lifesitenews--2020-03-06--The case of Archbishop Lenga: A muzzle for a careless confessor?

March 6 , 2020 ( Katholisches ) – The Polish Bishops ’ Conference reacted to the criticism of the Pope by Msgr .
Jan Paweł Lenga , who until 2011 was archbishop of Karaganda in Kazakhstan , with a muzzle .
Archbishop Lenga is a Pole , he belongs to the Order of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary , which was founded in Poland and Lithuania .
After his retirement , he returned to his homeland , where the bishops have little joy with their confrère , because he publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements , actions and omissions , and finally intensified it in a long interview .
This gave them the opportunity to take action against him , which was prompt .
Last month he was banned from preaching and celebrating Mass throughout Poland .
An extraordinarily harsh measure .
The muzzle was given to him by the bishop of Włocławek , Msgr .
Wiesław Mering .
In his diocese is the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Licheń , which is looked after by the Marians , the order to which Archbishop Lenga belongs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s basilica in honor of the Blessed Mother began , which was completed in 2004 .
Lenga , who was born in 1950 to a Polish family in the west of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic , went to the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic during Soviet times in 1974 when he felt the call to the priesthood .
There he worked as a railroad worker while secretly meeting a Marian priest who taught him .
This was his novitiate .
He then moved to the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , where one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union was in Kaunas .
During this time he worked in a museum and secretly attended the seminary .
On May 28 , 1980 , Archbishop Vincentas Sladkevičius secretly ordained him a priest in the middle of the night .
Msgr .
Sladkevičius was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Kaunas by Pope Pius XII in 1957 .
When Archbishop Teofilus Matulionis died in 1963 , he succeeded him , but for a long time , he could hardly exercise his office because the communist rulers placed him under house arrest until 1982 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardinal approvingly in 1988 and officially elevated him to the position of archbishop of Kaunas in 1989 .
A few months after his ordination Father Lenga was sent by his superiors to the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic .
Since the great deportations under Stalin , numerous Catholics , Poles , Germans , Lithuanians and Ukrainians have lived in Central Asia .
However , the Soviet secret service KGB became aware of the young priest .
They could not prove anything , but they suspected him , and that was enough to issue a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lenga went to the neighboring Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic in 1981 , where he worked for ten years in pastoral care .
After the end of the Soviet Union , John Paul II appointed him apostolic administrator of Kazakhstan and all of central Asia , and titular bishop of Arba on 13 April 1991 .
One month later Fr .
Lenga was ordained bishop by the apostolic delegate in the Russian Federation , the first official diplomatic representative of the Holy See in Moscow .
During the communist dictatorship , there had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union and the Vatican .
With the transformation of the apostolic administrations into dioceses , Lenga was appointed diocesan bishop of Karaganda .
He founded a seminary there in 1997 and in 1998 the first Carmel of the Order of the Carmelite Sisters .
In 2003 , John Paul II expressed his special personal esteem by granting Bishop Lenga the rank of archbishop ad personam .
In 2006 , Pope Benedict XVI appointed Athanasius Schneider ORC , one of the most distinguished pastors of the Catholic Church , as Lenga ’ s auxiliary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ episcopal consecrations of Msgr .
Schneider as well as of Msgr .
Henry Theophilus Howaniec OFM , apostolic administrator of Almaty , and the recently deceased Msgr .
Nikolaus Messmer SJ , apostolic administrator of Kyrgyzstan .
On February 5 , 2011 , Pope Benedict XVI promoted Msgr .
Schneider to auxiliary bishop for the archdiocese of Astana , the metropolitan seat for all of Kazakhstan .
On the same day , he retired Archbishop Lenga , who was only 60 years old at the time .
No reasons were given for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepted Lenga ’ s resignation , according to which the emeritus status had been granted at his request .
This is , however , a prescribed practice that hardly allows any conclusions to be drawn .
‘ Conscience won ’ t let me be silent ’ After his retirement , Lenga returned to Poland and settled in the Marian monastery at the basilica of Licheń ( Greater Poland ) .
Repeatedly the Archbishop , now 69 years old , spoke out from Licheń , whenever he felt urged to raise his voice against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As bishop emeritus , he saw more opportunities for this than his acting confreres have .
In May 2015 he published an open letter on the current church crisis .
In it , he describes his personal experiences and the meeting with other priests in the Soviet Union : In his further “ reflections ” he lamented that the Vatican Secretariat of State “ has increasingly clearly adopted the course of political correctness.
” The nuncios become “ spreaders of liberalism and modernism ” and influence “ sub secreto Pontificio ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries and “ silence ” unwelcome voices .
For what the nuncio says appears to the bishops and the public as if it were the Pope himself speaking .
This divides the bishops of the various countries , since some follow the line of the nuncio in order to gain prestige with him and in Rome , “ instead of spreading the faith with zeal , courageously preaching the teachings of Christ , being steadfast in defending truth and morals.
” Instead , the bishops at the meetings of the bishops ’ conferences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing to do with the nature of the tasks of the successors of the apostles.
” The bishops “ keep silent ” about the real problems and “ abandon the sheep.
” “ The world is tempted by the devil and rejects the teaching of Christ .
Nevertheless , shepherds are obliged to teach the whole truth about God and man , ‘ whether opportune or inopportune.
’ ” But in the Church “ the greatest disorder can be observed as regards the purity of teaching and the holiness of the liturgy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best bishops are ‘ persona non grata.
’ Where are the apologists of our days who would proclaim to people in a clear and understandable way the threat of the risk of losing faith and salvation ?
” This does not remain without consequences : Then he put his finger even deeper into the wound and came to talk about the procedures for the appointment of bishops , by which he meant the nunciatures , the Congregation for Bishops and , of course , Pope Francis : ‘ The best sons and servants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the devil ’ s attempts to undermine the church , ” the Archbishop said : The Church can not and should not adapt to the world , but must transform the world towards the Spirit of Christ .
