lifesitenews--2020-06-26--The ultimate pro-life voting guide to Canada’s Conservative Party leadership race

TORONTO , June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Card-carrying members of the Conservative party of Canada have only two real choices if they want to see a pro-life candidate become party leader at the fast-approaching conclusion of the leadership race .
Ballots for the crucial Conservative Party leadership race are expected in members ’ hands by mid-July .
Pro-life groups such as Campaign Life Coalition and Real Women of Canada are urging pro-life social Conservatives to use the ranked vote — in which voters are allowed to select their 1st , 2nd , 3rd , etc .
choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message that only a pro-life candidate is worthy of a vote .
Canada ’ s pro-life , pro-family national political lobbying group and largest pro-life association , Campaign Life Coalition ( CLC ) has issued a detailed voter guide advising supporters on how to rank the four candidates , who recently sparred in debates in French and English .
CLC gives Ontario MP Derek Sloan an “ A+ ” and Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis an “ A ” for their pro-life , pro-family policies .
And it gives former Nova Scotia MP Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of the race , and Ontario MP Erin O ’ Toole a failing grade for pro-abortion , pro-LGBTQ policies .
The pro-life group is asking pro-life Conservatives “ to vote for Derek Sloan and Leslyn Lewis in the top ballot positions of number one and number two , in whatever order you prefer , ” says director of political operations , Jack Fonseca .
It is also urging pro-life Conservatives to leave MacKay and O ’ Toole completely off the ballot , even though O ’ Toole is endorsed by Alberta Premier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Real Women of Canada is also urging party members to vote in a similar way .
“ REAL Women does not recommend that a vote be cast on the ballot for the two Red Tory candidates Peter MacKay and Erin O'Toole .
Neither of them is pro-life/family nor can be trusted to take into consideration the social conservative position when making decisions , ” the group stated in a press release .
O ’ Toole confirmed in last week ’ s French-language debate he will defend the “ right ” of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-abortion stand to CBC in March , stating : “ I am pro-choice .
I am for equal marriage .
I am not going to restrict access [ to abortion ] .
I am willing to march in a [ Pride ] parade.
” O ’ Toole and MacKay “ do not deserve a vote from pro-life , pro-family Conservatives , ” emphasized CLC ’ s Fonseca .
“ It would send the wrong message to all Conservative politicians across Canada , essentially telling them that they can earn our support without giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Campaign Life based its voter ’ s guide ratings on a number of criteria , including if candidates are willing to have a national abortion debate , repeal transgender “ rights ” Bill C-16 ; repeal “ conversion therapy ” ban C-8 if passed ; repeal euthanasia expansion bill C-7 if passed ; ban “ gender-reassignment ” surgery for those under 18 years of age , and support conscience rights and free votes .
The Conservative Party ’ s policy declaration already has things to say on a few of these matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not support any legislation to regulate abortion ( 70 ) .
• All votes should be free , except for the budget , main estimates , and core government initiatives .
MP should have free votes on issues of moral conscience , such as abortion , the definition of marriage , and euthanasia .
( 7 ) ( The party has no policy on the definition of marriage since delegates voted in 2016 to delete the policy defining marriage as between one man and one woman . )
• The party supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others to refuse to participate in , or refer their patients for abortion , assisted suicide , or euthanasia ( 62 ) .
• Abortion should be explicitly excluded from Canada ’ s maternal and child health program in countries where Canadian aid is delivered , since it is extremely divisive – and often illegal ( 73 ) .
• The Conservative Party condemns discrimination against girls through gender selection abortions ( 81 ) .
• The Conservative Party supports legislation to ensure that individuals who commit violence against a pregnant woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child was killed or injured during the commission of a crime against the mother ( 104 ) .
Sloan is a Seventh-Day Adventist and 35-year-old married father of three , former businessman , lawyer and MP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington , a riding in south-east Ontario created in 2013 .
He ’ s been a pro-life activist since a young age when he attended a Life Chain event with his family at age 7 .
In response to CLC ’ s question on what government legislation , regulations or actions he would enact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 9-point platform that begins with a promise to support “ grassroots efforts ” to delete party policy that “ a Conservative Government will not support any legislation to regulate abortion.
” The pro-life bills he would enact are : Unborn Victims of Violence Act , a Born Alive Infant Protection Act , a Partial-birth Abortion Ban , an Informed Consent Ultrasound law to require abortion centres to show pregnant women an ultrasound of their baby before proceeding with an abortion , and a law banning sex-selective abortion .
Sloan also promises to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion facilities and to ensure pro-life student clubs can operate on campuses , and would encourage adoption by raising the existing adoption expense tax credit to 22.5 percent and providing 15-weeks maternity leave to adoptive families .
He would cancel federal funding of overseas abortions in keeping with party policy .
The CLC voter ’ s guide says Sloan is the only candidate who promises to ban so-called “ sex-reassignment surgery ” for individuals under the age of 18 .
He also will raise the legal age for marijuana consumption to 25 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban C-8 and euthanasia expansion Bill C-7 if they pass , as well as 2017 transgender “ rights ” Bill C-16 .
Both Sloan and Lewis state they will never march in pro-homosexual “ Pride ” parades .
Lewis , who immigrated from Jamaica at age five , is a 49-year-old Evangelical single mother of two , one-time TV host , and lawyer with multiple degrees , including a master ’ s in environmental studies and a Ph.D. in law she earned from Osgoode Hall Law School , York University in 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation , a position she resigned from this spring after the party approved her leadership candidacy .
In response to CLC ’ s question about what government legislation , regulations or actions she would enact to protect unborn children , Lewis listed two laws and two initiatives : a Sex-Selective Abortion Ban and a law to protect pregnant women from coerced abortions , and increased federal support for pregnancy care centres , and an end to federal funding for international abortions in keeping with party policy .
Lewis told Fonseca in a Virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most Canadians agree with these policies .
She reiterated this in a June 7 interview with Chris Hall on CBC Radio ’ s The House .
“ I have not proposed anything to limit access to abortion .
I ’ ve actually proposed policies that the majority of Canadians agree on , ” Lewis told Hall .
“ For example , the majority of Canadians agree that a fetus should not be terminated on the sole basis that it ’ s a girl , so that this is not something that is divisive.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and democratic society “ we have to talk about challenging issues , ” but at the same time , “ the climate in Parliament is just not conducive to having a full-out abortion debate and as elective officials … we ’ re not activists , ” Lewis said .
“ Work has to be done on changing hearts and minds and that was Stephen Harper ’ s position , that hearts and minds need to be changed before there could be legislative changes , and I agree with him on that.
” CLC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She says on her website that : “ If [ C-8 ] passes without serious amendment it will require a full repeal.
” Her campaign manager Steve Outhouse told LifeSiteNews : “ She will repeal it *unless* significant changes are made that clearly address the potential criminalization of parents and pastors.
” CLC states Lewis will repeal Bill C-7 , the euthanasia expansion law , if it passes , a position she reiterated in her interview with Fonseca .
Her campaign website states she “ will stop the expansion of new categories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Lewis will repeal C-7 if it passes .
Lewis ’ s campaign biography states she was a member of the Women ’ s Legal and Education Action Fund ( LEAF ) “ for a brief three months , ” and her Trillium Foundation bio , removed since her resignation , likewise listed her as a LEAF board member .
LEAF is arguably Canada ’ s most radical feminist pro-abortion and pro-LGTQ legal advocacy group ( see an account of LEAF ’ s record here ) , and one of the organizations Sloan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activist Tanya Granic Allen , acknowledged kingmaker in the 2016 Ontario Conservative leadership race , sparked controversy in early April when she publicly asked Lewis to explain why she featured her LEAF board membership in her biographies .
She stated that she had asked Lewis privately more than two months earlier “ to renounce her association with LEAF and condemn their radical activism.
” Lewis “ has absolutely no public voting record on life and family issues .
We can only assess her as a political candidate by her public statements and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Granic Allen wrote .
In response , Lewis stated that LEAF “ knew I held strong pro-life beliefs , and I hoped to be a balancing influence on the Board ” when she joined in 2010 .
“ After a few months of earnestly trying to make a difference , it was clear that it wasn ’ t the best fit all around , and we wished each other well , and I chose to conclude my term early with the Board , ” she said .
Her “ main purpose of joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 50th anniversary of First Nations women receiving the vote , ” and her time on the LEAF board “ ended shortly after that event , ” Lewis told LifeSiteNews in an email .
Both as an appointee to the Trillium Foundation and to apply as a Conservative leadership candidate , she had to disclose her board memberships , and “ it would be dishonest to hide my past involvement with LEAF , or any other organization , ” she told LifeSiteNews .
As for publicly renouncing her association with LEAF , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can change the hearts and minds of women who don ’ t share my beliefs , but I don ’ t believe the way to do that is through condemnation , ” she added .
Fonseca said Campaign Life defended Lewis at the time of the controversy and that hasn ’ t changed .
“ We have no reason to doubt her many , many statements in public , in interviews , on her website , and in her communications and face-to-face with us and many , many conversations at CLC that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he told LifeSiteNews .
“ We ’ d welcome the denunciation of any pro-abortion organization , but the most important thing is that she is championing our pro-life and pro-family values through the campaign and through her policy platform , ” added Fonseca .
Lewis is listed as a member of the LEAF Fund Development Committee in its 2009-2010 Annual General report , and LEAF ’ s tax filings with Canada Revenue Agency list her as a board member in both 2010 and 2011 .
In response to LifeSite questioning this seeming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her campaign biography that she was on the board for three months , Outhouse reiterated that her term with LEAF “ was scheduled to be three full years , but she served actively only during 2010 , ” when she was organizing the 50th-anniversary event , after which she resigned .
“ She , of course , did fundraising for this event , ” he said .
“ It ’ s up to the not-for-profit organization to complete the proper paperwork , which obviously was processed at a later date.
” The party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July .
With a ranked ballot , a member ’ s first choice is the member ’ s vote until that candidate is eliminated , at which point the member ’ s second choice becomes his or her vote .
The ballots must be returned to the Conservative Party no later than August 21 , when it will tabulate the results and announce the new leader .

