lifesitenews--2020-04-28--Pope Francis calls for ‘obedience’ to Italian ‘phase 2’ restrictions that continue ban on Mass

VATICAN CITY , April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Pope Francis has called upon Catholics to pray for the “ grace of ... obedience ” regarding Phase 2 of state lockdown regulations .
The pontiff made this remark this morning at the beginning of Mass at his hotel home , the Casa Santa Marta , a day after news that the Italian bishops were unhappy with continuing the ban on public worship featured in the press .
“ At this time when measures for leaving the quarantine are beginning , let us pray to the Lord that He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us , the grace of prudence and obedience , so that the pandemic does not return , ” the pope said .
The request was subsequently added to Pope Francis ’ Twitter account .
The Italian media is widely reporting this as a rebuke to the Italian Ecclesiastical Conference ( CEI ) , who criticized the Italian government on Sunday night for extending the ban on public worship into “ Phase 2 ” of its strategy against the COVID-19 coronavirus .
Quotidiano wrote , “ ‘ Prudence ’ and ‘ obedience ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sound like a command , used by the pontiff right when part of the Church has criticized the actions of the Conte executive.
” Il Fatto Quotidiano was even more pointed , saying that “ in the debate about the participation of the faithful at mass in Phase 2 … Pope Francis repudiates the Italian Episcopal Conference and sides with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
” “ A few words at the beginning of his usual morning Mass at his residence… were enough to disassociate [ Pope Francis ] totally from the clash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist Sandro Magister agreed with the interpretation of the Italian media , saying today that the remark was a humiliation for the CEI .
“ The Italian bishops are [ now ] doubly humiliated , first by the head of the government , and then by the pope , ” he wrote .
Today Quotidiano published an interview with Bishop Massimo Camisasca of Reggio Emilia , 73 , in which he repeated the CEI ’ s assertion that freedom of religion was being compromised .
“ The decision of the [ government ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sanctioned by the Constitution , ” he said and added that a legal expert had determined that it was also in violation of the Concordat between the Italian state and the Holy See , something that would be addressed after the pandemic .
“ At this time , the Church insists on the ability to return to her pastoral activities with the autonomy she deserves under the law.
” Funerals are the one religious ceremony allowed by “ Phase 2 ” and then only if 15 people are present .
Camisasca stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small funerals were permitted and small Mass were not .
“ It must be clear to everyone that the commitment to serve the needy , lavished by the Church in these months through widespread assistance to the sick and the aged , stems from a faith that must nourish itself , in particular through the sacraments , ” he said .
The bishop underscored another point made by the CEI : that they had come up with a plan to begin public worship safely , with protocols in place so that the faithful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 ” is the Italian government ’ s latest response to the coronavirus , one which Prime Minister Conte called on Sunday evening “ the phase of living with the virus.
” Hitherto hard-hit Italy has been under a strict lockdown , Italians not deemed essential workers confined to their own properties except to buy essential food items or medicine .
The new guidelines will allow some mixing between households .
Beginning May 4 , Italians will be allowed to visit nearby family members but not travel outside their own regions .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as they maintain a one meter ( 3 feet ) distance from each other .
They will be permitted to buy takeout from restaurants .
Funerals including up to 15 close relations will be allowed , as long as everyone present wears masks and maintains so-called social distancing .
Any other kind of religious gathering or ceremony is still banned .
Face masks , whose price has been capped at 50 Euro cents , or makeshift masks , like scarves , will have to be worn on public transit and , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have to stay at home .
Factories , construction companies , and wholesalers have been invited to start planning now for an early May restart .
If this loosening of restrictions is successful , shops , museums , and cultural sites will be opened from May 18 .
Restaurants and beauty parlors will not reopen until June 1 , however .
Schools will remain shut until September .

Pope Francis' comments were seen as opposing Italian bishops who complained against the new regulations
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock Sign the petition here.
VATICAN CITY, April 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Pope Francis has called upon Catholics to pray for the “grace of…obedience” regarding Phase 2 of state lockdown regulations.
The pontiff made this remark this morning at the beginning of Mass at his hotel home, the Casa Santa Marta, a day after news that the Italian bishops were unhappy with continuing the ban on public worship featured in the press.
“At this time when measures for leaving the quarantine are beginning, let us pray to the Lord that He will give his people, to all of us, the grace of prudence and obedience, so that the pandemic does not return,” the pope said.
The request was subsequently added to Pope Francis’ Twitter account.
The Italian media is widely reporting this as a rebuke to the Italian Ecclesiastical Conference (CEI), who criticized the Italian government on Sunday night for extending the ban on public worship into “Phase 2” of its strategy against the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Quotidiano wrote, “‘Prudence’ and ‘obedience’, then, are the key words that sound like a command, used by the pontiff right when part of the Church has criticized the actions of the Conte executive.”
Il Fatto Quotidiano was even more pointed, saying that “in the debate about the participation of the faithful at mass in Phase 2 … Pope Francis repudiates the Italian Episcopal Conference and sides with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.”
“A few words at the beginning of his usual morning Mass at his residence… were enough to disassociate [Pope Francis] totally from the clash between CEI and the government.”
Catholic journalist Sandro Magister agreed with the interpretation of the Italian media, saying today that the remark was a humiliation for the CEI.
“The Italian bishops are [now] doubly humiliated, first by the head of the government, and then by the pope,” he wrote.
Today Quotidiano published an interview with Bishop Massimo Camisasca of Reggio Emilia, 73, in which he repeated the CEI’s assertion that freedom of religion was being compromised.
“The decision of the [government] expresses an arbitrary violation of religious freedom, sanctioned by the Constitution,” he said and added that a legal expert had determined that it was also in violation of the Concordat between the Italian state and the Holy See, something that would be addressed after the pandemic.
“At this time, the Church insists on the ability to return to her pastoral activities with the autonomy she deserves under the law.”
Funerals are the one religious ceremony allowed by “Phase 2” and then only if 15 people are present. Camisasca stated that he didn’t understand why small funerals were permitted and small Mass were not.
“It must be clear to everyone that the commitment to serve the needy, lavished by the Church in these months through widespread assistance to the sick and the aged, stems from a faith that must nourish itself, in particular through the sacraments,” he said.
The bishop underscored another point made by the CEI: that they had come up with a plan to begin public worship safely, with protocols in place so that the faithful do not get sick.
“Phase 2” is the Italian government’s latest response to the coronavirus, one which Prime Minister Conte called on Sunday evening “the phase of living with the virus.” Hitherto hard-hit Italy has been under a strict lockdown, Italians not deemed essential workers confined to their own properties except to buy essential food items or medicine.
The new guidelines will allow some mixing between households. Beginning May 4, Italians will be allowed to visit nearby family members but not travel outside their own regions. They will be permitted to exercise outdoors as long as they maintain a one meter (3 feet) distance from each other. They will be permitted to buy takeout from restaurants. Funerals including up to 15 close relations will be allowed, as long as everyone present wears masks and maintains so-called social distancing. Any other kind of religious gathering or ceremony is still banned.
Face masks, whose price has been capped at 50 Euro cents, or makeshift masks, like scarves, will have to be worn on public transit and, now by law, anyone with a fever will have to stay at home.
Factories, construction companies, and wholesalers have been invited to start planning now for an early May restart. If this loosening of restrictions is successful, shops, museums, and cultural sites will be opened from May 18. Restaurants and beauty parlors will not reopen until June 1, however. Schools will remain shut until September.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-28--Pope Francis’ confidant: Sunday Mass obligation isn’t ‘indispensable,’ it ‘could fall’

