lifesitenews--2020-05-22--Minnesota Catholic, Lutheran bishops to gov: We’re opening up regardless of your order – live update

Minnesota Catholic, Lutheran bishops to gov: We’re opening up regardless of your order – live updates

LifeSite ’ s previous ( and future ) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE .
May 20 , 2020 , 7:21 p.m. EST : BREAKING : The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz ’ s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people ( more information on the letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , 4:48 p.m. EST : This afternoon , President Trump demanded states allow churches to re-open .
He said : “ Today I am identifying houses of worship – churches , synagogue , mosques – as essential places that provide essential services .
Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential but have left out churches and other houses of worship .
It ’ s not right .
So I ’ m correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential .
I call upon governors to allow our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now .
If there ’ s any question , they ’ re gon na have to call me , but they ’ re not gon na be successful in that call .
These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united .
The people are demanding to go to church and synagogue , go to their mosque – many millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life .
The ministers , pastors , rabbis , imams , and other faith leaders will make sure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pray .
I know them well .
They love their congregations .
They love their people .
They don ’ t want anything bad to happen to them or to anybody else .
The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now , for this weekend .
If they don ’ t do it , I will override the governors .
In America , we need more prayer , not less.
” May 22 , 2020 , 1:28 p.m. EST @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandatory coronavirus vaccine has surged past half a million signatures .
Cardinal Raymond Burke spoke against a mandatory vaccine at the 2020 Rome Life Forum , which is being held online .
“ There is a certain movement to insist that now everyone must be vaccinated against the coronavirus , ” he said .
The cardinal also mentioned that some groups suggest “ a kind of microchip needs to be placed under the skin of every person , so that at any moment he or she can be controlled by the State regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only imagine.
” A state mandating vaccinations or even microchips “ violates the integrity of its citizens , ” said Burke .
“ While the State can provide reasonable regulations for the safeguarding of health , it is not the ultimate provider of health .
God is .
Whatever the State proposes must respect God and His Law.
” President Trump says he wants churches to reopen .
500 doctors have warned the president that there will be “ millions of casualties ” if the shutdowns continue .
May 21 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes : The 2020 Rome Life Forum , Coronavirus in the Light of Fatima : A Tragedy and a Source of Hope is happening online right now .
It is free to participate .
LifeSiteNews will have additional coverage of the event this week .
Reason reported yesterday , “ Developments abroad put a damper on hopes that U.S. life will return to normal soon .
Areas of Argentina , Germany , Iran , and elsewhere have seen COVID-19 cases surge again after starting to ease shutdown rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are once again tightening the screws on citizens ' movement , fraternization , and economic activity.
” A Mississippi church suing its city over the coronavirus lockdown has been destroyed by arson .
May 20 , 2020 , 7:21 p.m. EST : BREAKING : The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz ’ s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walz ’ s latest re-opening order allows the Mall of America to open its doors to those seeking retail therapy but disallows churches from providing spiritual healing to their congregations .
At the same time , The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison a legal letter explaining why continuing to keep churches closed violates the First Amendment .
Also representing the Catholic and Lutheran Churches is global law firm Sidley Austin LLP .
On May 13 , 2020 , Governor Tim Walz issued an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the State of Minnesota .
The order allows malls , shops , and other retailers to open their doors at fifty percent capacity , allows businesses—from pet-grooming services to medical cannabis operations—to resume in-person operations , and even announces a phased plan for reopening bars and restaurants , but explicitly leaves in place bans on in-person worship services for more than ten people .
Even Minnesota casinos are reopening starting May 26 .
After weeks of dialogue with Governor Walz to try to achieve equal treatment for houses of worship , today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would resume worship services for their congregations at thirty-three percent capacity on Tuesday , May 26 , with Pentecost Sunday , May 31 , as the first day of Sunday services .
The churches have committed to instituting rigorous social distancing and hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
“ Darkness and despair have taken hold of so many of our fellow Americans in the face of the economic and social hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic , ” said Archbishop Hebda .
“ Faith has always been a source of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever it is of the utmost importance that we are able to meet the spiritual needs of our community.
” Since the beginning of Minnesota ’ s stay-at-home order suicide hotlines have seen spikes in calls as high as 300 percent in parts of the State , as well as a 25 percent increase in calls about domestic violence .
Millions of Americans seek comfort and strength in their faith communities , which also serve as safe spaces for victims of domestic violence and those suffering with addictions .
“ Throughout this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christ ’ s love by protecting people from the spread of illness .
That ’ s why it is so disheartening that the Governor has subordinated our spiritual well-being to the economic well-being of the State , ” said Rev .
Dr. Lucas Woodford , president of the Minnesota South District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod .
“ Now that the State has deemed the risk of spreading coronavirus low enough to reopen non-essential business , we respectfully believe that it is our right and duty to safely resume public ministry to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor.
” In March , well before statewide stay-at-home orders came into effect , both the Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod voluntarily suspended in-person worship services to preserve the health and safety of their communities .
On May 7 , and again on May 16 the churches presented Governor Walz with proposed protocols for resuming in-person worship services in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ If malls , casinos , liquor stores , bars , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t Minnesota churches ?
” said Eric Rassbach , vice president and senior counsel at Becket .
