lifesitenews--2020-03-06--A reality check for Americans clamoring for Canadian health care

March 6 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — I recently had the opportunity to listen to two Canadian citizens discuss the Canadian health care system and their personal experiences within it .
They were a very successful , middle-aged couple who had been involved in a motor vehicle accident in the United States while driving to Florida .
The accident in which they were involved was quite serious .
The wife suffered fractured ribs and a fractured sternum .
She also experienced pain in her shoulder , which was n't initially detected or diagnosed due to the extent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taken to a nearby hospital .
Her husband was more seriously injured .
He was trapped in the vehicle and had to be cut out by emergency personnel .
He was taken by helicopter to one of the premier shock trauma centers in the state , where he remained hospitalized for four days .
A broken leg and a shattered wrist and forearm necessitated surgeries , with hardware permanently implanted .
The husband received excellent care , as did the wife , whose injuries were not of a kind that are easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to Canada and began their recovery .
Had they lived in the United States , their recovery would have progressed entirely differently from how it eventually did in Canada .
In the United States , they would have been seen within days by their primary care physician .
The husband 's surgeon would have followed up with him .
Additional scans and studies , including MRIs , CT scans , and X-rays , would have been performed to determine if his fractures were healing , if the bones were forming new growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and screws .
The extent of any nerve damage would have been determined by EMG studies .
As soon as he was ready , he would have been started on a course of physical therapy directed to rehabilitating his many injuries , and returning him as closely as possible to his prior level of function , or that level that a maximum medical recovery would have allowed .
Such therapy would likely have been administered at least twice , and more likely three times or more , per week .
The progress would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and primary care doctor , or another orthopedic specialist , would have been copied on the reports .
A team approach to this man 's healing would have brought about the greatest degree of recovery and resumption of function that it was possible to achieve .
In Canada , none of that happened .
Upon their return home , the couple 's actual care virtually ceased .
They had a primary care doctor in Canada and saw him within a month of returning .
Initially , he prescribed physical therapy once a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reduced to once every two weeks , and then once a month .
Finally , therapy was stopped .
Given the nature and extent of this man 's injuries , that frequency of therapy is therapeutically meaningless .
The benefits of therapy are cumulative , so the fewer sessions there are , and the more spaced apart they are , the less effect they will have .
In addition , especially at the beginning stages of recovery , when care is most important , movement is painful , and most patients will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain or the knowledge of what to do , how to do it , and when to do it to achieve the most gain .
Without immediate rehabilitation of the injuries by trained professionals , they become chronically painful .
The pain inhibits further movement , which leads to reductions in ranges of motion , limitations in function , and diminishment in daily activities .
The complications cascade thereafter — weight gain , sleep disturbance , medication reliance , etc .
In the United States , had there been other treatment needed if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed further studies to determine the best diagnosis and treatment , the husband would have had them .
In Canada , he got none of this , because it is too expensive and is actively discouraged .
The wife explained this through her `` treatment '' upon returning to Canada .
Eventually , her shoulder became severely painful , and now she is unable to lift her arm above a certain height .
Her sternum still hurts daily .
I asked what diagnostic tests had been done since she returned to Canada to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She smiled and said there had been none .
She had asked her doctor about undergoing an MRI of her shoulder , which likely has a tear within it , to diagnose and treat what is wrong , but she was strongly discouraged from pursuing such a test .
When she persisted , she was informed that she could be put on a waiting list , and perhaps within six to nine months , she might be instructed to travel several hours to another city , where an MRI facility might have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps 3:00 A.M. or so .
The wife confirmed for me that the last diagnostic scan that had been done of her was in the emergency room immediately after her accident in the United States .
The husband had had none since , either .
Both of these people , living in a modern and progressive country that relies on socialized medicine , now live with chronic , constant pain ; are severely limited in function ; and will endure these for the rest of their lives .
While it is true that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some degree of pain and limitation , his current situation would probably have been mitigated by immediate therapeutic care administered when it would have been most productive .
Similarly , the wife 's shoulder pain , whether caused by muscular injuries or the tear of a rotator cuff , would have been addressed and corrected within months of the accident .
None of this happened , because medical care within socialized medicine is incomplete , rationed , and discouraged .
When asked about the push for socialized medicine in the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it happen if you can prevent it . ''
The myth of free health care is that the care you get now will continue , but it will be `` free . ''
Advocates of socialized medicine are n't interested in telling the truth about what will really happen when care is rationed , treatments are discouraged , and doctors and nurses become disillusioned and quit , leaving fewer health care providers to meet skyrocketing demand .
We think Canada , which is just as modern and civilized as the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because a modern citizenry expects modern care .
Yet they do n't have it , because socialism cares nothing for modernity .
Despite having imposed government control over medical care , it is still an environment subject to supply and demand .
This reality is further exacerbated when one contemplates not only socialized medicine for a country the size of the United States , but the open borders that every Democrat candidate for president proudly demands .
Canada strictly controls its borders , has a fraction of the population of the Unites States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The end of modern health care in the United States , should we have socialized medicine forced upon us , will be catastrophic .
Think `` Cuber , '' as Sanders touts .
As we have come to ask about so many other myths , exactly how many deaths will be enough to pay for this ridiculous lie ?
This article originally appeared at the American Thinker .
It is published here with permission from the author .

March 6, 2020 (American Thinker) — I recently had the opportunity to listen to two Canadian citizens discuss the Canadian health care system and their personal experiences within it. They were a very successful, middle-aged couple who had been involved in a motor vehicle accident in the United States while driving to Florida. The accident in which they were involved was quite serious. The wife suffered fractured ribs and a fractured sternum. She also experienced pain in her shoulder, which wasn't initially detected or diagnosed due to the extent of whole-body pain she was in. She was taken to a nearby hospital.
Her husband was more seriously injured. He was trapped in the vehicle and had to be cut out by emergency personnel. He was taken by helicopter to one of the premier shock trauma centers in the state, where he remained hospitalized for four days. A broken leg and a shattered wrist and forearm necessitated surgeries, with hardware permanently implanted. The husband received excellent care, as did the wife, whose injuries were not of a kind that are easily treated. After four days, they returned to Canada and began their recovery.
Had they lived in the United States, their recovery would have progressed entirely differently from how it eventually did in Canada. In the United States, they would have been seen within days by their primary care physician. The husband's surgeon would have followed up with him. Additional scans and studies, including MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays, would have been performed to determine if his fractures were healing, if the bones were forming new growth where they had been joined with plates and screws. The extent of any nerve damage would have been determined by EMG studies. As soon as he was ready, he would have been started on a course of physical therapy directed to rehabilitating his many injuries, and returning him as closely as possible to his prior level of function, or that level that a maximum medical recovery would have allowed. Such therapy would likely have been administered at least twice, and more likely three times or more, per week. The progress would have been recorded, and the surgeon and primary care doctor, or another orthopedic specialist, would have been copied on the reports. A team approach to this man's healing would have brought about the greatest degree of recovery and resumption of function that it was possible to achieve.
In Canada, none of that happened. Upon their return home, the couple's actual care virtually ceased. They had a primary care doctor in Canada and saw him within a month of returning. Initially, he prescribed physical therapy once a week for the husband. Eventually, this was reduced to once every two weeks, and then once a month. Finally, therapy was stopped. Given the nature and extent of this man's injuries, that frequency of therapy is therapeutically meaningless. The benefits of therapy are cumulative, so the fewer sessions there are, and the more spaced apart they are, the less effect they will have. In addition, especially at the beginning stages of recovery, when care is most important, movement is painful, and most patients will not have the will to induce that pain or the knowledge of what to do, how to do it, and when to do it to achieve the most gain. Without immediate rehabilitation of the injuries by trained professionals, they become chronically painful. The pain inhibits further movement, which leads to reductions in ranges of motion, limitations in function, and diminishment in daily activities. The complications cascade thereafter — weight gain, sleep disturbance, medication reliance, etc.
In the United States, had there been other treatment needed if therapy proved unsuccessful, or had he needed further studies to determine the best diagnosis and treatment, the husband would have had them. In Canada, he got none of this, because it is too expensive and is actively discouraged. The wife explained this through her “treatment” upon returning to Canada. Eventually, her shoulder became severely painful, and now she is unable to lift her arm above a certain height. Her sternum still hurts daily. I asked what diagnostic tests had been done since she returned to Canada to determine the cause of her complaints. She smiled and said there had been none. She had asked her doctor about undergoing an MRI of her shoulder, which likely has a tear within it, to diagnose and treat what is wrong, but she was strongly discouraged from pursuing such a test. When she persisted, she was informed that she could be put on a waiting list, and perhaps within six to nine months, she might be instructed to travel several hours to another city, where an MRI facility might have an appointment in the early morning hours, perhaps 3:00 A.M. or so. The wife confirmed for me that the last diagnostic scan that had been done of her was in the emergency room immediately after her accident in the United States. The husband had had none since, either.
Both of these people, living in a modern and progressive country that relies on socialized medicine, now live with chronic, constant pain; are severely limited in function; and will endure these for the rest of their lives. While it is true that the husband would likely always have had some degree of pain and limitation, his current situation would probably have been mitigated by immediate therapeutic care administered when it would have been most productive. Similarly, the wife's shoulder pain, whether caused by muscular injuries or the tear of a rotator cuff, would have been addressed and corrected within months of the accident. None of this happened, because medical care within socialized medicine is incomplete, rationed, and discouraged. When asked about the push for socialized medicine in the United States, their answer was “don't let it happen if you can prevent it.”
The myth of free health care is that the care you get now will continue, but it will be “free.” Advocates of socialized medicine aren't interested in telling the truth about what will really happen when care is rationed, treatments are discouraged, and doctors and nurses become disillusioned and quit, leaving fewer health care providers to meet skyrocketing demand. We think Canada, which is just as modern and civilized as the United States, must have figured this all out, because a modern citizenry expects modern care. Yet they don't have it, because socialism cares nothing for modernity. Despite having imposed government control over medical care, it is still an environment subject to supply and demand. This reality is further exacerbated when one contemplates not only socialized medicine for a country the size of the United States, but the open borders that every Democrat candidate for president proudly demands. Canada strictly controls its borders, has a fraction of the population of the Unites States, and is failing its citizens completely. The end of modern health care in the United States, should we have socialized medicine forced upon us, will be catastrophic. Think “Cuber,” as Sanders touts. As we have come to ask about so many other myths, exactly how many deaths will be enough to pay for this ridiculous lie?
This article originally appeared at the American Thinker. It is published here with permission from the author.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--Colorado Pro-life group gathers 135K signatures needed for ballot measure to ban late-term abortion