Lenga regretted in this context that there was an “ obvious tendency ” in the Vatican to “ submit to the noise of the mass media.
” Since the publication of the controversial post-synodal letter Amoris Laetitia in April 2016 , Archbishop Lenga has defended the indissolubility of sacramental marriage .
He rebuked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deliberate deception , because the church does not have to speak like the world , but has to call a spade a spade .
In this specific case , adultery is involved , which places the persons involved in a situation of grave sin , excluding them from access to the sacraments .
Now Archbishop Lenga himself is hit by strict disciplinary measures , coming from his confrères , who imposed them with a view to Rome .
This concerns first of all the unrest in the order to which Lenga belongs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pope Francis canonized the founder of the Order , Stanisław Papczyński .
With that in mind , a religious who is the highest in the ecclesiastical hierarchy , but who at the same time criticizes the same Pope , is not considered particularly beneficial .
Archbishop Lenga , together with other bishops , has repeatedly appeared in public as a “ confessor ” in the past three years , for example in January 2017 with the call to prayer “ from the periphery ” so that “ Pope Francis would reaffirm the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the indissolubility of marriage.
” Thus these bishops indirectly supported the dubia of four cardinals regarding Amoris Laetitia .
When , after a year , Pope Francis still had not responded , on December 31 , 2017 , these same bishops , including Archbishop Lenga , made a “ profession of faith in the truths of the sacrament of marriage , ” reaffirming the Church ’ s traditional teaching .
Archbishop Lenga is also one of the signatories of the “ Declaration of Truths ” of Cardinal Raymond Burke and auxiliary bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and other bishops in June 2019 .
With this “ Manifesto of Truth , ” which , considered as criticism of the Pope , met with little approval by those surrounding the Pope , the signatories defended the traditional teaching of the Church against the spirit of the times .
On January 22 , the spokesman of the Polish Bishops ’ Conference distanced himself from the Archbishop with a severe statement , although Lenga does not even belong to the bishops ’ conference .
He stated that the Archbishop “ did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lenga is accused of “ misleading the faithful.
” Further details were not given .
Bishop Mering of Włocławek accuses Archbishop Lenga of having called Pope Francis “ a heretic and usurper of the throne ” in an interview also published on YouTube , which has 135,000 views so far .
Since Francis is a “ usurper , ” he , Lenga , still sees in Benedict XVI the legitimate Pope .
For this reason , he would not pray for Francis but for the legitimate Pope in the high prayer of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the faith and does not pass it on to others .
He leads the world astray .
… He proclaims untruths and sins , not the tradition that has existed for 2000 years .
… He proclaims the truth of this world , which is exactly the truth of the devil.
” Thus Archbishop Lenga was quoted from the Polish interview by the progressive British weekly newspaper The Tablet on Monday , February 24 .
With such words , Archbishop Lenga offered an open flank , because he questioned the communion with Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although the Polish bishops themselves , through their resistance to Amoris Laetitia , do not have an unclouded relationship with the current incumbent in Rome .
They are careful , however , not to voice direct criticism of Pope Francis .
Archbishop Lenga , also a Pole , who also lives in Poland , therefore became a “ persona non grata ” himself , as he criticized it in his 2015 statement .
Translated by LifeSiteNews ’ Martin Bürger .
This article first appeared at Katholisches here .
It is republished here by @ @ @ @ @

March 6, 2020 (Katholisches) – The Polish Bishops’ Conference reacted to the criticism of the Pope by Msgr. Jan Paweł Lenga, who until 2011 was archbishop of Karaganda in Kazakhstan, with a muzzle.
Archbishop Lenga is a Pole, he belongs to the Order of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, which was founded in Poland and Lithuania. After his retirement, he returned to his homeland, where the bishops have little joy with their confrère, because he publicly expressed his criticism of Pope Francis’ statements, actions and omissions, and finally intensified it in a long interview. This gave them the opportunity to take action against him, which was prompt. Last month he was banned from preaching and celebrating Mass throughout Poland. An extraordinarily harsh measure.
The muzzle was given to him by the bishop of Włocławek, Msgr. Wiesław Mering. In his diocese is the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Licheń, which is looked after by the Marians, the order to which Archbishop Lenga belongs. In 1994 the construction of today’s basilica in honor of the Blessed Mother began, which was completed in 2004.
Underground in Soviet times
Lenga, who was born in 1950 to a Polish family in the west of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, went to the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic during Soviet times in 1974 when he felt the call to the priesthood. There he worked as a railroad worker while secretly meeting a Marian priest who taught him. This was his novitiate. He then moved to the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, where one of the two secret seminaries of the Soviet Union was in Kaunas. During this time he worked in a museum and secretly attended the seminary. On May 28, 1980, Archbishop Vincentas Sladkevičius secretly ordained him a priest in the middle of the night. Msgr. Sladkevičius was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Kaunas by Pope Pius XII in 1957. When Archbishop Teofilus Matulionis died in 1963, he succeeded him, but for a long time, he could hardly exercise his office because the communist rulers placed him under house arrest until 1982. Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal approvingly in 1988 and officially elevated him to the position of archbishop of Kaunas in 1989.
A few months after his ordination Father Lenga was sent by his superiors to the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic. Since the great deportations under Stalin, numerous Catholics, Poles, Germans, Lithuanians and Ukrainians have lived in Central Asia. However, the Soviet secret service KGB became aware of the young priest. They could not prove anything, but they suspected him, and that was enough to issue a residence ban against him. Thus Father Lenga went to the neighboring Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic in 1981, where he worked for ten years in pastoral care.