“ Our Constitution stands for ‘ equal justice under law ’ and imposing a special disability on churches is anything but .
Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison should ensure equal treatment for churches and houses of worship—especially because they are crucial to helping our nation overcome this crisis .
May 19 , 2020 , 11:37 a.m. EST : Trump has given the World Health Organization ( WHO ) 30 days to reform or it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China , ” he said in a letter to the pro-abortion United Nations entity .
“ I can not allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to finance an organization that , in its present state , is so clearly not serving America ’ s interests.
” May 19 , 2020 , 9:59 a.m. EST : Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes : • We can ’ t let coronavirus fear paralyze our society .
Time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prof says pandemic lockdowns are ‘ doomed to fail ’ • Chicago Catholic group : Cupich ’ s plan to re-open churches is ‘ betrayal of Christ ’ May 19 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – President Donald Trump has revealed he has been taking hydroxychloroquine , the drug some doctors say has been highly effective at treating the coronavirus , for “ a few weeks.
” The drug is normally prescribed to treat malaria , arthritis , and lupus .
He has also been taking a zinc supplement .
The president has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is taking the drugs as a prophylactic .
A cafe in Germany is providing patrons with pool noodles to wear on their heads to aid in “ social distancing.
” People who try to swim at public beaches over Memorial Day weekend will be “ taken right out of the water , ” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said .
He also said lifeguards are banned from being on duty .
It is unclear who will be tasked with extracting swimmers .
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( HHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ in places that are opening , we 're not seeing this spike in cases . ''
“ We still see spikes in some areas that are , in fact , closed , ” he added .
According to Axios , Trump “ declined an invitation to address a virtual gathering of the World Health Organization , which proceeded today with addresses from several world leaders but only a blistering rebuke from the U.S. ” China 's President Xi Jinping accepted an invitation to speak at the gathering .
The pro-abortion World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its connections to communist China are currently under scrutiny , and Trump has frozen U.S. funding to it .
The Epoch Times has a list of where all 50 states and the District of Columbia are in their lockdowns or easing of them .
Idaho , Florida , Mississippi , Montana , and South Carolina are among the freer states .
California , Illinois , Washington , D.C. , New Mexico , New York , Hawaii , and Washington state are among the least free .
Massachusetts churches are allowed to open at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of worship are encouraged to modify communal rituals , like taking communion or passing of the peace , so as to limit contact with others , ” its government health guidelines urge .
“ Consider distributing , where applicable , prepackaged communion or sacraments.
” Correction 05-20-2020 21:25 EDT : St. Paul ’ s Cathedral is in St. Paul , not Minneapolis .
LifeSite regrets the error .

Live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to pro-life issues, faith, and freedom.
LifeSite’s previous (and future) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE.
May 20, 2020, 7:21 p.m. EST: BREAKING: The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz’s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people (more information on the letters is below).
May 22, 2020, 4:48 p.m. EST: This afternoon, President Trump demanded states allow churches to re-open. He said:
“Today I am identifying houses of worship – churches, synagogue, mosques – as essential places that provide essential services. Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential but have left out churches and other houses of worship. It’s not right. So I’m correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential. I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now. If there’s any question, they’re gonna have to call me, but they’re not gonna be successful in that call. These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united. The people are demanding to go to church and synagogue, go to their mosque – many millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life. The ministers, pastors, rabbis, imams, and other faith leaders will make sure that their congregations are safe as they gather and pray. I know them well. They love their congregations. They love their people. They don’t want anything bad to happen to them or to anybody else. The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, for this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors. In America, we need more prayer, not less.”
May 22, 2020, 1:28 p.m. EST: LifeSite’s petition against a mandatory coronavirus vaccine has surged past half a million signatures.
Cardinal Raymond Burke spoke against a mandatory vaccine at the 2020 Rome Life Forum, which is being held online.
“There is a certain movement to insist that now everyone must be vaccinated against the coronavirus,” he said.
The cardinal also mentioned that some groups suggest “a kind of microchip needs to be placed under the skin of every person, so that at any moment he or she can be controlled by the State regarding health and about other matters which we can only imagine.”
A state mandating vaccinations or even microchips “violates the integrity of its citizens,” said Burke. “While the State can provide reasonable regulations for the safeguarding of health, it is not the ultimate provider of health. God is. Whatever the State proposes must respect God and His Law.”
President Trump says he wants churches to reopen.
500 doctors have warned the president that there will be “millions of casualties” if the shutdowns continue.
May 21, 2020, 2:24 p.m. EST: Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes:
The 2020 Rome Life Forum, Coronavirus in the Light of Fatima: A Tragedy and a Source of Hope is happening online right now. It is free to participate. LifeSiteNews will have additional coverage of the event this week.
Reason reported yesterday, “Developments abroad put a damper on hopes that U.S. life will return to normal soon. Areas of Argentina, Germany, Iran, and elsewhere have seen COVID-19 cases surge again after starting to ease shutdown rules. Now, authorities in these places are once again tightening the screws on citizens' movement, fraternization, and economic activity.”