April 28 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández , a papal ghostwriter and personal confidant of Pope Francis , said in a recent interview that the precept of the Catholic Church that Catholics go to church on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation “ is not indispensable ” and could “ fall.
” At the same time , Fernández also mentions the Sacrament of Penance , saying it “ has changed a lot over the centuries , ” implying a possible change with regard to this Sacrament , as well .
Speaking with the Spanish news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report , the Argentine Archbishop of La Plata reflects upon the situation of the Catholic Church in light of the coronavirus .
The news outlet describes this prelate , who is thought to be the main author behind the Pope ’ s controversial document Amoris Laetitia , as being “ very close to the thought of Pope Francis.
” The Argentine prelate remarks about several of the Sacraments of the Catholic Church .
After first stating that , due to an extended period of “ social distancing and quarantine , ” we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he adds : “ I do not know how Pope Francis will do it since he has insisted so much on physical closeness.
” About the current “ structure of another era , ” we do not yet know “ what its replacement will be.
” One of the “ replacements ” might have to do with the Sacraments .
With regard to the question of whether the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and of Penance need to be “ revised , ” Fernández states – after insisting that online Masses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the “ mystery of the Incarnation ” – that the obligation to go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days “ is not indispensable ” and “ is something that could fall.
” The Sunday obligation is one of the Six Precepts of the Catholic Church .
States the Catechism of the Catholic Church : “ The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely : ‘ On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.
’ ‘ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.
’ ” Not to go to Holy Mass on Sunday or on Holy Days of obligation without a serious reason is for Catholics a mortal sin .
For many Catholics , Mass on Sunday is often the only event in the week where people are in touch with their priests and with the Sacraments and teachings of the Church .
Fernández adds that “ the form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot over the centuries ” and that the present form “ is only one of the possible ones.
” Concerning the Holy Eucharist – without which “ the Church can not be understood ” – this prelate points out that there are “ different ways ” of regarding its place : “ one can interpret it in a merely ritualistic or very intimate way , or one can understand it as the great source of communion and fraternal commitment.
” In the Eucharist , he continues , “ the Word of God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not mention here that the Holy Eucharist is the very Body , Blood , Soul , and Divinity of Jesus Christ Who is being offered up to God the Father at every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the forgiveness of sins .
One may never regard it in a “ merely ritualistic way.
” This papal adviser also insists that Pope Francis , with his new post-synodal document Querida Amazonia , wanted “ to empower the laity and to stop uniting priesthood and power so closely.
” Pope Francis , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'distribute ' power through new ministries and lay functions 'endowed with authority . '
” Archbishop Fernández regrets that people have not yet picked up on these papal proposals and that “ no serious work is being done along these lines.
” Furthermore , he speaks about the fact that in his region , even before the corona crisis , “ there was a loss of interest in funeral rites .
Little by little the funeral processions were disappearing , the vigils were being shortened or disappeared , many people no longer go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ashes by throwing them into a river.
” “ But beyond the objective importance that one can attribute to funeral rites , is this dynamic really positive ?
Does it help a healthy mourning process ?
” This crisis might , he adds , become the cause for a “ re-evaluation.
” Fernández stresses that the Church in his region has increased now during this crisis her corporal acts of mercy , even re-opening several Caritas offices for the sake of offering help to those who now suffer under poverty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Church for help who would not have done so under different circumstances .
For him , it is important that the Church shows herself as “ very humble , ” adding that “ in a situation like this , we should not talk too much.
” That is to say , he seems to stress a Church that helps the poor but does not raise her moral or theological voice too much in these difficult times .
The Church should be “ discreet , humble and at the same time collaborative and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversial clergyman for many years .
Among other things , he has written a book about the “ art of kissing.
” When being the rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and a close confidant of Pope Francis , some of his statements contradicting Catholic moral and sacramental doctrine were discovered to have found there way into Amoris Laetitia .

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock Sign the petition here.
April 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, a papal ghostwriter and personal confidant of Pope Francis, said in a recent interview that the precept of the Catholic Church that Catholics go to church on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation “is not indispensable” and could “fall.”
At the same time, Fernández also mentions the Sacrament of Penance, saying it “has changed a lot over the centuries,” implying a possible change with regard to this Sacrament, as well.
Speaking with the Spanish news outlet Religión Digital in an April 27 report, the Argentine Archbishop of La Plata reflects upon the situation of the Catholic Church in light of the coronavirus. The news outlet describes this prelate, who is thought to be the main author behind the Pope’s controversial document Amoris Laetitia, as being “very close to the thought of Pope Francis.”
The Argentine prelate remarks about several of the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. After first stating that, due to an extended period of “social distancing and quarantine,” we will be required “to reinvent ourselves,” he adds: “I do not know how Pope Francis will do it since he has insisted so much on physical closeness.” About the current “structure of another era,” we do not yet know “what its replacement will be.” One of the “replacements” might have to do with the Sacraments.
With regard to the question of whether the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and of Penance need to be “revised,” Fernández states – after insisting that online Masses are “almost a contradiction in terms” due to the “mystery of the Incarnation” – that the obligation to go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days “is not indispensable” and “is something that could fall.”
The Sunday obligation is one of the Six Precepts of the Catholic Church.
States the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: ‘On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.’ ‘The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.’”
Not to go to Holy Mass on Sunday or on Holy Days of obligation without a serious reason is for Catholics a mortal sin. For many Catholics, Mass on Sunday is often the only event in the week where people are in touch with their priests and with the Sacraments and teachings of the Church.
Fernández adds that “the form of the Sacrament of Penance has changed a lot over the centuries” and that the present form “is only one of the possible ones.”
Concerning the Holy Eucharist – without which “the Church cannot be understood” – this prelate points out that there are “different ways” of regarding its place: “one can interpret it in a merely ritualistic or very intimate way, or one can understand it as the great source of communion and fraternal commitment.” In the Eucharist, he continues, “the Word of God Itself reaches its maximum effectiveness.”
Fernández does not mention here that the Holy Eucharist is the very Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ Who is being offered up to God the Father at every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the forgiveness of sins. One may never regard it in a “merely ritualistic way.”
This papal adviser also insists that Pope Francis, with his new post-synodal document Querida Amazonia, wanted “to empower the laity and to stop uniting priesthood and power so closely.” Pope Francis, according to this prelate, wishes “to 'distribute' power through new ministries and lay functions 'endowed with authority.'” Archbishop Fernández regrets that people have not yet picked up on these papal proposals and that “no serious work is being done along these lines.”
Furthermore, he speaks about the fact that in his region, even before the corona crisis, “there was a loss of interest in funeral rites. Little by little the funeral processions were disappearing, the vigils were being shortened or disappeared, many people no longer go to the cemeteries, some simply dispose of the ashes by throwing them into a river.”
“But beyond the objective importance that one can attribute to funeral rites, is this dynamic really positive? Does it help a healthy mourning process?” This crisis might, he adds, become the cause for a “re-evaluation.”
Fernández stresses that the Church in his region has increased now during this crisis her corporal acts of mercy, even re-opening several Caritas offices for the sake of offering help to those who now suffer under poverty. He explains that people now turn to the Church for help who would not have done so under different circumstances. For him, it is important that the Church shows herself as “very humble,” adding that “in a situation like this, we should not talk too much.” That is to say, he seems to stress a Church that helps the poor but does not raise her moral or theological voice too much in these difficult times. The Church should be “discreet, humble and at the same time collaborative and generous.”
This prelate has been a controversial clergyman for many years. Among other things, he has written a book about the “art of kissing.” When being the rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and a close confidant of Pope Francis, some of his statements contradicting Catholic moral and sacramental doctrine were discovered to have found there way into Amoris Laetitia.
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-28--Canadian police vow to hold Christians ‘accountable’ for attending drive-in Sunday service