Pro-life groups are saying there are only two real leadership choices for voters in the Conservative party of Canada: Derek Sloan and Leslyn Lewis
TORONTO, June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Card-carrying members of the Conservative party of Canada have only two real choices if they want to see a pro-life candidate become party leader at the fast-approaching conclusion of the leadership race.
Ballots for the crucial Conservative Party leadership race are expected in members’ hands by mid-July. Pro-life groups such as Campaign Life Coalition and Real Women of Canada are urging pro-life social Conservatives to use the ranked vote — in which voters are allowed to select their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice — to send their party a clear message that only a pro-life candidate is worthy of a vote.
Canada’s pro-life, pro-family national political lobbying group and largest pro-life association, Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) has issued a detailed voter guide advising supporters on how to rank the four candidates, who recently sparred in debates in French and English.
CLC gives Ontario MP Derek Sloan an “A+” and Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis an “A” for their pro-life, pro-family policies. And it gives former Nova Scotia MP Peter MacKay, a frontrunner in the early days of the race, and Ontario MP Erin O’Toole a failing grade for pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ policies.
The pro-life group is asking pro-life Conservatives “to vote for Derek Sloan and Leslyn Lewis in the top ballot positions of number one and number two, in whatever order you prefer,” says director of political operations, Jack Fonseca.
It is also urging pro-life Conservatives to leave MacKay and O’Toole completely off the ballot, even though O’Toole is endorsed by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Alberta MP Garnett Genuis.
Real Women of Canada is also urging party members to vote in a similar way.
REAL Women has now concluded that the following two candidates should be supported as Conservative leader. They are: MP Derek Sloan should be our first choice as Conservative leader. Leslyn Lewis should be marked as our second choice.
“REAL Women does not recommend that a vote be cast on the ballot for the two Red Tory candidates Peter MacKay and Erin O'Toole. Neither of them is pro-life/family nor can be trusted to take into consideration the social conservative position when making decisions,” the group stated in a press release.
O’Toole confirmed in last week’s French-language debate he will defend the “right” of women to choose abortion.
MacKay reiterated his pro-abortion stand to CBC in March, stating: “I am pro-choice. I am for equal marriage. I am not going to restrict access [to abortion]. I am willing to march in a [Pride] parade.”
O’Toole and MacKay “do not deserve a vote from pro-life, pro-family Conservatives,” emphasized CLC’s Fonseca.
“It would send the wrong message to all Conservative politicians across Canada, essentially telling them that they can earn our support without giving us anything in terms of meaningful policy.”
What makes a candidate rated pro-life, pro-family?
Campaign Life based its voter’s guide ratings on a number of criteria, including if candidates are willing to have a national abortion debate, repeal transgender “rights” Bill C-16; repeal “conversion therapy” ban C-8 if passed; repeal euthanasia expansion bill C-7 if passed; ban “gender-reassignment” surgery for those under 18 years of age, and support conscience rights and free votes.
The Conservative Party’s policy declaration already has things to say on a few of these matters, notably:
A Conservative Government will not support any legislation to regulate abortion (70).
All votes should be free, except for the budget, main estimates, and core government initiatives. MP should have free votes on issues of moral conscience, such as abortion, the definition of marriage, and euthanasia. (7) (The party has no policy on the definition of marriage since delegates voted in 2016 to delete the policy defining marriage as between one man and one woman.)
The party supports conscience rights for doctors, nurses, and others to refuse to participate in, or refer their patients for abortion, assisted suicide, or euthanasia (62).
Abortion should be explicitly excluded from Canada’s maternal and child health program in countries where Canadian aid is delivered, since it is extremely divisive – and often illegal (73).
The Conservative Party condemns discrimination against girls through gender selection abortions (81).
The Conservative Party supports legislation to ensure that individuals who commit violence against a pregnant woman would face additional charges if her unborn child was killed or injured during the commission of a crime against the mother (104).
Derek Sloan: “A+”
Sloan is a Seventh-Day Adventist and 35-year-old married father of three, former businessman, lawyer and MP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington, a riding in south-east Ontario created in 2013. He’s been a pro-life activist since a young age when he attended a Life Chain event with his family at age 7.
In response to CLC’s question on what government legislation, regulations or actions he would enact to protect unborn children, Sloan listed a 9-point platform that begins with a promise to support “grassroots efforts” to delete party policy that “a Conservative Government will not support any legislation to regulate abortion.”
The pro-life bills he would enact are: Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a Born Alive Infant Protection Act, a Partial-birth Abortion Ban, an Informed Consent Ultrasound law to require abortion centres to show pregnant women an ultrasound of their baby before proceeding with an abortion, and a law banning sex-selective abortion.
Sloan also promises to eradicate provincial “censorship zones” around abortion facilities and to ensure pro-life student clubs can operate on campuses, and would encourage adoption by raising the existing adoption expense tax credit to 22.5 percent and providing 15-weeks maternity leave to adoptive families.
He would cancel federal funding of overseas abortions in keeping with party policy.
The CLC voter’s guide says Sloan is the only candidate who promises to ban so-called “sex-reassignment surgery” for individuals under the age of 18. He also will raise the legal age for marijuana consumption to 25.
Sloan will repeal “conversion therapy” ban C-8 and euthanasia expansion Bill C-7 if they pass, as well as 2017 transgender “rights” Bill C-16.
Both Sloan and Lewis state they will never march in pro-homosexual “Pride” parades.
Leslyn Lewis: “A”
Lewis, who immigrated from Jamaica at age five, is a 49-year-old Evangelical single mother of two, one-time TV host, and lawyer with multiple degrees, including a master’s in environmental studies and a Ph.D. in law she earned from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in 2019. She was also vice-chair of Ontario Trillium Foundation, a position she resigned from this spring after the party approved her leadership candidacy.
In response to CLC’s question about what government legislation, regulations or actions she would enact to protect unborn children, Lewis listed two laws and two initiatives: a Sex-Selective Abortion Ban and a law to protect pregnant women from coerced abortions, and increased federal support for pregnancy care centres, and an end to federal funding for international abortions in keeping with party policy.
Lewis told Fonseca in a Virtual March for Life interview in May that most Canadians agree with these policies. She reiterated this in a June 7 interview with Chris Hall on CBC Radio’s The House.
“I have not proposed anything to limit access to abortion. I’ve actually proposed policies that the majority of Canadians agree on,” Lewis told Hall.
“For example, the majority of Canadians agree that a fetus should not be terminated on the sole basis that it’s a girl, so that this is not something that is divisive.”
She added that in a free and democratic society “we have to talk about challenging issues,” but at the same time, “the climate in Parliament is just not conducive to having a full-out abortion debate and as elective officials … we’re not activists,” Lewis said.
“Work has to be done on changing hearts and minds and that was Stephen Harper’s position, that hearts and minds need to be changed before there could be legislative changes, and I agree with him on that.”
CLC states that Lewis will repeal Bill C-8. She says on her website that: “If [C-8] passes without serious amendment it will require a full repeal.” Her campaign manager Steve Outhouse told LifeSiteNews: “She will repeal it *unless* significant changes are made that clearly address the potential criminalization of parents and pastors.”
CLC states Lewis will repeal Bill C-7, the euthanasia expansion law, if it passes, a position she reiterated in her interview with Fonseca. Her campaign website states she “will stop the expansion of new categories for Medically Assisted Death. Outhouse said that Lewis will repeal C-7 if it passes.
In investigating Lewis’ background, LifeSiteNews found some additional information.
Lewis and pro-abortion LEAF controversy
Lewis’s campaign biography states she was a member of the Women’s Legal and Education Action Fund (LEAF) “for a brief three months,” and her Trillium Foundation bio, removed since her resignation, likewise listed her as a LEAF board member.
LEAF is arguably Canada’s most radical feminist pro-abortion and pro-LGTQ legal advocacy group (see an account of LEAF’s record here), and one of the organizations Sloan has vowed to defund.
Pro-life political activist Tanya Granic Allen, acknowledged kingmaker in the 2016 Ontario Conservative leadership race, sparked controversy in early April when she publicly asked Lewis to explain why she featured her LEAF board membership in her biographies. She stated that she had asked Lewis privately more than two months earlier “to renounce her association with LEAF and condemn their radical activism.”
Lewis “has absolutely no public voting record on life and family issues. We can only assess her as a political candidate by her public statements and her actions, past and present,” Granic Allen wrote.
In response, Lewis stated that LEAF “knew I held strong pro-life beliefs, and I hoped to be a balancing influence on the Board” when she joined in 2010.
“After a few months of earnestly trying to make a difference, it was clear that it wasn’t the best fit all around, and we wished each other well, and I chose to conclude my term early with the Board,” she said.
Her “main purpose of joining LEAF was to help plan the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of First Nations women receiving the vote,” and her time on the LEAF board “ended shortly after that event,” Lewis told LifeSiteNews in an email.
Both as an appointee to the Trillium Foundation and to apply as a Conservative leadership candidate, she had to disclose her board memberships, and “it would be dishonest to hide my past involvement with LEAF, or any other organization,” she told LifeSiteNews.
As for publicly renouncing her association with LEAF, “I hope one day that I can change the hearts and minds of women who don’t share my beliefs, but I don’t believe the way to do that is through condemnation,” she added.
Fonseca said Campaign Life defended Lewis at the time of the controversy and that hasn’t changed.
“We have no reason to doubt her many, many statements in public, in interviews, on her website, and in her communications and face-to-face with us and many, many conversations at CLC that she is pro-life and she is pro-family,” he told LifeSiteNews.
“We’d welcome the denunciation of any pro-abortion organization, but the most important thing is that she is championing our pro-life and pro-family values through the campaign and through her policy platform,” added Fonseca.
Lewis is listed as a member of the LEAF Fund Development Committee in its 2009-2010 Annual General report, and LEAF’s tax filings with Canada Revenue Agency list her as a board member in both 2010 and 2011.
In response to LifeSite questioning this seeming discrepancy with Lewis’s statement on her campaign biography that she was on the board for three months, Outhouse reiterated that her term with LEAF “was scheduled to be three full years, but she served actively only during 2010,” when she was organizing the 50th-anniversary event, after which she resigned.
“She, of course, did fundraising for this event,” he said. “It’s up to the not-for-profit organization to complete the proper paperwork, which obviously was processed at a later date.”
The party is mailing out the ballots in early July. With a ranked ballot, a member’s first choice is the member’s vote until that candidate is eliminated, at which point the member’s second choice becomes his or her vote.
The ballots must be returned to the Conservative Party no later than August 21, when it will tabulate the results and announce the new leader.
To view CLC’s official Voter’s Guide, click here.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-26--Pro-lifers call on Conservative party to stop Trudeau’s billion-dollar global abortion agenda