May 21, 2020, 12:48 p.m. EST: FOX News reported yesterday:
More than 600 doctors signed onto a letter sent to President Trump Tuesday pushing him to end the “national shutdown” aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, calling the widespread state orders keeping businesses closed and kids home from school a “mass casualty incident” with “exponentially growing health consequences.” The letter outlines a variety of consequences that the doctors have observed resulting from the coronavirus shutdowns, including patients missing routine checkups that could detect things like heart problems or cancer, increases in substance and alcohol abuse, and increases in financial instability that could lead to “[p]overty and financial uncertainty,” which “is closely linked to poor health.”
A Mississippi church suing its city over the coronavirus lockdown has been destroyed by arson.
May 20, 2020, 7:21 p.m. EST: BREAKING: The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz’s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people.
Governor Walz’s latest re-opening order allows the Mall of America to open its doors to those seeking retail therapy but disallows churches from providing spiritual healing to their congregations. At the same time, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison a legal letter explaining why continuing to keep churches closed violates the First Amendment. Also representing the Catholic and Lutheran Churches is global law firm Sidley Austin LLP.
Becket explained in a press release:
On May 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order with guidelines for reopening commerce in the State of Minnesota. The order allows malls, shops, and other retailers to open their doors at fifty percent capacity, allows businesses—from pet-grooming services to medical cannabis operations—to resume in-person operations, and even announces a phased plan for reopening bars and restaurants, but explicitly leaves in place bans on in-person worship services for more than ten people. Even Minnesota casinos are reopening starting May 26. After weeks of dialogue with Governor Walz to try to achieve equal treatment for houses of worship, today the Catholic and Lutheran Churches announced that they would resume worship services for their congregations at thirty-three percent capacity on Tuesday, May 26, with Pentecost Sunday, May 31, as the first day of Sunday services. The churches have committed to instituting rigorous social distancing and hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus. “Darkness and despair have taken hold of so many of our fellow Americans in the face of the economic and social hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Archbishop Hebda. “Faith has always been a source of comfort and strength and now more than ever it is of the utmost importance that we are able to meet the spiritual needs of our community.” Since the beginning of Minnesota’s stay-at-home order suicide hotlines have seen spikes in calls as high as 300 percent in parts of the State, as well as a 25 percent increase in calls about domestic violence. Millions of Americans seek comfort and strength in their faith communities, which also serve as safe spaces for victims of domestic violence and those suffering with addictions. “Throughout this crisis, we have been committed to modeling Christ’s love by protecting people from the spread of illness. That’s why it is so disheartening that the Governor has subordinated our spiritual well-being to the economic well-being of the State,” said Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford, president of the Minnesota South District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. “Now that the State has deemed the risk of spreading coronavirus low enough to reopen non-essential business, we respectfully believe that it is our right and duty to safely resume public ministry to the faithful even without the support of the Governor.” In March, well before statewide stay-at-home orders came into effect, both the Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod voluntarily suspended in-person worship services to preserve the health and safety of their communities. On May 7, and again on May 16 the churches presented Governor Walz with proposed protocols for resuming in-person worship services in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If malls, casinos, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants are reopening, why can’t Minnesota churches?” said Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. “Our Constitution stands for ‘equal justice under law’ and imposing a special disability on churches is anything but. Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison should ensure equal treatment for churches and houses of worship—especially because they are crucial to helping our nation overcome this crisis.
BREAKING: The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will NOT comply with the new guidance from Governor Walz that only allows 10 people inside or outside churches. A letter to parishes across the state is signed by Archbishop Hebda and all six bishops in the state. https://t.co/PyzFIorMed — Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) May 20, 2020
May 19, 2020, 11:37 a.m. EST: Trump has given the World Health Organization (WHO) 30 days to reform or it will permanently lose U.S. funding.
“The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China,” he said in a letter to the pro-abortion United Nations entity. “I cannot allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to finance an organization that, in its present state, is so clearly not serving America’s interests.”
May 19, 2020, 9:59 a.m. EST: Recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis includes:
May 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – President Donald Trump has revealed he has been taking hydroxychloroquine, the drug some doctors say has been highly effective at treating the coronavirus, for “a few weeks.” The drug is normally prescribed to treat malaria, arthritis, and lupus. He has also been taking a zinc supplement. The president has repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus but is taking the drugs as a prophylactic.
A cafe in Germany is providing patrons with pool noodles to wear on their heads to aid in “social distancing.”
People who try to swim at public beaches over Memorial Day weekend will be “taken right out of the water,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said. He also said lifeguards are banned from being on duty. It is unclear who will be tasked with extracting swimmers.
The Associated Press reports:
A county judge has declared Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s coronavirus restrictions “null and void” because she didn’t have her emergency orders approved by the Legislature. Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff made the ruling Monday in a lawsuit brought by churches that had sued saying the social-distancing directives were unconstitutional. … Brown said she would immediately appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court to try to keep the emergency orders in effect.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar said on CNN that “in places that are opening, we're not seeing this spike in cases.”
“We still see spikes in some areas that are, in fact, closed,” he added.
Breitbart reports:
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar during Monday’s “America’s Newsroom” on Fox News Channel revealed that at President Donald Trump’s request, he has delivered “an extremely stern warning” to the World Health Organization in regards to its handling of the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak in China. Azar said his message included a call for “significant structural reform” in the organization, adding the W.H.O. and China need “to be held accountable” for their actions that allowed the virus to spread around the world.