AYLMER , Ontario , April 28 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Police from an Ontario town say churchgoers taking part in a Sunday drive in service yesterday will “ be held accountable ” for allegedly breaking coronavirus social distancing rules , adding they will use video evidence they recorded of the event to back any fines issued as a result .
According to a local media report , around 70 or so vehicles showed up at the Church of God in Aylmer , Ontario for a planned drive-in style Sunday service .
The church had twice previously held a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with the full approval and permission of the local police , said the pastor of the church Henry Hildebrandt .
Hildebrandt said in a statement posted Saturday that police warned him that should he proceed with a third service , it would be “ under the threat of hefty fines , disruption , and physical roadblocks by order of the Aylmer Chief of Police.
” He did not agree with this assessment .
“ Drive-in services at a place of worship are not illegal and there is absolutely no legal foundation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding , “ Liquor stores are considered essential and their parking lots are not under any scrutiny .
Liquor is essential , but God is not ?
” On Sunday , police were on-site filming the service at the Aylmer Church of God but did not block the entry or exit of vehicles nor issue fines .
Only the pastor of the church and a handful of others were on stage .
Congregants were in their cars with their windows closed tuning in to a low wattage radio station broadcasting the service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any violations will be served to either Hildebrandt or his congregants because they participated in the Sunday drive-in service .
Local police say this could come soon .
“ Today our officers were on scene monitoring the events and watching what was taking place .
Just because the public didn ’ t see us handing out a ticket like a speeding stop , people will be held accountable for what happened today , ” said Inspector Nick Novacich of Aylmer Police Service in a CTV news report .
“ It ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we ’ ll review all that video and we ’ ll put a package together to present to the local county prosecutor to see what route we need to follow.
” Hildebrandt said that they followed all proper health and safety measures to not break social distancing rules .
Despite police telling him to not proceed , he went ahead with the service .
“ This is not a gathering because people are staying in their vehicles .
There was no crowd to be seen anywhere .
When I preach , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of my preaching is by my actions , ” said Hildebrandt after the service had finished .
Hildebrandt noted that he told his congregants that they did not need to show up for the service .
`` Whoever would like to join this morning , it 's your decision , and you could possibly be ticketed .
They showed up and were cheering me on , ” said Hildebrandt in the CTV report .
“ We ’ re not asking for special privilege or treatment .
There were no parking lots as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no interaction before , during or after.
” Last week , Aylmer police Chief Zvonko Horvat said that he instructed his officers to begin to lay charges under the Ontario Emergency Measures and Civil Protections Act to any “ faith-based organizations that break the order banning gatherings of more than five people.
” Ontario ’ s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act says that it is against the law for more than five people to get together to conduct a religious service .
Hildebrandt feels this a direct violation of religious freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights and Freedoms .
In his statement , Hildebrandt said he “ attempted , unsuccessfully , to reach an acceptable compromise with him ( the Aylmer Chief of Police ) these past 6 days , ” to be allowed to continue with his Sunday services .
Hildebrandt said he even offered to hire two off-duty police officers to ensure no laws were being broken .
This idea was dismissed .
Hildebrandt said that a now-deleted Facebook post showing a packed church parking lot at a past service may have had something to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services .
In his statement , he says this Facebook post incorrectly caused outrage after people accused churchgoers of congregating inside the church .
He says this is simply not true as people were always in their vehicles .
“ Unfortunately , the Chief has also decreed that his officers must enforce the law as he interprets it , recklessly abandoning the discretion and interpretation used successfully in the past weeks , both here in Aylmer and across the country and the continent , ” said Hildebrandt in his statement .
“ One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , he finds himself on the wrong side of history and we extend our gratitude and pray for blessings and wisdom on the officers of the Aylmer Police Service as they are thrust into this unenviable position.
” Canada based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( JCFF ) was retained by The Church of God in Aylmer last week to help them fight any potential fines and to ensure their religious liberty is respected .
Lisa D.S .
Bildy , a lawyer for the JCCF provided LifeSiteNews with the letter they sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to rescind their decision to go ahead and ticket church members .
“ The restriction on public religious gatherings , in which people exclusively occupy their personal vehicles on a parking lot while worshipping , is irrational , unnecessary , and not a minimal impairment of Charter rights , ” said Bildy in the letter .
“ Government authorities like the Aylmer Police Department may only infringe Canadians ’ constitutional rights if such authorities can demonstrate a pressing and substantial justification for doing so .
There is no justification for prohibiting people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a drive-in religious service when drive-thru restaurant windows and grocery stores are open.
” The incident in Aylmer is only one of a growing number of police actions resulting in fines regarding the breaking of social distancing rules in Canada .
Recently , an Ontario pastor was fined $ 880 for violating “ social distancing ” health rules because he held “ a seder night ” at his residence .
In early April , a Calgary , Alberta street preacher was fined $ 1200 for breaking social distancing health rules after refusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeding the homeless .
Also , health authorities from Saskatchewan banned a drive-in Easter Sunday service at a small-town Canadian church , saying it would have constituted a “ mass gathering ” in violation of its coronavirus health orders .
The JCFF served a legal warning to the Saskatchewan Health Authority , saying it violated the rights and freedoms of worshipers from the Nipawin Apostolic Church .
The Government of Saskatchewan later reversed the decision by its health authority banning drive-in religious services and issued guidelines that recognize the right for churches to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions are heeded .
A few weeks ago , the JCCF warned that Canadian ’ s rights are being trampled because of the coronavirus lockdown measures .
Pro-abortion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in late March that , “ all options are on the table , ” when it comes to combating the coronavirus .
This includes leaving the door open to the possibility of tracking Canadians cell phones either via a dedicated app , or through one ’ s cell phone provider .
Canada has been in a nationwide lockdown since early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches , sporting events , sit-down restaurants , and most stores deemed non-essential , shut .
As of today , Canada has registered just under 49,000 cases with 2701 deaths .

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock Sign the petition here.
AYLMER, Ontario, April 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Police from an Ontario town say churchgoers taking part in a Sunday drive in service yesterday will “be held accountable” for allegedly breaking coronavirus social distancing rules, adding they will use video evidence they recorded of the event to back any fines issued as a result.
According to a local media report, around 70 or so vehicles showed up at the Church of God in Aylmer, Ontario for a planned drive-in style Sunday service.
The church had twice previously held a drive-in style Sunday service without any issues and with the full approval and permission of the local police, said the pastor of the church Henry Hildebrandt.
Hildebrandt said in a statement posted Saturday that police warned him that should he proceed with a third service, it would be “under the threat of hefty fines, disruption, and physical roadblocks by order of the Aylmer Chief of Police.” He did not agree with this assessment.
“Drive-in services at a place of worship are not illegal and there is absolutely no legal foundation for such a claim,” said Hildebrandt, adding, “Liquor stores are considered essential and their parking lots are not under any scrutiny. Liquor is essential, but God is not?”
On Sunday, police were on-site filming the service at the Aylmer Church of God but did not block the entry or exit of vehicles nor issue fines. Only the pastor of the church and a handful of others were on stage. Congregants were in their cars with their windows closed tuning in to a low wattage radio station broadcasting the service.
It is not yet clear when any violations will be served to either Hildebrandt or his congregants because they participated in the Sunday drive-in service. Local police say this could come soon.
“Today our officers were on scene monitoring the events and watching what was taking place. Just because the public didn’t see us handing out a ticket like a speeding stop, people will be held accountable for what happened today,” said Inspector Nick Novacich of Aylmer Police Service in a CTV news report.
“It’s no secret the officers were videotaping the event and we’ll review all that video and we’ll put a package together to present to the local county prosecutor to see what route we need to follow.”
Hildebrandt said that they followed all proper health and safety measures to not break social distancing rules. Despite police telling him to not proceed, he went ahead with the service.
“This is not a gathering because people are staying in their vehicles. There was no crowd to be seen anywhere. When I preach, I use my hands, my arms, half of my preaching is by my actions,” said Hildebrandt after the service had finished.
Hildebrandt noted that he told his congregants that they did not need to show up for the service.
“Whoever would like to join this morning, it's your decision, and you could possibly be ticketed. They showed up and were cheering me on,” said Hildebrandt in the CTV report.
“We’re not asking for special privilege or treatment. There were no parking lots as safe as ours this morning. We had no interaction before, during or after.”
Last week, Aylmer police Chief Zvonko Horvat said that he instructed his officers to begin to lay charges under the Ontario Emergency Measures and Civil Protections Act to any “faith-based organizations that break the order banning gatherings of more than five people.”
Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act says that it is against the law for more than five people to get together to conduct a religious service. Hildebrandt feels this a direct violation of religious freedom as protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In his statement, Hildebrandt said he “attempted, unsuccessfully, to reach an acceptable compromise with him (the Aylmer Chief of Police) these past 6 days,” to be allowed to continue with his Sunday services. Hildebrandt said he even offered to hire two off-duty police officers to ensure no laws were being broken. This idea was dismissed.
Hildebrandt said that a now-deleted Facebook post showing a packed church parking lot at a past service may have had something to do with the sudden crackdown on the church services. In his statement, he says this Facebook post incorrectly caused outrage after people accused churchgoers of congregating inside the church. He says this is simply not true as people were always in their vehicles.
“Unfortunately, the Chief has also decreed that his officers must enforce the law as he interprets it, recklessly abandoning the discretion and interpretation used successfully in the past weeks, both here in Aylmer and across the country and the continent,” said Hildebrandt in his statement.
“One thing is clear to us at this moment, he finds himself on the wrong side of history and we extend our gratitude and pray for blessings and wisdom on the officers of the Aylmer Police Service as they are thrust into this unenviable position.”
Canada based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCFF) was retained by The Church of God in Aylmer last week to help them fight any potential fines and to ensure their religious liberty is respected.
Lisa D.S. Bildy, a lawyer for the JCCF provided LifeSiteNews with the letter they sent to Aylmer police on Friday, asking them to rescind their decision to go ahead and ticket church members.
“The restriction on public religious gatherings, in which people exclusively occupy their personal vehicles on a parking lot while worshipping, is irrational, unnecessary, and not a minimal impairment of Charter rights,” said Bildy in the letter.
“Government authorities like the Aylmer Police Department may only infringe Canadians’ constitutional rights if such authorities can demonstrate a pressing and substantial justification for doing so. There is no justification for prohibiting people from parking in the same parking lot for a drive-in religious service when drive-thru restaurant windows and grocery stores are open.”
The incident in Aylmer is only one of a growing number of police actions resulting in fines regarding the breaking of social distancing rules in Canada.
Recently, an Ontario pastor was fined $880 for violating “social distancing” health rules because he held “a seder night” at his residence.
In early April, a Calgary, Alberta street preacher was fined $1200 for breaking social distancing health rules after refusing to cancel a street service which included feeding the homeless.
Also, health authorities from Saskatchewan banned a drive-in Easter Sunday service at a small-town Canadian church, saying it would have constituted a “mass gathering” in violation of its coronavirus health orders.
The JCFF served a legal warning to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, saying it violated the rights and freedoms of worshipers from the Nipawin Apostolic Church.
The Government of Saskatchewan later reversed the decision by its health authority banning drive-in religious services and issued guidelines that recognize the right for churches to hold such services as long as safety precautions are heeded.
A few weeks ago, the JCCF warned that Canadian’s rights are being trampled because of the coronavirus lockdown measures.
Pro-abortion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in late March that, “all options are on the table,” when it comes to combating the coronavirus. This includes leaving the door open to the possibility of tracking Canadians cell phones either via a dedicated app, or through one’s cell phone provider.
Canada has been in a nationwide lockdown since early March, with all public schools, churches, sporting events, sit-down restaurants, and most stores deemed non-essential, shut. As of today, Canada has registered just under 49,000 cases with 2701 deaths.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-28--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