As bishop in Kazakhstan
After the end of the Soviet Union, John Paul II appointed him apostolic administrator of Kazakhstan and all of central Asia, and titular bishop of Arba on 13 April 1991. One month later Fr. Lenga was ordained bishop by the apostolic delegate in the Russian Federation, the first official diplomatic representative of the Holy See in Moscow. During the communist dictatorship, there had been no official diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the Vatican.
With the transformation of the apostolic administrations into dioceses, Lenga was appointed diocesan bishop of Karaganda. He founded a seminary there in 1997 and in 1998 the first Carmel of the Order of the Carmelite Sisters.
In 2003, John Paul II expressed his special personal esteem by granting Bishop Lenga the rank of archbishop ad personam. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Athanasius Schneider ORC, one of the most distinguished pastors of the Catholic Church, as Lenga’s auxiliary bishop.
Lenga was co-consecrator at the episcopal consecrations of Msgr. Schneider as well as of Msgr. Henry Theophilus Howaniec OFM, apostolic administrator of Almaty, and the recently deceased Msgr. Nikolaus Messmer SJ, apostolic administrator of Kyrgyzstan.
On February 5, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI promoted Msgr. Schneider to auxiliary bishop for the archdiocese of Astana, the metropolitan seat for all of Kazakhstan. On the same day, he retired Archbishop Lenga, who was only 60 years old at the time. No reasons were given for the unusual step. Officially, the Pope accepted Lenga’s resignation, according to which the emeritus status had been granted at his request. This is, however, a prescribed practice that hardly allows any conclusions to be drawn.
‘Conscience won’t let me be silent’
After his retirement, Lenga returned to Poland and settled in the Marian monastery at the basilica of Licheń (Greater Poland).
Repeatedly the Archbishop, now 69 years old, spoke out from Licheń, whenever he felt urged to raise his voice against the statements and decisions of Pope Francis. As bishop emeritus, he saw more opportunities for this than his acting confreres have.
In May 2015 he published an open letter on the current church crisis. In it, he describes his personal experiences and the meeting with other priests in the Soviet Union:
I had life experiences with priests who were in Stalinist prisons and camps and yet remained faithful to the Church. During the time of persecution they fulfilled their priestly ministry with love. By preaching the Catholic doctrine and thereby living a dignified life in the following of Christ, their heavenly Master. I completed my priestly studies in an underground seminary in the Soviet Union. I was secretly ordained a priest at night by a pious bishop who himself suffered because of his faith. In the first year of my priesthood, I had the experience of being expelled from Tajikistan by the KGB.
He continued:
These are my convictions, and they are determined by my love for the Church and by the desire for her true renewal in Christ. I am forced to resort to this public means of expression (the internet), because I fear that another way would come up against a wall of silence and disregard. I am aware of the possible reactions to my open letter. But the voice of my conscience does not allow me to remain silent while the work of God is slandered. Jesus Christ founded the Catholic Church and showed us in word and deed how to fulfill the will of God. The apostles, to whom he gave authority in the Church, fulfilled with zeal the task entrusted to them and suffered for love of the truth that had to be preached, since they ‘obeyed God more than men.’
In his further “reflections” he lamented that the Vatican Secretariat of State “has increasingly clearly adopted the course of political correctness.” The nuncios become “spreaders of liberalism and modernism” and influence “sub secreto Pontificio” the attitude of the bishops in the individual countries and “silence” unwelcome voices. For what the nuncio says appears to the bishops and the public as if it were the Pope himself speaking.
This divides the bishops of the various countries, since some follow the line of the nuncio in order to gain prestige with him and in Rome, “instead of spreading the faith with zeal, courageously preaching the teachings of Christ, being steadfast in defending truth and morals.” Instead, the bishops at the meetings of the bishops’ conferences “often deal with questions that have nothing to do with the nature of the tasks of the successors of the apostles.”
The bishops “keep silent” about the real problems and “abandon the sheep.”
“The world is tempted by the devil and rejects the teaching of Christ. Nevertheless, shepherds are obliged to teach the whole truth about God and man, ‘whether opportune or inopportune.’”
But in the Church “the greatest disorder can be observed as regards the purity of teaching and the holiness of the liturgy.”
“In many bishops’ conferences the best bishops are ‘persona non grata.’ Where are the apologists of our days who would proclaim to people in a clear and understandable way the threat of the risk of losing faith and salvation?”
This does not remain without consequences:
In our days, the voice of the majority of bishops is more like the silence of the lambs in the face of angry wolves – the faithful are left behind like defenseless sheep.
Then he put his finger even deeper into the wound and came to talk about the procedures for the appointment of bishops, by which he meant the nunciatures, the Congregation for Bishops and, of course, Pope Francis:
In my opinion, the weak voice of many bishops is a consequence of the fact that in the process of appointing new bishops, candidates are not sufficiently examined with regard to their unquestionable steadfastness and fearlessness in the defense of the faith, their fidelity to the centuries-old traditions of the Church and their personal piety. On the question of the appointment of new bishops and even cardinals, it is increasingly evident that sometimes preference is given to those who share a certain ideology, or to some groups which are far from the Church and which have commissioned the appointment of a particular candidate.
Archbishop Lenga quoted the statement of a nuncio:
A nuncio once said to me: It is a pity that the Pope [John Paul II] is not personally involved in the appointment of the bishops. The Pope is trying to change something in the Roman Curia, but he has not succeeded. He is getting older and things go back to their usual routine.
Msgr. Lenga wrote to Benedict XVI:
At the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, I wrote him a letter asking him to appoint holy bishops. I told him the story of a German layman who, in the face of the disintegration of the Church in his country after the Second Vatican Council, remained faithful to Christ and gathered young people together for adoration and prayer. This man was near death in 2005, and when he heard about the election of the new pope, he said: ‘If Pope Benedict uses his pontificate to appoint worthy, good and faithful bishops, he will have fulfilled his task.’ Unfortunately, it is obvious that Pope Benedict XVI has often been unsuccessful in this regard. It is hard to believe that Pope Benedict XVI voluntarily gave up his office as the successor of Peter. Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Church, but his followers hardly put his teachings into practice, often silently circumventing them or hindering his initiatives for a true reform of the Church, of the liturgy, of the way of giving Holy Communion.