DENVER , March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Colorado pro-life initiative has submitted more than 138,000 signatures supporting a ballot measure proposing to end late-term abortions .
The signatures were delivered to the Colorado Department of State , headed by Democrat Jena Griswold , on March 4 .
The pro-life campaign called “ Due Date Too Late ” needed roughly 125,000 signatures to get the ballot measure approved .
The Department of State will determine whether the signatures are valid .
If not , “ Due Date Too Late ” has another two weeks to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to determine if late-term abortions should be banned in Colorado .
“ We are pleased to exceed the number of signatures required to submit to the Secretary of State , ” said Deacon Geoff Bennett , who works in a leadership position at Catholic Charities of Denver .
“ With the leadership of Archbishop ( Samuel ) Aquila we are proud how the Catholic community supported the moral teachings of the Church against the attacks on the most innocent among us .
We realize there is still work to do and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lie ahead in putting an end to late-term abortion in Colorado.
” The ballot measure would outlaw abortions after 22 weeks , when babies can definitely feel pain .
At this gestational age , they can also survive outside the womb .
One example is James Elgin Gill , born at just 21 weeks , five days in 1988 .
According to Verywell Family , he “ set a record when he was born for world ’ s most premature baby. James was born so early that he was expected to die at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have multiple and severe handicaps .
James beat all of the odds , growing to be a healthy adult.
” The Colorado campaign to end late-term abortions explained in graphic detail what actually happens during such procedures .
“ Abortion is a violent procedure and commonly involves the dismemberment of the fetus in the second trimester .
In the third trimester , the injection of potassium chloride or digoxin may inflict excruciating suffering before the child dies over a period of minutes to hours , ” the initiative states on its website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Due Date Too Late , ” about 400 late-term abortions are performed every year in Colorado .
“ Most of these abortions are performed on normal fetuses .
One abortion rights activist admitted that abortions for fetal anomaly ‘ make up a small minority of later abortions.
’ ” A quarter of late-term abortions are done “ because the child has been diagnosed with Down syndrome , ” the campaign reported Colorado ’ s late-term abortion clinic as admitting .
“ Due Date Too Late ” does not intend to make a mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The mother is not subject to any criminal penalties whatsoever .
Neither is a pharmacist who unwittingly fills a prescription for an abortion beyond 22 weeks.
” However , physicians performing the abortion “ can be charged criminally , ” without being subject to jail time.
” Instead , they would be “ subject to a three-year suspension of their medical license.
” The Colorado initiative provides for exceptions in the late-term abortion ban “ to save the life of the mother.
” Such concessions , some pro-life groups argue , make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life policies .
“ Colorado voters have indicated that they will not pass ” an initiative ending all abortions .
“ Our effort is to bring an initiative to the ballot in November 2020 which the voters will support .
We want to save as many babies as possible , ” the campaign explained .
At the same time , “ Due Date Too Late ” pointed out that a C-section “ is much safer than an abortion ” in most , if not all , emergencies .
The initiative is expecting massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which advocates for abortion as a women ’ s right .
In fact , Griswold , who is responsible for the official count of the signatures delivered to her office , was found to have worked with Planned Parenthood to smooth out a press release of the Department of State .
“ Before Colorado ’ s Secretary of State put out a news release calling for a boycott of Alabama over the state ’ s new abortion ban , her office sent the news release to Planned Parenthood for suggestions and edits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Denver , reported in May 2019 .
Two hours before the news release was sent out , Griswold ’ s communications director had emailed a draft to Whitney Phillips and Jack Teter .
“ Phillips is the vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and Teter is Planned Parenthood ’ s political director , ” according to the 9NEWS.com article .
Phillips said of the draft , “ We don ’ t recommend using right to choose/pro-life/pro-choice language anymore .
All polling indicates it is further polarizing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official press release no longer included such language .
Confronted with the ethics of editing a government press release , Phillips claimed it was appropriate .
“ Yes , of course .
PP ( Planned Parenthood ) provides messaging guidance around abortion .
That is our job as reproductive health experts.
” Former Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert had a different take .
“ Whether you agree with Planned Parenthood ’ s platform or not , I think we can all agree that we should not have our policies in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lobbying organizations , ” she said , according to the article .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s appropriate .
I don ’ t think it ’ s ethical .
I think it ’ s wrong .
”

They submitted the signatures to enable a measure ending abortions after 22 weeks to be put on the ballot in November.
DENVER, March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Colorado pro-life initiative has submitted more than 138,000 signatures supporting a ballot measure proposing to end late-term abortions.
The signatures were delivered to the Colorado Department of State, headed by Democrat Jena Griswold, on March 4.
The pro-life campaign called “Due Date Too Late” needed roughly 125,000 signatures to get the ballot measure approved. The Department of State will determine whether the signatures are valid. If not, “Due Date Too Late” has another two weeks to get the number needed.
Then, voters get a chance to determine if late-term abortions should be banned in Colorado.
“We are pleased to exceed the number of signatures required to submit to the Secretary of State,” said Deacon Geoff Bennett, who works in a leadership position at Catholic Charities of Denver.
“With the leadership of Archbishop (Samuel) Aquila we are proud how the Catholic community supported the moral teachings of the Church against the attacks on the most innocent among us. We realize there is still work to do and we are ready for the challenges that lie ahead in putting an end to late-term abortion in Colorado.”
The ballot measure would outlaw abortions after 22 weeks, when babies can definitely feel pain. At this gestational age, they can also survive outside the womb.
One example is James Elgin Gill, born at just 21 weeks, five days in 1988. According to Verywell Family, he “set a record when he was born for world’s most premature baby. James was born so early that he was expected to die at birth or — if he survived — to have multiple and severe handicaps. James beat all of the odds, growing to be a healthy adult.”
The Colorado campaign to end late-term abortions explained in graphic detail what actually happens during such procedures.
“Abortion is a violent procedure and commonly involves the dismemberment of the fetus in the second trimester. In the third trimester, the injection of potassium chloride or digoxin may inflict excruciating suffering before the child dies over a period of minutes to hours,” the initiative states on its website.
According to numbers provided by “Due Date Too Late,” about 400 late-term abortions are performed every year in Colorado. “Most of these abortions are performed on normal fetuses. One abortion rights activist admitted that abortions for fetal anomaly ‘make up a small minority of later abortions.’”
A quarter of late-term abortions are done “because the child has been diagnosed with Down syndrome,” the campaign reported Colorado’s late-term abortion clinic as admitting.
“Due Date Too Late” does not intend to make a mother getting an abortion a criminal. “The mother is not subject to any criminal penalties whatsoever. Neither is a pharmacist who unwittingly fills a prescription for an abortion beyond 22 weeks.”
However, physicians performing the abortion “can be charged criminally,” without being subject to jail time.” Instead, they would be “subject to a three-year suspension of their medical license.”
The Colorado initiative provides for exceptions in the late-term abortion ban “to save the life of the mother.” Such concessions, some pro-life groups argue, make it easier for voters and politicians to support pro-life policies.
“Colorado voters have indicated that they will not pass” an initiative ending all abortions. “Our effort is to bring an initiative to the ballot in November 2020 which the voters will support. We want to save as many babies as possible,” the campaign explained.
At the same time, “Due Date Too Late” pointed out that a C-section “is much safer than an abortion” in most, if not all, emergencies.
The initiative is expecting massive backlash from organizations like Planned Parenthood, which advocates for abortion as a women’s right.
In fact, Griswold, who is responsible for the official count of the signatures delivered to her office, was found to have worked with Planned Parenthood to smooth out a press release of the Department of State.
“Before Colorado’s Secretary of State put out a news release calling for a boycott of Alabama over the state’s new abortion ban, her office sent the news release to Planned Parenthood for suggestions and edits,” 9NEWS.com, an NBC-affiliated TV station in Denver, reported in May 2019.
Two hours before the news release was sent out, Griswold’s communications director had emailed a draft to Whitney Phillips and Jack Teter. “Phillips is the vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and Teter is Planned Parenthood’s political director,” according to the 9NEWS.com article.
Phillips said of the draft, “We don’t recommend using right to choose/pro-life/pro-choice language anymore. All polling indicates it is further polarizing and turns folks off.” Accordingly, the official press release no longer included such language.
Confronted with the ethics of editing a government press release, Phillips claimed it was appropriate. “Yes, of course. PP (Planned Parenthood) provides messaging guidance around abortion. That is our job as reproductive health experts.”
Former Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert had a different take.
“Whether you agree with Planned Parenthood’s platform or not, I think we can all agree that we should not have our policies in the state dictated to us by special interest groups and lobbying organizations,” she said, according to the article. “I don’t think it’s appropriate. I don’t think it’s ethical. I think it’s wrong.”
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--As Christianity declines in America, bigotry rises