April 28 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united in praying the rosary together , at the same time , every day at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
To date , Catholics from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as other countries , have been joining in .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we can shape history , change the world , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-04-28--Priest corrects Boris Johnson: Christ, not the NHS, is ‘beating heart of this country’

WARRINGTON , England , April 28 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A Catholic priest has gently corrected the British Prime Minister by asserting that “ the beating heart of this country ” is not its National Health Service but Jesus , Savior of Man .
Father Armand de Malleray , FSSP addressed the state-encouraged adulation of the NHS in his Good Shepherd Sunday homily at St. Mary ’ s Shrine in Warrington , England this week .
“ Much as I agree with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his praise of many NHS doctors and nurses , I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Easter Sunday last , just two weeks ago : ‘ We will win because our NHS is the beating heart of this country .
It is the best of this country .
It is incomparable .
It is powered by love , ’ ” De Malleray read .
“ With due respect to the Prime Minister , as a Catholic priest , as a shepherd of souls , I must state that the beating heart of this country is in our tabernacles , ” the priest continued .
“ That beating heart is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hominem Salvator , or by his initials IHS.
” De Malleray ’ s homily addressed the almost total suppression of sacramental ministry to Catholics in Britain because of the pandemic , something he believes is “ the worst calamity in the world.
” “ Shepherds must not play it down , ” he stated .
“ Shepherds must not excuse it or explain it away .
Shepherds must weep for such an evil , and shepherds must actively present to the government the spiritual needs of their flocks.
” In the locked-down United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ritual to applaud and cheer for NHS staff and other “ essential workers ” on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. Public worship of God , however , has been banned .
Catholics and other Christians have been forbidden to enter churches even for private prayer , whereas supermarkets and abortion businesses have remained open .
The irony was not lost on De Malleray .
“ How is it possible that Mary Stopes , the main abortion provider in the UK , can boast of the following on its website ?
” the priest demanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 measures to not impact our abortion care [ sic ] clinics as we are providing an essential medical service .
You ARE allowed to leave your home to visit our clinics.
” The NHS itself directs abortion-minded women to Mary Stopes through its website .
To illustrate the tax-funded medical system ’ s complicity in abortion , De Malleray also read aloud the NHS ’ online claims that “ impartial information and support ” are available at a number of abortion businesses , including Marie Stopes , and its warnings against “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide impartial advice but often do not.
” “ My friends , who can ignore that what the NHS calls impartial advice is a heavy and systematic pressure to kill innocent children at cost ?
” the priest demanded .
“ Who can ignore that what the NHS calls ‘ partial ’ is a compassionate and respectful help to save unborn children ?
” De Malleray compared the 20,000 death attributed to the coronavirus by Sunday with the number of abortions committed in the United Kingdom every year : 209,000 .
The nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for these deaths , he observed .
“ Unlike the attributed coronavirus deaths , deaths by abortion are not caused by underlying conditions , ” the priest stated .
“ Deaths by abortion don ’ t occur against the efforts of the doctors and nurses , but through their wilful and personal intervention .
Deaths by abortion are not accidents occuring by the negligence of NHS staff , ” he continued .
“ On the contrary , they are considered central to the mission and the ethos of the NHS and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister ’ s Easter Sunday adulation for the NHS with his failure to thank either God or those who prayed for him when he was hospitalized with COVID-19 , saying that it showed British society ’ s spiritual decline .
“ That on Easter Sunday morning , when the world celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord , a Prime Minister once baptized Catholic should not have a single word of thanks to the Master of Life for saving his and for the many Christians who offered prayers and sacrifices for his recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with supernatural realities.
” De Malleray stated that good shepherds among the clergy were , “ after the example of our Lord , with prayer and sacrifice , ” doing everything in their power to return access to the churches to the faithful .
He envisioned the Lord asking every priest at his judgement what he did to bring the sacraments to His flock and whether , alongside his adulation of the NHS , the pastor proclaimed the “ IHS , Jesus Savior of Man.
” The priest stated also that good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies were made for their souls , that the only virus that can kill souls is sin , and that the only remedy for sin is “ IHS , Jesus Savior of Man.
” The homily , which can be found this week on The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter ’ s ( FSSP ’ s ) livemass.net , was also posted permanently to Facebook by Catholic youth group Juventutem London .
Fr .
de Malleray told LifeSiteNews via email that the homily was posted to Facebook without his knowledge , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication .
The FSSP priest expressed his thanks to the Bishops of England and Wales for their advice to priests during the pandemic , which includes encouragement to “ offer holy Mass daily , even in the absence of anyone attending : because holy Mass is primarily an action of Christ , and because liturgical acts are public by their nature , our lonely Masses still benefit our flock , our diocese , the Church universal – and us celebrants.
” De Malleray also passed along practical suggestions for reopening British churches : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone and email to support the population against depression , breakdown and violence caused by the lockdown .
• This key role of clergy must be recognised through the safe re-opening of their workplaces , the churches .
• Every priest in charge states the sitting capacity in his cathedral , church or chapel .
• A percentage of the sitting capacity ( 10 % to 25 % ? )
is recognised as a safe amount of people to be in the church at the same time for public worship and/or private prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty between worshippers to keep the 2-meter social distancing .
• Only members of the same household may sit on the same bench .
• No one is admitted into the building without a sanitizer .
• Confessions are permitted behind a screen , with sanitation of the prie-dieu .
The last official public Masses for Catholics in England and Wales were held on March 20 .
The last official public Masses for Catholics in Scotland were held on March 19 .
Catholic churches were locked against entry by the majority of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday worship , but also encouraged to watch live-streamed celebrations of the Mass .
The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter ( FSSP ) was founded by St. John Paul II in 1988 .
The FSSP offers Mass only according to the Extraordinary Form , i.e .
the Traditional Latin , or Tridentine , Mass .
If you wish to support the FSSP in the U.K. , please click here .