And:
The intention of the Freemasons is being implemented more and more openly, not only thanks to the declared enemies of the Church, but also by the tacit acquiescence of false witnesses who hold some high office in the hierarchy of the Church.
‘The best sons and servants are sacrificed’
As an antidote to “the devil’s attempts to undermine the church,” the Archbishop said:
To avoid this, it is necessary to return to the precise and clear proclamation of the Gospel at all levels of ecclesial ministry, because the Church possesses all the power and grace that Christ gave her: ‘All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world’ (Matthew 28:18-20), ‘the truth will set you free’ (Jn 8:32), and ‘Let your yes be a yes, your no a no. Whatever goes beyond it, is of the evil one’ (Matt 5:37).
The Church cannot and should not adapt to the world, but must transform the world towards the Spirit of Christ. Lenga regretted in this context that there was an “obvious tendency” in the Vatican to “submit to the noise of the mass media.”
It is not uncommon for the best sons and servants to be sacrificed in the name of an unfathomable peace and tranquility to appease the mass media. The enemies of the Church, however, do not hand over their faithful servants, even though their actions are obviously bad. In times of Church crises, God has often used for the true renewal of the Church the sacrifices, tears and prayers of those children and servants of the Church who were considered insignificant in the eyes of the world and the church bureaucracy, or who were persecuted and marginalized because of their faithfulness to Christ. I believe that even in our difficult times the law of Christ will be realized and the Church will be renewed thanks to the interior renewal of each one of us, sustained by faith.
Since the publication of the controversial post-synodal letter Amoris Laetitia in April 2016, Archbishop Lenga has defended the indissolubility of sacramental marriage. He rebuked the phrase “remarried divorced people” as a deliberate deception, because the church does not have to speak like the world, but has to call a spade a spade. In this specific case, adultery is involved, which places the persons involved in a situation of grave sin, excluding them from access to the sacraments.
Now Archbishop Lenga himself is hit by strict disciplinary measures, coming from his confrères, who imposed them with a view to Rome. This concerns first of all the unrest in the order to which Lenga belongs. On June 5, 2016, Pope Francis canonized the founder of the Order, Stanisław Papczyński. With that in mind, a religious who is the highest in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, but who at the same time criticizes the same Pope, is not considered particularly beneficial.
Archbishop Lenga, together with other bishops, has repeatedly appeared in public as a “confessor” in the past three years, for example in January 2017 with the call to prayer “from the periphery” so that “Pope Francis would reaffirm the Church’s unchanging practice of the truth of the indissolubility of marriage.” Thus these bishops indirectly supported the dubia of four cardinals regarding Amoris Laetitia.
When, after a year, Pope Francis still had not responded, on December 31, 2017, these same bishops, including Archbishop Lenga, made a “profession of faith in the truths of the sacrament of marriage,” reaffirming the Church’s traditional teaching.
Archbishop Lenga is also one of the signatories of the “Declaration of Truths” of Cardinal Raymond Burke and auxiliary bishop Athanasius Schneider, which was published by them and other bishops in June 2019. With this “Manifesto of Truth,” which, considered as criticism of the Pope, met with little approval by those surrounding the Pope, the signatories defended the traditional teaching of the Church against the spirit of the times.
Dissociation and sanctions
On January 22, the spokesman of the Polish Bishops’ Conference distanced himself from the Archbishop with a severe statement, although Lenga does not even belong to the bishops’ conference. He stated that the Archbishop “did not represent the Catholic Church in Poland.” Lenga is accused of “misleading the faithful.” Further details were not given.
Bishop Mering of Włocławek accuses Archbishop Lenga of having called Pope Francis “a heretic and usurper of the throne” in an interview also published on YouTube, which has 135,000 views so far. Since Francis is a “usurper,” he, Lenga, still sees in Benedict XVI the legitimate Pope. For this reason, he would not pray for Francis but for the legitimate Pope in the high prayer of the Mass.
“Bergoglio did not affirm the faith and does not pass it on to others. He leads the world astray. … He proclaims untruths and sins, not the tradition that has existed for 2000 years. … He proclaims the truth of this world, which is exactly the truth of the devil.”
Thus Archbishop Lenga was quoted from the Polish interview by the progressive British weekly newspaper The Tablet on Monday, February 24.
With such words, Archbishop Lenga offered an open flank, because he questioned the communion with Peter. The flank was immediately attacked, although the Polish bishops themselves, through their resistance to Amoris Laetitia, do not have an unclouded relationship with the current incumbent in Rome. They are careful, however, not to voice direct criticism of Pope Francis. Archbishop Lenga, also a Pole, who also lives in Poland, therefore became a “persona non grata” himself, as he criticized it in his 2015 statement.
Translated by LifeSiteNews’ Martin Bürger. This article first appeared at Katholisches here. It is republished here by permission of the author.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--Why govt policies promoting the family are the best cure for social ills: scholar

March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Libertarians are wrong to believe the government can and should be a neutral arbiter on social issues .
The state must take an active role in promoting and protecting the family .
That ’ s the advice of renowned scholar and author Mary Eberstadt .
Eberstadt made the remarks on this week ’ s Jonathan Van Maren Show while talking about secularization and the loss of faith in the West .
“ If you want to talk about free markets , what you have to consider is the role that the sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the welfare state…no sexual revolution , no burgeoning welfare state .
The welfare state bankrolls the fractured family.
” Eberstadt marshaled similar comments at the inaugural National Conservatism conference in July 2019 , hosted by the Edmund Burke Foundation in Washington D.C. Eberstadt ’ s lecture , “ Social Conservatism and the National Interest , ” excoriated libertarianism as a simplistic ideology rooted in indifference to cultural degradation .
