles of America, the very meaning of public service, and basic human decency. You can’t kill babies, and you can’t authorize anyone else to do so.”
Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, a regular on EWTN and a member of Red Rose Rescue, explained, “Many people respond to my comments with, ‘What about Trump?’ This is not about Trump. Trump isn’t even Catholic. This is a Catholic issue. A Catholic can’t vote for Biden whether they feel in good conscience they can or can’t vote for Trump.”
In an attempt to reach out to Catholic voters across the nation, Biden’s campaign formed “Catholics for Biden” earlier this month. Pro-life priests denounced the group.
“The whole idea of Catholics for Biden is a scam,” said Fr. Michael Orsi, a former chaplain of Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida, who currently serves as parochial vicar for St. Agnes Parish in the same city.
The group seeks “to gloss over his hostility to the Catholic teaching condemning abortion,” Orsi told LifeSiteNews. “It grasps onto the Seamless Garment canard and encourages voters to weigh all of the perceived ‘good things’ that the Democrats promote for social justice. The fact is that all these entitlements presume an equality in the issues. Unless a person has the right to life, all else is meaningless.”
“People who talk about ‘single-issue Catholic voting’ are setting up a straw man,” Fr. Pavone said. “We all know there are many issues. But if a candidate came along and said, ‘I support terrorism,’ voters would not ask, ‘OK, but what’s your healthcare plan?’ Certain issues disqualify candidates.”
Pro-life groups have condemned Biden and Harris as the “most pro-abortion presidential ticket in American history.”
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lifesitenews--2020-09-23--Barrett, Rushing, Lagoa: Who will Trump put on the Supreme Court?

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – With President Donald Trump slated to announce his nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this weekend , all eyes are currently on three women widely believed to be finalists for the vacancy , searching for clues as to whether they would be true conservative originalists , or betray conservatives as so many Republican appointees have done in the past .
A left-wing jurist appointed by former President Bill Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 following a battle with pancreatic cancer .
Trump , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , and a narrow majority of Senate Republicans have confirmed they will move to fill her seat before the November election .
Trump has also confirmed that his choice for Ginsburg ’ s successor will be a woman , leading most to conclude the nominee will be either Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ( age 48 ) ; Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ( age 38 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ( age 52 ) .
Barrett is a former University of Notre Dame law professor and Catholic mother of seven who became famous when Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D-CA ) interrogated her about her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearing for the Seventh Circuit in 2017 .
She is believed by many to be the most likely pick , as Axios reported last year that Trump privately said he was “ saving her ” to replace Ginsburg .
A former clerk for the late conservative stalwart Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a pro-life originalist .
She was a member of Notre Dame ’ s Faculty for Life group , signed a 2015 letter expressing “ solidarity with our sisters in the developing world against what Pope Francis has described as ‘ forms of ideological colonization which are out to destroy the family ’ ” ; and is reported to have signed another letter published by Becket Law criticizing the Obama administration ’ s contraception mandate .
Revolver News further notes that Barrett has taken the conservative and/or originalist stance in written positions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual assault claims on college campuses , the right to bear arms , and immigration .
Perhaps most encouragingly , Barrett has also written multiple articles critical of the stare decisis doctrine , which grants weight to past rulings ’ status as precedent , regardless of whether they were rightly decided .
Despite her popularity among conservatives , some have also expressed doubts about her .
Last year , conservative Catholic writer John Zmirak wrote that she was “ not a safe pick ” because of an article she wrote in law school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Catholic judge would have to recuse herself when asked to impose the death penalty on someone .
While ( as noted above ) Barrett has presided over immigration cases without recusing herself ( and has voted to uphold executions more than once ) , Zmirak argued that Barrett might reverse course should Catholic authorities such as Pope Francis move to make their left-wing views official Catholic doctrine .
Barrett addressed the article in her confirmation hearings for the Seventh Circuit , explaining that “ I was very much the junior partner in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reflect “ how I think about these questions today with…the benefit of 20 years of experience and also the ability to speak solely in my own voice ...
I can not think of any cases or category of cases in which I would feel obliged to recuse on grounds of conscience.
” On Wednesday , Zmirak wrote that Barrett has “ proved better than her word ” on the Seventh Circuit , leading him to “ withdraw my previous questions about her fitness.
” Others have raised concerns over Barrett joining a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party ’ s request for an emergency stay of the governor ’ s 50-person limit on religious gatherings .
Attorney Robert Barnes takes this as evidence she ’ s an “ authoritarian ” ; Barrett defenders such as National Review ’ s Ed Whelan argue the decision merely applied the legal criteria necessary for a stay .
