lifesitenews--2020-04-01--BREAKING: US intelligence report claims China concealed number of COVID-19 cases

UNITED STATES , April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Three unnamed U.S. officials say that an intelligence community classified report to the White House concludes that the Chinese government has under-reported the country ’ s total number of coronavirus cases and deaths , according to a report in Bloomberg .
“ The officials asked not to be identified because the report is secret and declined to detail its contents , ” the report explains .
“ But the thrust , they said , is that China ’ s public reporting on cases and deaths is intentionally incomplete .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ concludes that China ’ s numbers are fake.
” The report notes that during Tuesday ’ s press conference Dr. Deborah Birx , the top response coordinator for the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , stated that Chinese data had caused some to underestimate the seriousness of the virus .
“ The medical community made -- interpreted the Chinese data as : This was serious , but smaller than anyone expected , ” she said .
“ Because I think probably we were missing a significant amount of the data , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy and see what happened to Spain.
” Last week a resolution introduced in the U.S House of Representatives condemned the Chinese Communist government for its mishandling of and misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak which has led to a worldwide pandemic and threatens to topple the economies of many nations .
In a recent report for LifeSite , biologist and China expert Steve Mosher described official Chinese reports about coronavirus cases as “ sheer fabrication.
” “ Ask yourselves what is the likelihood that China has actually reduced the number of new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mosher wrote .
“ That in the entire 1.3 billion people of China there is not a single new case ?
I would say that the likelihood of this happening is about the same as the CCP discovering a cure for cancer , establishing a base on Mars , and inventing faster-than-light interstellar travel—all on the same day , ” he said .
Current figures show the total number of coronavirus cases in China at just over 80,000 , with 3,312 deaths .
By comparison , Italy is now reporting more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The USA is reporting 4,516 deaths from just over 205,000 cases .
While in February , China saw a rapid increase in the number of new cases of the coronavirus , those numbers have reduced dramatically with much of the country reportedly “ returning to normal ” again .
The coronavirus worldometer website states that there have been just 7 new cases in China today and only 5 yesterday .
Earlier this week there were reports of trucks shipping thousands of ash urns to crematoriums in Wuhan , leading to further questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus death toll .
Mosher told LifeSite today that he suspects the actual figures are 20 times the numbers reported by the government authorities .
“ According to official Chinese government data , 50,006 people were infected with the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan with 2,535 dying from the disease .
I think the actual figures are probably 20 times that , judging from how busy the crematoria were , and how many thousands of funeral urns are being handed out now to grieving families by each one of Wuhan 's eight crematoria every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in previous comments that the explanation for the sudden drop in new cases in China is that the Chinese Communist leadership “ simply directed doctors across China to stop diagnosing and reporting new cases of the disease.
” “ Who needs medicine , when you can just “ cure ” disease by fiat ?
” he asked .
Mosher says that the Chinese government “ has worked hard over the past few weeks to create the narrative that it was quickly getting the epidemic under control ” and points to evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underreporting the number of patients who test positive for the virus.
” “ Whether this is being done in response to a national directive , or simply to conform to the official narrative is not clear , but the result has been falling numbers of infected , ” he said .

UNITED STATES, April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Three unnamed U.S. officials say that an intelligence community classified report to the White House concludes that the Chinese government has under-reported the country’s total number of coronavirus cases and deaths, according to a report in Bloomberg.
“The officials asked not to be identified because the report is secret and declined to detail its contents,” the report explains. “But the thrust, they said, is that China’s public reporting on cases and deaths is intentionally incomplete. Two of the officials said the report concludes that China’s numbers are fake.”
The report notes that during Tuesday’s press conference Dr. Deborah Birx, the top response coordinator for the White House’s coronavirus task force, stated that Chinese data had caused some to underestimate the seriousness of the virus.
“The medical community made — interpreted the Chinese data as: This was serious, but smaller than anyone expected,” she said. “Because I think probably we were missing a significant amount of the data, now that what we see happened to Italy and see what happened to Spain.”
Last week a resolution introduced in the U.S House of Representatives condemned the Chinese Communist government for its mishandling of and misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak which has led to a worldwide pandemic and threatens to topple the economies of many nations.
In a recent report for LifeSite, biologist and China expert Steve Mosher described official Chinese reports about coronavirus cases as “sheer fabrication.”
“Ask yourselves what is the likelihood that China has actually reduced the number of new cases to zero, as it claims?” Mosher wrote.
“That in the entire 1.3 billion people of China there is not a single new case? I would say that the likelihood of this happening is about the same as the CCP discovering a cure for cancer, establishing a base on Mars, and inventing faster-than-light interstellar travel—all on the same day,” he said.
Current figures show the total number of coronavirus cases in China at just over 80,000, with 3,312 deaths. By comparison, Italy is now reporting more than 13,000 deaths from around 110,000 total cases. The USA is reporting 4,516 deaths from just over 205,000 cases.
While in February, China saw a rapid increase in the number of new cases of the coronavirus, those numbers have reduced dramatically with much of the country reportedly “returning to normal” again. The coronavirus worldometer website states that there have been just 7 new cases in China today and only 5 yesterday.
Earlier this week there were reports of trucks shipping thousands of ash urns to crematoriums in Wuhan, leading to further questions about the reality of China’s coronavirus death toll.
Mosher told LifeSite today that he suspects the actual figures are 20 times the numbers reported by the government authorities.
“According to official Chinese government data, 50,006 people were infected with the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan with 2,535 dying from the disease. I think the actual figures are probably 20 times that, judging from how busy the crematoria were, and how many thousands of funeral urns are being handed out now to grieving families by each one of Wuhan's eight crematoria every day,” he said.
Mosher said in previous comments that the explanation for the sudden drop in new cases in China is that the Chinese Communist leadership “simply directed doctors across China to stop diagnosing and reporting new cases of the disease.”
“Who needs medicine, when you can just “cure” disease by fiat?” he asked.
Mosher says that the Chinese government “has worked hard over the past few weeks to create the narrative that it was quickly getting the epidemic under control” and points to evidence that “some local jurisdictions have been deliberately underreporting the number of patients who test positive for the virus.”
“Whether this is being done in response to a national directive, or simply to conform to the official narrative is not clear, but the result has been falling numbers of infected,” he said.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--Monks of Norcia counter pandemic with processions, traditional prayers against pestilence

NORCIA , Italy , April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Hidden away in the hills of central Italy , the Benedictine monks of Norcia are countering the coronavirus pandemic with prayers against pestilence and daily processions .
“ In the afternoon , we process through the property with relics of the True Cross , praying for liberation from ‘ plagues , famines and wars , ’ as did the ancients , who knew these tribulations often arise together , ” wrote Father Benedict Nivakoff OSB , the prior of the community famous for its beer and its Gregorian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the solemn high Conventual Mass , we have added prayers against pestilence , ” the monk explained .
The monastery is located just outside the town of Norcia .
When praying the Divine Office and celebrating Mass , the monks follow the Church ’ s traditional liturgy .
The prayers against pestilence , as found in the Votive Mass for the Deliverance from Death in Time of Pestilence , point out that God does not will “ the death of the sinner but that he should repent.
” The Collect asks God to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s return to Thee : and so long as they are faithful in Thy service , do Thou in Thy clemency withdraw the scourge of Thy wrath.
” The Secret , which is the prayer before singing the Preface , implores God to accept the sacrifice of the Mass offered by the priest , in order for it to “ release us from sin and deliver us from all ruin and destruction.
” “ Graciously hear us , O God our Savior : deliver Thy people from the terrors of Thy wrath , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the gift of Thy mercy , ” asks the final prayer , known as Postcommunion .
According to Fr .
Benedict , “ Our region of Umbria ’ s population is geographically dispersed , so the cases of coronavirus around us are fewer than in the far north.
” However , the monks are aware that the situation might change quickly .
Given that people in Italy are now largely confined to their own homes , he continued , hiddenness from the world “ takes on an almost sacramental symbolism during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hiddenness of the Mass as an invitation to rediscover the mystery “ of the Mass ’ s unseen efficacy , ” which has been forgotten in modern times .
“ We must rely on an invisible medicine for our ultimate salvation in the face of this invisible threat.
” “ For centuries , ” Fr .
Benedict wrote , “ it was not possible to see up-close the mysteries of the altar .
In certain periods , curtains were drawn at the most important moments of the Mass .
Still today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the lowest of tones – a whisper – as the drama of the liturgy unfolds.
” The monks of Norcia are no strangers to tragedy .
Monastic life in Norcia , the birthplace of Saints Benedict and Scholastica , began again only in 2000 .
Until 2016 , when a severe earthquake hit Norcia , the monks were living in the center of the town , celebrating Mass and praying the Divine Office in the basilica of San Benedetto .
Due to the destruction , the monks relocated to a former Capuchin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prior earthquake , just outside of the town .
In 2019 , after breaking ground and beginning to raise the walls , the community added a motto to the monastery ’ s crest : Nova Facio Omnia .
“ Taken from the Book of the Apocalypse , ” the monks explained on their website , “ it describes the New Jerusalem in all its splendor and underlines what Christ does for all who cooperate with His plan : ‘ Behold , I make all things new !
’ ” “ We should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to teach us , ” Fr .
Benedict encouraged Catholics .
“ A great temptation is to demand that God return what we have lost .
In the field of tragedy , God sows seeds of new life .
We all must water them with our prayers ( both seen and unseen ) , our sacrifices and , perhaps , even our lives .
But death does not have the last word.
” Conservative writer Rod Dreher said the Norcia Benedictines “ know how to remain steady in catastrophe .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As Dom Benedict said , we are all now having to hide from the world , in our domestic cloisters , for the sake of saving lives .
We can ’ t become too comfortable with that – I mean , we can never allow ourselves to believe that online church is anything but the barest facsimile of real church , ” commented the author of the 2017 bestseller The Benedict Option .
“ I strongly endorse Dom Benedict ’ s exhortation for us to meditate on what God is trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What does it mean to discover – or to re-discover – mystery ?
”