On this week ’ s podcast , Eberstadt told Van Maren that the pro-family policies being pursued by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus years , after the sexual revolution and all of the destruction of the family , it ’ s time to try things like this and to watch these experiments closely.
” Hungary has encouraged childbirth among its citizens and “ the abortion rate dropped by a third , ” Eberstadt stated .
“ That is something every pro-lifer in the world needs to know…that is a clear example of how family building policies can actually be found.
” Eberstadt has come to be known in recent years for holding contrarian views on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secularism .
Most scholars believe that after World War II , nations slowly turned away from God and the breakdown of the family soon followed .
Eberstadt believes the opposite .
“ Religiosity depends on the vibrancy of the family , ” she told Van Maren .
“ It 's not the case that people lose religion and then their families fall apart .
It 's the lack of vibrant families that makes the transmission of religious belief harder than it used to be.
” Eberstadt then claimed that libertarians who want lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see that happen if there is “ some kind of familial restoration ” that eventually turns into a “ religious revival.
” Once that occurs , the size of government will be rolled back because “ entitlements exist to do what robust families used to do , which is to take care of people within families that are no longer functioning well.
” The Van Maren Show is hosted on numerous platforms , including Spotify , SoundCloud , YouTube , iTunes , and Google Play .
For a full listing of episodes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit our Acast webpage here .
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded , subscribe below :

Mary Eberstadt holds that 'lack of vibrant families' has resulted in a loss of religiosity and a rise in big government.
March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Libertarians are wrong to believe the government can and should be a neutral arbiter on social issues. The state must take an active role in promoting and protecting the family.
That’s the advice of renowned scholar and author Mary Eberstadt. Eberstadt made the remarks on this week’s Jonathan Van Maren Show while talking about secularization and the loss of faith in the West.
“If you want to talk about free markets, what you have to consider is the role that the sexual revolution has played in the expansion of the welfare state…no sexual revolution, no burgeoning welfare state. The welfare state bankrolls the fractured family.”
Eberstadt marshaled similar comments at the inaugural National Conservatism conference in July 2019, hosted by the Edmund Burke Foundation in Washington D.C.
Eberstadt’s lecture, “Social Conservatism and the National Interest,” excoriated libertarianism as a simplistic ideology rooted in indifference to cultural degradation.
On this week’s podcast, Eberstadt told Van Maren that the pro-family policies being pursued by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are worthy of emulation.
“After 60 plus years, after the sexual revolution and all of the destruction of the family, it’s time to try things like this and to watch these experiments closely.” Hungary has encouraged childbirth among its citizens and “the abortion rate dropped by a third,” Eberstadt stated. “That is something every pro-lifer in the world needs to know…that is a clear example of how family building policies can actually be found.”
Eberstadt has come to be known in recent years for holding contrarian views on how the West rejected religion and embraced secularism. Most scholars believe that after World War II, nations slowly turned away from God and the breakdown of the family soon followed. Eberstadt believes the opposite.
“Religiosity depends on the vibrancy of the family,” she told Van Maren. “It's not the case that people lose religion and then their families fall apart. It's the lack of vibrant families that makes the transmission of religious belief harder than it used to be.”
Eberstadt then claimed that libertarians who want lower taxes and less government intervention will only see that happen if there is “some kind of familial restoration” that eventually turns into a “religious revival.” Once that occurs, the size of government will be rolled back because “entitlements exist to do what robust families used to do, which is to take care of people within families that are no longer functioning well.”
The Van Maren Show is hosted on numerous platforms, including Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play.
For a full listing of episodes, and to subscribe to various channels, visit our Acast webpage here.
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded, subscribe below:
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--US senator rips Dems for supporting ‘depraved practices’ of infanticide, abortion

WASHINGTON , D.C. , March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – As squabbling continues over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ’ s ominous warning to Supreme Court justices that they will “ pay the price ” if they rule in favor of a pro-life law , Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas suggested that those condemning Schumer for “ threatening ” Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh should devote greater focus on the “ depraved ” cause for which he made the threat in the first place .
During a pro-abortion rally outside the Supreme Court , Schumer warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You have released the whirlwind , and you will pay the price !
You won ’ t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.
” Speaking to Fox News on Thursday , Sen. Cotton suggested the most important issue was not what kind of “ whirlwind ” Schumer had in mind , but the outcome he was demanding from the Supreme Court and the broader abortion-on-demand movement he represents .
“ Let ’ s get to the root of the issue here : Chuck Schumer and the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a young baby that survives an abortion , prevent late-term abortion of infants that can feel pain in their mother ’ s womb , ” Cotton said .
“ These are depraved practices that no civilized society should permit , yet , the Democrats are so radical on abortion that they ’ d filibuster those bills in lockstep .
That ’ s the real issue at stake here.
” As for Schumer ’ s words , Cotton said it would be “ better if he would just flatly apologize and move on with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to protect the lives of the unborn and protect women from very dangerous medical circumstances.
” Oral arguments began Wednesday over Louisiana ’ s requirement that abortion centers make arrangements for admitting women to nearby hospitals in cases of life-threatening complications .
The abortion industry ’ s attorneys argue the law is no different from the Texas law the Supreme Court struck down in 2016 ’ s Whole Woman ’ s Health v. Hellerstedt ; pro-lifers argue that Hellerstedt was not only wrongly decided but inapplicable to Louisiana ’ s situation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from President Donald Trump , Chief Justice John Roberts , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , and more , with calls for Schumer to be censured or resign .
The Democrat leader first tried to claim he was referring to Republican lawmakers rather than the judges he named , and then admitted his choice of words “ did n't come out the way I intended to.
” He insisted he was referring only to political consequences rather than physical harm , and that “ strong language ” was warranted by the so-called threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Louisiana case is likely to at the very least impact the Hellerstedt precedent , which has been used to invalidate a broad range of modest abortion regulations as “ undue burdens ” on women .