According to Axios, Trump “declined an invitation to address a virtual gathering of the World Health Organization, which proceeded today with addresses from several world leaders but only a blistering rebuke from the U.S.”
China's President Xi Jinping accepted an invitation to speak at the gathering.
The pro-abortion World Health Organization is a United Nations entity. Its connections to communist China are currently under scrutiny, and Trump has frozen U.S. funding to it.
The Epoch Times has a list of where all 50 states and the District of Columbia are in their lockdowns or easing of them.
Idaho, Florida, Mississippi, Montana, and South Carolina are among the freer states.
California, Illinois, Washington, D.C., New Mexico, New York, Hawaii, and Washington state are among the least free.
Massachusetts churches are allowed to open at 40 percent capacity now. “Places of worship are encouraged to modify communal rituals, like taking communion or passing of the peace, so as to limit contact with others,” its government health guidelines urge. “Consider distributing, where applicable, prepackaged communion or sacraments.”
Correction 05-20-2020 21:25 EDT: St. Paul’s Cathedral is in St. Paul, not Minneapolis. LifeSite regrets the error.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-22--UK Health Secretary leaves door open to making COVID-19 vaccine mandatory

LONDON , May 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Government health experts in the UK won ’ t say if a future vaccine for the coronavirus will be government-mandated for all citizens .
Comments made May 21 during the daily coronavirus update from Downing Street , the official residence of Britain ’ s Prime Minister , suggest that the door is being left open .
When asked by a reporter if the vaccination would be “ mandatory ” once it is developed , the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Health and Social Care , Mike Hancock , acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we 've addressed yet.
” “ We ’ re doing everything we can to get a vaccine ” said Hancock , “ and we will only recommend a vaccine if it is safe .
That means that if we get a vaccine and people are asked to take that vaccine , then they absolutely should , because we ’ ll only do it on the basis of clinical advice that it ’ s safe.
” “ The question of whether it ’ s mandatory is not one that we ’ ve addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave the door open to mandatory vaccinations .
“ But I would hope given the scale of this crisis and given the overwhelming need for us to get through this and to get the country back on its feet and the very positive impact that a vaccine would have that everybody would have the vaccine , ” he added .
Medical experts at Hancock ’ s side offered remarks suggesting that there is no substantive reason to require individuals to undergo immunization if they preferred not to .
John Newton , Coordinator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ The most successful vaccine programs tend to be by consent.
” “ What really matters is a clear explanation of the benefits , any risks that are associated with the vaccine , and a really good system to make the vaccine available to everybody who needs it , ” said Newton .
“ So although some countries have adopted mandatory programs , the most successful programs tend to be done on the basis of consent , good information , and good delivery mechanisms , ” concluded Newton .
Newton , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on mandatory vaccination , stating : “ But clearly , mandation is there – it can be used in some instances.
” Chris Whitty , Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and Head of the National Institute for Health Research , explained during the press conference that vaccines can be utilized in different ways .
“ If you think about vaccines , there are a lot of different sorts of vaccines but you can broadly use them in two ways.
” “ The first way is an ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You give it to the whole community , rather like MMR [ measles , mumps , and rubella ] , and that protects everybody from getting these infections.
” “ But the other way you can use a vaccine is that you can use it as a ‘ disease-modifying vaccine , ’ ” said Witty .
“ You give the vaccine to those people who are most at risk .
“ You might do this because there isn ’ t enough vaccine , so you ’ d want to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you might do it because there ’ s a partially-effective vaccine that can stop people dying , but is not enough to stop the transmission of the virus , ” he continued .
“ In that case you would give it to a much smaller number of people.
” “ Now clearly , in that second group you are absolutely doing it only to protect the person who is being vaccinated .
And if they choose not to have that protection , it doesn ’ t affect anybody else , ’ said Witty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are obviously denying themselves the protection that this kind of vaccine could provide .
”

'But clearly, mandation is there – it can be used in some instances'
LONDON, May 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Government health experts in the UK won’t say if a future vaccine for the coronavirus will be government-mandated for all citizens. Comments made May 21 during the daily coronavirus update from Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s Prime Minister, suggest that the door is being left open.
When asked by a reporter if the vaccination would be “mandatory” once it is developed, the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Mike Hancock, acknowledged that the question is “not one that we've addressed yet.”
“We’re doing everything we can to get a vaccine” said Hancock, “and we will only recommend a vaccine if it is safe. That means that if we get a vaccine and people are asked to take that vaccine, then they absolutely should, because we’ll only do it on the basis of clinical advice that it’s safe.”
“The question of whether it’s mandatory is not one that we’ve addressed yet,” said Hancock, seeming to leave the door open to mandatory vaccinations.
“But I would hope given the scale of this crisis and given the overwhelming need for us to get through this and to get the country back on its feet and the very positive impact that a vaccine would have that everybody would have the vaccine,” he added.
Medical experts at Hancock’s side offered remarks suggesting that there is no substantive reason to require individuals to undergo immunization if they preferred not to.
John Newton, Coordinator of the National Testing Effort, declared, “The most successful vaccine programs tend to be by consent.”