March 9 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — Pundits of all political stripes are taking note of the fact that the 2020 election is bringing to the fore just how deep and bitter are the cultural divisions within our nation .
The glaring decline in political comity rivals that of the days leading up the Civil War .
While the political divide is obvious and bitter , the growing religious divide is also increasingly obvious , and , perhaps , this development has been a stronger factor in the social and cultural divisions of the American public than has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little noted in the mainstream media , but the percentage of American adults who identify as non-Christian — those individuals who are labeled `` none '' in terms of religious identification — `` continues to change at a rapid pace , '' according to the Pew Research Center after its telephone interviews in 2018 and 2019 .
Most recently , `` 65 % of American adults describe themselves as Christians — down 12 percentage points over the past decade . ''
Fully `` 17 percent of Americans describe their religion as 'nothing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2009 . ''
In sum , non-Christian religious affiliations are growing as a share of the adult population .
Not surprisingly , Americans also say `` religion is losing influence in American life . ''
Although most adults think private religious observance is a good thing , nearly two thirds think the church should stay out of political matters .
Though not made an issue by the legacy media , the decline in Christian and patriotic influence has been evident in the recent primary campaign events for the Democrat party .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Social media , on the other hand , pointed out that , appallingly , the flags were intentionally removed to avoid offending anyone .
Democrats and the various fact-checking sites responded to this criticism by pointing out that red , white , and blue flag colors and the stars and stripes imagery were everywhere and that some candidates wore flag lapel pins .
But the basic fact of this departure from longstanding political tradition remains : no actual American flags were on the stage with the candidates .
Another telling sign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fact that some `` 43 percent of Americans say socialism would be a good thing for the country . ''
As Kay James , president of the Heritage Foundation put it , `` [ t ] he rising tide of socialism in America is reaching a critical point as more Americans warm up to the idea of bigger , more intrusive government . ''
Who would have dreamed that a whole-hearted socialist — actually a closet communist — Bernie Sanders , would be a viable option for the Democratic presidential nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would praise a murderous communist dictator like Fidel Castro or that he would dodge the question when he was asked if Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is a dictator ?
Byron York argued that the cultural divide goes deeper than the signs and symbols of patriotism ; he notes several small indicators from the Bernie Sanders rallies that indicate a departure from typical campaign rallies : the absence of the Pledge of Allegiance ; lack of an invocation ; and an obviously `` woke progressive crowd , '' where disdain for the stories of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service is ignored , and where 36 % say they `` never '' go to church .
Byron 's assessment ?
Democrat rallies are not a place where you get a `` recite-the-pledge , hand-over-the-heart kind of feeling . ''
Moreover , hand-in-hand with the desertion of patriotic themes , we are seeing virulent anti-religious bias from all the candidates .
Perhaps it might be clearer to say there is greater and greater open hostility toward anyone who holds to a traditional understanding of Judeo-Christian moral teaching .
More and more , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moral basis : people are suffering their newly discovered rights are being denied , '' and suddenly , all the Democrat candidates support abortion as `` reproductive rights '' or `` women 's rights . ''
Joe Biden says he will `` force Christians to pay for abortions . ''
Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg quotes the Bible to `` justify late-term abortion '' and declares that his Christian beliefs are the foundation of the `` morality '' of LBGT concerns ; he decries the `` homophobic bigotry '' of those whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people . ''
During the Obama years , 2008–2016 , we heard the president declare , `` We are not a Christian Nation '' and that America is not a `` Judeo-Christian nation . ''
But even cursory knowledge of our nation 's history makes it clear that we were founded on Judeo-Christian principles and values and that our citizens have been and for the most part remain respectful of those historic Christian beliefs and moral teachings .
The erosion of Christian influence in the public square is having a profound influence on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden recently said : `` Let 's be clear : transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time . ''
Our kindergarteners are `` being taught about gender fluidity , '' and pre-school children at public libraries are `` entertained '' by drag queens .
If we fail to assent to this hijacking , we are considered `` bigots ! ''
Over the past few decades as they have abandoned traditional biblical teaching and values , virtually all of the mainline Protestant denominations have declined dramatically .
Sadly , it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public that the last of the mainline denominations that adheres to traditional biblical teaching and theological principles is likely to divide over the conflict of enforcing the standards of the Book of Discipline at the next United Methodist General Conference in May .
While their decline has `` simply driven members to more orthodox congregations that remain faithful to the core tenets of Christianity , '' the absence of strong Methodist , Presbyterian , Lutheran , and Episcopal churches from the center of community life has weakened the power of `` cultural Christianity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual behavior .
We have seen ever greater disintegration of the family and weakening of community as these powerful mainline church influences have disappeared from the public square .
Worse , those who adhere to the traditional Judeo-Christian values that were at the center of strong families , communities , and nations for thousands of years are now considered bigots who are out of step with today 's standards of `` morality '' as promoted by the 2020 Democrat political candidates and the Progressives , who believe that their pronouncements are intellectually superior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past .
Ironically , the Progressives who are calling Christians `` bigots '' are turning out to be the closed-minded ones .
There can be no reasoning or logical discourse with those whose religion is a special agenda , whose proof is their own opinion , and whose argument consists of name-calling .
This article originally appeared at the American Thinker .
It is published here with the author 's permission .