PETITION : Demand Planned Parenthood return $ 80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund !
Sign the petition here .
OTTAWA , June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Canada ’ s national pro-life lobby group is calling on the Conservative Party to live up to its policy declaration and oppose the Liberal government spending millions in tax dollars to fund abortion internationally .
“ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ’ s global abortion funding agenda needs to be stopped .
For five years the Official Opposition has failed to do so , ” Jeff Gunnarson , Campaign Life Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s comment comes days after Liberal Minister of International Development Karina Gould made yet another announcement regarding the Liberals ’ bankrolling of global access to abortion .
Gould said during a June 22 # SheDecidesNow Virtual Round Table that Canada is spending $ 93.7 million to support “ sexual and reproductive health and rights ” ( SRHR ) , which she alleges are at risk in developing countries because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions .
The phrase “ sexual and reproductive health and rights ” is highly controversial because it implies a “ right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contraception and “ comprehensive sex education.
” Abortion advocates have been pushing for years to include the phrase in international agreements , but it has never been agreed to by global consensus , as the Center for Family and Human Rights ( C-FAM ) recently reported .
According to Gould ’ s press secretary Guillaume Dumas , the $ 93.7 million is not new money but allocates some of the funds Trudeau pledged in 2017 and 2019 , which increased the Liberals ’ projected global funding of abortion and other “ sexual and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staggering $ 7.1 billion by 2030 .
In 2017 , Trudeau promised that Canada would spend $ 650 million over three years to fund the promotion and provision of abortion as part of its international aid — including bankrolling campaigns to overturn national laws protecting the child in the womb .
In 2019 , he announced at the Vancouver She Decides conference that Canada would spend $ 1.4 billion annually for 10 years beginning in 2023 to support “ women and girls ’ health around the world.
” Half of this would fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” his office stated at the time .
Moreover , Gould announced two weeks earlier that Canada was giving an additional $ 8.9 million to international abortion organizations , with $ 4.9 million going to Marie Stopes International , “ a global organization that provides contraception and abortions in 37 countries , ” Canadian Press reported at the time .
Marie Stopes International was expelled from Zambia in 2012 for committing illegal abortions .
In 2018 , Niger ordered the closure of two Marie Stopes clinics because they were committing abortions illegally .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive global abortion agenda , the Conservative caucus must speak out , particularly given that their party condemns the funding of abortion as part of international aid , emphasized Gunnarson .
“ Abortion should be explicitly excluded from Canada ’ s maternal and child health program in countries where Canadian aid is delivered , since it is extremely divisive – and often illegal , ” states the Conservative Party ’ s 2020 policy declaration on maternal health .
Conservatives “ lose their minds about Trudeau ’ s other spending policies , which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet remain silent on the $ 700 million annually that Trudeau is committing towards abortion , including this latest commitment of almost $ 100 million , ” Gunnarson told LifeSiteNews .
“ The silence by the pro-life members of the opposition is deafening , ” he said , but added there are notable exceptions .
Two of the four Conservative Party leadership candidates , Ontario Member of Parliament Derek Sloan and Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis , have promised that as leader , they will end international funding for abortion .
“ Luckily we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put an end to this ideological spending of Canadian tax dollars : Sloan and Lewis , ” Gunnarson .
“ Defunding abortion should also be a priority for fiscal conservatives and those angered by Trudeau ’ s management of Canadian taxpayer dollars , ” he added .
According to Gould ’ s press secretary , the $ 93.7 million the Liberals announced this week has been allocated as follows : • Better Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All in Indonesia United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) $ 8 million ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Women in Humanitarian Contexts Ipas ( which is , according to its website , “ the only international organization solely focused on expanding access to safe abortion and contraceptive care ” ) $ 1.2 million ( 2020 to 2021 ) • My Health , My Choice United Kingdom Department for International Development $ 50 million ( 2019 to 2021 ) • Girls ’ Reproductive Rights , Empowerment Accelerated in Tanzania UNICEF and UNFPA ( United Nations Population Fund ) $ 20 million ( 2019 to 2023 ) • Empowering Women and Girls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UNICEF $ 4.5 million ( 2019 to 2024 ) • Strengthening SRHR through Midwives in Somalia UNFPA $ 10 million ( 2020 to 2025 ) In May , Trudeau Liberals issued a “ Statement on Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Promoting Gender-Responsiveness in the COVID-19 Crisis ” along with 58 other countries that called “ on governments around the world to ensure full and unimpeded access to all sexual and reproductive health services for all women and girls.
” In April , they included abortion funding in their pledge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic in developing countries .
To contact your M.P.
, visit Campaign Life ’ s website , here , or the Parliament of Canada website , here .