“What really matters is a clear explanation of the benefits, any risks that are associated with the vaccine, and a really good system to make the vaccine available to everybody who needs it,” said Newton.
“So although some countries have adopted mandatory programs, the most successful programs tend to be done on the basis of consent, good information, and good delivery mechanisms,” concluded Newton.
Newton, however, also did not close the door on mandatory vaccination, stating: “But clearly, mandation is there – it can be used in some instances.”
Chris Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and Head of the National Institute for Health Research, explained during the press conference that vaccines can be utilized in different ways.
“If you think about vaccines, there are a lot of different sorts of vaccines but you can broadly use them in two ways.”
“The first way is an ‘epidemic-modifying vaccine,’” said Witty. “You give it to the whole community, rather like MMR [measles, mumps, and rubella], and that protects everybody from getting these infections.”
“But the other way you can use a vaccine is that you can use it as a ‘disease-modifying vaccine,’” said Witty. “You give the vaccine to those people who are most at risk.
“You might do this because there isn’t enough vaccine, so you’d want to protect the people who are most vulnerable, or you might do it because there’s a partially-effective vaccine that can stop people dying, but is not enough to stop the transmission of the virus,” he continued. “In that case you would give it to a much smaller number of people.”
“Now clearly, in that second group you are absolutely doing it only to protect the person who is being vaccinated. And if they choose not to have that protection, it doesn’t affect anybody else,’ said Witty,
“That is simply their choice. They are obviously denying themselves the protection that this kind of vaccine could provide.”
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lifesitenews--2020-05-22--Left outraged as Hungary requires true sex on official documents

PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
BUDAPEST , Hungary , May 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Birth , marriage , and death records must reflect a citizen ’ s actual sex rather than “ gender identity , ” according to a newly-enacted Hungarian law that has drawn the ire of LGBT activists .
This week , lawmakers in Hungary approved a legislative package including a provision that forbids changing someone ’ s birth sex on official government documents , NBC News reported .
“ Sex or gender ” will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and will be determined based on a person ’ s chromosomes and biological sexual characteristics .
“ Given that the complete change of the biological sex is not possible , it is necessary to state in law that there is no possibility to change it in the registry of births , marriages and deaths , either , ” reads an explanation accompanying the provision .
The move has sparked outrage at home and abroad , from left-wing pressure groups to so-called “ human rights ” bodies .
“ This decision pushes Hungary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rights of transgender and intersex people , ” Amnesty International Hungary international researcher Krisztina Tamas-Saroy claimed .
“ It will not only expose them to further discrimination , but will also deepen an already intolerant and hostile environment faced by the LGBTI community.
” Late last month , Minister of the Prime Minister ’ s Office Gergely Gulyás responded to critics of the proposal with a letter stating that “ Hungary guarantees everybody ’ s fundamental rights , ” and the change “ will end a long-standing uncertainty in legal interpretation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ’ s ‘ sex ’ is not currently legally defined in Hungary due to its self-evident nature.
” Gulyás also pushed back against the notion that recognizing objective reality on government documents harms gender-confused individuals in any tangible way , as it “ does not affect men ’ s and women ’ s rights to freely experience and exercise their identities as they wish.
” While LGBT activists insist that being a man or woman is strictly a matter of self-perception , in reality sex is rooted in an individual ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characteristics .
The American Psychiatric Association still classifies gender dysphoria as a mental disorder , as did the World Health Organization until last summer .
Despite gender-fluidity advocates ’ insistence that indulging gender-confused individuals ’ chosen “ identity ” is essential to their health and happiness , gender confusion has been linked to a variety of long-term mental and emotional ills , including higher suicide rates .

To the chagrin of LGBT activists, the European nation is requiring that records conform to an individual's God-given gender.
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
BUDAPEST, Hungary, May 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Birth, marriage, and death records must reflect a citizen’s actual sex rather than “gender identity,” according to a newly-enacted Hungarian law that has drawn the ire of LGBT activists.
This week, lawmakers in Hungary approved a legislative package including a provision that forbids changing someone’s birth sex on official government documents, NBC News reported. “Sex or gender” will be replaced by “birth sex,” and will be determined based on a person’s chromosomes and biological sexual characteristics.
“Given that the complete change of the biological sex is not possible, it is necessary to state in law that there is no possibility to change it in the registry of births, marriages and deaths, either,” reads an explanation accompanying the provision.
The move has sparked outrage at home and abroad, from left-wing pressure groups to so-called “human rights” bodies.
“This decision pushes Hungary back toward the dark ages and tramples the rights of transgender and intersex people,” Amnesty International Hungary international researcher Krisztina Tamas-Saroy claimed. “It will not only expose them to further discrimination, but will also deepen an already intolerant and hostile environment faced by the LGBTI community.”
Late last month, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás responded to critics of the proposal with a letter stating that “Hungary guarantees everybody’s fundamental rights,” and the change “will end a long-standing uncertainty in legal interpretation,” as “the notion of a person’s ‘sex’ is not currently legally defined in Hungary due to its self-evident nature.”
Gulyás also pushed back against the notion that recognizing objective reality on government documents harms gender-confused individuals in any tangible way, as it “does not affect men’s and women’s rights to freely experience and exercise their identities as they wish.”