March 9, 2020 (American Thinker) — Pundits of all political stripes are taking note of the fact that the 2020 election is bringing to the fore just how deep and bitter are the cultural divisions within our nation. The glaring decline in political comity rivals that of the days leading up the Civil War. While the political divide is obvious and bitter, the growing religious divide is also increasingly obvious, and, perhaps, this development has been a stronger factor in the social and cultural divisions of the American public than has been previously acknowledged.
It has been little noted in the mainstream media, but the percentage of American adults who identify as non-Christian — those individuals who are labeled “none” in terms of religious identification — “continues to change at a rapid pace,” according to the Pew Research Center after its telephone interviews in 2018 and 2019. Most recently, “65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians — down 12 percentage points over the past decade.” Fully “17 percent of Americans describe their religion as 'nothing in particular' — up from 12% in 2009.” In sum, non-Christian religious affiliations are growing as a share of the adult population. Not surprisingly, Americans also say “religion is losing influence in American life.” Although most adults think private religious observance is a good thing, nearly two thirds think the church should stay out of political matters.
Though not made an issue by the legacy media, the decline in Christian and patriotic influence has been evident in the recent primary campaign events for the Democrat party. The televised Democrat debates showed no American flags. Social media, on the other hand, pointed out that, appallingly, the flags were intentionally removed to avoid offending anyone. Democrats and the various fact-checking sites responded to this criticism by pointing out that red, white, and blue flag colors and the stars and stripes imagery were everywhere and that some candidates wore flag lapel pins. But the basic fact of this departure from longstanding political tradition remains: no actual American flags were on the stage with the candidates.
Another telling sign of the shifts that are happening manifests itself in the fact that some “43 percent of Americans say socialism would be a good thing for the country.” As Kay James, president of the Heritage Foundation put it, “[t]he rising tide of socialism in America is reaching a critical point as more Americans warm up to the idea of bigger, more intrusive government.” Who would have dreamed that a whole-hearted socialist — actually a closet communist — Bernie Sanders, would be a viable option for the Democratic presidential nomination? Who would have dreamed that Sanders would praise a murderous communist dictator like Fidel Castro or that he would dodge the question when he was asked if Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is a dictator?
Byron York argued that the cultural divide goes deeper than the signs and symbols of patriotism; he notes several small indicators from the Bernie Sanders rallies that indicate a departure from typical campaign rallies: the absence of the Pledge of Allegiance; lack of an invocation; and an obviously “woke progressive crowd,” where disdain for the stories of American history is common, where military service is ignored, and where 36% say they “never” go to church. Byron's assessment? Democrat rallies are not a place where you get a “recite-the-pledge, hand-over-the-heart kind of feeling.” Moreover, hand-in-hand with the desertion of patriotic themes, we are seeing virulent anti-religious bias from all the candidates. Perhaps it might be clearer to say there is greater and greater open hostility toward anyone who holds to a traditional understanding of Judeo-Christian moral teaching.
More and more, in America, “emergencies are declared on a moral basis: people are suffering their newly discovered rights are being denied,” and suddenly, all the Democrat candidates support abortion as “reproductive rights” or “women's rights.” Joe Biden says he will “force Christians to pay for abortions.” Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg quotes the Bible to “justify late-term abortion” and declares that his Christian beliefs are the foundation of the “morality” of LBGT concerns; he decries the “homophobic bigotry” of those whose religious-right beliefs make them “harm other people.”
During the Obama years, 2008–2016, we heard the president declare, “We are not a Christian Nation” and that America is not a “Judeo-Christian nation.” But even cursory knowledge of our nation's history makes it clear that we were founded on Judeo-Christian principles and values and that our citizens have been and for the most part remain respectful of those historic Christian beliefs and moral teachings. The erosion of Christian influence in the public square is having a profound influence on all aspects of American life. Joe Biden recently said: “Let's be clear: transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time.” Our kindergarteners are “being taught about gender fluidity,” and pre-school children at public libraries are “entertained” by drag queens. If we fail to assent to this hijacking, we are considered “bigots!”
Over the past few decades as they have abandoned traditional biblical teaching and values, virtually all of the mainline Protestant denominations have declined dramatically. Sadly, it has barely registered with the media or the public that the last of the mainline denominations that adheres to traditional biblical teaching and theological principles is likely to divide over the conflict of enforcing the standards of the Book of Discipline at the next United Methodist General Conference in May. While their decline has “simply driven members to more orthodox congregations that remain faithful to the core tenets of Christianity,” the absence of strong Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches from the center of community life has weakened the power of “cultural Christianity” to shape community values and influence individual behavior. We have seen ever greater disintegration of the family and weakening of community as these powerful mainline church influences have disappeared from the public square.
Worse, those who adhere to the traditional Judeo-Christian values that were at the center of strong families, communities, and nations for thousands of years are now considered bigots who are out of step with today's standards of “morality” as promoted by the 2020 Democrat political candidates and the Progressives, who believe that their pronouncements are intellectually superior to all the established doctrine of the past.
Ironically, the Progressives who are calling Christians “bigots” are turning out to be the closed-minded ones. There can be no reasoning or logical discourse with those whose religion is a special agenda, whose proof is their own opinion, and whose argument consists of name-calling.
This article originally appeared at the American Thinker. It is published here with the author's permission.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Swiss bishop joins Cdl Burke’s criticism of Pope Francis’s post–Amazon Synod document

March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Bishop Marian Eleganti , the Swiss auxiliary bishop of Chur , has responded to the new comments made by Cardinal Raymond Burke about Pope Francis ’ s post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonia , which the cardinal calls “ troubling.
” Cardinal Burke especially opposed the idea of laicizing the Church in the Amazon .
Eleganti — who had first published a more positive comment on Querida Amazonia — says : “ I agree with Card .
Cordes and Card .
Burke in this regard , and I am unhappy about this development of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” As LifeSite reported today , Cardinal Burke issued his first public critique of Querida Amazonia in an interview with the National Catholic Register ’ s Edward Pentin .
In this interview , the American cardinal says that “ there are passages in the document which gravely contradict theological truths , ” and he rejects the potential laicization of the Church by saying that “ if the Amazon Church is going to be a lay Church , then it won ’ t be Catholic.
” Burke also reminds us that in the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the pastoral charity exercised by those called to be apostles and successors to the apostles is essential.
” Furthermore , Cardinal Burke sees that there is , in this new papal document , a sort of hidden agenda , saying , “ I don ’ t even find them [ the hidden parts ] so hidden , in the sense that the language is clear enough , and there are a number of interpreters who tell us exactly what is intended.
” He refers , for example , to Víctor Fernández , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very clearly that none of these issues like clerical celibacy and deaconesses are resolved , that the Pope simply saw that he had to wait a little bit to accomplish his agenda because there are people causing difficulty.
” That is to say , in Burke 's eyes , the topics of the married priesthood and the female diaconate are not yet off the table .
Bishop Eleganti himself had , one day after the publication of Querida Amazonia on February 12 , issued a statement praising the document for its “ loving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humble tone.
” He declared himself “ grateful ” for Pope Francis ’ s explicit “ rejection of female ordination.
” He also saw that this papal document turned out “ different from what was expected , ” also with regard to the married priesthood .
However , Eleganti also detected a weakness in the document : “ Francis does not seem to think about the conflicts between ordained and non-ordained ministers of the Church , which remain a great weakness of his proposal , ” he wrote .
“ The German-speaking countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regard which to this day could not be solved and have their origin in the creation of full-time non-ordained community leaders authorized or empowered by the bishops , ” the Swiss bishop argued .
Now , in response to Cardinal Burke , who mentioned both Eleganti ’ s and Cardinal Gerhard Müller 's positive response to the new papal document in a critical way since it could “ lead the faithful into error , ” Eleganti writes : “ Of course I was very relieved at first that the Pope did not directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the priesthood of women.
” But next to this joy , he adds : “ However , I have long seen the danger of deconstructing the priesthood by reducing it only to Holy Mass and Confession .
The ontological difference to the general priesthood of the baptized and the unity of the three ministries ( governing ; teaching ; sanctifying ) in the sacramental priesthood must not be touched .
They are transmitted through ordination and constitute the sacramental character of the Church .
I agree with Cardinal Cordes and Cardinal Burke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unhappy about this development of dismantling the priest and clericalizing the laity.
” Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes had published in the German Catholic newspaper Die Tagespost an analysis of Querida Amazonia with regard to its novel teaching that the priest ’ s main duties are merely the administration of the sacraments of the Eucharist and of Penance , while the laity could take over many of the other duties , to include the governing office .
Here , he points out that the three spheres of the ecclesial office and duties — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( sanctifying ) , and regendi ( governing ) — have a “ spiritual interdependency.
” They are “ theologically inseparable ” and they lose their “ efficacy ” when separated .
A priest is to act “ in the person of Christ .
”