'With due respect to the Prime Minister, as a Catholic priest, as a shepherd of souls, I must state that the beating heart of this country is in our tabernacles.'
WARRINGTON, England, April 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A Catholic priest has gently corrected the British Prime Minister by asserting that “the beating heart of this country” is not its National Health Service but Jesus, Savior of Man.
Father Armand de Malleray, FSSP addressed the state-encouraged adulation of the NHS in his Good Shepherd Sunday homily at St. Mary’s Shrine in Warrington, England this week.
“Much as I agree with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his praise of many NHS doctors and nurses, I cannot agree with his unconditional statement on Easter Sunday last, just two weeks ago: ‘We will win because our NHS is the beating heart of this country. It is the best of this country. It is incomparable. It is powered by love,’” De Malleray read.
“With due respect to the Prime Minister, as a Catholic priest, as a shepherd of souls, I must state that the beating heart of this country is in our tabernacles,” the priest continued.
“That beating heart is called Jesus Savior of Men, Iesus Hominum Salvator, or by his initials IHS.”
De Malleray’s homily addressed the almost total suppression of sacramental ministry to Catholics in Britain because of the pandemic, something he believes is “the worst calamity in the world.”
“Shepherds must not play it down,” he stated. “Shepherds must not excuse it or explain it away. Shepherds must weep for such an evil, and shepherds must actively present to the government the spiritual needs of their flocks.”
In the locked-down United Kingdom, it has become a weekly ritual to applaud and cheer for NHS staff and other “essential workers” on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. Public worship of God, however, has been banned. Catholics and other Christians have been forbidden to enter churches even for private prayer, whereas supermarkets and abortion businesses have remained open.
The irony was not lost on De Malleray.
“How is it possible that Mary Stopes, the main abortion provider in the UK, can boast of the following on its website?” the priest demanded, and read its statement, “COVID-19 measures to not impact our abortion care [sic] clinics as we are providing an essential medical service. You ARE allowed to leave your home to visit our clinics.”
The NHS itself directs abortion-minded women to Mary Stopes through its website. To illustrate the tax-funded medical system’s complicity in abortion, De Malleray also read aloud the NHS’ online claims that “impartial information and support” are available at a number of abortion businesses, including Marie Stopes, and its warnings against “so-called crisis pregnancy centers that claim to provide impartial advice but often do not.”
“My friends, who can ignore that what the NHS calls impartial advice is a heavy and systematic pressure to kill innocent children at cost?” the priest demanded.
“Who can ignore that what the NHS calls ‘partial’ is a compassionate and respectful help to save unborn children?”
De Malleray compared the 20,000 death attributed to the coronavirus by Sunday with the number of abortions committed in the United Kingdom every year: 209,000. The nation’s doctors and nurses are directly responsible for these deaths, he observed.
“Unlike the attributed coronavirus deaths, deaths by abortion are not caused by underlying conditions,” the priest stated.
“Deaths by abortion don’t occur against the efforts of the doctors and nurses, but through their willful and personal intervention. Deaths by abortion are not accidents occurring by the negligence of NHS staff,” he continued.
“On the contrary, they are considered central to the mission and the ethos of the NHS and of the state.”
De Malleray contrasted the Prime Minister’s Easter Sunday adulation for the NHS with his failure to thank either God or those who prayed for him when he was hospitalized with COVID-19, saying that it showed British society’s spiritual decline.
“That on Easter Sunday morning, when the world celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord, a Prime Minister once baptized Catholic should not have a single word of thanks to the Master of Life for saving his and for the many Christians who offered prayers and sacrifices for his recovery, showed how dramatically we have lost contact with supernatural realities.”
De Malleray stated that good shepherds among the clergy were, “after the example of our Lord, with prayer and sacrifice,” doing everything in their power to return access to the churches to the faithful. He envisioned the Lord asking every priest at his judgement what he did to bring the sacraments to His flock and whether, alongside his adulation of the NHS, the pastor proclaimed the “IHS, Jesus Savior of Man.”
The priest stated also that good shepherds will remind their flocks that their bodies were made for their souls, that the only virus that can kill souls is sin, and that the only remedy for sin is “IHS, Jesus Savior of Man.”
The homily, which can be found this week on The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter’s (FSSP’s) livemass.net, was also posted permanently to Facebook by Catholic youth group Juventutem London.
Fr. de Malleray told LifeSiteNews via email that the homily was posted to Facebook without his knowledge, but that he has since given permission for its publication.
The FSSP priest expressed his thanks to the Bishops of England and Wales for their advice to priests during the pandemic, which includes encouragement to “offer holy Mass daily, even in the absence of anyone attending: because Holy Mass is primarily an action of Christ, and because liturgical acts are public by their nature, our lonely Masses still benefit our flock, our diocese, the Church universal – and us celebrants.”
De Malleray also passed along practical suggestions for reopening British churches:
Clergy are front-line workers even by phone and email to support the population against depression, breakdown and violence caused by the lockdown. This key role of clergy must be recognised through the safe re-opening of their workplaces, the churches. Every priest in charge states the seating capacity in his cathedral, church or chapel. A percentage of the seating capacity (10% to 25%?) is recognised as a safe amount of people to be in the church at the same time for public worship and/or private prayer. Two pews must be left empty between worshippers to keep the 2-meter social distancing. Only members of the same household may sit on the same bench. No one is admitted into the building without a sanitizer. Confessions are permitted behind a screen, with sanitation of the prie-dieu.
The last official public Masses for Catholics in England and Wales were held on March 20. The last official public Masses for Catholics in Scotland were held on March 19. Catholic churches were locked against entry by the majority of the faithful on March 24. The laity have been dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday worship, but also encouraged to watch live-streamed celebrations of the Mass.
The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) was founded by St. John Paul II in 1988. The FSSP offers Mass only according to the Extraordinary Form, i.e. the Traditional Latin, or Tridentine, Mass. If you wish to support the FSSP in the U.K., please click here.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-04-27--Public schools are destroying your children

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 !
To tune into Mother Miriam @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page here every Monday to Friday at 10am .

To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate here.
Watch Mother Miriam's Live show originally aired on 1.7.2020 and re-aired on 4.27.2020. In this show Mother discusses the evils of public school and talks about the book Get out now!
You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page.
Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live here.


lifesitenews--2020-04-30--Harvard prof who wants to kill homeschooling shows elite’s disconnect on education

April 29 , 2020 ( Daily Signal ) — An Ivy League professor says we need to end homeschooling , because parents who homeschool their children are “ authoritarian.
” In an article in Harvard Magazine ’ s latest issue , Harvard law professor Elizabeth Bartholet , faculty director of the Law School ’ s Child Advocacy Program , blasts homeschooling as “ dangerous ” and appealing to those who seek “ authoritarian control over their kids.
” The article by Erin O ’ Donnell is part of the lead-up to a Harvard summit on homeschooling scheduled for June .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with Bartholet have garnered a good deal of attention , some say unduly .
It is an important window into a mindset perhaps more common at our nation ’ s elite institutions than many would like to believe .
In the interview , Bartholet says that parents of homeschooled children tend to be “ extreme religious ideologues ” who don ’ t believe in science , keep women subservient , and believe in white supremacy .
Bartholet is doing little more than perpetuating a malicious and lazy stereotype .
As Mike McShane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nonprofit EdChoice , writes : It ’ s true that many homeschooling families tend to be religious , but this absurd and , frankly , bigoted view of who they are reveals exactly what Bartholet wants when she calls for ending homeschooling .
What Bartholet clearly worries about is that homeschooling undermines Tolerance , with a capital “ T. ” Her mindset is that public schools are a vital component of the state to carry out vast , progressive social engineering .
If even a small minority of young people don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on say , sexuality , transgenderism , religion , or American history , according to this way of thinking , then they need to be indoctrinated to embrace these views .
The public schools , at least in the way Bartholet portrays them , are simply a tool to “ veto ” any potentially troubling beliefs of parents .
For an example of a homeschool family , she points to the 2018 memoir “ Educated ” by Tara Westover , who wrote about how she was raised and abused by Idaho survivalists who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this single experience to indict homeschooling is ridiculous , especially given the ample evidence of abuse and other terrible things taking place in public schools .
And given the ridiculous caricature by which Bartholet defines the majority of homeschool families , that means she finds a whole lot of Americans in need of a reeducation .
In the interview , Bartholet says that children should “ grow up exposed to ... democratic values , ideas about nondiscrimination , and tolerance of other people ’ s viewpoints.
” If that ’ s the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeschooled or in private schools .
According to research by Albert Cheng of the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform , “ members of the very group for which public schooling is believed to be most essential for inculcating political tolerance ( i.e.
, those who are more strongly committed to a particular worldview and value system ) actually exhibit at least as much or more tolerance when they are exposed to less public schooling.
” Cheng defines tolerance as “ the willingness to extend civil liberties to people who hold views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this doesn ’ t seem to be what Bartholet would define as tolerance .
It ’ s ironic that she labels homeschooling families as “ authoritarian , ” since her mindset is far closer to what is common in authoritarian regimes that treat citizens like wards to be indoctrinated and aggressively stamp out all dissent .
This is a corruption of what education should look like in a free society .
Society has an interest in the education of young people .
After all , as Thomas Jefferson and many other Founders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to maintaining a republic .
If a government of the people , by the people , and for the people is to make informed decisions , widespread knowledge and instruction in basic civics — among many other things — is essential .
An education in the moral and practical components of citizenship is essential to maintaining and perpetuating our free institutions .
As an aside on that count , our vast system of public schooling — still the primary way by which young Americans get a K–12 education — clearly is not fulfilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation found that only 1 in 3 Americans actually can pass the U.S. citizenship test , which asks only basic questions about our history and how our government works .
The study found that young people do particularly poorly in civics knowledge .
We certainly have a great need , as Americans , to reverse this worrying trend of declining civics knowledge .
However , believing that the community has a role in creating its next generation of citizens does not necessarily include thinking that parents and families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that equation , or that children “ belong ” to the community and the state .
What Harvard ’ s Bartholet argues in the interview is that the state , backed by progressive college faculty such as herself , of course , has an exclusive right to educate young Americans .
Perhaps this is why so many parents look to homeschooling , private schooling , and various school choice programs as a way to escape a public K–12 system that some left-wing social engineers clearly see as their personal fiefdom .
Published with @ @ @ @ @ @