While LGBT activists insist that being a man or woman is strictly a matter of self-perception, in reality sex is rooted in an individual’s chromosomes and reflected by hundreds of genetic characteristics. The American Psychiatric Association still classifies gender dysphoria as a mental disorder, as did the World Health Organization until last summer.
Despite gender-fluidity advocates’ insistence that indulging gender-confused individuals’ chosen “identity” is essential to their health and happiness, gender confusion has been linked to a variety of long-term mental and emotional ills, including higher suicide rates.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-22--‘Epitome’ of ‘absurdity’: Priest responds to Pope’s suggestion COVID-19 caused by Earth’s anger

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world : Feed your flock !
Sign the petition here .
May 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A priest has contradicted Pope Francis ’ s assertion that the coronavirus pandemic was caused , not by God , but by nature “ having a fit.
” Father Linus Clovis said today at the virtual Rome Life Forum that the Pope ’ s and other bishops ’ eagerness to deny that COVID-19 is a sign of God ’ s displeasure is “ even more disturbing ” than the closure of the churches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall ’ was erected in their face as the Church hierarchy succumbed , without demur , to governmental pronouncements that placed all churches under ‘ quarantine , ” Clovis said .
“ Even more disturbing was the speed with which a caucus of episcopal voices were raised to contradict the faithful ’ s ‘ sensus fidei ’ that the pandemic was very likely a divine chastisement , ” he continued .
“ The epitome of this absurdity was realized by the declaration , backed by and packed with pontifical authority , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... fit for the decades of terrestrial abuse she had endured from her greedy human children.
” Clovis observed that the full message of Fatima , which emphasizes God ’ s punishment , has also been downplayed .
He also noted that the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart , for which Our Lady of Fatima specifically asked , has never been done .
The consequences of this neglect are obvious in our world today , for Russia has indeed spread her errors , as Our Lady warned , throughout the earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state of practical atheism.
” The Church , which Clovis warned is always punished by God before He strikes the world , has been infiltrated by Communists , thanks to Stalin , and the many sins of bad clerics and lukewarm Catholics deserve divine punishment .
“ The ‘ Pachamama ’ incident alone would have been sufficient provocation ... for heaven and earth to call the world to repentance by means of this global pandemic , ” the priest said .
Declaring that the “ onus of ridding the world of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clovis enjoined his hearers to obey the commands of Our Lady of Fatima .

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock! Sign the petition here.
May 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A priest has contradicted Pope Francis’s assertion that the coronavirus pandemic was caused, not by God, but by nature “having a fit.”
Father Linus Clovis said today at the virtual Rome Life Forum that the Pope’s and other bishops’ eagerness to deny that COVID-19 is a sign of God’s displeasure is “even more disturbing” than the closure of the churches.
“For Catholics … a ‘great wall’ was erected in their face as the Church hierarchy succumbed, without demur, to governmental pronouncements that placed all churches under ‘quarantine,” Clovis said.
“Even more disturbing was the speed with which a caucus of episcopal voices were raised to contradict the faithful’s ‘sensus fidei’ that the pandemic was very likely a divine chastisement,” he continued.
“The epitome of this absurdity was realized by the declaration, backed by and packed with pontifical authority, that the pandemic was merely Mother Earth throwing a…fit for the decades of terrestrial abuse she had endured from her greedy human children.”
Clovis observed that the full message of Fatima, which emphasizes God’s punishment, has also been downplayed. He also noted that the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart, for which Our Lady of Fatima specifically asked, has never been done. The consequences of this neglect are obvious in our world today, for Russia has indeed spread her errors, as Our Lady warned, throughout the earth and the West lives today in “a state of practical atheism.”
The Church, which Clovis warned is always punished by God before He strikes the world, has been infiltrated by Communists, thanks to Stalin, and the many sins of bad clerics and lukewarm Catholics deserve divine punishment.
“The ‘Pachamama’ incident alone would have been sufficient provocation…for heaven and earth to call the world to repentance by means of this global pandemic,” the priest said.
Declaring that the “onus of ridding the world of this pandemic rests entirely on us,” Clovis enjoined his hearers to obey the commands of Our Lady of Fatima.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-22--Trump demands states let churches re-open: ‘If they don’t do it, I will override the governors’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , May 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – President Donald Trump today declared houses of worship “ essential places that provide essential services , ” saying they should be opened up right away and governors who get in the way will have to answer to him .
“ Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential but have left out churches and other houses of worship .
It ’ s not right , ” said Trump .
“ So I ’ m correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and synagogue , go to their mosque – many millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life.
” Many people of faith have complained that draconian coronavirus lockdowns unfairly targeted churches .
Pastors who have held “ parking lot ” services during which parishioners stayed in their cars have been fined .
One California county banned singing during live-streamed church services .
When the Knoxville , Tennessee government began to allow people to go to church again , it told churches , “ [ t ] he physical taking of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the serial breaking of physical distancing across a congregation.
” Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan banned Catholic priests from going within six feet of their parishioners .
In Virginia , Lighthouse Fellowship conducted a worship service with a congregation of 16 people practicing so-called social distancing in a facility that seats more than 200 .
The pastor faces a year in jail and/or a $ 2,500 fine .