It remains to be seen whether the court takes the opportunity to make a broader determination on the underlying legitimacy of Roe v. Wade or Planned Parenthood v. Casey , which force all 50 states to permit most abortions .
In January , more than 200 members of Congress signed a brief urging the court to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roe .
Roe is largely defended not on its legal merits ( numerous pro-abortion legal minds , including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself , have acknowledged the ruling ’ s flaws ) , but on its status as precedent , with the contemporary interpretation of the stare decisis doctrine holding that Roe ’ s lengthy history staying on the books grants it added weight .
Justice Clarence Thomas has forcefully rejected such arguments ; it remains to be seen how Roberts or President Trump ’ s two SCOTUS appointees , Kavanaugh and Neil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precedent versus its substance .

'Let’s get to the root of the issue here: Chuck Schumer and the Democrats filibustered legislation that would prevent infanticide of a young baby that survives an abortion, prevent late-term abortion of infants that can feel pain in their mother’s womb.'
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – As squabbling continues over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s ominous warning to Supreme Court justices that they will “pay the price” if they rule in favor of a pro-life law, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas suggested that those condemning Schumer for “threatening” Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh should devote greater focus on the “depraved” cause for which he made the threat in the first place.
During a pro-abortion rally outside the Supreme Court, Schumer warned Gorsuch and Kavanaugh by name: “You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price! You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Sen. Cotton suggested the most important issue was not what kind of “whirlwind” Schumer had in mind, but the outcome he was demanding from the Supreme Court and the broader abortion-on-demand movement he represents.
Good to hear Senator Schumer regret his threats against SCOTUS. But the real issue at stake here is the Democrats' support for abortion. Last week Democrats filibustered a bill protecting infants born alive during abortions. America's children deserve a chance at life. pic.twitter.com/58rtBDuoRh — Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 5, 2020
“Let’s get to the root of the issue here: Chuck Schumer and the Democrats filibustered legislation that would prevent infanticide of a young baby that survives an abortion, prevent late-term abortion of infants that can feel pain in their mother’s womb,” Cotton said. “These are depraved practices that no civilized society should permit, yet, the Democrats are so radical on abortion that they’d filibuster those bills in lockstep. That’s the real issue at stake here.”
As for Schumer’s words, Cotton said it would be “better if he would just flatly apologize and move on with serious business, like, perhaps, trying to protect the lives of the unborn and protect women from very dangerous medical circumstances.”
Oral arguments began Wednesday over Louisiana’s requirement that abortion centers make arrangements for admitting women to nearby hospitals in cases of life-threatening complications. The abortion industry’s attorneys argue the law is no different from the Texas law the Supreme Court struck down in 2016’s Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt; pro-lifers argue that Hellerstedt was not only wrongly decided but inapplicable to Louisiana’s situation.
Schumer’s statement received stinging rebukes from President Donald Trump, Chief Justice John Roberts, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and more, with calls for Schumer to be censured or resign. The Democrat leader first tried to claim he was referring to Republican lawmakers rather than the judges he named, and then admitted his choice of words “didn't come out the way I intended to.” He insisted he was referring only to political consequences rather than physical harm, and that “strong language” was warranted by the so-called threat to “women’s rights.”
The Louisiana case is likely to at the very least impact the Hellerstedt precedent, which has been used to invalidate a broad range of modest abortion regulations as “undue burdens” on women. It remains to be seen whether the court takes the opportunity to make a broader determination on the underlying legitimacy of Roe v. Wade or Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which force all 50 states to permit most abortions. In January, more than 200 members of Congress signed a brief urging the court to use the case as an occasion to reconsider Roe.
Roe is largely defended not on its legal merits (numerous pro-abortion legal minds, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself, have acknowledged the ruling’s flaws), but on its status as precedent, with the contemporary interpretation of the stare decisis doctrine holding that Roe’s lengthy history staying on the books grants it added weight. Justice Clarence Thomas has forcefully rejected such arguments; it remains to be seen how Roberts or President Trump’s two SCOTUS appointees, Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, will weigh Roe’s precedent versus its substance.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--South American nation holds miniature Amazon Synod, issues radical demands

March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Catholic Church in French Guiana , one of the nine countries of the Amazon Basin represented at the Amazon Synod in Rome last October , recently held its second local synod with many winks to the Roman event .
Several “ resolutions ” were made in favor of the rights of the indigenous peoples of the region .
Also high on the list of priorities were reflections on the environment and the “ past ” of the local clergy .
The most spectacular move involved a commitment on the part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beg “ pardon ” for its “ complicity ” in the colonization process .
No less important was the decision to implement a local liturgy .
All this clearly aims to be a practical implementation of the Amazon Synod .
The event took place in Cayenne , under the authority of French Guiana ’ s only bishop , Mgr .
Emmanuel Lafont , who has been a vocal supporter of the Amazon Synod ’ s innovations .
The local press saw it first and foremost as an expression of “ the cry of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the forest , of the water and the fauna , ” in view of “ working at the creation of an ecological and Amazonian Church.
” ( Editor ’ s note : The French , including Mgr .
Lafontt , refer to French Guiana as “ Guyana , ” not to be confused with the nation English-speakers call “ Guyana ” [ which French-speakers call “ English Guyana ” ] to the west .
This artitcle is aboutt only French Guiana ; see an anglophone map here . )
Bishop Lafont was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the preservation of the planet ” and seeking to give the Catholic Church an “ Amazonian face.
” “ The issue of ordaining married men is not a priority , save perhaps in a few dioceses which only have a small number of priests .
What does stand out is the enormous place occupied by women and in particular by religious .
They are numerous ... and remarkably integrated into the social structures of the peoples of the forest .
The church should recognize their formidable ministry , for which they lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media prior to the meeting .