April 29, 2020 (Daily Signal) — An Ivy League professor says we need to end homeschooling, because parents who homeschool their children are “authoritarian.”
In an article in Harvard Magazine’s latest issue, Harvard law professor Elizabeth Bartholet, faculty director of the Law School’s Child Advocacy Program, blasts homeschooling as “dangerous” and appealing to those who seek “authoritarian control over their kids.”
The article by Erin O’Donnell is part of the lead-up to a Harvard summit on homeschooling scheduled for June.
O’Donnell’s article and interview with Bartholet have garnered a good deal of attention, some say unduly. It is an important window into a mindset perhaps more common at our nation’s elite institutions than many would like to believe.
In the interview, Bartholet says that parents of homeschooled children tend to be “extreme religious ideologues” who don’t believe in science, keep women subservient, and believe in white supremacy.
Bartholet is doing little more than perpetuating a malicious and lazy stereotype.
As Mike McShane, the director of national research at the nonprofit EdChoice, writes:
In 2019, the National Center for Education Statistics published results from a survey of homeschoolers who found that the number one reason for homeschooling was not ‘a desire to provide religious instruction’ (that came in third) or even ‘a desire to provide moral instruction’ (that came in seventh), but rather ‘a concern about school environment, such as safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure.’ Number two was ‘dissatisfaction with the academic instruction at other schools.’
It’s true that many homeschooling families tend to be religious, but this absurd and, frankly, bigoted view of who they are reveals exactly what Bartholet wants when she calls for ending homeschooling.
What Bartholet clearly worries about is that homeschooling undermines Tolerance, with a capital “T.”
Her mindset is that public schools are a vital component of the state to carry out vast, progressive social engineering. If even a small minority of young people don’t accept the left’s views on say, sexuality, transgenderism, religion, or American history, according to this way of thinking, then they need to be indoctrinated to embrace these views.
The public schools, at least in the way Bartholet portrays them, are simply a tool to “veto” any potentially troubling beliefs of parents.
For an example of a homeschool family, she points to the 2018 memoir “Educated” by Tara Westover, who wrote about how she was raised and abused by Idaho survivalists who never sent her to school.
Extrapolating this single experience to indict homeschooling is ridiculous, especially given the ample evidence of abuse and other terrible things taking place in public schools.
And given the ridiculous caricature by which Bartholet defines the majority of homeschool families, that means she finds a whole lot of Americans in need of a reeducation.
In the interview, Bartholet says that children should “grow up exposed to … democratic values, ideas about nondiscrimination, and tolerance of other people’s viewpoints.”
If that’s the case, then children are better off being homeschooled or in private schools.
According to research by Albert Cheng of the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, “members of the very group for which public schooling is believed to be most essential for inculcating political tolerance (i.e., those who are more strongly committed to a particular worldview and value system) actually exhibit at least as much or more tolerance when they are exposed to less public schooling.”
Cheng defines tolerance as “the willingness to extend civil liberties to people who hold views with which one disagrees.”
Of course, this doesn’t seem to be what Bartholet would define as tolerance.
It’s ironic that she labels homeschooling families as “authoritarian,” since her mindset is far closer to what is common in authoritarian regimes that treat citizens like wards to be indoctrinated and aggressively stamp out all dissent.
This is a corruption of what education should look like in a free society.
Society has an interest in the education of young people. After all, as Thomas Jefferson and many other Founders insisted, an educated citizenry is essential to maintaining a republic.
If a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is to make informed decisions, widespread knowledge and instruction in basic civics — among many other things — is essential. An education in the moral and practical components of citizenship is essential to maintaining and perpetuating our free institutions.
As an aside on that count, our vast system of public schooling — still the primary way by which young Americans get a K–12 education — clearly is not fulfilling this need.
A 2018 study by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation found that only 1 in 3 Americans actually can pass the U.S. citizenship test, which asks only basic questions about our history and how our government works. The study found that young people do particularly poorly in civics knowledge.
We certainly have a great need, as Americans, to reverse this worrying trend of declining civics knowledge.
However, believing that the community has a role in creating its next generation of citizens does not necessarily include thinking that parents and families should be cut out of decision-making in that equation, or that children “belong” to the community and the state.
What Harvard’s Bartholet argues in the interview is that the state, backed by progressive college faculty such as herself, of course, has an exclusive right to educate young Americans.
Perhaps this is why so many parents look to homeschooling, private schooling, and various school choice programs as a way to escape a public K–12 system that some left-wing social engineers clearly see as their personal fiefdom.
Published with permission from the Daily Signal.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-30--New Orleans abortion facility ordered to close for COVID-19 injures woman

NEW ORLEANS , Louisiana , April 29 , 2020 ( Operation Rescue ) — A medical emergency occurred at the Women ’ s Health Center abortion facility in New Orleans , Louisiana , last Tuesday , despite efforts by State Attorney General Jeff Landry to enforce an order that should have shut down Louisiana ’ s abortion businesses due to the COVID-19 outbreak .
The emergency , which occurred on April 21 , 2020 , was located in the midst of an area where a major COVID-19 outbreak has occurred .
In a photo provided to Operation Rescue by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seen fully clothed on a gurney with arms up as if she was in distress .
A surgical cap covered her hair and she wore a protective mask .
A public records request made by Operation Rescue was denied within hours of filing it by the New Orleans City Attorney ’ s Office citing medical privacy concerns .
However , it is standard practice for jurisdictions to redact all patient identifying information , then release the redacted records to the public .
Operation Rescue has referred the denial to its attorneys at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further action .
The Center for Reproductive Rights sued the state on April 14 , 2020 , on behalf of another abortion facility , Hope Medical Group for Women , opposing the order to halt surgical abortions during the COVID-19 crisis .
However , attempts to reopen the economy may render this lawsuit moot .
“ These abortion businesses must be held accountable for staying open in defiance of emergency closure orders , even if the state reopens for business , ” said Troy Newman , President of Operation Rescue .
“ Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and their employees , while abortion businesses were allowed to flourish by preying on the health and financial fears of women .
The result was the avoidable injury as we saw in the April 21 incident in New Orleans .
There must be consequences for endangering women during this health crisis.
” This is a breaking story .
Operation Rescue will post updates as they become available .

The emergency was located in the midst of an area where a major COVID-19 outbreak has occurred.
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, April 29, 2020 (Operation Rescue) — A medical emergency occurred at the Women’s Health Center abortion facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, last Tuesday, despite efforts by State Attorney General Jeff Landry to enforce an order that should have shut down Louisiana’s abortion businesses due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The emergency, which occurred on April 21, 2020, was located in the midst of an area where a major COVID-19 outbreak has occurred.
In a photo provided to Operation Rescue by a local pro-life activist, an African-American woman was seen fully clothed on a gurney with arms up as if she was in distress. A surgical cap covered her hair and she wore a protective mask.
A public records request made by Operation Rescue was denied within hours of filing it by the New Orleans City Attorney’s Office citing medical privacy concerns.
However, it is standard practice for jurisdictions to redact all patient identifying information, then release the redacted records to the public. Operation Rescue has referred the denial to its attorneys at the Life Legal Defense Foundation for possible further action.
The Center for Reproductive Rights sued the state on April 14, 2020, on behalf of another abortion facility, Hope Medical Group for Women, opposing the order to halt surgical abortions during the COVID-19 crisis. However, attempts to reopen the economy may render this lawsuit moot.
“These abortion businesses must be held accountable for staying open in defiance of emergency closure orders, even if the state reopens for business,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “Other law-abiding businesses closed at great cost to them and their employees, while abortion businesses were allowed to flourish by preying on the health and financial fears of women. The result was the avoidable injury as we saw in the April 21 incident in New Orleans. There must be consequences for endangering women during this health crisis.”
This is a breaking story. Operation Rescue will post updates as they become available.
Published with permission from Operation Rescue.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-30--Pro-abortion groups panic as pro-life orgs save babies during coronavirus pandemic