'We must rely on an invisible medicine for our ultimate salvation in the face of this invisible threat,' the prior wrote.
Urgent appeal to bishops: Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here.
NORCIA, Italy, April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Hidden away in the hills of central Italy, the Benedictine monks of Norcia are countering the coronavirus pandemic with prayers against pestilence and daily processions.
“In the afternoon, we process through the property with relics of the True Cross, praying for liberation from ‘plagues, famines and wars,’ as did the ancients, who knew these tribulations often arise together,” wrote Father Benedict Nivakoff OSB, the prior of the community famous for its beer and its Gregorian chant.
“Every morning, during the solemn high Conventual Mass, we have added prayers against pestilence,” the monk explained.
The monastery is located just outside the town of Norcia. When praying the Divine Office and celebrating Mass, the monks follow the Church’s traditional liturgy.
The prayers against pestilence, as found in the Votive Mass for the Deliverance from Death in Time of Pestilence, point out that God does not will “the death of the sinner but that he should repent.” The Collect asks God to welcome with pardon “Thy people’s return to Thee: and so long as they are faithful in Thy service, do Thou in Thy clemency withdraw the scourge of Thy wrath.”
The Secret, which is the prayer before singing the Preface, implores God to accept the sacrifice of the Mass offered by the priest, in order for it to “release us from sin and deliver us from all ruin and destruction.”
“Graciously hear us, O God our Savior: deliver Thy people from the terrors of Thy wrath, and assure them of that safety which is the gift of Thy mercy,” asks the final prayer, known as Postcommunion.
According to Fr. Benedict, “Our region of Umbria’s population is geographically dispersed, so the cases of coronavirus around us are fewer than in the far north.” However, the monks are aware that the situation might change quickly.
Given that people in Italy are now largely confined to their own homes, he continued, hiddenness from the world “takes on an almost sacramental symbolism during this extraordinary crisis.”
The monks are welcoming the hiddenness of the Mass as an invitation to rediscover the mystery “of the Mass’s unseen efficacy,” which has been forgotten in modern times. “We must rely on an invisible medicine for our ultimate salvation in the face of this invisible threat.”
“For centuries,” Fr. Benedict wrote, “it was not possible to see up-close the mysteries of the altar. In certain periods, curtains were drawn at the most important moments of the Mass. Still today, the solemn prayers of consecration are said in the lowest of tones – a whisper – as the drama of the liturgy unfolds.”
The monks of Norcia are no strangers to tragedy. Monastic life in Norcia, the birthplace of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, began again only in 2000.
Until 2016, when a severe earthquake hit Norcia, the monks were living in the center of the town, celebrating Mass and praying the Divine Office in the basilica of San Benedetto. Due to the destruction, the monks relocated to a former Capuchin monastery, which had been damaged by a prior earthquake, just outside of the town.
In 2019, after breaking ground and beginning to raise the walls, the community added a motto to the monastery’s crest: Nova Facio Omnia. “Taken from the Book of the Apocalypse,” the monks explained on their website, “it describes the New Jerusalem in all its splendor and underlines what Christ does for all who cooperate with His plan: ‘Behold, I make all things new!’”
“We should be willing to learn the lessons God wants to teach us,” Fr. Benedict encouraged Catholics. “A great temptation is to demand that God return what we have lost. In the field of tragedy, God sows seeds of new life. We all must water them with our prayers (both seen and unseen), our sacrifices and, perhaps, even our lives. But death does not have the last word.”
Conservative writer Rod Dreher said the Norcia Benedictines “know how to remain steady in catastrophe. We have so much to learn from them.”
“As Dom Benedict said, we are all now having to hide from the world, in our domestic cloisters, for the sake of saving lives. We can’t become too comfortable with that – I mean, we can never allow ourselves to believe that online church is anything but the barest facsimile of real church,” commented the author of the 2017 bestseller The Benedict Option.
“I strongly endorse Dom Benedict’s exhortation for us to meditate on what God is trying to teach us with this period of hiddenness. What does it mean to discover – or to re-discover – mystery?”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-04-01--Cdl Schönborn uses coronavirus pandemic to push ‘ecological’ questions

VIENNA , Austria , April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has evaded the question of the COVID-19 pandemic being a chastisement or punishment from God , trying to frame it as an “ ecological ” issue .
“ Of course the question arises , is our lifestyle adapted to the world ?
The ecological question .
I would first leave out the question of God , ” the Cardinal said in a televised interview on March 22 .
Schönborn explained that for centuries , people have asked why God permits evil .
“ With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that this is now the scourge of God , this is God ’ s punishment .
This is a question that everyone can ask themselves in any crisis situation.
” The Archbishop of Vienna asked during the interview , “ If I used to smoke 50 cigarettes a day and then get cancer , the question naturally arises : was this a punishment for living carelessly ?
” In talking about the “ ecological question , ” the Austrian encouraged viewers to use the current pandemic as a time for reflection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fly to London for the weekend to go shopping ?
Is it really necessary to spend the Christmas holidays in the Maldives ?
Is it really necessary that we have huge cruise ships with 4,000 people on board that pollute the seas in a dramatic way ?
Do we really need to have 200,000 airplanes in the air every day ?
” Those questions , Schönborn said , lead to a deeper question : “ Is God trying to tell us something with this ?
Does he perhaps want to remind us that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not given it to us to devastate it ?
” Schönborn ’ s comments on this topic reflect those of Pope Francis who has linked the coronavirus pandemic to a response from the planet to environmental pollution .
The Pope told a Spanish journalist last week that he believes that the virus outbreak is nature “ having a fit ” in response to environmental pollution .
During his homily at the March 29 Urbi et Orbi ceremony , the Pope returned to this theme , saying that men had ignored the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planet.
” “ We carried on regardless , thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick , ” he said .
Recently , Bishop Athanasius Schneider was not afraid of calling the coronavirus pandemic “ a divine intervention to chastise and purify the sinful world and also the Church.
” The auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Mary Most Holy in Astana , Kazakhstan , quoted from the book of Revelation , the last book of the Bible .
“ I have a few things against you : you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality .
Therefore repent .
If not , I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
” “ I am convinced , ” Schneider commented , “ that Christ would repeat the same words to Pope Francis and to the other bishops who allowed the idolatrous veneration of the Pachamama and who implicitly approved sexual relationships outside a valid marriage , by allowing the so-called ‘ divorced and remarried ’ who are sexually active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who grew up in the Soviet Union before coming to Germany in 1973 , said the current situation “ is so unique and serious that one can discover behind all of this a deeper meaning.
” Receiving Holy Communion in the hand , a practice disobediently adopted in some parts of the world and then officially permitted by Pope Paul VI roughly 50 years ago , “ has led to an unintentional and intentional desecration [ of ] the Eucharistic Body of Christ on an unprecedented scale .
For over fifty years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( mostly unintentionally ) trampled by the feet of clergy and laity in Catholic churches around the world .
The stealing of sacred Hosts has also been increasing at an alarming rate.
” According to Schneider , taking the Eucharist “ directly with one ’ s own hands and fingers resembles ever more the gesture of taking common food.
” For many people , he said , this practice led to a weakened faith in the real presence .
“ The Eucharistic presence of Christ has , over time , unconsciously become for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or symbol.
” The current situation , wherein many parts of the world no public Masses are said , and Holy Communion can not be received by the faithful , “ could be understood by the Pope and bishops as a divine rebuke for the past fifty years of Eucharistic desecrations and trivializations and , at the same time , as a merciful appeal for an authentic Eucharistic conversion of the entire Church.
” Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò , in a March 29 interview with Michael Matt of The Remnant , linked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while calling on Pope Francis to “ convert ” for having brought into the Church the “ terrible sacrilege ” of the idolatry of Pachamama .
“ The Pope , the Hierarchy , and all Bishops , Priests and Religious must immediately and absolutely convert , ” he said .
“ [ These clerics ] have even committed acts of unprecedented gravity , such as we saw with the adoration of the pachamama idol in the Vatican itself , ” he said .
“ Indeed , I think Our Lord has rightly become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed by those who ought to be setting a good example , because they are Shepherds , to the flocks to whom they have been entrusted.
” Other Catholic leaders – for instance , John Smeaton , chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children , the first and largest pro-life organization in the United Kingdom – have offered similar assessments .
Smeaton called the coronavirus pandemic a “ chastisement ” for abortion and other sins .
In the same interview , Cardinal Schönborn talked about the role of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ surprised ” and “ disappointed ” by the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia .
“ The big question remains open .
The question of the role of women in positions of leadership within the Church remains a wound , an open question , ” he said .