In another interview , Bishop Lafont said pope Francis had “ closed no doors ” regarding the ordination of married men , adding that at the Amazon Synod , there was division on this point “ not only in principle but also for practical reasons.
” “ We felt an obvious need to declericalize this church , ” he said .
“ If we were to ordain married men , if only to the permanent deaconhood , and clericalized them also , we would have missed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreeing with the journalist that Pope Francis remained silent on the issue because he thought the time was wrong .
“ Yes , the pope feels that before creating new ministries and giving them clear recognition , it is important to move forward towards a new way of living together in the Church , ” he said .
In that same interview with the French liberal Catholic weekly La Vie , Bishop Lafont said : “ Before nitpicking about native American statuettes of pregnant women and yelling the word ‘ idolatry , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a critical look at our own idols : the gods of Money , Holidays , and Consumption .
We are the first to need conversion.
” At the synod in Cayenne , a local community leader for “ integral ecology , ” José Gaillou , mentioned to the press all the forms of “ conversion ” the Church will have to go through : pastoral , ecological , cultural , in particular in “ accepting other people ’ s way of life ” and even “ turning towards Nature.
” An indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , water , and earth that is damaging the lives of the local people where gold-hunters use mercury to amalgamate the precious metal .
But while this is surely tragic , it sadly underscores the way in which God is not being put first in Catholic discussions .
The French Guiana synod was held from February 23 to 26 and explicitly took place in the wake of the Rome synod , under its logo and with the aim of presenting “ propositions for coming times.
” Built on the model of the Apostolic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented a series of dreams : social , cultural , ecological , pastoral , and synodal .
The first article of this final document spoke of the Church of French Guiana ’ s “ prophetic ” show of “ indignation ” because of the “ injustices and crimes of yesterday and today.
” “ We demand an end to injustice towards the indigenous peoples , ” the document stated , adding that a “ solemn celebration ” will mark the repentance of the church “ because of the complicity that took place with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes of the past.
” Both propositions were adopted with about 90 percent of the vote .
Indigenous peoples represent about 10,000 souls living in the south of French Guiana in the Amazonian forest .
By article 3 , and still in the absence of any mention at all of God , Jesus Christ , or any religious concept , the synod was making another political statement : “ We publicly support the demands of the peoples of the forest in view of the ratification of Convention 169 of the International Labour Organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property , following the 2017 Agreement.
” This is about socializing the forest regions of the South American country .
With regard to France , this official document of the Catholic Church demanded greater autonomy , even though French Guiana already has a local assembly and depends heavily on the French “ métropole ” for its economic needs .
It is in the chapter on the “ cultural dream ” that the synod committed to “ work on setting up a liturgy , cultural rights and singing that will better harmonize with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French Guiana.
” “ We recognize that it is up to the indigenous peoples themselves to decide what they want to keep and what they want to change , in the light of the message of Jesus , ” decided 88 percent of the participants .
The “ environmental dream ” suggested that all Catholics should “ make Laudato Si ’ their own ” together with Querida Amazonia .
“ We invite all Guyanese to reduce the use of fossil fuels as much as possible ( consumption of gasoline , plastic , etc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 65 % ) , ” added the text , at the same time deciding to promote a transformed waste management , recycling , and the use of video projectors and existing songbooks instead of paper handouts during the liturgy .
It is only under paragraph 15 — the “ pastoral dream ” — that the French Guiana synod finally spoke about offering “ Jesus ’ s friendship ” and “ salvation ” to all .
Under that same heading , it was announced that priests would go on longer missions into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their people to learn their language and culture .
“ We shall try to establish new ministries , also in the remotest villages , with women , men , proposals for diaconal and presbyteral vocations and a genuine ministry of lay accompaniment for mourning families.
” This is how so-called lay ministries are coming in through the back door in the wake of the Amazon Synod .
In the same vein , under the heading “ the synodal dream , ” the signatories of the document state that the Church in French Guiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actors ” of their mission .
This includes giving women a larger role in “ pastoral decisions ” and training deacons in view of “ ecumenical , interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue.
” “ We want to move from being a clerical church to becoming a synodal one , where all join in decisions involving the mission and community life ... through mutual listening , prayer on what we hear , and welcoming of what the Spirit tells us through this listening and this dialogue , ” they wrote .
These recommendations will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country where priests and lay people , “ always together and never separated , ” make decisions in order to implement all resolutions taken by the synod .
It was also decided that the document itself , together with Laudato Si ’ , Querida Amazonia , and the Amazon Synod ’ s ( controversial ) final document would be presented to the local authorities .

The most spectacular move involved a commitment on the part of the Church of French Guiana officially to beg 'pardon' for its 'complicity' in the colonization process.
Analysis
March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Catholic Church in French Guiana, one of the nine countries of the Amazon Basin represented at the Amazon Synod in Rome last October, recently held its second local synod with many winks to the Roman event. Several “resolutions” were made in favor of the rights of the indigenous peoples of the region. Also high on the list of priorities were reflections on the environment and the “past” of the local clergy.
The most spectacular move involved a commitment on the part of the Church of French Guiana officially to beg “pardon” for its “complicity” in the colonization process. No less important was the decision to implement a local liturgy.
All this clearly aims to be a practical implementation of the Amazon Synod.
The event took place in Cayenne, under the authority of French Guiana’s only bishop, Mgr. Emmanuel Lafont, who has been a vocal supporter of the Amazon Synod’s innovations. The local press saw it first and foremost as an expression of “the cry of the peoples of Guyana, the cry of the forest, of the water and the fauna,” in view of “working at the creation of an ecological and Amazonian Church.” (Editor’s note: The French, including Mgr. Lafontt, refer to French Guiana as “Guyana,” not to be confused with the nation English-speakers call “Guyana” [which French-speakers call “English Guyana”] to the west. This artitcle is aboutt only French Guiana; see an anglophone map here.)