Bishop Marian Eleganti — who had first published a more positive comment on Querida Amazonia — says: 'I am unhappy about this development of dismantling the priest and clericalizing the laity.'
PETITION: Catholics call on the Vatican to affirm all salvation comes through Jesus Sign the petition here.
March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Marian Eleganti, the Swiss auxiliary bishop of Chur, has responded to the new comments made by Cardinal Raymond Burke about Pope Francis’s post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonia, which the cardinal calls “troubling.” Cardinal Burke especially opposed the idea of laicizing the Church in the Amazon.
Eleganti — who had first published a more positive comment on Querida Amazonia — says: “I agree with Card. Cordes and Card. Burke in this regard, and I am unhappy about this development of dismantling the priest and clericalizing the laity.”
As LifeSite reported today, Cardinal Burke issued his first public critique of Querida Amazonia in an interview with the National Catholic Register’s Edward Pentin. In this interview, the American cardinal says that “there are passages in the document which gravely contradict theological truths,” and he rejects the potential laicization of the Church by saying that “if the Amazon Church is going to be a lay Church, then it won’t be Catholic.” Burke also reminds us that in the Church as instituted by Jesus Christ Himself, “the pastoral charity exercised by those called to be apostles and successors to the apostles is essential.”
Furthermore, Cardinal Burke sees that there is, in this new papal document, a sort of hidden agenda, saying, “I don’t even find them [the hidden parts] so hidden, in the sense that the language is clear enough, and there are a number of interpreters who tell us exactly what is intended.” He refers, for example, to Víctor Fernández, the archbishop of La Plata “stated very clearly that none of these issues like clerical celibacy and deaconesses are resolved, that the Pope simply saw that he had to wait a little bit to accomplish his agenda because there are people causing difficulty.” That is to say, in Burke's eyes, the topics of the married priesthood and the female diaconate are not yet off the table.
Bishop Eleganti himself had, one day after the publication of Querida Amazonia on February 12, issued a statement praising the document for its “loving, conciliatory, unagitated and pleasant, humble tone.” He declared himself “grateful” for Pope Francis’s explicit “rejection of female ordination.” He also saw that this papal document turned out “different from what was expected,” also with regard to the married priesthood.
However, Eleganti also detected a weakness in the document: “Francis does not seem to think about the conflicts between ordained and non-ordained ministers of the Church, which remain a great weakness of his proposal,” he wrote. “The German-speaking countries have enough experience and conflicts in this regard which to this day could not be solved and have their origin in the creation of full-time non-ordained community leaders authorized or empowered by the bishops,” the Swiss bishop argued.
Now, in response to Cardinal Burke, who mentioned both Eleganti’s and Cardinal Gerhard Müller's positive response to the new papal document in a critical way since it could “lead the faithful into error,” Eleganti writes: “Of course I was very relieved at first that the Pope did not directly attack celibacy and keep the gate closed for the priesthood of women.”
But next to this joy, he adds: “However, I have long seen the danger of deconstructing the priesthood by reducing it only to Holy Mass and Confession. The ontological difference to the general priesthood of the baptized and the unity of the three ministries (governing; teaching; sanctifying) in the sacramental priesthood must not be touched. They are transmitted through ordination and constitute the sacramental character of the Church. I agree with Cardinal Cordes and Cardinal Burke in this regard, and I am unhappy about this development of dismantling the priest and clericalizing the laity.”
Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes had published in the German Catholic newspaper Die Tagespost an analysis of Querida Amazonia with regard to its novel teaching that the priest’s main duties are merely the administration of the sacraments of the Eucharist and of Penance, while the laity could take over many of the other duties, to include the governing office.
Here, he points out that the three spheres of the ecclesial office and duties — the munera docendi (teaching), sanctificendi (sanctifying), and regendi (governing) — have a “spiritual interdependency.” They are “theologically inseparable” and they lose their “efficacy” when separated. A priest is to act “in the person of Christ.”
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Numbers show coronavirus is not nearly as scary as media want you to think

March 9 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — “ Codswallop ” is one of those interesting words that might have been used by Supreme Court justice Anton Scalia in a dissenting opinion , or by conservative intellectual William F. Buckley in describing some liberal policy .
It ’ s a British expression that refers to words or ideas that are foolish or untrue — in other words , nonsense .
While codswallop is a good description of the entire Democrat agenda , today I will restrict its use to the hysteria surrounding the coronavirus outbreak , media fear-mongering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all about ratings , view , and clicks , hence their axiom , “ If it bleeds , it leads.
” A viral outbreak is the perfect story , on par with a missing Malaysian airliner or a celebrity football player named OJ on trial for murder .
The added bonus is that any negative news can be laid at the feet of a president loathed by the media , who just so happens to be running for re-election .
The media are in full campaign mode , trying desperately to drag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates across the presidential finish line .
Stoking fear over quarantines and supply chain disruptions has sent the stock market on a downward roller coaster ride .
One of President Trump ’ s major achievements is the roaring economy .
Taking the stock market down 25 % or more may help the Democrats .
But by the numbers , the economy is still roaring , bolstered by the February jobs report of 273,000 added jobs , more than expected , and record-low 3.5 % unemployment .
Despite the hair-on-fire reporting of coronavirus news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actual numbers , rather than the codswallop from CNN or MSNBC .
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Dashboard are illustrative .
At the time of this writing , there are 107,352 cases worldwide , 3,646 deaths , and 60,558 recoveries .
Fifteen of those deaths occurred in the U.S .
The odds of recovering are far higher than the odds of dying .
Cases in mainland China have peaked , with few added cases over the past week .
Cases elsewhere are on the rise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early February .
Recoveries are rising at an even faster rate .
Granted that China may be better equipped to institute mandatory quarantines and travel restrictions under their command and control government , the pattern is similar to the disease course for other viral epidemics .
Anthony Fauci , M.D.
, of the National Institutes of Health and a member of the Trump administration ’ s task force , gave some perspective in a New England Journal of Medicine editorial : In other words , the coronavirus may be a nastier version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elderly and infirm .
How many Americans die from the flu each day ?
Let ’ s ask the CDC .
Influenza and pneumonia caused 55,672 deaths in the U.S. in 2017 , or 153 persons per day .
As a reminder , only 15 have died from the coronavirus to date , the number dying in any four-hour period from the flu .
Over the past decade , influenza has affected between 9.3 and 45 million persons each year , depending on the flu severity .
Hospitalizations for the flu have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , and deaths varied between 12,000 and 61,000 each year .
These numbers , in America only , far eclipse the number of coronavirus fatalities worldwide , about 3,600 thus far .
This could and will likely change , but are the numbers worthy of the hair-on-fire reaction from cable news anchors and Democrat politicians ?
Remember the coronavirus mortality rate of 3.4 % pushed by the World Health Organization , the global Deep State ’ s health mouthpiece ?
President Trump said that number was too high and was excoriated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade a bunch of dead Americans for a Trump defeat in November .
It turns out the president was correct .
Health and Human Services assistant secretary Admiral Brett Giroir declared , `` The best estimates now of the overall mortality rate for COVID-19 is somewhere between 0.1 % and 1 % . ''
For comparison , the fatality rate for the seasonal flu is 0.1 % .
The coronavirus fatality rate is likely similar to the 0.1–1 % figure based on confirmed cases .
How many individuals have a normal cold , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and recover after a week ?
That would mean that far more are infected but are unreported , as their infection is a nonevent , making the fatality rate lower than reported .
Look also at past viral illnesses , far more lethal than the coronavirus .
The fatality rate for MERS and SARS was 34.4 and 9.5 % respectively .
Neither illness generated as much media hysteria as coronavirus .
Swine flu , also known as H1N1 , happened on Obama ’ s watch .
With over 60 million cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where was the vitriol hurled at Obama , compared to what we are seeing directed toward Trump ?
Another number ignored by the media is the number of cases of coronavirus per capita .
The U.S. rate is obviously far lower than China , South Korea , and Japan , but also lower than Italy , France , Germany , and Spain .
President Trump ’ s decisive actions , again contrary to media reporting , are responsible for keeping U.S. numbers down due to his travel ban .
For additional perspective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , cancer 1,641 , accidents 466 , and strokes 401 per day .
A recent tornado in Tennessee claimed 24 lives , almost twice the number of Americans who died from the coronavirus thus far .
Some other numbers offer perspective .
Americans die each year from unusual causes .
One hundred sixty die each year from autoerotic asphyxiation , 67 are victims of serial killers , 986 are killed by police , 75 from lawnmowers , 31 struck by lightning , and one American dies each year being trampled on Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any media angst over lawnmowers or auto-erotica .
Medical errors are also far more dangerous than any viral epidemic .
From 250,000 to 400,000 Americans die each year from medical errors , the third most common cause of death in the U.S. What would happen if Bernie Sanders got his wish and government were in charge of all of health care ?
Numbers are inconvenient to the media — particularly the math-challenged like MSNBC ’ s Brian Williams and NY Times editor Mara Gay discussing Bloomberg ’ s campaign spending , being off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How can we trust these people reporting on coronavirus numbers ?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said , “ The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
” If you watch the evening news or read the daily newspaper , you will be inundated with fear .
Take the constant barrage of coronavirus codswallop with a grain of salt , and keep things in perspective .
Brian C Joondeph , M.D .
is a Denver-based physician and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in American Thinker , Daily Caller , Rasmussen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him on Facebook , LinkedIn , Twitter , and QuodVerum .
This article originally appeared at the American Thinker .
It is published here with the author ’ s permission .