'The silence by the pro-life members of the opposition is deafening.'
PETITION: Demand Planned Parenthood return $80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund! Sign the petition here.
OTTAWA, June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Canada’s national pro-life lobby group is calling on the Conservative Party to live up to its policy declaration and oppose the Liberal government spending millions in tax dollars to fund abortion internationally.
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s global abortion funding agenda needs to be stopped. For five years the Official Opposition has failed to do so,” Jeff Gunnarson, Campaign Life Coalition president, told LifeSiteNews.
Gunnarson’s comment comes days after Liberal Minister of International Development Karina Gould made yet another announcement regarding the Liberals’ bankrolling of global access to abortion.
Gould said during a June 22 #SheDecidesNow Virtual Round Table that Canada is spending $93.7 million to support “sexual and reproductive health and rights” (SRHR), which she alleges are at risk in developing countries because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
The phrase “sexual and reproductive health and rights” is highly controversial because it implies a “right” to abortion as well as to contraception and “comprehensive sex education.” Abortion advocates have been pushing for years to include the phrase in international agreements, but it has never been agreed to by global consensus, as the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM) recently reported.
According to Gould’s press secretary Guillaume Dumas, the $93.7 million is not new money but allocates some of the funds Trudeau pledged in 2017 and 2019, which increased the Liberals’ projected global funding of abortion and other “sexual and reproductive health and rights” to a staggering $7.1 billion by 2030.
In 2017, Trudeau promised that Canada would spend $650 million over three years to fund the promotion and provision of abortion as part of its international aid — including bankrolling campaigns to overturn national laws protecting the child in the womb.
In 2019, he announced at the Vancouver She Decides conference that Canada would spend $1.4 billion annually for 10 years beginning in 2023 to support “women and girls’ health around the world.” Half of this would fund “sexual and reproductive health rights,” his office stated at the time.
Moreover, Gould announced two weeks earlier that Canada was giving an additional $8.9 million to international abortion organizations, with $4.9 million going to Marie Stopes International, “a global organization that provides contraception and abortions in 37 countries,” Canadian Press reported at the time.
Marie Stopes International was expelled from Zambia in 2012 for committing illegal abortions. In 2018, Niger ordered the closure of two Marie Stopes clinics because they were committing abortions illegally.
In the face of the Liberals’ aggressive global abortion agenda, the Conservative caucus must speak out, particularly given that their party condemns the funding of abortion as part of international aid, emphasized Gunnarson.
“Abortion should be explicitly excluded from Canada’s maternal and child health program in countries where Canadian aid is delivered, since it is extremely divisive – and often illegal,” states the Conservative Party’s 2020 policy declaration on maternal health.
Conservatives “lose their minds about Trudeau’s other spending policies, which are a lot smaller in amount, and yet remain silent on the $700 million annually that Trudeau is committing towards abortion, including this latest commitment of almost $100 million,” Gunnarson told LifeSiteNews.
“The silence by the pro-life members of the opposition is deafening,” he said, but added there are notable exceptions.
Two of the four Conservative Party leadership candidates, Ontario Member of Parliament Derek Sloan and Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis, have promised that as leader, they will end international funding for abortion.
“Luckily we have two CPC leadership candidates who will put an end to this ideological spending of Canadian tax dollars: Sloan and Lewis,” Gunnarson.
“Defunding abortion should also be a priority for fiscal conservatives and those angered by Trudeau’s management of Canadian taxpayer dollars,” he added.
According to Gould’s press secretary, the $93.7 million the Liberals announced this week has been allocated as follows:
Better Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All in Indonesia
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
$8 million (2018 to 2022)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) $8 million (2018 to 2022) Improving SRHR of Women in Humanitarian Contexts
Ipas (which is, according to its website, “the only international organization solely focused on expanding access to safe abortion and contraceptive care”)
$1.2 million (2020 to 2021)
Ipas (which is, according to its website, “the only international organization solely focused on expanding access to safe abortion and contraceptive care”) $1.2 million (2020 to 2021) My Health, My Choice
United Kingdom Department for International Development
$50 million (2019 to 2021)
United Kingdom Department for International Development $50 million (2019 to 2021) Girls’ Reproductive Rights, Empowerment Accelerated in Tanzania
UNICEF and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)
$20 million (2019 to 2023)
UNICEF and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) $20 million (2019 to 2023) Empowering Women and Girls in SRHR and Gender-Based Violence
UNFPA and UNICEF
$4.5 million (2019 to 2024)
UNFPA and UNICEF $4.5 million (2019 to 2024) Strengthening SRHR through Midwives in Somalia
UNFPA
$10 million (2020 to 2025)
In May, Trudeau Liberals issued a “Statement on Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Promoting Gender-Responsiveness in the COVID-19 Crisis” along with 58 other countries that called “on governments around the world to ensure full and unimpeded access to all sexual and reproductive health services for all women and girls.”
In April, they included abortion funding in their pledge of almost $160 million to combat the coronavirus pandemic in developing countries.
To contact your M.P., visit Campaign Life’s website, here, or the Parliament of Canada website, here.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-26--Last Call - Can you donate just $10?

Last Call - Can you donate just $10?

June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Today is the last day of our Summer fundraising campaign .
With just hours left to go , there is still time for you to help us raise the remaining funds needed to help us maintain our current level of reporting this quarter .
As we experience attacks on every front , our pro-life and pro-family news reporting is only possible with your support .
Without the generosity of readers like you , impacting the culture by spreading the truth simply wouldn ’ t be possible .
Without the mission of LifeSite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proclaiming the truth , the culture of death will continue to threaten every fabric of our lives .
People around the world , young and old , will continue to be brainwashed by the incessant manipulation and lies of the mainstream media .
I hope you will join the LifeSite giving family with a gift of support today .
Please consider standing for life and family through supporting our efforts and providing the tools our reporters need to keep up with the breaking news cycle , challenge the agenda of the mainstream media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Use this secure link to make your donation today : https : //give.lifesitenews.com￼ .
The stakes are high , which is precisely why we need you to help us reach this fundraising goal .
We have a responsibility to reach even more people with the truth about life and the family , especially in the times we are living in now .
LifeSite is 100 % committed to doing everything in our power to spread the truth and promote a Culture of Life , no matter how heavily the odds are stacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do even more reporting on critical life and family issues , and I pray as a reader of LifeSite that your generosity will help us maintain this very level of dedication .
We ’ ve always depended on readers like you to provide , and you have never let us down !
We are grateful to be able to help you to stay informed on these critical issues through reading our daily news reports .
I hope you will consider helping us reach our goal .
Of the hundreds of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it wouldn ’ t take much if everyone pitched in a little !
Whatever you can give , whether it 's just $ 5 , or $ 5,000 - every donation counts towards our goal .
It ’ s all in your hands now , and we thank you for considering helping us continue our mission .
We will leave the thermometer up on our site for a few more days as we collect mail-in donations .
Don ’ t forget you can also make a donation by phone , toll free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our team at LifeSite , thank you so much for your generosity and continued readership .