'Do we really need to have 200,000 airplanes in the air every day?' he asked.
Urgent appeal to bishops: Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here.
VIENNA, Austria, April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has evaded the question of the COVID-19 pandemic being a chastisement or punishment from God, trying to frame it as an “ecological” issue.
“Of course the question arises, is our lifestyle adapted to the world? The ecological question. I would first leave out the question of God,” the Cardinal said in a televised interview on March 22.
Schönborn explained that for centuries, people have asked why God permits evil. “With the plague, of course, people liked to say that this is now the scourge of God, this is God’s punishment. This is a question that everyone can ask themselves in any crisis situation.”
The Archbishop of Vienna asked during the interview, “If I used to smoke 50 cigarettes a day and then get cancer, the question naturally arises: was this a punishment for living carelessly?”
In talking about the “ecological question,” the Austrian encouraged viewers to use the current pandemic as a time for reflection.
“Is it really necessary to fly to London for the weekend to go shopping? Is it really necessary to spend the Christmas holidays in the Maldives? Is it really necessary that we have huge cruise ships with 4,000 people on board that pollute the seas in a dramatic way? Do we really need to have 200,000 airplanes in the air every day?”
Those questions, Schönborn said, lead to a deeper question: “Is God trying to tell us something with this? Does he perhaps want to remind us that he has entrusted creation to us, and not given it to us to devastate it?”
Schönborn’s comments on this topic reflect those of Pope Francis who has linked the coronavirus pandemic to a response from the planet to environmental pollution. The Pope told a Spanish journalist last week that he believes that the virus outbreak is nature “having a fit” in response to environmental pollution. During his homily at the March 29 Urbi et Orbi ceremony, the Pope returned to this theme, saying that men had ignored the “cry of […] our ailing planet.”
“We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick,” he said.
Recently, Bishop Athanasius Schneider was not afraid of calling the coronavirus pandemic “a divine intervention to chastise and purify the sinful world and also the Church.”
The auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Mary Most Holy in Astana, Kazakhstan, quoted from the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. “I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching … that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
“I am convinced,” Schneider commented, “that Christ would repeat the same words to Pope Francis and to the other bishops who allowed the idolatrous veneration of the Pachamama and who implicitly approved sexual relationships outside a valid marriage, by allowing the so-called ‘divorced and remarried’ who are sexually active to receive Holy Communion.”
The bishop, who grew up in the Soviet Union before coming to Germany in 1973, said the current situation “is so unique and serious that one can discover behind all of this a deeper meaning.”
Receiving Holy Communion in the hand, a practice disobediently adopted in some parts of the world and then officially permitted by Pope Paul VI roughly 50 years ago, “has led to an unintentional and intentional desecration [of] the Eucharistic Body of Christ on an unprecedented scale. For over fifty years, the Body of Christ had been (mostly unintentionally) trampled by the feet of clergy and laity in Catholic churches around the world. The stealing of sacred Hosts has also been increasing at an alarming rate.”
According to Schneider, taking the Eucharist “directly with one’s own hands and fingers resembles ever more the gesture of taking common food.”
For many people, he said, this practice led to a weakened faith in the real presence. “The Eucharistic presence of Christ has, over time, unconsciously become for these faithful a kind of holy bread or symbol.”
The current situation, wherein many parts of the world no public Masses are said, and Holy Communion cannot be received by the faithful, “could be understood by the Pope and bishops as a divine rebuke for the past fifty years of Eucharistic desecrations and trivializations and, at the same time, as a merciful appeal for an authentic Eucharistic conversion of the entire Church.”
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, in a March 29 interview with Michael Matt of The Remnant, linked the coronavirus to chastisement from God for sin while calling on Pope Francis to “convert” for having brought into the Church the “terrible sacrilege” of the idolatry of Pachamama.
“The Pope, the Hierarchy, and all Bishops, Priests and Religious must immediately and absolutely convert,” he said.
“[These clerics] have even committed acts of unprecedented gravity, such as we saw with the adoration of the pachamama idol in the Vatican itself,” he said.
“Indeed, I think Our Lord has rightly become indignant at the great multitude of scandals committed by those who ought to be setting a good example, because they are Shepherds, to the flocks to whom they have been entrusted.”
Other Catholic leaders – for instance, John Smeaton, chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, the first and largest pro-life organization in the United Kingdom – have offered similar assessments.
Smeaton called the coronavirus pandemic a “chastisement” for abortion and other sins.
In the same interview, Cardinal Schönborn talked about the role of women in the Church, saying he was “surprised” and “disappointed” by the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia.
“The big question remains open. The question of the role of women in positions of leadership within the Church remains a wound, an open question,” he said.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--Rain damages medieval miraculous crucifix used by Pope Francis during coronavirus blessing

VATICAN CITY , April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― The miraculous medieval crucifix displayed outdoors during Pope Francis ’ Urbi et Orbi ceremony in response to the coronavirus last week was damaged by the pouring rain .
The famous Crucifix of the Church of San Marcello al Corso of Rome , believed by generations of Romans to be miraculous , was displayed outside St Peter ’ s Basilica for almost two hours last Friday without any protection from the elements .
Video of the Urbi et Orbi [ to the city and the world ] ceremony shows water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the corpus .
According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero , the rain “ swelled the dry wood.
” “ The stucco was broken in several places , as were patches of the antique light paint in a few sections , ” reported journalist Franca Giansoldati .
“ In a few sections the tempera paint used by the anonymous artist to depict the blood from [ the corpus ’ ] side has loosened , the wooden surface of the hair has rippled and a few details of the arms are ruined.
” At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis went to the cross and kissed the feet of Jesus .
Giansoldati added that people are now wondering why nobody thought that the 14th century treasure would survive the downpour unscathed or to protect it in any way .
She pointed out that it could have been placed under the same canopy that protected Pope Francis .
Meanwhile , a mere copy of a Byzantine icon of the Madonna was protected during the ceremony under thick glass .
The journalist reported that some people are blaming Pope Francis ’ Master of Ceremonies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are affirming that the decision to abandon the miraculous crucifix to the elements came from the head of liturgical ceremonies , Monsignor Guido Marini , so as to leave intact the essential choreography : the Pope alone before the illuminated canopy , on [ St. Peter ’ s Square ] , without any other element.
” Whoever is to blame , she added , the questions now are what can be done to restore the artifact and how much this will cost .
But Giansoldi ’ s account is being challenged by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Crux newspaper , Fr .
Enrico Casini says that the “ harm is not serious.
” He told Crux that it was “ possible ” that the crucifix received “ a little bit ” of damage but he believes that “ it ’ s something light that can be fixed in a short time.
” Casini confirmed that the artifact has been taken to the Vatican restorations labs but said that earlier reports about the damage were “ not correct.
” At least two miracles are attributed to the Crucifix of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being its own survival of a fire that otherwise completely destroyed a previous incarnation of the church in 1519 .
Deemed by the Roman populace to be miraculous , the crucifix was carried throughout the city by a Spanish cardinal named Raimondo Vich in August 1522 to ward off a burgeoning plague .
According to the Finestre Sull ’ Arte ( “ Windows on Art ” ) online magazine , the procession lasted 18 days and ended when the Crucifix was brought into St. Peter ’ s Basilica .
In the meantime the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to the reputation of the crucifix.
” After that it was often carried in procession for holy years or other events .
Gregory Di Pippo , editor of the New Liturgical Movement online magazine , told LifeSiteNews that he thinks most people know “ that it is not a good idea to leave an object made of dry wood and covered in plaster out in the rain.
” International attention turned towards the miraculous Crucifix in the Church of San Marcello al Corso in mid-March when Pope Francis walked through the empty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He prayed before the carving for an end to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic .
During his homily at the Urbi et Orbi ceremony , the Pope returned to his theme of linking the coronavirus pandemic to a response from the planet to environmental pollution .
“ In this world , that you love more than we do , we have gone ahead at breakneck speed , feeling powerful and able to do anything .
Greedy for profit , we let ourselves get caught up in things , and lured away by haste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reproach to us , we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world , nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet .
We carried on regardless , thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick , ” he said .
Pope Francis told a Spanish journalist last week that he believes that the coronavirus pandemic is nature “ having a fit ” in response to environmental pollution .