The Trump administration Department of Justice issued a Statement of Interest siding with the church , writing , “ there is no pandemic exception to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy even told Tucker Carlson that he “ wasn ’ t thinking of the Bill of Rights ” when he banned religious gatherings .
“ That ’ s above my paygrade , ” he said .
The governor defended keeping liquor stores open while closing churches as important to his citizens ’ mental health .
Shutting down liquor stores would have led to “ unintended mental health and addiction prices to pay , unintended consequences , ” he said .
A rabbi and a Catholic priest are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of lawsuits in other states have been filed as well .
Trump emphasized , “ I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now .
If there ’ s any question , they ’ re gon na have to call me , but they ’ re not gon na be successful in that call .
These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united.
” Trump began his press conference by thanking the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for religious gatherings soon .
He said he trusts faith leaders to take proper steps to protect the health of their congregations .
“ The ministers , pastors , rabbis , imams , and other faith leaders will make sure that their congregations are safe as they gather and pray , ” said Trump .
“ I know them well .
They love their congregations .
They love their people .
They don ’ t want anything bad to happen to them or to anybody else.
” He concluded , “ The governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now , for this weekend .
If they don ’ t do it , I will override the governors .
In America , we need more prayer , not less.
” While many Protestant churches have responded to the coronavirus panic and subsequent shutdowns with “ parking lot ” services , every single Catholic diocese in the U.S. cancelled public Masses and some even banned the Last Rites .
Dioceses around the country are slowly beginning to open their churches back up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain inaccessible to millions of American Catholics .
The Catholic bishops of Minnesota along with Lutheran leaders announced this week that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz ’ s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at 10 people .
They are backed by the lawyers at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty .
In California , hundreds of pastors plan to defy Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s ban on religious gatherings on May 31 .

'The people are demanding to go to church and synagogue, go to their mosque – many millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life,' said Trump.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – President Donald Trump today declared houses of worship “essential places that provide essential services,” saying they should be opened up right away and governors who get in the way will have to answer to him.
“Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential but have left out churches and other houses of worship. It’s not right,” said Trump. “So I’m correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential. The people are demanding to go to church and synagogue, go to their mosque – many millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life.”
Many people of faith have complained that draconian coronavirus lockdowns unfairly targeted churches. Pastors who have held “parking lot” services during which parishioners stayed in their cars have been fined. One California county banned singing during live-streamed church services. When the Knoxville, Tennessee government began to allow people to go to church again, it told churches, “[t]he physical taking of communion/sacrament should not be performed due to the serial breaking of physical distancing across a congregation.” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan banned Catholic priests from going within six feet of their parishioners.
In Virginia, Lighthouse Fellowship conducted a worship service with a congregation of 16 people practicing so-called social distancing in a facility that seats more than 200. The pastor faces a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. The Trump administration Department of Justice issued a Statement of Interest siding with the church, writing, “there is no pandemic exception to the Constitution and its Bill of Rights.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy even told Tucker Carlson that he “wasn’t thinking of the Bill of Rights” when he banned religious gatherings. “That’s above my paygrade,” he said.
The governor defended keeping liquor stores open while closing churches as important to his citizens’ mental health. Shutting down liquor stores would have led to “unintended mental health and addiction prices to pay, unintended consequences,” he said.
A rabbi and a Catholic priest are suing Murphy over his order. A number of lawsuits in other states have been filed as well.
Trump emphasized, “I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now. If there’s any question, they’re gonna have to call me, but they’re not gonna be successful in that call. These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united.”
Trump began his press conference by thanking the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and saying the CDC would be releasing guidelines for religious gatherings soon. He said he trusts faith leaders to take proper steps to protect the health of their congregations.
“The ministers, pastors, rabbis, imams, and other faith leaders will make sure that their congregations are safe as they gather and pray,” said Trump. “I know them well. They love their congregations. They love their people. They don’t want anything bad to happen to them or to anybody else.”
He concluded, “The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, for this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors. In America, we need more prayer, not less.”
While many Protestant churches have responded to the coronavirus panic and subsequent shutdowns with “parking lot” services, every single Catholic diocese in the U.S. cancelled public Masses and some even banned the Last Rites. Dioceses around the country are slowly beginning to open their churches back up, although Holy Communion and other sacraments remain inaccessible to millions of American Catholics. The Catholic bishops of Minnesota along with Lutheran leaders announced this week that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz’s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at 10 people. They are backed by the lawyers at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
In California, hundreds of pastors plan to defy Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ban on religious gatherings on May 31.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-22--Facebook restricts Conservative education org, alleges ‘repeated sharing of false news’

PETITION : Demand Planned Parenthood return $ 80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund !
Sign the petition here .
May 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Facebook has restricted the conservative educational nonprofit Prager University ( PragerU ) for alleged “ repeated sharing of false news , ” based on a single , disputed “ fact-check ” of a recent climate change video .
On Monday , PragerU released a video about an emaciated polar bear whose image had been used to support fears that climate change would devastate the polar bear population .
The video noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing “ what had happened to this particular polar bear , ” and stated that the polar bear population is currently at its highest point in 50 years , and that polar bears are currently thriving even as sea ice diminishes .