April 29 , 2020 ( Human Life International ) — Apparently Vice News — a virulently pro-abortion news website — thinks that pro-lifers are “ winning ” the coronavirus pandemic .
At least , that ’ s what the headline of one of its recent articles proclaims .
Putting aside the absurd wording of the headline — nobody can possibly win a pandemic that is killing thousands of people — the article does include some encouraging news for pro-life Americans .
“ Over the past few weeks , ” it begins , “ as vast swathes of U.S. society have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , the pandemic has achieved what years of Supreme Court battles and hundreds of restrictions could not : It has choked off access to legal abortion.
” Translating this hopelessly biased paragraph into everyday language , what Vice News is pointing out is that , in response to coronavirus , several states have temporarily prohibited abortion clinics from killing preborn babies so that those states can direct their resources and medical equipment toward saving lives .
Across the country we have , without controversy , accepted the decision to suspend all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and clinics .
Many of these elective procedures are not trivial matters .
However , we ’ ve chosen to ask many of our citizens to accept significant disruptions to their lives so that we can prevent the spread of the virus and funnel scarce resources and equipment to lifesaving care .
Recently , a group of pro-life leaders wrote a letter ( a letter HLI supports ) to Alex Azar , the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services , in which they pointed out the absurdity and selfishness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the country is focused on saving lives .
“ While surgery centers postpone elective and diagnostic procedures , ” the pro-life leaders wrote , “ abortion centers are churning out surgical and chemical abortions and putting women , especially the poor , at risk .
Their continued operation depletes sorely needed personal protective equipment and leads to complications that will further overwhelm already overextended emergency rooms.
” It is unclear exactly how many states have placed temporary bans on abortions , but Catholic News Agency reports that the states include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ohio , Iowa , Louisiana , Mississippi , Texas , and Tennessee .
Unfortunately , not all of these bans are in effect , due to legal challenges and the interventions of activist judges .
Nevertheless , at various points throughout the pandemic , abortion clinics have been all but shut down in various states , including the second most populous state in the union — Texas .
( Unfortunately , as of Friday , it appears that abortions are once again being permitted in the state . )
The pro-abortion movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as one CNN article absurdly put it — that abortion is a “ human right ” and that restricting abortion “ constitutes cruel , inhuman , and degrading treatment.
” Tragically , the World Health Organization , which we are supposed to revere as the medical authority that will guide us through this pandemic , has come out with a statement saying that abortion is an “ essential ” service .
And Michigan ’ s notoriously liberal governor , Gretchen Whitmer , criticized the temporary abortion bans by making the paradoxical claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the fervor of the pro-abortion protestations is encouraging , since it is a response to a very real fact : many abortion clinics across the country have temporarily ceased killing babies .
“ Probably every independent clinic in the country is at risk , ” Nikki Madsen , executive director of the Abortion Care Network , told Vice News .
“ This is the thing that scares me the most , of anything that I ’ ve seen in the last 18 years , of potentially really decimating abortion access in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point out , the impact of the current crisis is having a dramatic effect on abortion .
“ The coronavirus pandemic ... is affecting people ’ s access to abortion in every state , including in Democrat-controlled states .
And it ’ s happening all at once.
” However , in some ways , Vice News ’ story downplays the impact of the virus on the child-killing industry .
It ’ s not just in certain US states that abortions are being seriously curtailed .
It ’ s happening throughout the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6000 of its affiliated clinics — or 14 % of the total — have closed down because of the outbreak .
Not all of those committed abortions , but many of them do .
These clinics are located all across Africa , Asia , Europe , and Oceania .
The pro-life movement knows from experience that even if women are required to spend a few days thinking about whether to have an abortion , they often change their minds .
Women often book their abortion appointments in a moment of panic right after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unplanned baby .
This panic may be exacerbated by the negative or even threatening reactions of unsupportive partners .
Given a few days to think about it , however , many women realize the truth that ( whatever the “ pro-choice ” propaganda tells them ) they are carrying a living baby and that they are strong enough to bring that baby into the world and to love him or her .
Even if these restrictions on abortions are lifted soon , it is highly likely that a huge number of babies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , some dedicated pro-lifers are continuing their prayer vigils outside abortion clinics even during this pandemic , with one woman outside one facility reporting that six women turned around in one day .
Naturally , the pro-abortion movement is scrambling to try to find ways to overcome the restrictions , even if that means putting women at risk .
Numerous pro-abortion organizations and politicians have , over the past few weeks , advocated lifting restrictions on “ medical abortions ” and have even promoted illegal and highly dangerous practices to women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet and having them take them without a doctor ’ s supervision .
This is unconscionably reckless and selfish .
Statistically speaking , a certain percentage of women who abort at home will end up in the hospital or will turn to surgical abortion to complete a botched medical one .
The abortion movement is promoting dangerous , potentially illegal , and certainly nonessential practices that will inevitably add a burden to our medical system .
As the group of pro-life leaders point out in their letter : “ At a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is putting women at risk of incomplete abortion , hemorrhage , and infection.
” In other words , “ the abortion industry is compounding one crisis with another.
” So much for being “ pro-woman.
” As I pointed out recently , one possible negative outcome for the pro-life cause is that pro-abortion activists will succeed in their calls to expand medical abortions .
That , at least , is what Planned Parenthood hopes will happen .
In a recent article on its site about the impact of coronavirus on “ reproductive health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the “ ability to take medicines [ i.e.
, abortion-causing drugs ] in their own homes ” should “ become standard ” for women .
The pro-life movement must be on guard against this insanely dangerous proposal , and wherever possible , ensure that drugs that cause the death of a preborn baby are banned — and the bans enforced .
Still , one of the unexpected blessings of the coronavirus pandemic is that it is exposing the self-evident truth that so many pro-lifers have urged for decades : namely , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of an innocent human being is an “ essential ” medical service .
Abortion cures no diseases .
All it does is interrupt the perfectly healthy functioning of a woman ’ s body and destroy the living body of the baby she is nurturing .
If “ winning ” the coronavirus pandemic means that some good comes out of this great evil , and some innocent human beings have a chance at life when they wouldn ’ t have otherwise , then I do hope that Vice News ’ headline is right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this one .

There is no world in which the killing of an innocent human being is an 'essential' medical service.
April 29, 2020 (Human Life International) — Apparently Vice News — a virulently pro-abortion news website — thinks that pro-lifers are “winning” the coronavirus pandemic. At least, that’s what the headline of one of its recent articles proclaims. Putting aside the absurd wording of the headline — nobody can possibly win a pandemic that is killing thousands of people — the article does include some encouraging news for pro-life Americans.
“Over the past few weeks,” it begins, “as vast swathes of U.S. society have shut down in an effort to curb the coronavirus, the pandemic has achieved what years of Supreme Court battles and hundreds of restrictions could not: It has choked off access to legal abortion.”
Translating this hopelessly biased paragraph into everyday language, what Vice News is pointing out is that, in response to coronavirus, several states have temporarily prohibited abortion clinics from killing preborn babies so that those states can direct their resources and medical equipment toward saving lives.
Across the country we have, without controversy, accepted the decision to suspend all “elective” medical procedures in hospitals and clinics. Many of these elective procedures are not trivial matters. However, we’ve chosen to ask many of our citizens to accept significant disruptions to their lives so that we can prevent the spread of the virus and funnel scarce resources and equipment to lifesaving care.
Recently, a group of pro-life leaders wrote a letter (a letter HLI supports) to Alex Azar, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, in which they pointed out the absurdity and selfishness of Planned Parenthood continuing to perform abortions while the rest of the country is focused on saving lives. “While surgery centers postpone elective and diagnostic procedures,” the pro-life leaders wrote, “abortion centers are churning out surgical and chemical abortions and putting women, especially the poor, at risk. Their continued operation depletes sorely needed personal protective equipment and leads to complications that will further overwhelm already overextended emergency rooms.”
It is unclear exactly how many states have placed temporary bans on abortions, but Catholic News Agency reports that the states include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Tennessee. Unfortunately, not all of these bans are in effect, due to legal challenges and the interventions of activist judges. Nevertheless, at various points throughout the pandemic, abortion clinics have been all but shut down in various states, including the second most populous state in the union — Texas. (Unfortunately, as of Friday, it appears that abortions are once again being permitted in the state.)
WHO: Abortion Is “Essential”
The pro-abortion movement has responded with hysteria, claiming — as one CNN article absurdly put it — that abortion is a “human right” and that restricting abortion “constitutes cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.” Tragically, the World Health Organization, which we are supposed to revere as the medical authority that will guide us through this pandemic, has come out with a statement saying that abortion is an “essential” service. And Michigan’s notoriously liberal governor, Gretchen Whitmer, criticized the temporary abortion bans by making the paradoxical claim that abortion is “life-sustaining”!
However, the fervor of the pro-abortion protestations is encouraging, since it is a response to a very real fact: many abortion clinics across the country have temporarily ceased killing babies.
“Probably every independent clinic in the country is at risk,” Nikki Madsen, executive director of the Abortion Care Network, told Vice News. “This is the thing that scares me the most, of anything that I’ve seen in the last 18 years, of potentially really decimating abortion access in this country.”
As Madsen and Vice News point out, the impact of the current crisis is having a dramatic effect on abortion. “The coronavirus pandemic … is affecting people’s access to abortion in every state, including in Democrat-controlled states. And it’s happening all at once.”
However, in some ways, Vice News’ story downplays the impact of the virus on the child-killing industry. It’s not just in certain US states that abortions are being seriously curtailed. It’s happening throughout the world. According to International Planned Parenthood, almost 6000 of its affiliated clinics — or 14% of the total — have closed down because of the outbreak. Not all of those committed abortions, but many of them do. These clinics are located all across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
The pro-life movement knows from experience that even if women are required to spend a few days thinking about whether to have an abortion, they often change their minds. Women often book their abortion appointments in a moment of panic right after they find out they are pregnant with an unplanned baby. This panic may be exacerbated by the negative or even threatening reactions of unsupportive partners. Given a few days to think about it, however, many women realize the truth that (whatever the “pro-choice” propaganda tells them) they are carrying a living baby and that they are strong enough to bring that baby into the world and to love him or her.
Even if these restrictions on abortions are lifted soon, it is highly likely that a huge number of babies will have been saved as a consequence. Meanwhile, some dedicated pro-lifers are continuing their prayer vigils outside abortion clinics even during this pandemic, with one woman outside one facility reporting that six women turned around in one day.
Putting Women at Risk
Naturally, the pro-abortion movement is scrambling to try to find ways to overcome the restrictions, even if that means putting women at risk. Numerous pro-abortion organizations and politicians have, over the past few weeks, advocated lifting restrictions on “medical abortions” and have even promoted illegal and highly dangerous practices to women, like ordering abortion drugs on the internet and having them take them without a doctor’s supervision.
This is unconscionably reckless and selfish. Statistically speaking, a certain percentage of women who abort at home will end up in the hospital or will turn to surgical abortion to complete a botched medical one. The abortion movement is promoting dangerous, potentially illegal, and certainly nonessential practices that will inevitably add a burden to our medical system. As the group of pro-life leaders point out in their letter: “At a time when hospitals are overloaded, the abortion industry is putting women at risk of incomplete abortion, hemorrhage, and infection.” In other words, “the abortion industry is compounding one crisis with another.”
So much for being “pro-woman.”
As I pointed out recently, one possible negative outcome for the pro-life cause is that pro-abortion activists will succeed in their calls to expand medical abortions. That, at least, is what Planned Parenthood hopes will happen. In a recent article on its site about the impact of coronavirus on “reproductive health services,” International Planned Parenthood claims that the “ability to take medicines [i.e., abortion-causing drugs] in their own homes” should “become standard” for women.
The pro-life movement must be on guard against this insanely dangerous proposal, and wherever possible, ensure that drugs that cause the death of a preborn baby are banned — and the bans enforced.
Still, one of the unexpected blessings of the coronavirus pandemic is that it is exposing the self-evident truth that so many pro-lifers have urged for decades: namely, that there is no world in which the killing of an innocent human being is an “essential” medical service. Abortion cures no diseases. All it does is interrupt the perfectly healthy functioning of a woman’s body and destroy the living body of the baby she is nurturing.
If “winning” the coronavirus pandemic means that some good comes out of this great evil, and some innocent human beings have a chance at life when they wouldn’t have otherwise, then I do hope that Vice News’ headline is right and that the pro-life movement is winning this one.
Published with permission from Human Life International.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-30--Canadian legal org demands medical examiners explain fallout from COVID-19 obsession