Video of the Pope's Urbi et Orbi ceremony shows water droplets on the cross and water streaming down the corpus.
Urgent appeal to bishops: Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here.
VATICAN CITY, April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― The miraculous medieval crucifix displayed outdoors during Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi ceremony in response to the coronavirus last week was damaged by the pouring rain.
The famous Crucifix of the Church of San Marcello al Corso of Rome, believed by generations of Romans to be miraculous, was displayed outside St Peter’s Basilica for almost two hours last Friday without any protection from the elements.
Video of the Urbi et Orbi [to the city and the world] ceremony shows water droplets on the cross and water streaming down the corpus.
According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, the rain “swelled the dry wood.”
“The stucco was broken in several places, as were patches of the antique light paint in a few sections,” reported journalist Franca Giansoldati.
“In a few sections the tempera paint used by the anonymous artist to depict the blood from [the corpus’] side has loosened, the wooden surface of the hair has rippled and a few details of the arms are ruined.”
At one point during the service, Pope Francis went to the cross and kissed the feet of Jesus.
Giansoldati added that people are now wondering why nobody thought that the 14th century treasure would survive the downpour unscathed or to protect it in any way. She pointed out that it could have been placed under the same canopy that protected Pope Francis. Meanwhile, a mere copy of a Byzantine icon of the Madonna was protected during the ceremony under thick glass.
The journalist reported that some people are blaming Pope Francis’ Master of Ceremonies for the damage.
“Malicious people are affirming that the decision to abandon the miraculous crucifix to the elements came from the head of liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini, so as to leave intact the essential choreography: the Pope alone before the illuminated canopy, on [St. Peter’s Square], without any other element.”
Whoever is to blame, she added, the questions now are what can be done to restore the artifact and how much this will cost.
But Giansoldi’s account is being challenged by the rector of San Marcello al Corso. According to Crux newspaper, Fr. Enrico Casini says that the “harm is not serious.” He told Crux that it was “possible” that the crucifix received “a little bit” of damage but he believes that “it’s something light that can be fixed in a short time.”
Casini confirmed that the artifact has been taken to the Vatican restorations labs but said that earlier reports about the damage were “not correct.”
At least two miracles are attributed to the Crucifix of San Marcello al Corso, the first being its own survival of a fire that otherwise completely destroyed a previous incarnation of the church in 1519.
Deemed by the Roman populace to be miraculous, the crucifix was carried throughout the city by a Spanish cardinal named Raimondo Vich in August 1522 to ward off a burgeoning plague. According to the Finestre Sull’ Arte (“Windows on Art”) online magazine, the procession lasted 18 days and ended when the Crucifix was brought into St. Peter’s Basilica. In the meantime the epidemic slowed down “and this event contributed to the reputation of the crucifix.” After that it was often carried in procession for holy years or other events.
Gregory Di Pippo, editor of the New Liturgical Movement online magazine, told LifeSiteNews that he thinks most people know “that it is not a good idea to leave an object made of dry wood and covered in plaster out in the rain.”
International attention turned towards the miraculous Crucifix in the Church of San Marcello al Corso in mid-March when Pope Francis walked through the empty streets of virus-struck Rome to visit it. He prayed before the carving for an end to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
During his homily at the Urbi et Orbi ceremony, the Pope returned to his theme of linking the coronavirus pandemic to a response from the planet to environmental pollution.
“In this world, that you love more than we do, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything. Greedy for profit, we let ourselves get caught up in things, and lured away by haste. We did not stop at your reproach to us, we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world, nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet. We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick,” he said.
Pope Francis told a Spanish journalist last week that he believes that the coronavirus pandemic is nature “having a fit” in response to environmental pollution.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--French priests visit COVID-19 patients, offer private Masses as gov’t ratchets up crackdown efforts

FRANCE , April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – On Sunday , a widely shared message and a photo on the Twitter account of a Parisian priest became a symbol of hope .
Father Franck Derville , hospital chaplain of one of the foremost hospitals in Paris , Hôpital Cochin , visited COVID-19 patients in the ICU ward .
He posted a picture of himself wearing protective garb over his Roman collar as well as a mask and glasses .
At a time when most religious celebrations have been closed to the public , visits of religious ministers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations have been expressly authorized by confinement rules in France .
But not all hospitals authorize them .
All visits have been suspended in hospital homes for the elderly , whose vulnerable inhabitants are paying a heavy tribute to the coronavirus which is particularly deadly for the elderly .
In an op-ed published on March 26 by FigaroVox , the web media of Le Figaro , Bishop Benoît de Sinety , vicar general of the Diocese of Paris , insisted that chaplains should be allowed to visit the sick at their bedside .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enter hospital emergency departments to follow the remarkable work of medical teams , in a commendable concern for providing information , it seems to me at least as crucial that chaplains should be able to be present with the dying and the sick , for the sake of humaneness , to be with them at such essential times .
At a time of great urgency and when our society as a whole is holding its breath in the face of the spread of this epidemic , I earnestly request that this fundamental right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of one 's life be respected .
May those who so desire , or whose families manifest this desire , be able to benefit from the presence of the minister of their religion at their side to pray with them and for them , to hold their hands , and not to let them die without the benefit of any spiritual guidance they may want .
Not going to the bedside of the dying is tantamount to leaving the way clear for a form of abandonment .
If it is necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission to agree to go there for the necessary time , I know that this will not discourage them .
They will also be able to provide listening and a supportive presence that many doctors , interns , nurses and care staff are also asking for .
The demand for efficiency and the exceptional dedication of medical teams can not justify denying what is the hallmark of a civilization .
Not going to the bedside of the dying is tantamount to leaving the field open to a form of abandonment that is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , apart from the fact that it encourages patients to do everything they can to escape the hospital for fear of suffering this fate , would permanently damage the soul of our health care system and , more broadly , of our country .
Already , outside of hospitals , volunteer teams of followers of different religions are listening , consoling and accompanying families who are distressed at not being able to say goodbye to their loved ones , and providing support that contributes to the common good .
Let us not forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more dangerous epidemics ( cholera , plague ... ) men and women have never been prevented from volunteering to support their contemporaries spiritually and humanely and from freely taking risks .
As long as they agree to follow the instructions given , why deprive the most fragile of the benefits of a fraternal presence where science can no longer do anything ?
Benoist de Sinety ’ s op-ed was also published on the website of the Diocese of Paris .
His arguments were echoed by Bishop Bernard Ginoux of Montauban , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not abandon the sick , especially those who have reached the end of their life .
It is a right of the sick person to obtain the presence of Christ.
” While asking his readers not to vainly accuse parishes and priests who are “ doing what they can , ” he also tweeted : “ We are called to penance and conversion , to humility and to the adoration of our only Lord .
Now is the real time of favor.
” Bishop Ginoux added a tweet today saying that Masses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ according to the norms allowing churches to be open.
” Meanwhile , Bishop Marc Aillet of Bayonne has called on his flock to “ pray and do penance , ” and has consecrated his diocese to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary .
Official guidelines still allow churches and other places of worship to remain open .
Believers were in theory allowed to attend religious ceremonies in their place of worship with no more than 20 faithful present , as the government ’ s website still states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 formally prohibited all religious ceremonies except for funerals , these being limited to 20 persons present .
The decree runs until April 15 , which means that for the first time since the 1st century , there will be no public Mass in France for Easter .
At the beginning of confinement on March 16 a number of churches , such as chapels of the Society of Saint Pius X and other traditionally-minded parishes offered an increased number of Masses , allowing faithful to join upon inscription or by rotations managed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masses but retained weekday celebrations so that the faithful could at least have one Mass during the week ; some distributed Holy Communion and others did not .
Increasingly stringent controls included 16 faithful being fined on March 22 and asked to leave a chapel of the FSSPX in Savoie ( eastern France ) because they were “ too close together ” and because a number had come from “ too far.
” In another incident that day , a priest was officially “ reminded of the law ” while his less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( about $ 150 USD ) for having joined a Mass organized in a large hall at a private camp .
Police explained that the hall was not a “ place of worship.
” Since Saturday , automatic fines for second-time offenders were stepped up to 200 euro , while four infringements in 30 days will “ cost ” 3.750 euro and six months imprisonment .
Banks , supermarkets , garages , all food stores including take-away restaurants , bakers and butchers , as well as computer stores , phone shops , newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name but a few , are open .