An evangelical attorney who could be on the court for as much as half a century given her relative youth , Rushing is a former intern of the socially conservative Alliance Defending Freedom ( ADF ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gorsuch and conservative stalwart Justice Clarence Thomas .
She defended ADF against claims it was a “ hate group ” when they were raised by Democrats in March .
Having only been a judge since March 2019 , Rushing ’ s paper trail on the issues is shorter than many contenders , though her policy views can be inferred to a degree from her association with ADF .
In 2012 she was a volunteer legal advisor for Republican Mitt Romney ’ s presidential campaign , while in 2009 she volunteered for the Maryland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arora .
In a 2005 article coauthored by ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence , Rushing criticized lawsuits challenging the Ten Commandments on public property , writing that “ granting anti-religious observers veto power to drive all religious references from the public square replaces a ‘ sense of proportion and fit with uncompromising rigidity at a costly price to the values of the First Amendment.
’ ” Rushing has also criticized United States v. Windsor , the 2013 Supreme Court decision that gutted the federal Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had prevailed throughout most of human history and , at the time of DOMA ’ s enactment , had been adopted by every State in the nation and every nation in the world , was evidence that the law did have a valid basis , or at least explained how lawmakers could enact such a law motivated by something other than hatred , ” she said in 2013 .
“ Most interestingly , the dissenters observed that the majority could have decided the case on legal principles that would have accused DOMA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error , which is an error that one could make in good faith .
But instead , the majority chose [ to ] write the opinion in a unique way that calls it bigotry to believe that homosexuality does not comport with Judeo-Christian morality.
” A Cuban and former member of the Florida Supreme Court , Lagoa ’ s appeal is rooted in large part on the theory that selecting her could help Trump win Florida .
But several conservatives are wary that she may be unreliable , due at least in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found her acceptable enough to confirm for her current position .
That said , she does have some conservative credentials .
“ Just last week , for example , she was one of the deciding votes that limited Florida Republicans ’ incredibly ill-advised decision to allow a referendum on permitting felons to vote , ” Revolver notes .
“ Thanks to her , thousands of Florida felons that haven ’ t even paid the fines they were ordered to as part of their sentences will not be voting against President Trump on November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opinion limiting illegal aliens ’ ability to tie up the courts with appeals after they are given an order of removal.
” Notably , in 2000 Lagoa also worked pro bono on the legal team that fought the Clinton administration ’ s ultimately-successful efforts to deport then-child Elián González to Communist Cuba , a case widely believed to have spurred Floridians to choose President George W. Bush over Clinton ’ s vice president , Al Gore .
“ Judge Lagoa is a committed originalist and textualist , as demonstrated by her 14-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written opinions , ” Jesse Panuccio of the U.S. Justice Department told the Washington Free Beacon .
Other women Trump may nominate include Kate Todd and Martha Pacold , who both clerked for Justice Thomas .

All eyes are currently on three women widely believed to be finalists for the vacancy.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – With President Donald Trump slated to announce his nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this weekend, all eyes are currently on three women widely believed to be finalists for the vacancy, searching for clues as to whether they would be true conservative originalists, or betray conservatives as so many Republican appointees have done in the past.
A left-wing jurist appointed by former President Bill Clinton, Ginsburg passed away Friday at age 87 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and a narrow majority of Senate Republicans have confirmed they will move to fill her seat before the November election.
Trump has also confirmed that his choice for Ginsburg’s successor will be a woman, leading most to conclude the nominee will be either Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (age 48); Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (age 38); or Judge Barbara Lagoa of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (age 52).
Amy Coney Barrett
Barrett is a former University of Notre Dame law professor and Catholic mother of seven who became famous when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) interrogated her about her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearing for the Seventh Circuit in 2017. She is believed by many to be the most likely pick, as Axios reported last year that Trump privately said he was “saving her” to replace Ginsburg.
A former clerk for the late conservative stalwart Justice Antonin Scalia, Barrett is widely regarded as a pro-life originalist. She was a member of Notre Dame’s Faculty for Life group, signed a 2015 letter expressing “solidarity with our sisters in the developing world against what Pope Francis has described as ‘forms of ideological colonization which are out to destroy the family’”; and is reported to have signed another letter published by Becket Law criticizing the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.
Revolver News further notes that Barrett has taken the conservative and/or originalist stance in written positions on hot-button issues such as due process for sexual assault claims on college campuses, the right to bear arms, and immigration. Perhaps most encouragingly, Barrett has also written multiple articles critical of the stare decisis doctrine, which grants weight to past rulings’ status as precedent, regardless of whether they were rightly decided.