We need your help to meet our minimum fundraising goal by the end of today! Every gift helps!
June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Today is the last day of our Summer fundraising campaign. With just hours left to go, there is still time for you to help us raise the remaining funds needed to help us maintain our current level of reporting this quarter.
As we experience attacks on every front, our pro-life and pro-family news reporting is only possible with your support. Without the generosity of readers like you, impacting the culture by spreading the truth simply wouldn’t be possible.
Without the mission of LifeSite challenging the narrative of mainstream media and proclaiming the truth, the culture of death will continue to threaten every fabric of our lives. People around the world, young and old, will continue to be brainwashed by the incessant manipulation and lies of the mainstream media.
I hope you will join the LifeSite giving family with a gift of support today.
Please consider standing for life and family through supporting our efforts and providing the tools our reporters need to keep up with the breaking news cycle, challenge the agenda of the mainstream media, and speak truth amidst the chaos. Use this secure link to make your donation today: https://give.lifesitenews.com￼.
The stakes are high, which is precisely why we need you to help us reach this fundraising goal. We have a responsibility to reach even more people with the truth about life and the family, especially in the times we are living in now.
LifeSite is 100% committed to doing everything in our power to spread the truth and promote a Culture of Life, no matter how heavily the odds are stacked against us! Our team is dedicated to do even more reporting on critical life and family issues, and I pray as a reader of LifeSite that your generosity will help us maintain this very level of dedication.
We’ve always depended on readers like you to provide, and you have never let us down! We are grateful to be able to help you to stay informed on these critical issues through reading our daily news reports.
I hope you will consider helping us reach our goal.
Of the hundreds of thousands of readers that will visit our site today, it wouldn’t take much if everyone pitched in a little! Whatever you can give, whether it's just $5, or $5,000 – every donation counts towards our goal.
It’s all in your hands now, and we thank you for considering helping us continue our mission.
We will leave the thermometer up on our site for a few more days as we collect mail-in donations. Don’t forget you can also make a donation by phone, toll free, at 888-678-6008.
On behalf of our team at LifeSite, thank you so much for your generosity and continued readership.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-26--It’s ‘child abuse’ for scientists to gene-edit human embryos and then destroy them: Ethicist

LONDON , England , June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Catholic ethicist has characterized as “ child abuse ” the embryonic research of a team of UK scientists after they destroyed over a dozen tiny humans following extensive manipulation of their DNA using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR .
The scientists published their findings in a paper .
“ Child abuse is an offense reportable by health care providers .
Yet scientific journals publish such research as if it represents a good , ” Catholic ethicist Dr. Marie Hilliard told LifeSiteNews in an interview .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described by the scientists in a June 5 , 2020 paper that has not yet been peer-reviewed , several of the little babies had “ abnormalities across a particular chromosome.
” The team of scientists “ started with 25 human embryos and used CRISPR to snip out a gene known as POU5F1 in 18 of them .
The other seven embryos acted as controls.
” “ The researchers then used sophisticated computational methods to analyze all of the embryos , ” OneZero reported .
“ What they found was that of the edited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had abnormalities across a particular chromosome .
Of those , four contained inadvertent deletions or additions of DNA directly adjacent to the edited gene.
” While CRISPR has been known for the possibility for “ off-target ” effects , “ which can happen if the CRISPR machinery doesn ’ t edit the intended gene and mistakenly edits someplace else in the genome , ” the London team of scientists , led by Kathy K. Niakan , “ sounds the alarm for so-called ‘ on-target ’ edits , which result from edits to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unintended consequences.
” In other words , not only the particular gene is edited that was intended to be edited in the first place , but other parts of the DNA around that particular gene are also affected , which can cause problems .
Hilliard told LifeSiteNews that the methods described by the team of scientists in their paper , “ while intending to demonstrate if on-target gene editing of human embryos is possible , constitute the most egregious abuse of the most helpless of human beings , who are then destroyed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethics Committee of the Catholic Medical Association and works with The National Catholic Bioethics Center .
She holds graduate degrees in maternal-child health nursing , religious studies , canon law , and professional higher education administration .
Even if the embryos were to develop into adults , Hilliard pointed out , reproductive cells could have been altered , which could then impact the human race if these human beings reproduced just like human beings whose DNA had not been altered .
This is why the scientists have opted to destroy the embryos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of scientists , in their paper , represented “ the ultimate cannibalization of human beings , conceived through in-vitro fertility treatments ( IVF ) , purportedly because they were desired by loving parents , then abandoned by them to science .
In reality , these offspring are treated by their unknowing parents as commodities , after their brothers or sisters , who were allowed to live , were deemed to be more desirable.
” Hilliard explained that parents “ erroneously are told that a human being does not exist until the embryo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thus , parents often mistakenly intend to do a good by donating their conceived human embryos to science.
” “ Yet a grave evil is imposed upon their sons and daughters , who are experimented upon and then destroyed , ” she continued .
“ Ethical principles of research not only demand informed consent of the subject , but also that the research will benefit the subject , or at least have a neutral effect .
In this case , the embryos were mutilated before they were destroyed.
” Hilliard emphasized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong , meaning by its very nature always an evil .
In fact , it may constitute a ‘ good , ’ depending on how it is done and for what purpose.
” However , gene-editing should first be tested on certain animals like mice .
“ Ethically , the prerequisite animal research must demonstrate effectiveness and safety before applied to human beings , ” Hilliard explained .
“ Studies on animals indicate there is great potential for targeted base-editing , and human success with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia is being demonstrated.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists destroying what they know to be human beings while abortion supporters often argue that the embryo in the mother ’ s womb is not ( yet ) a human being .
“ The very fact that the research is being conducted on human embryos demonstrates what science confirms , the embryos are human beings , ” she said .
“ Since the research is aimed at correcting genetic abnormalities in human beings , researching on embryos demonstrates that these are human beings.
” “ Furthermore , destroying them before implantation in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reproduce could impact the human gene pool , clearly demonstrates that these embryos are human beings , ” she added .
“ How scientists can deny , or at least ignore this truth is unfathomable .
”