Urgent appeal to bishops: Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here.
ANALYSIS
FRANCE, April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – On Sunday, a widely shared message and a photo on the Twitter account of a Parisian priest became a symbol of hope. Father Franck Derville, hospital chaplain of one of the foremost hospitals in Paris, Hôpital Cochin, visited COVID-19 patients in the ICU ward. He posted a picture of himself wearing protective garb over his Roman collar as well as a mask and glasses.
At a time when most religious celebrations have been closed to the public, visits of religious ministers to the sick and to patients in end-of-life situations have been expressly authorized by confinement rules in France. But not all hospitals authorize them.
All visits have been suspended in hospital homes for the elderly, whose vulnerable inhabitants are paying a heavy tribute to the coronavirus which is particularly deadly for the elderly.
In an op-ed published on March 26 by FigaroVox, the web media of Le Figaro, Bishop Benoît de Sinety, vicar general of the Diocese of Paris, insisted that chaplains should be allowed to visit the sick at their bedside.
He wrote:
While television crews are sometimes allowed to enter hospital emergency departments to follow the remarkable work of medical teams, in a commendable concern for providing information, it seems to me at least as crucial that chaplains should be able to be present with the dying and the sick, for the sake of humaneness, to be with them at such essential times. At a time of great urgency and when our society as a whole is holding its breath in the face of the spread of this epidemic, I earnestly request that this fundamental right to be a human being up to the end of one's life be respected. May those who so desire, or whose families manifest this desire, be able to benefit from the presence of the minister of their religion at their side to pray with them and for them, to hold their hands, and not to let them die without the benefit of any spiritual guidance they may want. Not going to the bedside of the dying is tantamount to leaving the way clear for a form of abandonment. If it is necessary for those who voluntarily carry out this mission to agree to go there for the necessary time, I know that this will not discourage them. They will also be able to provide listening and a supportive presence that many doctors, interns, nurses and care staff are also asking for. The demand for efficiency and the exceptional dedication of medical teams cannot justify denying what is the hallmark of a civilization. Not going to the bedside of the dying is tantamount to leaving the field open to a form of abandonment that is not only human but also spiritual, which, apart from the fact that it encourages patients to do everything they can to escape the hospital for fear of suffering this fate, would permanently damage the soul of our health care system and, more broadly, of our country. Already, outside of hospitals, volunteer teams of followers of different religions are listening, consoling and accompanying families who are distressed at not being able to say goodbye to their loved ones, and providing support that contributes to the common good. Let us not forget that, at all times, during much more dangerous epidemics (cholera, plague…) men and women have never been prevented from volunteering to support their contemporaries spiritually and humanely and from freely taking risks. As long as they agree to follow the instructions given, why deprive the most fragile of the benefits of a fraternal presence where science can no longer do anything?
Benoist de Sinety’s op-ed was also published on the website of the Diocese of Paris.
His arguments were echoed by Bishop Bernard Ginoux of Montauban, who tweeted: “We, priests, cannot abandon the sick, especially those who have reached the end of their life. It is a right of the sick person to obtain the presence of Christ.”
While asking his readers not to vainly accuse parishes and priests who are “doing what they can,” he also tweeted: “We are called to penance and conversion, to humility and to the adoration of our only Lord. Now is the real time of favor.”
Bishop Ginoux added a tweet today saying that Masses are still being celebrated in his diocese “according to the norms allowing churches to be open.”
Meanwhile, Bishop Marc Aillet of Bayonne has called on his flock to “pray and do penance,” and has consecrated his diocese to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Official guidelines still allow churches and other places of worship to remain open. Believers were in theory allowed to attend religious ceremonies in their place of worship with no more than 20 faithful present, as the government’s website still states, but a new decree published on March 23 formally prohibited all religious ceremonies except for funerals, these being limited to 20 persons present.
The decree runs until April 15, which means that for the first time since the 1st century, there will be no public Mass in France for Easter.
At the beginning of confinement on March 16 a number of churches, such as chapels of the Society of Saint Pius X and other traditionally-minded parishes offered an increased number of Masses, allowing faithful to join upon inscription or by rotations managed by the local priest. Others scrapped Sunday Masses but retained weekday celebrations so that the faithful could at least have one Mass during the week; some distributed Holy Communion and others did not.
Increasingly stringent controls included 16 faithful being fined on March 22 and asked to leave a chapel of the FSSPX in Savoie (eastern France) because they were “too close together” and because a number had come from “too far.”
In another incident that day, a priest was officially “reminded of the law” while his less than twenty faithful were fined 135 euro each (about $150 USD) for having joined a Mass organized in a large hall at a private camp. Police explained that the hall was not a “place of worship.”
Since Saturday, automatic fines for second-time offenders were stepped up to 200 euro, while four infringements in 30 days will “cost” 3.750 euro and six months imprisonment.
Banks, supermarkets, garages, all food stores including take-away restaurants, bakers and butchers, as well as computer stores, phone shops, newspaper sellers, drugstores and drycleaners, to name but a few, are open.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--Canon lawyer compares prohibition of public Masses to interdicts in history

DETROIT , Michigan , April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A canon lawyer has compared the current prohibition of public Masses to territorial interdicts in the past .
Edward Peters , who teaches canon law at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit , Michigan , argued that today , “ what amounts to territorial interdicts are being imposed ( rightly or wrongly , in terms of medical advice ) as a way to protect the innocent.
” An interdict is an ecclesiastical censure “ whereby Church authority could shut down access to sacraments for the innocent as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Peters explained .
According to The Catholic Encyclopedia , an interdict “ is a censure , or prohibition , excluding the faithful from participation in certain holy things.
” These holy things include the liturgy , the sacraments , “ excepting private administrations of those that are of necessity , ” and “ ecclesiastical burial , including all funeral services.
” “ There were , of course , efforts over the centuries to mitigate the impact of territorial interdicts on the innocent , ” Peters said , “ but , in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , interdicts were not attacked as illegal in themselves nor as somehow outside of the Church ’ s authority to implement.
” With that in mind , he cautioned Catholics against “ concluding that a given ... local Church policy is canonically illegal and can therefore simply be disregarded.
” While such policies might be “ wrong-headed ( as some seem to me ) that does not necessarily mean they are canonically illegal.
” The remarks made by Edward Peters are in contrast to the assessment by Bishop Athanasius Schneider .
The auxiliary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holy in Astana , Kazakhstan , had stated that a priest , using discretion and following the necessary health precautions “ has not to obey the directives of his bishop or the government to suspend Mass for the faithful.
” Directives canceling all public Masses “ are a pure human law ; however , the supreme law in the Church is the salvation of souls , ” the bishop said .
“ Priests in such a situation have to be extremely creative in order to provide for the faithful , even for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass and the reception of the sacraments .
Such was the pastoral behavior of all confessor and martyr priests in the time of persecution , ” he added .
As many bishops have canceled not only public Masses , but also all baptisms , Peters criticized the delay of infant baptisms .
According to current canon law , published in 1983 , infants are to be baptized “ in the first few weeks ; as soon as possible after the birth or even before it , they are to go to the pastor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to be prepared properly for it.
” Peters said , “ I agree with the Exegetical Commentary which states that Canon 867 ‘ protected the fundamental right of the parents to baptize their children within the first few weeks .
This right shall not be limited or restricted by a particular law , at least not by a norm of lower rank than the [ 1983 Code ] itself.
’ ” “ Commentaries on the old law warned against parents trying more than a month to secure the service of a priest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
Peters pointed out that parents who baptize their own child because they were unable to get a priest to do so , “ should simply report such baptisms to the pastor of the parish.
” “ I suggest an audio-visual recording of the event , should the pastor later have any questions about matter , form , and so on , ” he emphasized .
Baptisms of adults usually take place during the celebration of the Easter Vigil , in combination with Confirmation and first Holy Communion .
Peters called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner .
“ Consider , some bishops are allowing up to ten ‘ technical assistants ’ to help priests broadcast their Masses on-line .
Well , if ten tech aids can gather to hold lights and point cameras , surely a half dozen candidates and catechumens can kneel before their priest and be baptized , confirmed , and communicated.
” Regarding marriages , Peters pointed out that canonical form “ need not be observed , even by two Roman Catholics , if it is foreseen that an official witness ( typically , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least thirty days.
” In other words , the priest would not be absolutely necessary , if no priest can be found .
Two other witnesses , however , still need to be there .

Interdicts are prohibitions 'whereby Church authority could shut down access to sacraments for the innocent as well as the guilty.'
Urgent appeal to bishops: Fight to make sacraments more available to your faithful Sign the petition here.
DETROIT, Michigan, April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A canon lawyer has compared the current prohibition of public Masses to territorial interdicts in the past. Edward Peters, who teaches canon law at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, argued that today, “what amounts to territorial interdicts are being imposed (rightly or wrongly, in terms of medical advice) as a way to protect the innocent.”
An interdict is an ecclesiastical censure “whereby Church authority could shut down access to sacraments for the innocent as well as the guilty in whole countries,” Peters explained.
According to The Catholic Encyclopedia, an interdict “is a censure, or prohibition, excluding the faithful from participation in certain holy things.” These holy things include the liturgy, the sacraments, “excepting private administrations of those that are of necessity,” and “ecclesiastical burial, including all funeral services.”
“There were, of course, efforts over the centuries to mitigate the impact of territorial interdicts on the innocent,” Peters said, “but, in its heyday, though criticized on prudential grounds, interdicts were not attacked as illegal in themselves nor as somehow outside of the Church’s authority to implement.”
With that in mind, he cautioned Catholics against “concluding that a given…local Church policy is canonically illegal and can therefore simply be disregarded.” While such policies might be “wrong-headed (as some seem to me) that does not necessarily mean they are canonically illegal.”
The remarks made by Edward Peters are in contrast to the assessment by Bishop Athanasius Schneider.
The auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Mary Most Holy in Astana, Kazakhstan, had stated that a priest, using discretion and following the necessary health precautions “has not to obey the directives of his bishop or the government to suspend Mass for the faithful.”
Directives canceling all public Masses “are a pure human law; however, the supreme law in the Church is the salvation of souls,” the bishop said.
“Priests in such a situation have to be extremely creative in order to provide for the faithful, even for a small group, the celebration of Holy Mass and the reception of the sacraments. Such was the pastoral behavior of all confessor and martyr priests in the time of persecution,” he added.
As many bishops have canceled not only public Masses, but also all baptisms, Peters criticized the delay of infant baptisms.
According to current canon law, published in 1983, infants are to be baptized “in the first few weeks; as soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it.”
Peters said, “I agree with the Exegetical Commentary which states that Canon 867 ‘protected the fundamental right of the parents to baptize their children within the first few weeks. This right shall not be limited or restricted by a particular law, at least not by a norm of lower rank than the [1983 Code] itself.’”
“Commentaries on the old law warned against parents trying more than a month to secure the service of a priest before acting on their own,” he added.
Peters pointed out that parents who baptize their own child because they were unable to get a priest to do so, “should simply report such baptisms to the pastor of the parish.”
“I suggest an audio-visual recording of the event, should the pastor later have any questions about matter, form, and so on,” he emphasized.
Baptisms of adults usually take place during the celebration of the Easter Vigil, in combination with Confirmation and first Holy Communion. Peters called for providing these sacraments in a timely manner.
“Consider, some bishops are allowing up to ten ‘technical assistants’ to help priests broadcast their Masses on-line. Well, if ten tech aids can gather to hold lights and point cameras, surely a half dozen candidates and catechumens can kneel before their priest and be baptized, confirmed, and communicated.”
Regarding marriages, Peters pointed out that canonical form “need not be observed, even by two Roman Catholics, if it is foreseen that an official witness (typically, a priest) cannot be present for at least thirty days.” In other words, the priest would not be absolutely necessary, if no priest can be found. Two other witnesses, however, still need to be there.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--Faulty Chinese medical supplies will ‘kill people’ during COVID-19 pandemic, expert tells Fox News