Despite the hair-on-fire reporting of coronavirus news, let’s look at some actual numbers, rather than the codswallop from CNN or MSNBC.
March 9, 2020 (American Thinker) — “Codswallop” is one of those interesting words that might have been used by Supreme Court justice Anton Scalia in a dissenting opinion, or by conservative intellectual William F. Buckley in describing some liberal policy.
It’s a British expression that refers to words or ideas that are foolish or untrue — in other words, nonsense.
While codswallop is a good description of the entire Democrat agenda, today I will restrict its use to the hysteria surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, media fear-mongering, and resulting public panic.
Big media are all about ratings, view, and clicks, hence their axiom, “If it bleeds, it leads.” A viral outbreak is the perfect story, on par with a missing Malaysian airliner or a celebrity football player named OJ on trial for murder.
The added bonus is that any negative news can be laid at the feet of a president loathed by the media, who just so happens to be running for re-election. The media are in full campaign mode, trying desperately to drag the carcass of one of their corpselike candidates across the presidential finish line.
Stoking fear over quarantines and supply chain disruptions has sent the stock market on a downward roller coaster ride. One of President Trump’s major achievements is the roaring economy. Taking the stock market down 25% or more may help the Democrats. But by the numbers, the economy is still roaring, bolstered by the February jobs report of 273,000 added jobs, more than expected, and record-low 3.5% unemployment.
Despite the hair-on-fire reporting of coronavirus news, let’s look at some actual numbers, rather than the codswallop from CNN or MSNBC. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Dashboard are illustrative.
At the time of this writing, there are 107,352 cases worldwide, 3,646 deaths, and 60,558 recoveries. Fifteen of those deaths occurred in the U.S. The odds of recovering are far higher than the odds of dying.
Cases in mainland China have peaked, with few added cases over the past week. Cases elsewhere are on the rise, following the same pattern as China in early February. Recoveries are rising at an even faster rate.
Granted that China may be better equipped to institute mandatory quarantines and travel restrictions under their command and control government, the pattern is similar to the disease course for other viral epidemics.
Anthony Fauci, M.D., of the National Institutes of Health and a member of the Trump administration’s task force, gave some perspective in a New England Journal of Medicine editorial:
The median age of the patients was 59 years, with higher morbidity and mortality among the elderly and among those with coexisting conditions (similar to the situation with influenza). The overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza.
In other words, the coronavirus may be a nastier version of the seasonal flu, potentially fatal for the elderly and infirm. How many Americans die from the flu each day? Let’s ask the CDC.
Influenza and pneumonia caused 55,672 deaths in the U.S. in 2017, or 153 persons per day. As a reminder, only 15 have died from the coronavirus to date, the number dying in any four-hour period from the flu.
Over the past decade, influenza has affected between 9.3 and 45 million persons each year, depending on the flu severity. Hospitalizations for the flu have ranged from 140,000 to 800,000 persons per year, and deaths varied between 12,000 and 61,000 each year.
These numbers, in America only, far eclipse the number of coronavirus fatalities worldwide, about 3,600 thus far. This could and will likely change, but are the numbers worthy of the hair-on-fire reaction from cable news anchors and Democrat politicians?
Remember the coronavirus mortality rate of 3.4% pushed by the World Health Organization, the global Deep State’s health mouthpiece? President Trump said that number was too high and was excoriated by the liberal media, eagerly willing to trade a bunch of dead Americans for a Trump defeat in November.
It turns out the president was correct. Health and Human Services assistant secretary Admiral Brett Giroir declared, “The best estimates now of the overall mortality rate for COVID-19 is somewhere between 0.1% and 1%.”
For comparison, the fatality rate for the seasonal flu is 0.1%. The coronavirus fatality rate is likely similar to the 0.1–1% figure based on confirmed cases. How many individuals have a normal cold, when in reality they have the coronavirus, and recover after a week? That would mean that far more are infected but are unreported, as their infection is a nonevent, making the fatality rate lower than reported.
Look also at past viral illnesses, far more lethal than the coronavirus. The fatality rate for MERS and SARS was 34.4 and 9.5% respectively. Neither illness generated as much media hysteria as coronavirus.
Swine flu, also known as H1N1, happened on Obama’s watch. With over 60 million cases in the U.S., and over 12,000 deaths, where was the vitriol hurled at Obama, compared to what we are seeing directed toward Trump?
Another number ignored by the media is the number of cases of coronavirus per capita. The U.S. rate is obviously far lower than China, South Korea, and Japan, but also lower than Italy, France, Germany, and Spain.
President Trump’s decisive actions, again contrary to media reporting, are responsible for keeping U.S. numbers down due to his travel ban.
For additional perspective, heart disease kills 1,774 persons a day, cancer 1,641, accidents 466, and strokes 401 per day. A recent tornado in Tennessee claimed 24 lives, almost twice the number of Americans who died from the coronavirus thus far.
Some other numbers offer perspective. Americans die each year from unusual causes. One hundred sixty die each year from autoerotic asphyxiation, 67 are victims of serial killers, 986 are killed by police, 75 from lawnmowers, 31 struck by lightning, and one American dies each year being trampled on Black Friday.
I haven’t heard any media angst over lawnmowers or auto-erotica. Medical errors are also far more dangerous than any viral epidemic. From 250,000 to 400,000 Americans die each year from medical errors, the third most common cause of death in the U.S. What would happen if Bernie Sanders got his wish and government were in charge of all of health care?
Numbers are inconvenient to the media — particularly the math-challenged like MSNBC’s Brian Williams and NY Times editor Mara Gay discussing Bloomberg’s campaign spending, being off by a factor of a million. How can we trust these people reporting on coronavirus numbers?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” If you watch the evening news or read the daily newspaper, you will be inundated with fear. Take the constant barrage of coronavirus codswallop with a grain of salt, and keep things in perspective.
Brian C Joondeph, M.D. is a Denver-based physician and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in American Thinker, Daily Caller, Rasmussen Reports, and other publications. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and QuodVerum.
This article originally appeared at the American Thinker. It is published here with the author’s permission.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Preparing oneself for temptation as a follower of Christ

Formerly Heart to Heart with Mother Miriam , Mother Miriam Live brings you inspiration and solutions for life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Miriam is a Catholic nun on a mission to bring hope to a world that @ @ @ @ @ let her share that hope and joy with you !
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Listen to Mother Miriam's Live show from 3.9.2020. Today Mother reminds listeners that it is inevitable that followers of God will face great temptations. She reminds listeners to stay strong against temptation.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--President of German Bishops’ Conference signals openness to female ‘deacons’

LIMBURG , Germany , March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Bishop Georg Bätzing , the new president of the German Bishops ’ Conference , has signaled that he is open to asking Pope Francis for an indult allowing female “ deacons ” in Germany .
An indult is a special permission granted by the Vatican .
In a radio interview on Sunday , Bätzing said he wanted to wait for the Synodal Path to be completed , arguing that a single bishop or even a bishops ’ conference would not be able to get an indult from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is needed here , ” he explained .
“ And it is more powerful if it is formulated jointly by the well-represented people of God in this synodal assembly of bishops and laity .
That has more weight.
” The female “ diaconate ” “ could be one of the decisions at the end of the Synodal Path .
And if that is decided , I am ready to do so , and as a member of the steering committee I am even obliged to transport it to Rome , ” the bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was asked about the proposal made by German professor of canon law Bernhard Sven Anuth .
He had told Zwei Köpfe in November 2019 that the German bishops should ask the Pope for permission to have female “ deacons.
” “ Not even the canon law for the world Church needs to be changed , but the Pope could create an exception for the area of a bishops ’ conference , ” Anuth is convinced .
He explained that this idea is nothing new .
“ This proposal was made by American canon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has been on the table for 25 years .
The Würzburg synod had already spoken out in favor of it in the 1970s , ” the canon lawyer said .
“ And Cardinal Lehmann , in the last years of his life , referred to this vote and said that the German bishops should return to it.
” Pope St. John Paul II declared in his 1994 apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis that it is ontologically impossible for women to be “ ordained.
” Anuth claims the first stage of the sacrament of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not affected by a prohibition of female priests .
“ Benedict XVI has specifically amended the Code of Canon Law to make it clear that deacons do not represent Christ as the head of the Church – which until then was always a central argument against the women diaconate .
That was changed in the Catechism in 1997 and in 2010 in canon law , ” Anuth elaborated .
He added , “ Only after his ordination to the priesthood can a man represent Christ as the head of the Church .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a theological argument against women deacons has been dropped.
” The former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , Cardinal Gerhard Müller , argued differently in a 2002 interview .
At the time , Müller was not yet a bishop , but a professor of dogmatic theology in Munich .
Müller explained that the sacrament of Holy Orders is one , “ as the full exercise in the Holy Spirit of the mission , unique in its origin , of the apostles of Christ , exercised in its fullness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree of specificity , the differentiated participation in it is called presbyterate or diaconate.
” Because of the unity of the sacrament , those three stages of participation can not be separated from each other .
Then , Müller said , “ it would be a real discrimination of the woman , if she is considered as apt for the diaconate , but not for the presbyterate or episcopacy.
” “ The Church does not ordain women , not because they are lacking some spiritual gift or natural talent , but because—as in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the relation between man and woman contains in itself a symbolism that presents and represents in itself a prior condition to express the salvific dimension of the relation of Christ and the Church , ” Müller continued .
He pointed out that even the Pope does not have the power to change the Church ’ s teaching on female “ deacons.
” “ Keeping the Church ’ s faith in mind , which is expressed in its dogmatic and liturgical practice , it is all together impossible for the Pope to intervene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to which the question of the legitimate receiving subject of the sacrament of orders essentially belongs .
”