‘Child abuse is an offense reportable by health care providers. Yet scientific journals publish such research as if it represents a good’
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
LONDON, England, June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Catholic ethicist has characterized as “child abuse” the embryonic research of a team of UK scientists after they destroyed over a dozen tiny humans following extensive manipulation of their DNA using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR. The scientists published their findings in a paper.
“Child abuse is an offense reportable by health care providers. Yet scientific journals publish such research as if it represents a good,” Catholic ethicist Dr. Marie Hilliard told LifeSiteNews in an interview.
According to OneZero, which summarized the findings described by the scientists in a June 5, 2020 paper that has not yet been peer-reviewed, several of the little babies had “abnormalities across a particular chromosome.”
The team of scientists “started with 25 human embryos and used CRISPR to snip out a gene known as POU5F1 in 18 of them. The other seven embryos acted as controls.”
“The researchers then used sophisticated computational methods to analyze all of the embryos,” OneZero reported. “What they found was that of the edited embryos, 10 looked normal but eight had abnormalities across a particular chromosome. Of those, four contained inadvertent deletions or additions of DNA directly adjacent to the edited gene.”
While CRISPR has been known for the possibility for “off-target” effects, “which can happen if the CRISPR machinery doesn’t edit the intended gene and mistakenly edits someplace else in the genome,” the London team of scientists, led by Kathy K. Niakan, “sounds the alarm for so-called ‘on-target’ edits, which result from edits to the right place in the genome but have unintended consequences.”
In other words, not only the particular gene is edited that was intended to be edited in the first place, but other parts of the DNA around that particular gene are also affected, which can cause problems.
Hilliard told LifeSiteNews that the methods described by the team of scientists in their paper, “while intending to demonstrate if on-target gene editing of human embryos is possible, constitute the most egregious abuse of the most helpless of human beings, who are then destroyed.”
Dr. Marie Hilliard is co-chair of the Ethics Committee of the Catholic Medical Association and works with The National Catholic Bioethics Center. She holds graduate degrees in maternal-child health nursing, religious studies, canon law, and professional higher education administration.
Even if the embryos were to develop into adults, Hilliard pointed out, reproductive cells could have been altered, which could then impact the human race if these human beings reproduced just like human beings whose DNA had not been altered. This is why the scientists have opted to destroy the embryos.
According to Dr. Hilliard, the team of scientists, in their paper, represented “the ultimate cannibalization of human beings, conceived through in-vitro fertility treatments (IVF), purportedly because they were desired by loving parents, then abandoned by them to science. In reality, these offspring are treated by their unknowing parents as commodities, after their brothers or sisters, who were allowed to live, were deemed to be more desirable.”
Hilliard explained that parents “erroneously are told that a human being does not exist until the embryo is implanted in the mother’s womb. Thus, parents often mistakenly intend to do a good by donating their conceived human embryos to science.”
“Yet a grave evil is imposed upon their sons and daughters, who are experimented upon and then destroyed,” she continued. “Ethical principles of research not only demand informed consent of the subject, but also that the research will benefit the subject, or at least have a neutral effect. In this case, the embryos were mutilated before they were destroyed.”
Hilliard emphasized that gene-editing as such “is not intrinsically wrong, meaning by its very nature always an evil. In fact, it may constitute a ‘good,’ depending on how it is done and for what purpose.”
However, gene-editing should first be tested on certain animals like mice. “Ethically, the prerequisite animal research must demonstrate effectiveness and safety before applied to human beings,” Hilliard explained. “Studies on animals indicate there is great potential for targeted base-editing, and human success with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia is being demonstrated.”
The ethicist noted the irony of scientists destroying what they know to be human beings while abortion supporters often argue that the embryo in the mother’s womb is not (yet) a human being.
“The very fact that the research is being conducted on human embryos demonstrates what science confirms, the embryos are human beings,” she said. “Since the research is aimed at correcting genetic abnormalities in human beings, researching on embryos demonstrates that these are human beings.”
“Furthermore, destroying them before implantation in a mother, because to let them develop and reproduce could impact the human gene pool, clearly demonstrates that these embryos are human beings,” she added. “How scientists can deny, or at least ignore this truth is unfathomable.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-26--Catholic magazine features top Catholic voices on COVID pandemic in light of Fatima prophesies

June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – LifeSite readers , no doubt , have followed the Rome Life Forum , which this year was hosted online due to the multifaceted crisis we have been experiencing for the past few months .
Voice of the Family ’ s annual Forum is usually held at the Angelicum in Rome , but – perhaps providentially – current circumstances led us to transfer the Forum online .
This made it possible to share it with a vastly greater audience of 53,000 worldwide .
Starting today , the summer issue of Calx Mariae ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Family ’ s quarterly magazine that covers the Forum fully , is also available .
If you would like to have the talks of the Forum in print and much more , click here to order a copy or to subscribe .
This is a special edition of Calx Mariae , because of its length and the circumstances in which it has been produced .
For the past few months , our temporal and spiritual life has been altered as never before .
Many questions arising from the current crisis were addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Coronavirus in the light of Fatima : a tragedy and a source of hope.
” Are we experiencing the aftermath of leaving Our Lady ’ s call made in Fatima unanswered ?
Do her requests still stand today ?
Is this a chastisement ?
What can we do to remedy the situation ?
You will find the talks of Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke , Bishop Athanasius Schneider , Fr .
Serafino Lanzetta , Fr .
Linus Clovis , Professor Roberto de Mattei , and John-Henry Westen in this issue , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calx Mariae .
These are most helpful insights in moving forward from the current crisis as we continue to spread the truth of our faith , particularly in the areas of life and the family .
These are the truths that transcend geographical and national borders even at a time of lockdown , always uniting us in prayer and action for the temporal and spiritual health of our families , our nations and our beloved Church .
In Fatima , on the eve of the Communist Revolution , Our Lady predicted that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , causing great suffering , unless Russia was consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart .
The evil of atheistic communism , which first seized power in Russia , still spreads today , not least through the influence of the government of China .
This ideological virus , of which COVID-19 could act as a symbolic reminder , has truly infected our society .
Abortion , first legalised in communist Russia , is now promoted by the United Nations as “ essential health care.
” The strategic goals of communism also include breaking down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; presenting homosexuality as “ normal , natural , healthy ” ; replacing revealed religion with “ social ” religion ; discrediting the family ; encouraging promiscuity and divorce , and “ liberating ” children from the “ negative and suppressive influence of parents.
” Our Lady also told little Jacinta that more sinners go to hell because of sins of impurity than for any other reason .
Today many of these sins are state policy of the most powerful nations .
Abortion and so-called same-sex marriage – two of the four sins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – are enshrined in national constitutions of formerly Christian nations .
And throughout the world , countless children are being corrupted by school sex education , often with the endorsement of Catholic bishops .
And , we might ask , how many of the sacrilegious and irreverent Masses , which Catholics today accept , despite their countless acts of desecration of the body of Christ through the universal practice of Communion in the hand , are really an affront to God that surpasses even the atrocities just mentioned ?
What would Our Lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that .
But we do know what she said in Fatima and that her simple instructions have not been followed – at least not as a society and not with the devotion that corresponds to the seriousness of the offences .
In the fields of Cova da Iria , she gave the three little shepherds instructions to bring about the triumph of Her Immaculate Heart , so that a period of peace might be granted to the world , exhausted by war .
First , prayer , particularly devotion to the Holy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reparation for the sins and outrages perpetrated against God ’ s grace and blasphemies against the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary through the First Saturday devotions ; and third , the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart .
In this issue of Calx Mariae , leading Catholic thinkers and activists share how we can respond to the coronavirus crisis that has affected us all , and render our Blessed Mother obedience in fulfilling her requests so long overdue .
She will keep her promises .
The Immaculate Heart of Mary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part and earnestly pray for the grace of being instruments of her Triumph .
Click here to see a preview of the contents page .
Order a copy or subscribe to Calx Mariae here !