WASHINGTON , D.C. , April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Communist China is sending shipments of faulty medical supplies to Europe during the coronavirus pandemic that will not heal people , but will kill them , an expert on China has stated .
Steven Mosher , author of Bully of Asia : Why China ’ s Dream is a Threat to World Order , told the Fox News host of “ The Ingraham Angle ” on Monday night that China has been sending defective equipment to European countries stricken by its latest coronavirus .
“ China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ into Europe with lots of medical supplies , ventilators , ” Ingraham told him .
“ And these Eurozone countries are welcoming them with open arms , not thinking that there ’ s going to be any strings attached because they ’ re in crisis.
” “ Yeah , and then they ’ re finding out that the masks leak , that the protective gear doesn ’ t work , ” Mosher replied .
He reported that Spain , The Czech Republic , and Holland have already decided to send China back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the BBC , authorities in Spain , Turkey and the Netherlands have reported that thousands of Chinese “ testing kits and medical masks are below standard or defective.
” Newsweek has similarly reported that officials in those countries and The Czech Republic have rejected Chinese supplies as “ not fit for purpose.
” Europe is not alone .
Australia has also reported substandard supplies from China .
“ A lot of the junk coming from China is literally junk , ” Mosher stated .
“ It will not heal people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took issue with the World Health Organization ( WHO ) refusing to acknowledge Taiwan , whose sovereignty China denies .
He says Taiwan has provided the world a model response to dealing with the COVID-19 coronavirus .
For example , Taiwan was the first country to close its borders to traffic from Wuhan , where the virus originated .
Taiwan has a very low rate of infection and few deaths .
“ They are a model for the rest of the world to follow , and yet you have the World Health Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China Health Organization , refusing to hold up Taiwan as a model when it could save lives , ” Mosher said .
“ What does a health association do when it doesn ’ t save lives ?
” Retired Brigadier General ( USAF ) Robert Spalding told Ingraham that the WHO and several other powerful international organizations are controlled by China .
“ In addition to the WHO , you have the UN Human Rights Council .
You have the World Bank .
I mean , name an international institution the Chinese Communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he scoffed .
Laura Ingraham stated that the United States media is holding up China as a model for dealing with the crisis and that the U.S. is even considering surveilling Americans through their cellphones to make sure they are social-distancing and not travelling .
Spalding warned that America has to be “ very careful ” because spreading that kind of state control is what China wants .
He stated that China had gone to India to sell 5G communications technology and told the country how it could use temperature sensors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creeping authoritarianism , ” he said .
Spalding recommended investing in American manufacturing so that Americans “ can cut ourselves loose from the Chinese .
”

Medical supplies to deal with the coronavirus coming from China is 'literally junk: it will not heal people. It will kill people'
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Communist China is sending shipments of faulty medical supplies to Europe during the coronavirus pandemic that will not heal people, but will kill them, an expert on China has stated.
Steven Mosher, author of Bully of Asia: Why China’s Dream is a Threat to World Order, told the Fox News host of “The Ingraham Angle” on Monday night that China has been sending defective equipment to European countries stricken by its latest coronavirus.
“China’s coming in like a ‘white knight’ into Europe with lots of medical supplies, ventilators,” Ingraham told him. “And these Eurozone countries are welcoming them with open arms, not thinking that there’s going to be any strings attached because they’re in crisis.”
“Yeah, and then they’re finding out that the masks leak, that the protective gear doesn’t work,” Mosher replied.
He reported that Spain, The Czech Republic, and Holland have already decided to send China back its defective test kits or other equipment.
According to the BBC, authorities in Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands have reported that thousands of Chinese “testing kits and medical masks are below standard or defective.” Newsweek has similarly reported that officials in those countries and The Czech Republic have rejected Chinese supplies as “not fit for purpose.”
Europe is not alone. Australia has also reported substandard supplies from China.
“A lot of the junk coming from China is literally junk,” Mosher stated.
“It will not heal people. It will kill people.”
Mosher took issue with the World Health Organization (WHO) refusing to acknowledge Taiwan, whose sovereignty China denies. He says Taiwan has provided the world a model response to dealing with the COVID-19 coronavirus. For example, Taiwan was the first country to close its borders to traffic from Wuhan, where the virus originated. Taiwan has a very low rate of infection and few deaths.
“They are a model for the rest of the world to follow, and yet you have the World Health Association, let’s call it the China Health Organization, refusing to hold up Taiwan as a model when it could save lives,” Mosher said.
“What does a health association do when it doesn’t save lives?”
Retired Brigadier General (USAF) Robert Spalding told Ingraham that the WHO and several other powerful international organizations are controlled by China.
“In addition to the WHO, you have the UN Human Rights Council. You have the World Bank. I mean, name an international institution the Chinese Communist Party hasn’t taken over,” he scoffed.
Laura Ingraham stated that the United States media is holding up China as a model for dealing with the crisis and that the U.S. is even considering surveilling Americans through their cellphones to make sure they are social-distancing and not travelling.
Spalding warned that America has to be “very careful” because spreading that kind of state control is what China wants. He stated that China had gone to India to sell 5G communications technology and told the country how it could use temperature sensors to track its population.
“This is creeping authoritarianism,” he said.
Spalding recommended investing in American manufacturing so that Americans “can cut ourselves loose from the Chinese.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-01--Trump warns US deaths could reach 240k: Live coronavirus 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 .
April 1 , 2020 , 3:14 p.m. EST : Here are more details on the U.S. government report about China ’ s coronavirus lies .
April 1 , 2020 , 12:53 p.m. EST : A secret U.S. government report found that “ China has concealed the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in its country , ” according to Bloomberg .
“ The officials asked not to be identified because the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contents .
But the thrust , they said , is that China ’ s public reporting on cases and deaths is intentionally incomplete .
Two of the officials said the report concludes that China ’ s numbers are fake.
” A LifeSiteNews article on this is forthcoming .
April 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – 100,000 to 240,000 people in the U.S. are projected to die from the coronavirus pandemic , President Donald Trump said yesterday .
“ This could be a hell of a bad two weeks , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead.
” “ This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we ’ ve ever had in our country ... We ’ re going to lose thousands of people.
” Meanwhile , the United Nations predicted “ enhanced instability , enhanced unrest , and enhanced conflict ” because of the coronavirus .
UN Secretary-General António Guterres suggested the world after the coronavirus will be changed forever .
“ When we get past this crisis , which we will , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises , ” he said .
“ With the right actions , the COVID-19 pandemic can mark the beginning of a new type of global and societal cooperation.
” Scores of Americans are out of work thanks to the shutdowns .
The unemployment rate may reach up to 32 percent – higher than during the Great Depression , when unemployment was at around 25 percent .
And a particularly ominous article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City is offering prisoners at Rikers Island jail $ 6 per hour — a fortune by prison labor standards — and personal protective equipment if they agree to help dig mass graves on Hart Island , according to sources with knowledge of the offer.
” A joint statement issued by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences ( PAS ) and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences ( PASS ) on March 20 does not mention God and asks governments to reduce “ nationalistic interests.
” Catholic bishops continue to ban the Sacraments in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priests are to make themselves available to hear Confessions , ” ordered Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock , Texas .
Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of Springfield , Massachusetts has suspended all Last Rites .
Authorities are cracking down on priests around the world for saying public Masses .
The Red Rose Rescue Conference has been postponed due to the pandemic .