'A very powerful demeanor is needed here,' Bishop Bätzing said of the push for female 'deacons.'
PETITION: Join faithful German Catholics in resisting bishops’ plan to ‘Protestantize’ Church Sign the petition here.
LIMBURG, Germany, March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Bishop Georg Bätzing, the new president of the German Bishops’ Conference, has signaled that he is open to asking Pope Francis for an indult allowing female “deacons” in Germany. An indult is a special permission granted by the Vatican.
In a radio interview on Sunday, Bätzing said he wanted to wait for the Synodal Path to be completed, arguing that a single bishop or even a bishops’ conference would not be able to get an indult from the Vatican.
“A very powerful demeanor is needed here,” he explained. “And it is more powerful if it is formulated jointly by the well-represented people of God in this synodal assembly of bishops and laity. That has more weight.”
The female “diaconate” “could be one of the decisions at the end of the Synodal Path. And if that is decided, I am ready to do so, and as a member of the steering committee I am even obliged to transport it to Rome,” the bishop of Limburg said.
Specifically, Bätzing was asked about the proposal made by German professor of canon law Bernhard Sven Anuth. He had told Zwei Köpfe in November 2019 that the German bishops should ask the Pope for permission to have female “deacons.”
“Not even the canon law for the world Church needs to be changed, but the Pope could create an exception for the area of a bishops’ conference,” Anuth is convinced.
He explained that this idea is nothing new. “This proposal was made by American canon lawyers back in the mid-1990s, and it has been on the table for 25 years. The Würzburg synod had already spoken out in favor of it in the 1970s,” the canon lawyer said. “And Cardinal Lehmann, in the last years of his life, referred to this vote and said that the German bishops should return to it.”
Pope St. John Paul II declared in his 1994 apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis that it is ontologically impossible for women to be “ordained.”
Anuth claims the first stage of the sacrament of Holy Orders, the diaconate, is not affected by a prohibition of female priests.
“Benedict XVI has specifically amended the Code of Canon Law to make it clear that deacons do not represent Christ as the head of the Church – which until then was always a central argument against the women diaconate. That was changed in the Catechism in 1997 and in 2010 in canon law,” Anuth elaborated.
He added, “Only after his ordination to the priesthood can a man represent Christ as the head of the Church. And with that, in my opinion, a theological argument against women deacons has been dropped.”
The former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, argued differently in a 2002 interview. At the time, Müller was not yet a bishop, but a professor of dogmatic theology in Munich.
Müller explained that the sacrament of Holy Orders is one, “as the full exercise in the Holy Spirit of the mission, unique in its origin, of the apostles of Christ, exercised in its fullness by the bishop. According to its degree of specificity, the differentiated participation in it is called presbyterate or diaconate.”
Because of the unity of the sacrament, those three stages of participation cannot be separated from each other. Then, Müller said, “it would be a real discrimination of the woman, if she is considered as apt for the diaconate, but not for the presbyterate or episcopacy.”
“The Church does not ordain women, not because they are lacking some spiritual gift or natural talent, but because—as in the sacrament of marriage—the sexual difference and of the relation between man and woman contains in itself a symbolism that presents and represents in itself a prior condition to express the salvific dimension of the relation of Christ and the Church,” Müller continued.
He pointed out that even the Pope does not have the power to change the Church’s teaching on female “deacons.”
“Keeping the Church’s faith in mind, which is expressed in its dogmatic and liturgical practice, it is all together impossible for the Pope to intervene in the substance of the sacraments, to which the question of the legitimate receiving subject of the sacrament of orders essentially belongs.”
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--BREAKING: Trudeau govt introduces bill to criminalize therapy for those with unwanted LGBT identity

OTTAWA , March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Trudeau Liberals introduced a bill Monday that will make it a crime not only to give minor Canadians help to overcome same-sex attraction or gender confusion but to “ remove a minor from Canada ” to seek such help .
Tabled by Justice Minister David Lametti , Bill C-8 would ad five new crimes to the Criminal Code , the minister announced in a press conference Monday .
Lametti said that the bill will make it a crime to : 1 ) cause a minor to undergo conversion therapy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada to undergo conversion therapy , 3 ) cause a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will , 4 ) profit from conversion therapy , and 5 ) advertise conversion therapy .
“ As to minors , we are criminalizing this across the board , ” Lametti said .
The Liberals are also criminalizing “ coerced conversion therapy ” for adults and criminalizing activities around providing such therapy for adults .
“ A competent adult could conceivably defend the right in court to receive this activity , ” Lametti told reporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong balance between progressive policies and constitutional [ rights ] .
” If Bill C-8 is passed , “ Canada ’ s law will be the most progressive and comprehensive in the world , ” he declared .
Bill C-8 defines `` conversion therapy '' as “ a practice , treatment or service designed to change a person ’ s sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender , or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour.
” It adds : “ For greater certainty , this definition does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that relates ( a ) to a person ’ s gender transition ; or ( b ) to a person ’ s exploration of their identity or to its development.
” Although the Liberals have reduced the age of consent for anal sex to 16 , Bill C-8 defines a “ child ” as an individual under 18 years of age .
Those convicted of causing a child to undergo “ conversion therapy ” , either in or outside Canada , or forcing an adult to do so , face a maximum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of advertising or profiting from “ conversion therapy ” face a maximum of two years in jail .
Minister of Diversity , Inclusion and Youth Bardish Chagger was also at the conference , as well as alleged “ survivors ” of “ conversion therapy , ” which Lametti described as a “ discredited practice ” and “ not based in science.
” When a reporter questioned Lametti about Charter rights to freedom of expression and religion , the justice minister said the Liberals were concerned about the “ devastating effects ” of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been lobbying against a similar bill in the Senate , S-202 , are denouncing the bill as a totalitarian law that will prevent Canadian youth from getting therapy they want and need .
“ Any kind of clinical therapy or spiritual counseling to help a person overcome their gender identity confusion and to accept their bodily reality , including the pastoral support … will be defined as ‘ conversion therapy , ’ and thus , become illegal , ” says Jack Fonseca , director of political operations of Campaign Life Coalition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political lobbying group .
However , the difficulty with opposing a ban on so-called “ conversion therapy ” is that Canadians have been misled by the mainstream media and the LGBTQ lobby to such a degree that they have no idea what the term means , Fonseca told LifeSiteNews in an earlier interview .
“ At this very moment , dishonest media outlets and even more dishonest LGBT activists are running around the country , lying and claiming that gays and lesbians are being electroshocked , and forcibly confined , and tortured by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ therapy , ” he said .
“ And this is a lie , ” Fonseca said .
“ We ’ re talking about loving , standard talk therapy .
There ’ s nothing forcible about it ; people are going there voluntarily.
” Dr. Ann Gillies , Ontario psychotherapist and author of the 2017 book Closing the Floodgates , an analysis of propaganda promoting the sexual revolution , echoed this when warning against similar legislation , Senate Bill S-202 .
“ The ultimate goal is to silence the Christian church in Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking .
It ’ s totally totalitarian , ” said Gillies , a retired expert in counseling survivors of complex trauma , at Campaign Life event last month .
“ It ’ s about banning ... the central ministry of the church , which is conversion… And it ’ s about banning the ministry to the brokenhearted , ” she said .
She pointed out that Dr. Kristopher Wells , Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan University in Edmonton , Alberta , is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wells is an LGBTQ activist “ who has , among other things , shared a cartoon comparing Christians to Nazis , posted sexually explicit content on social media , and relentlessly promoted curriculum and materials that promote a wide range of sexual acts and experimentation for minors , ” noted Jonathan Van Maren in an earlier column warning about the Liberals ’ intentions .
Wells has “ a strict agenda to go after the churches , ” Gillies said .
In an October 2019 press release announcing his booklet Conversion Therapy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ municipalities , Wells defined “ conversion therapy ” as : “ any form of treatment , including individual talk therapy , behavioral or aversion therapy , group therapy , treatments , spiritual prayer , exorcism and/or medical or drug-induced treatments which attempt to actively change someone ’ s sexual orientation , gender identity or gender expression.
” Wells also included “ reparative therapy , ” which , as Gillies noted , was developed by late American psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Nicolosi ; “ re-integrative therapy ” ; and “ sexual orientation and gender identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy .
Contact your MP ( here ) and senator ( here ) to respectfully express your concerns about the bill .
To sign the Campaign Life petition against Bill S-202 , go here .