The website Climate Feedback disputed those statements , arguing there is “ no scientific evidence that the global polar bear population is growing and there is evidence that several subpopulations are declining , ” and that the loss of sea ice is “ recognized as the most important threat to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former University of Victoria , British Columbia professor Susan Crockford responded to Climate Feedback ’ s “ fact-check ” in a blog post and an interview with PragerU , endorsing the video ’ s original conclusions and explaining the dispute as scientists emphasizing different points and arriving at different conclusions .
“ This is a classic conflict that happens all the time in science but presents no proof that I ’ m wrong or that the PragerU video is inherently ‘ false , ’ ” she said .
Nevertheless , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing scientific debate , Facebook simply cited PragerU for “ repeated sharing of false news ” and “ misinformation.
” punishing the organization ’ s page with “ reduced distribution and other restrictions , ” which could include demonetization .
“ Unfortunately , this is just the latest in a long-running pattern of big tech companies silencing conservative speech on their platforms , ” PragerU told Breitbart News .
“ Clearly , Facebook wants to keep its hands clean and pass all responsibility for content moderation to these third party “ fact-checkers.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the fact-checker , but they themselves won ’ t do anything about it.
” For years , Facebook has faced criticism for suppressing or otherwise discriminating against many right-of-center pages and posts , while multiple analyses have found that Facebook ’ s algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites .
Last year , an insider revealed that Facebook “ deboosts ” traffic to several mainstream conservative sites .
Facebook often reverses such censorship actions after sufficient media coverage pressures them to do so , insisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a willful pattern .
Still , such incidents continue to happen , and conservatives say they do not trust Facebook ’ s content Oversight Board , which is largely staffed by left-wing figures , to protect their freedom of speech .
Most recently , Facebook has made itself an arbiter of “ misinformation ” and “ harmful ” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak , with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has been accused of covering for the Chinese government ’ s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world .
Facebook is not the first social media giant to go after PragerU .
YouTube currently places age restrictions on more than 200 of the nonprofit ’ s videos , despite their lack of sex , nudity , foul language , graphic violence , or otherwise age-inappropriate material .
PragerU has gone to court to rectify the situation , so far without success .

Despite evidence that PragerU's facts were accurate, the social media tech giant took issue with a video on climate change.
PETITION: Demand Planned Parenthood return $80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund! Sign the petition here.
May 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Facebook has restricted the conservative educational nonprofit Prager University (PragerU) for alleged “repeated sharing of false news,” based on a single, disputed “fact-check” of a recent climate change video.
On Monday, PragerU released a video about an emaciated polar bear whose image had been used to support fears that climate change would devastate the polar bear population. The video noted that the original photographer admitted to not actually knowing “what had happened to this particular polar bear,” and stated that the polar bear population is currently at its highest point in 50 years, and that polar bears are currently thriving even as sea ice diminishes.
The website Climate Feedback disputed those statements, arguing there is “no scientific evidence that the global polar bear population is growing and there is evidence that several subpopulations are declining,” and that the loss of sea ice is “recognized as the most important threat to the long-term survival of polar bears.”
Zoologist and former University of Victoria, British Columbia professor Susan Crockford responded to Climate Feedback’s “fact-check” in a blog post and an interview with PragerU, endorsing the video’s original conclusions and explaining the dispute as scientists emphasizing different points and arriving at different conclusions.
“This is a classic conflict that happens all the time in science but presents no proof that I’m wrong or that the PragerU video is inherently ‘false,’” she said.
Nevertheless, rather than recognizing the matter as part of an ongoing scientific debate, Facebook simply cited PragerU for “repeated sharing of false news” and “misinformation.” punishing the organization’s page with “reduced distribution and other restrictions,” which could include demonetization.
.@Facebook has flagged this video, reducing its reach and reducing our entire page distribution. pic.twitter.com/vWij6nW52d — PragerU (@prageru) May 19, 2020
“Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a long-running pattern of big tech companies silencing conservative speech on their platforms,” PragerU told Breitbart News. “Clearly, Facebook wants to keep its hands clean and pass all responsibility for content moderation to these third party “fact-checkers.” Facebook claims that we can appeal directly with the fact-checker, but they themselves won’t do anything about it.”
For years, Facebook has faced criticism for suppressing or otherwise discriminating against many right-of-center pages and posts, while multiple analyses have found that Facebook’s algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites. Last year, an insider revealed that Facebook “deboosts” traffic to several mainstream conservative sites.
Facebook often reverses such censorship actions after sufficient media coverage pressures them to do so, insisting they were isolated errors rather than part of a willful pattern. Still, such incidents continue to happen, and conservatives say they do not trust Facebook’s content Oversight Board, which is largely staffed by left-wing figures, to protect their freedom of speech.
Most recently, Facebook has made itself an arbiter of “misinformation” and “harmful” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak, with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the interests of the World Health Organization, which has been accused of covering for the Chinese government’s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world.
Facebook is not the first social media giant to go after PragerU. YouTube currently places age restrictions on more than 200 of the nonprofit’s videos, despite their lack of sex, nudity, foul language, graphic violence, or otherwise age-inappropriate material. PragerU has gone to court to rectify the situation, so far without success.
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