June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – LifeSite readers, no doubt, have followed the Rome Life Forum, which this year was hosted online due to the multifaceted crisis we have been experiencing for the past few months. Voice of the Family’s annual Forum is usually held at the Angelicum in Rome, but – perhaps providentially – current circumstances led us to transfer the Forum online. This made it possible to share it with a vastly greater audience of 53,000 worldwide. Starting today, the summer issue of Calx Mariae (Heel of Mary), Voice of the Family’s quarterly magazine that covers the Forum fully, is also available. If you would like to have the talks of the Forum in print and much more, click here to order a copy or to subscribe.
This is a special edition of Calx Mariae, because of its length and the circumstances in which it has been produced. For the past few months, our temporal and spiritual life has been altered as never before. Many questions arising from the current crisis were addressed at our online Forum on the theme “Coronavirus in the light of Fatima: a tragedy and a source of hope.” Are we experiencing the aftermath of leaving Our Lady’s call made in Fatima unanswered? Do her requests still stand today? Is this a chastisement? What can we do to remedy the situation?
You will find the talks of Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Fr. Serafino Lanzetta, Fr. Linus Clovis, Professor Roberto de Mattei, and John-Henry Westen in this issue, as well as analysis and features produced exclusively for Calx Mariae. These are most helpful insights in moving forward from the current crisis as we continue to spread the truth of our faith, particularly in the areas of life and the family. These are the truths that transcend geographical and national borders even at a time of lockdown, always uniting us in prayer and action for the temporal and spiritual health of our families, our nations and our beloved Church.
In Fatima, on the eve of the Communist Revolution, Our Lady predicted that the errors of Russia would spread throughout the world, causing great suffering, unless Russia was consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart. The evil of atheistic communism, which first seized power in Russia, still spreads today, not least through the influence of the government of China. This ideological virus, of which COVID-19 could act as a symbolic reminder, has truly infected our society. Abortion, first legalised in communist Russia, is now promoted by the United Nations as “essential health care.” The strategic goals of communism also include breaking down all standards of morality by promoting pornography; presenting homosexuality as “normal, natural, healthy”; replacing revealed religion with “social” religion; discrediting the family; encouraging promiscuity and divorce, and “liberating” children from the “negative and suppressive influence of parents.”
Our Lady also told little Jacinta that more sinners go to hell because of sins of impurity than for any other reason. Today many of these sins are state policy of the most powerful nations. Abortion and so-called same-sex marriage – two of the four sins that cry out to heaven for vengeance – are enshrined in national constitutions of formerly Christian nations. And throughout the world, countless children are being corrupted by school sex education, often with the endorsement of Catholic bishops. And, we might ask, how many of the sacrilegious and irreverent Masses, which Catholics today accept, despite their countless acts of desecration of the body of Christ through the universal practice of Communion in the hand, are really an affront to God that surpasses even the atrocities just mentioned?
What would Our Lady say today? We don’t know that. But we do know what she said in Fatima and that her simple instructions have not been followed – at least not as a society and not with the devotion that corresponds to the seriousness of the offences.
In the fields of Cova da Iria, she gave the three little shepherds instructions to bring about the triumph of Her Immaculate Heart, so that a period of peace might be granted to the world, exhausted by war. First, prayer, particularly devotion to the Holy Rosary and the Brown Scapular; second, reparation for the sins and outrages perpetrated against God’s grace and blasphemies against the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary through the First Saturday devotions; and third, the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart.
In this issue of Calx Mariae, leading Catholic thinkers and activists share how we can respond to the coronavirus crisis that has affected us all, and render our Blessed Mother obedience in fulfilling her requests so long overdue. She will keep her promises. The Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph. Let us do our part and earnestly pray for the grace of being instruments of her Triumph.
Click here to see a preview of the contents page.
Order a copy or subscribe to Calx Mariae here!
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-27--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

June 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
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 !
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying 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--2020-06-28--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

June 28 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
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 !
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]


lifesitenews--2020-07-01--President Trump will ‘lead America back to God,’ according to 1983 prophecy

Tom Zimmer was a World War II veteran who moved to Loreto , Italy to live a life of prayer @ @ @ @ @ , he told Dr. Claude Curran that “ right now , in the United States @ @ @ @ @ man who has the hand of God on him ... and God is going to @ @ @ @ @ ... his name is Donald Trump .
”

Tom Zimmer was a World War II veteran who moved to Loreto, Italy to live a life of prayer and sacrifice. In 1983, he told Dr. Claude Curran that “right now, in the United States, there’s a man who has the hand of God on him…and God is going to use him in the future…his name is Donald Trump.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-01--Ireland counts 6,666 unborn babies killed in 2019 after legalizing abortion

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
DUBLIN , Ireland , July 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – 6,666 unborn babies were killed last year in Ireland , following the legalization of abortion in the formerly Catholic country .
The number of abortions is oddly reminiscent of the biblical “ number of the beast ” of the book of Revelation : “ This calls for wisdom : let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast , for it is a human number , its number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Irish government ’ s data , 6,542 abortions were carried out early in the pregnancy .
The Health ( Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy ) Act 2018 defines that “ early ” means “ the pregnancy concerned has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy.
” Only 24 abortions were performed due to a proper risk to life or health of the mother .
An additional 100 babies were killed because abortion providers determined “ a condition affecting the foetus that is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , birth.
” Liam Gibson , Political Officer of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ( SPUC ) , characterized the numbers as “ truly shocking.
” “ It would be easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of abortions or to be horrified by what the killing of children on this scale tells us about Irish society , ” he said .
“ However , we must never lose sight of the fact that each one of these 6,666 abortions was a deliberate act of lethal violence directed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Referring to the fact that abortion had been legalized in Ireland following a referendum in May 2018 , with only one third of the population voting against abortion , Gibson said , “ No government , no state , regardless of a referendum can abrogate the God-given right to life of even one member of the human family.
” According to the SPUC representative , “ Abortion is never justified , [ and ] every child has the right to be born regardless of their stage of development , their disabilities or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , Irish law had stated , “ The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother , guarantees in its laws to respect , and , as far as practicable , by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.
” “ This subsection , ” the law conceded , “ shall not limit freedom to travel between the State and another state .
This subsection shall not limit freedom to obtain or make available , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be laid down by law , information relating to services lawfully available in another state.
” Now , however , the law simply states , “ Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.
” This was done with the Health ( Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy ) Act 2018 .
“ The pro-life people of Ireland have fought a long , hard battle to protect women and children from abortion , ” recounted Liam Gibson .
“ It is very important that they do not [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this terrible injustice .
Their commitment to defend every individual unborn child by speaking out against abortion at every opportunity will , in the end , prove to be decisive.
” In February 2019 , shortly after abortions started to take place on January 1 , abortion activists began to make legal moves on the Emerald Isle to prevent vigils in front of abortion centers , restricting freedom of expression and speech .
The Drogheda Life news website reported that Louth County Councillor Emma Coffey proposed “ an exclusion zone around the Lourdes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county that provide abortion services.
” Her aim was to make it illegal to protest at abortion facilities in Louth county .
At a meeting of Louth County Council held in Dundalk , on February 18 , 2019 , Councillor Coffey ’ s motion was passed by a majority vote .
The motion introduced , via existing council bylaws , a prohibition on any pro-life vigils held within 500 meters of a hospital or clinic .
However , in the summer of 2019 , thousands of pro-lifers marched through the streets of Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organized on July 6 by the pro-life groups Life Institute , Precious Life , and Youth Defence , the annual Rally for Life was meant to emphasize that “ no vote , no act of parliament can ever make it right to kill a child ” and to raise the “ next generation to stand for life and to change the culture.
” “ Thousands ” of attendees marched from Dublin ’ s Parnell Square to the Custom House ( which houses the country ’ s Supreme Court ) , carrying banners declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chanting opposition to pro-abortion health minister Simon Harris , the Irish Times reported .
All Ireland Rally for Life ’ s Facebook page put the number of attendees at 15,000 .