The bill, if passed, will make Canada's ban on so-called conversion therapy the 'most progressive and comprehensive in the world,' said a spokesman.
OTTAWA, March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Trudeau Liberals introduced a bill Monday that will make it a crime not only to give minor Canadians help to overcome same-sex attraction or gender confusion but to “remove a minor from Canada” to seek such help.
Tabled by Justice Minister David Lametti, Bill C-8 would ad five new crimes to the Criminal Code, the minister announced in a press conference Monday.
Lametti said that the bill will make it a crime to: 1) cause a minor to undergo conversion therapy, 2) remove a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy, 3) cause a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will, 4) profit from conversion therapy, and 5) advertise conversion therapy.
“As to minors, we are criminalizing this across the board,” Lametti said. The Liberals are also criminalizing “coerced conversion therapy” for adults and criminalizing activities around providing such therapy for adults.
“A competent adult could conceivably defend the right in court to receive this activity,” Lametti told reporters. The bill as written provides a “strong balance between progressive policies and constitutional [rights].”
If Bill C-8 is passed, “Canada’s law will be the most progressive and comprehensive in the world,” he declared.
Bill C-8 defines “conversion therapy” as “a practice, treatment or service designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender, or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour.”
It adds: “For greater certainty, this definition does not include a practice, treatment or service that relates (a) to a person’s gender transition; or(b)to a person’s exploration of their identity or to its development.”
Although the Liberals have reduced the age of consent for anal sex to 16, Bill C-8 defines a “child” as an individual under 18 years of age.
Those convicted of causing a child to undergo “conversion therapy”, either in or outside Canada, or forcing an adult to do so, face a maximum of five years in prison.
Those convicted of advertising or profiting from “conversion therapy” face a maximum of two years in jail.
Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth Bardish Chagger was also at the conference, as well as alleged “survivors” of “conversion therapy,” which Lametti described as a “discredited practice” and “not based in science.”
When a reporter questioned Lametti about Charter rights to freedom of expression and religion, the justice minister said the Liberals were concerned about the “devastating effects” of “conversion therapy.”
But pro-family advocates who have been lobbying against a similar bill in the Senate, S-202, are denouncing the bill as a totalitarian law that will prevent Canadian youth from getting therapy they want and need.
“Any kind of clinical therapy or spiritual counseling to help a person overcome their gender identity confusion and to accept their bodily reality, including the pastoral support … will be defined as ‘conversion therapy,’ and thus, become illegal,” says Jack Fonseca, director of political operations of Campaign Life Coalition, Canada’s national pro-life, pro-family political lobbying group.
However, the difficulty with opposing a ban on so-called “conversion therapy” is that Canadians have been misled by the mainstream media and the LGBTQ lobby to such a degree that they have no idea what the term means, Fonseca told LifeSiteNews in an earlier interview.
“At this very moment, dishonest media outlets and even more dishonest LGBT activists are running around the country, lying and claiming that gays and lesbians are being electroshocked, and forcibly confined, and tortured by churches and psychotherapists who practice ‘conversion’ therapy,” he said.
“And this is a lie,” Fonseca said. “We’re talking about loving, standard talk therapy. There’s nothing forcible about it; people are going there voluntarily.”
Dr. Ann Gillies, Ontario psychotherapist and author of the 2017 book Closing the Floodgates, an analysis of propaganda promoting the sexual revolution, echoed this when warning against similar legislation, Senate Bill S-202.
“The ultimate goal is to silence the Christian church in Canada. It is to silence us from talking. It’s totally totalitarian,” said Gillies, a retired expert in counseling survivors of complex trauma, at Campaign Life event last month.
“It’s about banning…the central ministry of the church, which is conversion… And it’s about banning the ministry to the brokenhearted,” she said.
She pointed out that Dr. Kristopher Wells, Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, is “the driving force” behind these bills.
Wells is an LGBTQ activist “who has, among other things, shared a cartoon comparing Christians to Nazis, posted sexually explicit content on social media, and relentlessly promoted curriculum and materials that promote a wide range of sexual acts and experimentation for minors,” noted Jonathan Van Maren in an earlier column warning about the Liberals’ intentions.
Wells has “a strict agenda to go after the churches,” Gillies said.
In an October 2019 press release announcing his booklet Conversion Therapy in Canada: The roles and responsibilities of municipalities, Wells defined “conversion therapy” as: “any form of treatment, including individual talk therapy, behavioral or aversion therapy, group therapy, treatments, spiritual prayer, exorcism and/or medical or drug-induced treatments which attempt to actively change someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”
Wells also included “reparative therapy,” which, as Gillies noted, was developed by late American psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Nicolosi; “re-integrative therapy”; and “sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts” as forms of conversion therapy.
Developing…
Contact information:
Contact your MP (here) and senator (here) to respectfully express your concerns about the bill.
To sign the Campaign Life petition against Bill S-202, go here.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-09--Biden predicts Trump 2020 win in colossal gaffe

March 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Former Vice President and current Democrat presidential frontrunner Joe Biden raised eyebrows Saturday with yet another verbal snafu , this time briefly appearing to predict that President Donald Trump would prevail in November ’ s presidential election .
During a campaign stop in Missouri , Biden called on quarreling factions of the Democrat electorate to unite around him , but stumbled a bit over his words .
“ We want a nominee who will bring this party together , who will run on a progressive , positive campaign , and turn this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about negative attacks to one about what we ’ re for , ” he said .
“ Because we can not get re-elect , we can not win this re-election—excuse me , we can only re-elect Donald Trump , if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here.
” A video snippet quickly began circulating featuring just the “ we can only reelect Donald Trump ” segment , with many including the incumbent having a laugh at the former vice president ’ s expense .
Despite the fact that few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicting his own defeat , Twitter soon officially declared that the 13-second version of the clip was “ edited in a misleading way.
” Biden campaign manager Greg Schultz , meanwhile , accused Facebook of “ malfeasance ” for not doing the same .
`` Facebook wo n't say it , but it is apparent to all who have examined their conduct and policies : they care first and foremost about money and , to that end , are willing to serve as one of the world 's most effective mediums for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complained .
`` Their unethical behavior is not acceptable , and it must change.
” Biden has been famously gaffe-prone for years .
But the increasing frequency of confused and incoherent statements from the former vice president this election season has sparked a marked increase in speculation from friends and foes alike as to the 77-year-old contender ’ s mental fitness for the presidency , leading Biden to pledge last month to only serve one term “ if anything changed in my health , making it incapable for me to fully exert all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to be done.
” Despite such struggles , the pro-abortion , pro-LGBT Biden has recently returned to frontrunner status after lagging behind socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , further aided by the endorsements of former competitors Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar , and Kamala Harris .

March 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Former Vice President and current Democrat presidential frontrunner Joe Biden raised eyebrows Saturday with yet another verbal snafu, this time briefly appearing to predict that President Donald Trump would prevail in November’s presidential election.
During a campaign stop in Missouri, Biden called on quarreling factions of the Democrat electorate to unite around him, but stumbled a bit over his words.
“We want a nominee who will bring this party together, who will run on a progressive, positive campaign, and turn this primary from a campaign that’s about negative attacks to one about what we’re for,” he said. “Because we cannot get re-elect, we cannot win this re-election—excuse me, we can only re-elect Donald Trump, if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here.”
Joe Biden: “We can not get reelect– um we can not win this reelection. Excuse me. We can ONLY reelect Donald Trump.”#DropOutbiden
.@BenjaminPDixon
.@TheMarieFonseca https://t.co/gq8LPy23PS pic.twitter.com/asbTu4zOYr — Biden's Hairy Leg ���� (@BernieWon2016) March 8, 2020
A video snippet quickly began circulating featuring just the “we can only reelect Donald Trump” segment, with many including the incumbent having a laugh at the former vice president’s expense.
I agree with Joe! https://t.co/h84mD7jVPW — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 8, 2020
Despite the fact that few if any ever believed Biden was actually predicting his own defeat, Twitter soon officially declared that the 13-second version of the clip was “edited in a misleading way.” Biden campaign manager Greg Schultz, meanwhile, accused Facebook of “malfeasance” for not doing the same.
“Facebook won't say it, but it is apparent to all who have examined their conduct and policies: they care first and foremost about money and, to that end, are willing to serve as one of the world's most effective mediums for the spread of vile lies,” Schultz complained. “Their unethical behavior is not acceptable, and it must change.”
Biden has been famously gaffe-prone for years. But the increasing frequency of confused and incoherent statements from the former vice president this election season has sparked a marked increase in speculation from friends and foes alike as to the 77-year-old contender’s mental fitness for the presidency, leading Biden to pledge last month to only serve one term “if anything changed in my health, making it incapable for me to fully exert all the energy and mental acuity that was needed to be done.”
Despite such struggles, the pro-abortion, pro-LGBT Biden has recently returned to frontrunner status after lagging behind socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, further aided by the endorsements of former competitors Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Kamala Harris.
March 10, 2020 update: The headline of this report has been amended to more accurately reflect Biden’s words.
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