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.
April 2, 2020, 3:44 p.m. EST: Citing the coronavirus, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has loosened its restrictions on actively homosexual men donating blood. Previously, men who had “had sex” with other men in the past 12 months were not eligible to give blood; now it’s three months.
“This guidance is being implemented without prior public comment because the FDA has determined that prior public participation for this guidance is not feasible or appropriate,” the FDA said in a statement.
“These recommendations are expected to remain in place after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, with any appropriate changes based on comments we receive and our experience implementing the guidances.”
April 2, 2020, 12:25 p.m. EST: Canada’s lockdowns and quarantines might last for “weeks or even months,” according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
A government document obtained by the National Post says, “Current GoC [Government Operations Centre] modelling suggests as a best case scenario that current measures continue until at least July.”
The 2020 Democratic National Convention has been postponed to the week of August 17.
In light of the unprecedented health crisis facing our country, the 2020 Democratic National Convention will now be held the week of August 17 in Milwaukee, providing our team more time to determine the most appropriate structure for this historic event.https://t.co/DybjUJuUUA — 2020 Democratic National Convention (@DemConvention) April 2, 2020
April 2, 2020, 8:47 a.m. EST: “The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by pilgrims to be the site of Jesus’ tomb in Jerusalem's Old City, closed its doors for the first time since the Black Plague, according to the keeper of the keys to the now-locked church,” Caleb Parke reports at FOX News.
The coronavirus has effected the world’s three major monotheistic religions, the article continues:
Typically, tourists and pilgrims are flooding in and out of the holy site, but now the UNESCO World Heritage site is eerily silent, especially in the days leading up to Passover, Easter, and Ramadan. But religious leaders in the area are still praying at the doors of the Holy Sepulchre. The closure comes after the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, was shut down and amid the Western Wall, the holiest site for Jews to pray, remained open but only to residents of the Old City.
April 1, 2020, 8:42 p.m. EST: Indiana and West Virginia have both halted abortions to free up medical supplies to fight the pandemic.
The World Health Organization, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars from U.S taxpayers every year, is claiming that abortion is “essential” during the pandemic, even if antibiotics aren’t available for the mothers aborting their babies.
FOX News reports, “Tens of millions in the Philippines were placed on lockdown in order to combat coronavirus, but one local official is now facing charges after putting curfew violators in a dog cage this month.”
And Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte “issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order to police officers on Wednesday for anyone they see violating Chinese coronavirus quarantine orders,” Breitbart explains.
“I will not hesitate,” Duterte said. “My orders are to the police and military, also the barangay [district officials], that if there is trouble or the situation arises that people fight and your lives are on the line, shoot them dead. Do you understand? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I’ll send you to the grave.”
Other LifeSite stories about the coronavirus crisis today include:
And stories we published today relating to the coronavirus crisis and the Catholic Church include:
Watch today’s White House coronavirus briefing here.
April 1, 2020, 3:14 p.m. EST: Here are more details on the U.S. government report about China’s coronavirus lies.
The latest map showing which dioceses have stopped confessions (except in danger of death). The good news: I made two mistakes on my last map—Kansas City and Little Rock *do* allow for confession. The bad news: 30 dioceses have banned confessions, except in danger of death. pic.twitter.com/3MpXFRC6ge — Eric Sammons (@EricRSammons) April 1, 2020
April 1, 2020, 12:53 p.m. EST: A secret U.S. government report found that “China has concealed the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in its country,” according to Bloomberg.
“The officials asked not to be identified because the report is secret and declined to detail its contents. But the thrust, they said, is that China’s public reporting on cases and deaths is intentionally incomplete. Two of the officials said the report concludes that China’s numbers are fake.”
A LifeSiteNews article on this is forthcoming.
April 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – 100,000 to 240,000 people in the U.S. are projected to die from the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump said yesterday.
“This could be a hell of a bad two weeks,” he said. “I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead.”
“This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we’ve ever had in our country…We’re going to lose thousands of people.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations predicted “enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict” because of the coronavirus. UN Secretary-General António Guterres suggested the world after the coronavirus will be changed forever.
“When we get past this crisis, which we will, we will face a choice: we can go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises,” he said. “With the right actions, the COVID-19 pandemic can mark the beginning of a new type of global and societal cooperation.”
Scores of Americans are out of work thanks to the shutdowns. The unemployment rate may reach up to 32 percent – higher than during the Great Depression, when unemployment was at around 25 percent.
And a particularly ominous article on The Intercept reports, “New York City is offering prisoners at Rikers Island jail $6 per hour — a fortune by prison labor standards — and personal protective equipment if they agree to help dig mass graves on Hart Island, according to sources with knowledge of the offer.”
A joint statement issued by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS) on March 20 does not mention God and asks governments to reduce “nationalistic interests.”
Catholic bishops continue to ban the Sacraments in response to the pandemic.
“No priests are to make themselves available to hear Confessions,” ordered Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock, Texas. Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of Springfield, Massachusetts has suspended all Last Rites.
Authorities are cracking down on priests around the world for saying public Masses.
The Red Rose Rescue Conference has been postponed due to the pandemic.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-31--US appeals court allows Texas to enforce abortion ban during coronavirus pandemic

TEXAS , March 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Abortion will continue to be suspended in Texas as part of the state ’ s emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stayed a federal judge ’ s injunction against the Governor ’ s order that postponed any unnecessary medical procedures , including abortion .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed for immediate appellate review in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to enforce Governor Abbott ’ s March 21 Executive Order that postponed any unnecessary medical procedures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the health professionals combating the spread of the coronavirus .
Federal judge Lee Yeakel had ruled , however , that the abortion industry must be allowed to continue business as usual in Texas .
“ The benefits of a limited potential reduction in the use of some personal protective equipment by abortion providers is outweighed by the harm of eliminating abortion access in the midst of a pandemic that increases the risks of continuing an unwanted pregnancy , as well as the risks of travelling to other states in search of time-sensitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who presides over the Western District of Texas .
Paxton said in a press release today , however , that the Governor ’ s Executive Order applies to all health care facilities and professionals in Texas to ensure that hospitals and their staff have access to as much personal protective equipment and hospital beds as possible during the crisis .
He pointed out that abortion facilities want special treatment not available to any other health care provider in Texas .
“ Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , ” he said .
“ For years , abortion has been touted as a ‘ choice ’ by the same groups now attempting to claim that it is an essential procedure , ” Paxton added .
“ All Texans must work together to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
My office will continue to defend Governor Greg Abbott ’ s Order to ensure that supplies and personal protective gear reach the hardworking medical professionals who need it the most during this health crisis , ” he said .
Pro-life medical professionals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands for special treatment , arguing that exempting elective abortion puts business interests ahead of public health .
The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( AAPLOG ) says that while “ elective abortion is neither ‘ essential ’ nor ‘ urgent , ’ ” it “ does consume critical resources such as masks , gloves , and other personal protective equipment , and unnecessarily exposes patients and physicians to pathogens.
” “ Elective abortion , both surgical and drug induced , also generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Most abortion providers instruct women to go to an emergency room if they have any concerning symptoms after the abortion .
Approximately five percent of women who undergo medication abortions will require evaluation in an emergency room , most commonly for hemorrhage .
Surgical abortions can also result in hemorrhage .
Emergency room personnel – who are already struggling to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be further strained to provide care to these women .
”

TEXAS, March 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Abortion will continue to be suspended in Texas as part of the state’s emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stayed a federal judge’s injunction against the Governor’s order that postponed any unnecessary medical procedures, including abortion.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed for immediate appellate review in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to enforce Governor Abbott’s March 21 Executive Order that postponed any unnecessary medical procedures, including abortion, to preserve medical supplies for the health professionals combating the spread of the coronavirus.
Federal judge Lee Yeakel had ruled, however, that the abortion industry must be allowed to continue business as usual in Texas.
“The benefits of a limited potential reduction in the use of some personal protective equipment by abortion providers is outweighed by the harm of eliminating abortion access in the midst of a pandemic that increases the risks of continuing an unwanted pregnancy, as well as the risks of travelling to other states in search of time-sensitive medical care,” claimed Yeakel, who presides over the Western District of Texas.
Paxton said in a press release today, however, that the Governor’s Executive Order applies to all health care facilities and professionals in Texas to ensure that hospitals and their staff have access to as much personal protective equipment and hospital beds as possible during the crisis. He pointed out that abortion facilities want special treatment not available to any other health care provider in Texas.
“Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis,” he said.
“For years, abortion has been touted as a ‘choice’ by the same groups now attempting to claim that it is an essential procedure,” Paxton added.
“All Texans must work together to stop the spread of COVID-19. My office will continue to defend Governor Greg Abbott’s Order to ensure that supplies and personal protective gear reach the hardworking medical professionals who need it the most during this health crisis,” he said.
Pro-life medical professionals have assailed the abortion industry’s demands for special treatment, arguing that exempting elective abortion puts business interests ahead of public health.
The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) says that while “elective abortion is neither ‘essential’ nor ‘urgent,’” it “does consume critical resources such as masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment, and unnecessarily exposes patients and physicians to pathogens.”
“Elective abortion, both surgical and drug induced, also generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened emergency rooms,” AAPLOG continued. “Most abortion providers instruct women to go to an emergency room if they have any concerning symptoms after the abortion. Approximately five percent of women who undergo medication abortions will require evaluation in an emergency room, most commonly for hemorrhage. Surgical abortions can also result in hemorrhage. Emergency room personnel – who are already struggling to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be further strained to provide care to these women.”
With files from LifeSiteNews’ Calvin Freiburger
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lifesitenews--2020-04-02--Catholic leaders urge bishops to increase access to sacraments during pandemic