Liam Gibson, Political Officer of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), characterized the numbers as 'truly shocking.'
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
DUBLIN, Ireland, July 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – 6,666 unborn babies were killed last year in Ireland, following the legalization of abortion in the formerly Catholic country. The number of abortions is oddly reminiscent of the biblical “number of the beast” of the book of Revelation: “This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
According to the Irish government’s data, 6,542 abortions were carried out early in the pregnancy. The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 defines that “early” means “the pregnancy concerned has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy.”
Only 24 abortions were performed due to a proper risk to life or health of the mother. An additional 100 babies were killed because abortion providers determined “a condition affecting the foetus that is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before, or within 28 days of, birth.”
Liam Gibson, Political Officer of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), characterized the numbers as “truly shocking.”
“It would be easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of abortions or to be horrified by what the killing of children on this scale tells us about Irish society,” he said. “However, we must never lose sight of the fact that each one of these 6,666 abortions was a deliberate act of lethal violence directed at an entirely innocent and unique human being.”
Referring to the fact that abortion had been legalized in Ireland following a referendum in May 2018, with only one third of the population voting against abortion, Gibson said, “No government, no state, regardless of a referendum can abrogate the God-given right to life of even one member of the human family.”
According to the SPUC representative, “Abortion is never justified, [and] every child has the right to be born regardless of their stage of development, their disabilities or the circumstances of their conception.”
Until 2018, Irish law had stated, “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”
“This subsection,” the law conceded, “shall not limit freedom to travel between the State and another state. This subsection shall not limit freedom to obtain or make available, in the State, subject to such conditions as may be laid down by law, information relating to services lawfully available in another state.”
Now, however, the law simply states, “Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.” This was done with the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
“The pro-life people of Ireland have fought a long, hard battle to protect women and children from abortion,” recounted Liam Gibson. “It is very important that they do not [remain] silent in the face of this terrible injustice. Their commitment to defend every individual unborn child by speaking out against abortion at every opportunity will, in the end, prove to be decisive.”
In February 2019, shortly after abortions started to take place on January 1, abortion activists began to make legal moves on the Emerald Isle to prevent vigils in front of abortion centers, restricting freedom of expression and speech.
The Drogheda Life news website reported that Louth County Councillor Emma Coffey proposed “an exclusion zone around the Lourdes hospital and other health facilities in the county that provide abortion services.” Her aim was to make it illegal to protest at abortion facilities in Louth county.
At a meeting of Louth County Council held in Dundalk, on February 18, 2019, Councillor Coffey’s motion was passed by a majority vote. The motion introduced, via existing council bylaws, a prohibition on any pro-life vigils held within 500 meters of a hospital or clinic.
However, in the summer of 2019, thousands of pro-lifers marched through the streets of Dublin to affirm the sanctity of life.
Organized on July 6 by the pro-life groups Life Institute, Precious Life, and Youth Defence, the annual Rally for Life was meant to emphasize that “no vote, no act of parliament can ever make it right to kill a child” and to raise the “next generation to stand for life and to change the culture.”
“Thousands” of attendees marched from Dublin’s Parnell Square to the Custom House (which houses the country’s Supreme Court), carrying banners declaring that “abortion steals hope” and chanting opposition to pro-abortion health minister Simon Harris, the Irish Times reported. All Ireland Rally for Life’s Facebook page put the number of attendees at 15,000.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-01--Pope Benedict’s older brother Msgr. Georg Ratzinger dies at 96

REGENSBURG , Germany , July 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Monsignor Georg Ratzinger , the brother of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI , has died at the age of 96 .
The former Pope visited his brother one last time just a few days ago , traveling for the first time after his resignation in 2013 .
Benedict had surprised everybody by flying to Germany on June 18 .
Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg welcomed him at the airport .
The Pope emeritus stayed at the seminary in Regensburg , visiting with his dying brother several times a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein , his doctor , his caregiver , and one religious sister .
During his stay in Germany , which was supposed to be private , Benedict XVI spent the bulk of his time with his brother , but also met with the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany , Archbishop Nikola Eterović , as well as the Minister President of Bavaria Markus Söder .
He traveled to the cemetery where his parents and his sister are buried .
Catholics and other bystanders lined the streets whenever the Pope emeritus moved from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thus , in spite of the private nature of his visit , numerous photos and videos of the 93-year-old former Pope were taken .
He traveled back to the Vatican on June 22 .
Immediately after the news of Georg Ratzinger ’ s death , the head of the Polish Bishops ’ Conference , Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki , tweeted his condolences .
“ On behalf of the Polish Bishops ’ Conference , I would like to express my sincere condolences on the death of Mons .
Georg Ratzinger to his brother Benedict XVI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as to the Church in Germany , ” he wrote .
“ Eternal rest grant unto him , O Lord.
” Pope Benedict and his older brother were particularly close and had planned to one day retire together in Regensburg , where the man who was to become Pope had bought a house in 1970 , while he was a professor at the local university .
Benedict and his brother talked on the phone almost daily , and Georg Ratzinger frequently traveled to the Vatican to visit .
While Pope Benedict could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prominence , Georg Ratzinger was an accomplished Catholic leader in his own right .
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1951 , together with his brother .
Having discovered his love for music already in his youth , Georg Ratzinger proceeded to study Church music in the 1950s .
In 1964 , he was made head of the “ Regensburger Domspatzen , ” the famous cathedral choir of Regensburg .
Under his direction , the choir , which consists of boys and men , traveled to North America , Asia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The choir also recorded numerous important works , for instance by Johann Sebastian Bach .
Ratzinger stood out as a composer , as well , creating the Mass L ’ Anno Santo in the year 2000 .
The older brother of Pope Benedict resigned from his position in 1994 .
He was later accused of having hit some of his students during his time with the Regensburger Domspatzen .
Ratzinger was not aware of any sexual abuse within the school , however , and did not engage in sexual abuse .
Ratzinger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is simply madness , how one wants to check how many face slaps have been distributed here over a period [ of ] 40 years , just like in other institutions.
” Following Ratzinger ’ s death earlier today , Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer said , “ You were a priestly confrere and advisor to me .
Your music was a school of prayer , faith instruction and preaching .
Countless Eucharistic celebrations in Regensburg Cathedral and in other churches owe beauty , warmth of heart and sublimity to your conducting .
You transformed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

The former Pope had traveled to Germany to visit his brother just a few days ago.
REGENSBURG, Germany, July 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, the brother of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, has died at the age of 96. The former Pope visited his brother one last time just a few days ago, traveling for the first time after his resignation in 2013.
Benedict had surprised everybody by flying to Germany on June 18. Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg welcomed him at the airport. The Pope emeritus stayed at the seminary in Regensburg, visiting with his dying brother several times a day. He was accompanied by his private secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein, his doctor, his caregiver, and one religious sister.
During his stay in Germany, which was supposed to be private, Benedict XVI spent the bulk of his time with his brother, but also met with the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany, Archbishop Nikola Eterović, as well as the Minister President of Bavaria Markus Söder. He traveled to the cemetery where his parents and his sister are buried.
Catholics and other bystanders lined the streets whenever the Pope emeritus moved from one place to another in Regensburg. Thus, in spite of the private nature of his visit, numerous photos and videos of the 93-year-old former Pope were taken. He traveled back to the Vatican on June 22.
Immediately after the news of Georg Ratzinger’s death, the head of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, tweeted his condolences.
“On behalf of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, I would like to express my sincere condolences on the death of Mons. Georg Ratzinger to his brother Benedict XVI, his family and loved ones as well as to the Church in Germany,” he wrote. “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.”
On behalf of the Polish Bishops' Conference, I would like to express my sincere condolences on the death of Mons. Georg Ratzinger to his brother Benedict XVI, his family and loved ones as well as to the Church in Germany. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. — Przewodniczący Episkopatu (@Abp_Gadecki) July 1, 2020
Pope Benedict and his older brother were particularly close and had planned to one day retire together in Regensburg, where the man who was to become Pope had bought a house in 1970, while he was a professor at the local university.
Benedict and his brother talked on the phone almost daily, and Georg Ratzinger frequently traveled to the Vatican to visit.
While Pope Benedict could be said to have eclipsed his brother in prominence, Georg Ratzinger was an accomplished Catholic leader in his own right. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1951, together with his brother. Having discovered his love for music already in his youth, Georg Ratzinger proceeded to study Church music in the 1950s.
In 1964, he was made head of the “Regensburger Domspatzen,” the famous cathedral choir of Regensburg. Under his direction, the choir, which consists of boys and men, traveled to North America, Asia, and many places in Europe to perform. The choir also recorded numerous important works, for instance by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Ratzinger stood out as a composer, as well, creating the Mass L’Anno Santo in the year 2000.
The older brother of Pope Benedict resigned from his position in 1994.
He was later accused of having hit some of his students during his time with the Regensburger Domspatzen. Ratzinger was not aware of any sexual abuse within the school, however, and did not engage in sexual abuse.
Ratzinger responded to the accusations, “It is simply madness, how one wants to check how many face slaps have been distributed here over a period [of] 40 years, just like in other institutions.”
Following Ratzinger’s death earlier today, Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer said, “You were a priestly confrere and advisor to me. Your music was a school of prayer, faith instruction and preaching. Countless Eucharistic celebrations in Regensburg Cathedral and in other churches owe beauty, warmth of heart and sublimity to your conducting. You transformed concert halls into houses of prayer.”
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