CALGARY , Alberta , April 29 , 2020 ( Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ) — The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( jccf.ca ) has written letters to each of the 14 Chief Medical Officers of Health , in every province , territory and federally .
“ The lockdowns and social isolation measures imposed by governments on citizens risk throwing millions of Canadians into unemployment , bankruptcy or poverty , and in many cases all three .
Social isolation , combined with unemployment and poverty , predictably lead to numerous adverse health outcomes : depression , anxiety , alcoholism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental illness , obesity and suicides , ” stated lawyer John Carpay , president of the Justice Centre .
“ I trust that Canada ’ s Chief Medical Officers have a broad-based and comprehensive concern about the health and lives of Canadians , one that extends to preventing deaths and adverse health outcomes , regardless of their source or cause , ” continued Carpay .
“ Doctors are concerned that the cancellation of non-emergency surgeries , as well as the fear that patients now have of going to the hospital to obtain help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in some cases death.
” The Justice Centre ’ s letters ask the Chief Medical Officers to give serious consideration to the number of lives that will be lost , as well as adverse health outcomes , as a result of the social isolation and economic devastation that government measures against COVID-19 are inflicting on citizens .
The Justice Centre ’ s letters request candid and detailed responses to the following questions : 1 .
How many suicides are projected to take place as a result of the government having shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into unemployment , bankruptcy , or poverty ?
2 .
How many do you project will die because of the rise in depression , anxiety , alcoholism , other addictions and drug overdoses that the lockdown and associated unemployment and social isolation will cause , as the lockdown drags on for weeks or even months ?
3 .
How many children and spouses do you project will be abused while couples and parents remain confined to their homes , in many cases unemployed , without their usual income and social connections ?
4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in foster care because of domestic abuse , or loss of their parents ’ ability to provide for them , or both ?
5 .
How many isolated seniors are projected to become sick or die because they no longer receive regular visitors , such that nobody is able to take them to their own family doctor , or take them to an emergency unit at the hospital ?
How many will die at home , alone ?
6 .
How many people are projected to die or to suffer permanent damage because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their testing and their various treatments have been cancelled due to your singular focus on fighting COVID-19 ?
7 .
How many people are projected to suffer serious harm caused by lack of access to secondary health providers they regularly rely on , such as physiotherapists , massage therapists , optometrists , chiropractors , osteopaths , podiatrists and dentists ?
8 .
How many people are projected to die or suffer serious harm because they believe ( correctly or incorrectly ) that they can not go see their doctor , or that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital ?
9 .
How many children , confined to their homes while schools and playgrounds are closed and athletic and recreational activities are shut down , are projected to develop diabetes or other chronic health conditions ?
10 .
How many people will develop psychiatric disorders caused by governments having eliminated social interaction at restaurants , pubs , churches , recreational facilities and community centres ?
11 .
Have you or your staff researched any of these questions here above ?
12 .
If yes to the foregoing question , have you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in regard to any or all of these causes of illness , harm and death , in the same way that you have relied on models , estimates and projections in regard to COVID-19 ?
13 .
If yes to the foregoing question , I request copies of those models , estimates and projections .
Published with permission from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms .

'How many suicides are projected to take place as a result of the government having shut down much of our economy?'
CALGARY, Alberta, April 29, 2020 (Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms) — The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (jccf.ca) has written letters to each of the 14 Chief Medical Officers of Health, in every province, territory and federally.
“The lockdowns and social isolation measures imposed by governments on citizens risk throwing millions of Canadians into unemployment, bankruptcy or poverty, and in many cases all three. Social isolation, combined with unemployment and poverty, predictably lead to numerous adverse health outcomes: depression, anxiety, alcoholism, other addictions, drug overdoses, mental illness, obesity and suicides,” stated lawyer John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre.
“I trust that Canada’s Chief Medical Officers have a broad-based and comprehensive concern about the health and lives of Canadians, one that extends to preventing deaths and adverse health outcomes, regardless of their source or cause,” continued Carpay. “Doctors are concerned that the cancellation of non-emergency surgeries, as well as the fear that patients now have of going to the hospital to obtain help, are causing adverse health outcomes, and in some cases death.”
The Justice Centre’s letters ask the Chief Medical Officers to give serious consideration to the number of lives that will be lost, as well as adverse health outcomes, as a result of the social isolation and economic devastation that government measures against COVID-19 are inflicting on citizens.
The Justice Centre’s letters request candid and detailed responses to the following questions:
1. How many suicides are projected to take place as a result of the government having shut down much of our economy, forcing people into unemployment, bankruptcy, or poverty?
2. How many do you project will die because of the rise in depression, anxiety, alcoholism, other addictions and drug overdoses that the lockdown and associated unemployment and social isolation will cause, as the lockdown drags on for weeks or even months?
3. How many children and spouses do you project will be abused while couples and parents remain confined to their homes, in many cases unemployed, without their usual income and social connections?
4. How many children will be put in foster care because of domestic abuse, or loss of their parents’ ability to provide for them, or both?
5. How many isolated seniors are projected to become sick or die because they no longer receive regular visitors, such that nobody is able to take them to their own family doctor, or take them to an emergency unit at the hospital? How many will die at home, alone?
6. How many people are projected to die or to suffer permanent damage because their non-emergency (elective) surgery, their testing and their various treatments have been cancelled due to your singular focus on fighting COVID-19?
7. How many people are projected to suffer serious harm caused by lack of access to secondary health providers they regularly rely on, such as physiotherapists, massage therapists, optometrists, chiropractors, osteopaths, podiatrists and dentists?
8. How many people are projected to die or suffer serious harm because they believe (correctly or incorrectly) that they cannot go see their doctor, or that they cannot check into emergency at the hospital?
9. How many children, confined to their homes while schools and playgrounds are closed and athletic and recreational activities are shut down, are projected to develop diabetes or other chronic health conditions?
10. How many people will develop psychiatric disorders caused by governments having eliminated social interaction at restaurants, pubs, churches, recreational facilities and community centres?
11. Have you or your staff researched any of these questions here above?
12. If yes to the foregoing question, have you created any models, estimates or projections in regard to any or all of these causes of illness, harm and death, in the same way that you have relied on models, estimates and projections in regard to COVID-19?
13. If yes to the foregoing question, I request copies of those models, estimates and projections.
Published with permission from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
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