Despite her popularity among conservatives, some have also expressed doubts about her. Last year, conservative Catholic writer John Zmirak wrote that she was “not a safe pick” because of an article she wrote in law school with her then-professor John Garvey arguing that a Catholic judge would have to recuse herself when asked to impose the death penalty on someone.
While (as noted above) Barrett has presided over immigration cases without recusing herself (and has voted to uphold executions more than once), Zmirak argued that Barrett might reverse course should Catholic authorities such as Pope Francis move to make their left-wing views official Catholic doctrine.
Barrett addressed the article in her confirmation hearings for the Seventh Circuit, explaining that “I was very much the junior partner in our collaboration” and that it does not reflect “how I think about these questions today with…the benefit of 20 years of experience and also the ability to speak solely in my own voice…I cannot think of any cases or category of cases in which I would feel obliged to recuse on grounds of conscience.”
On Wednesday, Zmirak wrote that Barrett has “proved better than her word” on the Seventh Circuit, leading him to “withdraw my previous questions about her fitness.”
Others have raised concerns over Barrett joining a panel ruling that denied the Illinois Republican Party’s request for an emergency stay of the governor’s 50-person limit on religious gatherings. Attorney Robert Barnes takes this as evidence she’s an “authoritarian”; Barrett defenders such as National Review’s Ed Whelan argue the decision merely applied the legal criteria necessary for a stay.
Allison Jones Rushing
An evangelical attorney who could be on the court for as much as half a century given her relative youth, Rushing is a former intern of the socially conservative Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and has clerked for both then-Judge Neil Gorsuch and conservative stalwart Justice Clarence Thomas. She defended ADF against claims it was a “hate group” when they were raised by Democrats in March.
Having only been a judge since March 2019, Rushing’s paper trail on the issues is shorter than many contenders, though her policy views can be inferred to a degree from her association with ADF. In 2012 she was a volunteer legal advisor for Republican Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, while in 2009 she volunteered for the Maryland House of Delegates campaign for Democrat Sam Arora.
In a 2005 article coauthored by ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence, Rushing criticized lawsuits challenging the Ten Commandments on public property, writing that “granting anti-religious observers veto power to drive all religious references from the public square replaces a ‘sense of proportion and fit with uncompromising rigidity at a costly price to the values of the First Amendment.’”
Rushing has also criticized United States v. Windsor, the 2013 Supreme Court decision that gutted the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). “DOMA codified the definition of marriage that had prevailed throughout most of human history and, at the time of DOMA’s enactment, had been adopted by every State in the nation and every nation in the world, was evidence that the law did have a valid basis, or at least explained how lawmakers could enact such a law motivated by something other than hatred,” she said in 2013.
“Most interestingly, the dissenters observed that the majority could have decided the case on legal principles that would have accused DOMA’s supporters simply of making a legal error, which is an error that one could make in good faith. But instead, the majority chose [to] write the opinion in a unique way that calls it bigotry to believe that homosexuality does not comport with Judeo-Christian morality.”
Barbara Lagoa
A Cuban and former member of the Florida Supreme Court, Lagoa’s appeal is rooted in large part on the theory that selecting her could help Trump win Florida. But several conservatives are wary that she may be unreliable, due at least in part to the fact that 26 Senate Democrats found her acceptable enough to confirm for her current position.
That said, she does have some conservative credentials. “Just last week, for example, she was one of the deciding votes that limited Florida Republicans’ incredibly ill-advised decision to allow a referendum on permitting felons to vote,” Revolver notes. “Thanks to her, thousands of Florida felons that haven’t even paid the fines they were ordered to as part of their sentences will not be voting against President Trump on November 3rd. She also recently joined in an opinion limiting illegal aliens’ ability to tie up the courts with appeals after they are given an order of removal.”
Notably, in 2000 Lagoa also worked pro bono on the legal team that fought the Clinton administration’s ultimately-successful efforts to deport then-child Elián González to Communist Cuba, a case widely believed to have spurred Floridians to choose President George W. Bush over Clinton’s vice president, Al Gore.
“Judge Lagoa is a committed originalist and textualist, as demonstrated by her 14-year record as an appellate judge and 400 written opinions,” Jesse Panuccio of the U.S. Justice Department told the Washington Free Beacon.
Other women Trump may nominate include Kate Todd and Martha Pacold, who both clerked for Justice Thomas.
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