April 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A great number of prominent and well-respected Catholics has urged the bishops “ to do everything you can to make the sacraments more available to us ” during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The open letter , titled “ We Are An Easter People , ” was released on April 1 .
“ Something is terribly wrong with a culture that allows abortion clinics and liquor stores to remain open but shuts down places of worship , ” the open letter pointed out .
Spearheaded by Janet Smith , a former professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Detroit , Michigan , “ We Are An Easter People ” has been endorsed by other notable Catholics .
Names include pro-life activist Abby Johnson ; Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire ; Phil Lawler , editor of Catholic World News ; and LifeSiteNews columnist Peter Kwasniewski .
( See the bottom of the article for the full list of project endorsers . )
LifeSiteNews is collaborating with the initiative as well , launching an “ urgent appeal to bishops ” on the LifePetitions platform .
The open letter states : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is necessary , we must do everything we can to have access to what is essential for our spiritual lives .
We should certainly not voluntarily deprive ourselves of the sacraments.
” Every single diocese in the United States has canceled public Masses , often also restricting access to other sacraments , including confession .
In some cases , those limitations were not even mandated by the government , but only by the bishops .
The state of Ohio , for instance , considers churches as essential businesses that are allowed to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and groups and religious gatherings , including weddings and funerals , ” are listed by the state as “ essential businesses and operations ” which may stay open , LifeSiteNews reported .
The signers of the open letter want the bishops to take several steps to make the sacraments more accessible .
Among other things , they asked the bishops to demand “ that civil authorities recognize religious services as essential services ” and “ permit events such as offering and attending a Mass in a parking lot if they are currently prohibited.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” also encouraged bishops “ to make possible some form of a public Mass , especially the Easter liturgy.
” It should be offered not only by regular priests within their dioceses , but also by the bishops themselves , the open letter continued .
Whether within or outside of Mass , bishops are asked “ to find a safe way of distributing the Eucharist , with due precautions.
” LifeSiteNews has reported on some efforts in that vein .
Fr .
John Lamansky , a priest of the diocese of Davenport currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adoration in the church parking lot , praying “ without leaving their vehicles.
” “ Offer Communion through the car window , ” he said , adding priests should be “ thoroughly sanitizing your hands after each time.
” Steven Mosher , head of the Population Research Institute , wrote about the parish in Ave Maria , Florida , where the members of the parish participate in a live-streamed Mass “ from a safe location , either in their homes or perhaps in their cars .
The priest will then process outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a nearby school parking lot.
” On the website of “ We Are An Easter People , ” more options are listed .
“ Priests could use some form of suitable , beautiful tongs or other instrument to give communion either on the tongue or in the hands .
( Byzantine priests use a spoon . )
The hands of the priest and communicant could be kept at some distance even though the tongs would be , say , only 6-8 inches in length , ” one of the options explained .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ each use .
If receiving on the tongue , a paten could be used , even held by the communicant to ensure that the host not be dropped.
” “ We Are An Easter People ” urged the bishops to do “ everything you can to enable parish churches and shrines to remain open for prayer and adoration , with due precautions.
” Many priests keep their churches open .
In mid-March , Cardinal Angelo de Donatis , vicar general for the diocese of Rome , announced that parish churches in Rome would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just hours before , he had issued a decree stating the opposite , ordering all churches to be locked until April 3 due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Given the number of deaths associated with COVID-19 , the sacrament of anointing of the sick , often called extreme unction , needs to be provided “ to those at risk of dying , ” the open letter pointed out .
“ If a state or local government prohibits priests from ministering to the sick in the hospital or in their homes , make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to permit such minister with assurances that all due precautions will be taken .
Urge them to recognize religious services as essential services.
” The open letter called the permission for priests to enter medical facilities and minister to the sick and dying “ a matter of religious liberty.
” “ Priests should be informed of the precautions they need to take to protect themselves and minimize the risk of transmitting the virus to others , ” the letter continued .
“ In medical settings , they should follow the protocols required of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make every effort to secure required [ personal protective equipment ] for priests who attend the sick and dying.
” If a priest is not permitted to enter the medical facility , he could , if possible , meet the sick person “ at the entrance of the hospital to anoint them.
” Lastly , “ We Are An Easter People ” reminded the bishops to inform their flocks “ of your efforts and the greater availability of the sacraments.
” “ We must use the means Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to combat the evils of this world , ” the open letter concluded .
“ The Bishops , our Spiritual Fathers , must take active and public roles in bringing to our wounded world , the sacramental graces needed to survive ” the current pandemic .
To show their support for the contents of the open letter , people may sign it online .
There were about 1,000 signatures as of 5:00am ET on April 2 .
The LifeSiteNews petition was signed by about 5,000 people as of 5:00am ET on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are An Easter People ” Initiative : • It Is Well – Life in the Storm • None Philip Grey , President of the St Joseph Foundation and Catholics United for the Faith

'Something is terribly wrong with a culture that allows abortion clinics and liquor stores to remain open but shuts down places of worship,' they write.
April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A great number of prominent and well-respected Catholics has urged the bishops “to do everything you can to make the sacraments more available to us” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The open letter, titled “We Are An Easter People,” was released on April 1.
“Something is terribly wrong with a culture that allows abortion clinics and liquor stores to remain open but shuts down places of worship,” the open letter pointed out.
Spearheaded by Janet Smith, a former professor of moral theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, “We Are An Easter People” has been endorsed by other notable Catholics. Names include pro-life activist Abby Johnson; Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire; Phil Lawler, editor of Catholic World News; and LifeSiteNews columnist Peter Kwasniewski. (See the bottom of the article for the full list of project endorsers.) They are welcoming the public to join in signing the letter, which you can do at the website here.
LifeSiteNews has also launching an “urgent appeal to bishops” on the LifePetitions platform.
Sign LifeSite’s petition to the bishops here.
The open letter states: “While safety and cooperation with civil authorities is necessary, we must do everything we can to have access to what is essential for our spiritual lives. We should certainly not voluntarily deprive ourselves of the sacraments.”
Every single diocese in the United States has canceled public Masses, often also restricting access to other sacraments, including confession. In some cases, those limitations were not even mandated by the government, but only by the bishops.
The state of Ohio, for instance, considers churches as essential businesses that are allowed to stay open. “Religious facilities, entities and groups and religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals,” are listed by the state as “essential businesses and operations” which may stay open, LifeSiteNews reported.
The signers of the open letter want the bishops to take several steps to make the sacraments more accessible. Among other things, they asked the bishops to demand “that civil authorities recognize religious services as essential services” and “permit events such as offering and attending a Mass in a parking lot if they are currently prohibited.”
“We Are An Easter People” also encouraged bishops “to make possible some form of a public Mass, especially the Easter liturgy.” It should be offered not only by regular priests within their dioceses, but also by the bishops themselves, the open letter continued.
Whether within or outside of Mass, bishops are asked “to find a safe way of distributing the Eucharist, with due precautions.”
LifeSiteNews has reported on some efforts in that vein. Fr. John Lamansky, a priest of the diocese of Davenport currently studying in Rome, suggested people come to adoration in the church parking lot, praying “without leaving their vehicles.”
“Offer Communion through the car window,” he said, adding priests should be “thoroughly sanitizing your hands after each time.”
Steven Mosher, head of the Population Research Institute, wrote about the parish in Ave Maria, Florida, where the members of the parish participate in a live-streamed Mass “from a safe location, either in their homes or perhaps in their cars. The priest will then process outside and distribute Communion in the open air in a nearby school parking lot.”
On the website of “We Are An Easter People,” more options are listed.
“Priests could use some form of suitable, beautiful tongs or other instrument to give communion either on the tongue or in the hands. (Byzantine priests use a spoon.) The hands of the priest and communicant could be kept at some distance even though the tongs would be, say, only 6-8 inches in length,” one of the options explained.
“The tongs could be sterilized between each use. If receiving on the tongue, a paten could be used, even held by the communicant to ensure that the host not be dropped.”
“We Are An Easter People” urged the bishops to do “everything you can to enable parish churches and shrines to remain open for prayer and adoration, with due precautions.”
Many priests keep their churches open. In mid-March, Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, announced that parish churches in Rome would again be open to the public. Just hours before, he had issued a decree stating the opposite, ordering all churches to be locked until April 3 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Given the number of deaths associated with COVID-19, the sacrament of anointing of the sick, often called extreme unction, needs to be provided “to those at risk of dying,” the open letter pointed out.
“If a state or local government prohibits priests from ministering to the sick in the hospital or in their homes, make a personal and formal request of civic leaders to permit such minister with assurances that all due precautions will be taken. Urge them to recognize religious services as essential services.”
The open letter called the permission for priests to enter medical facilities and minister to the sick and dying “a matter of religious liberty.”
“Priests should be informed of the precautions they need to take to protect themselves and minimize the risk of transmitting the virus to others,” the letter continued. “In medical settings, they should follow the protocols required of other facility staff. The diocese should make every effort to secure required [personal protective equipment] for priests who attend the sick and dying.”
If a priest is not permitted to enter the medical facility, he could, if possible, meet the sick person “at the entrance of the hospital to anoint them.”
Lastly, “We Are An Easter People” reminded the bishops to inform their flocks “of your efforts and the greater availability of the sacraments.”
“We must use the means Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church have provided us to combat the evils of this world,” the open letter concluded. “The Bishops, our Spiritual Fathers, must take active and public roles in bringing to our wounded world, the sacramental graces needed to survive” the current pandemic.
To show their support for the contents of the open letter, people may sign it online.
The LifeSiteNews petition can be signed here.
Project Endorsers for “We Are An Easter People” Initiative:
Janet E. Smith, Moral Theologian
Kari Beckman, Founder and Executive Director, Regina Caeli Academy
Patrick Coffin, author, Founder, CoffinNation.com
Chris Faddis – President, Solidarity HealthShare, Author, It Is Well – Life in the Storm
It Is Well – Life in the Storm Matt Fradd, Host of Pints with Aquinas
Theresa Farnan, Ph.D.
Thomas Farr, President, Religious Freedom Institute
Dr. Ray Guarendi
Philip Grey, President of the St Joseph Foundation and Catholics United for the Faith
Bradley L Hahn, JD, – CEO, Solidarity HealthShare
Abby Johnson, CEO, Prolove Ministries
Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph.D., independent scholar
Philip F. Lawler, Editor, Catholic World News
Leila Miller, Author
Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, Founder and President, The Ruth Institute
Monica Migliorino Miller, Ph. D., Theologian, Author and Pro-life Activist Leader
Steve Ray, Author, Movie producer, International speaker, pilgrimage guide
Dr. Paul Thigpen, Catholic author and catechist
Mark A. Thomas, Pro-Life Catholic & Adorer of the Real Presence
Matt Walsh, Columnist, Daily Wire
Kevin Wells, Catholic author, writer and evangelists
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