Bishop Lafont was presented as searching to “raise awareness for the preservation of the planet” and seeking to give the Catholic Church an “Amazonian face.” “The issue of ordaining married men is not a priority, save perhaps in a few dioceses which only have a small number of priests. What does stand out is the enormous place occupied by women and in particular by religious. They are numerous … and remarkably integrated into the social structures of the peoples of the forest. The church should recognize their formidable ministry, for which they lack recognition,” he told the local media prior to the meeting.
In another interview, Bishop Lafont said pope Francis had “closed no doors” regarding the ordination of married men, adding that at the Amazon Synod, there was division on this point “not only in principle but also for practical reasons.” “We felt an obvious need to declericalize this church,” he said. “If we were to ordain married men, if only to the permanent deaconhood, and clericalized them also, we would have missed the whole thing,” he added, agreeing with the journalist that Pope Francis remained silent on the issue because he thought the time was wrong. “Yes, the pope feels that before creating new ministries and giving them clear recognition, it is important to move forward towards a new way of living together in the Church,” he said.
In that same interview with the French liberal Catholic weekly La Vie, Bishop Lafont said: “Before nitpicking about native American statuettes of pregnant women and yelling the word ‘idolatry,’ we should sweep our own doorstep and take a critical look at our own idols: the gods of Money, Holidays, and Consumption. We are the first to need conversion.”
At the synod in Cayenne, a local community leader for “integral ecology,” José Gaillou, mentioned to the press all the forms of “conversion” the Church will have to go through: pastoral, ecological, cultural, in particular in “accepting other people’s way of life” and even “turning towards Nature.”
An indigenous man spoke of the pollution of fish, water, and earth that is damaging the lives of the local people where gold-hunters use mercury to amalgamate the precious metal. But while this is surely tragic, it sadly underscores the way in which God is not being put first in Catholic discussions.
The French Guiana synod was held from February 23 to 26 and explicitly took place in the wake of the Rome synod, under its logo and with the aim of presenting “propositions for coming times.” Built on the model of the Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia, its final document presented a series of dreams: social, cultural, ecological, pastoral, and synodal.
The first article of this final document spoke of the Church of French Guiana’s “prophetic” show of “indignation” because of the “ injustices and crimes of yesterday and today.” “We demand an end to injustice towards the indigenous peoples,” the document stated, adding that a “solemn celebration” will mark the repentance of the church “because of the complicity that took place with colonization, the slave trade and other crimes of the past.” Both propositions were adopted with about 90 percent of the vote.
Indigenous peoples represent about 10,000 souls living in the south of French Guiana in the Amazonian forest.
By article 3, and still in the absence of any mention at all of God, Jesus Christ, or any religious concept, the synod was making another political statement: “We publicly support the demands of the peoples of the forest in view of the ratification of Convention 169 of the International Labour Organisation and the recognition of areas of collective property, following the 2017 Agreement.” This is about socializing the forest regions of the South American country.
With regard to France, this official document of the Catholic Church demanded greater autonomy, even though French Guiana already has a local assembly and depends heavily on the French “métropole” for its economic needs.
It is in the chapter on the “cultural dream” that the synod committed to “work on setting up a liturgy, cultural rights and singing that will better harmonize with the riches of all the diverse cultures in French Guiana.” “We recognize that it is up to the indigenous peoples themselves to decide what they want to keep and what they want to change, in the light of the message of Jesus,” decided 88 percent of the participants.
The “environmental dream” suggested that all Catholics should “make Laudato Si’ their own” together with Querida Amazonia. “We invite all Guyanese to reduce the use of fossil fuels as much as possible (consumption of gasoline, plastic, etc.) and to promote renewable energies (65%),” added the text, at the same time deciding to promote a transformed waste management, recycling, and the use of video projectors and existing songbooks instead of paper handouts during the liturgy.
It is only under paragraph 15 — the “pastoral dream” — that the French Guiana synod finally spoke about offering “Jesus’s friendship” and “salvation” to all. Under that same heading, it was announced that priests would go on longer missions into the bush and would spend more time with their people to learn their language and culture. “We shall try to establish new ministries, also in the remotest villages, with women, men, proposals for diaconal and presbyteral vocations and a genuine ministry of lay accompaniment for mourning families.”
This is how so-called lay ministries are coming in through the back door in the wake of the Amazon Synod.
In the same vein, under the heading “the synodal dream,” the signatories of the document state that the Church in French Guiana wants to “turn laypeople into prime actors” of their mission. This includes giving women a larger role in “pastoral decisions” and training deacons in view of “ecumenical, interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue.”
“We want to move from being a clerical church to becoming a synodal one, where all join in decisions involving the mission and community life … through mutual listening, prayer on what we hear, and welcoming of what the Spirit tells us through this listening and this dialogue,” they wrote. These recommendations will be made to all the parishes in the country where priests and lay people, “always together and never separated,” make decisions in order to implement all resolutions taken by the synod.
It was also decided that the document itself, together with Laudato Si’, Querida Amazonia, and the Amazon Synod’s (controversial) final document would be presented to the local authorities.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--Pro-lifer barred from Canada’s conservative party leadership race backs another pro-life candidate

MONTREAL , Quebec , March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – After being barred as a candidate for Canada ’ s conservative party leadership race , pro-life and pro-family advocate Richard Décarie has publicly voiced his support for Conservative Member of Parliament Derek Sloan for party leader .
In an email sent to his followers Wednesday , with the title , “ Derek Sloan , M.P : Conservative .
Without apology , ” Décarie , a former Stephen-Harper-staffer , urged his supporters to back rookie Member of Parliament and conservative party leadership nominee Derek Sloan .
Décarie ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is unafraid to speak for the culture of life , ” adding , “ that is why I ask my supporters to get behind Derek Sloan ’ s campaign to lead the CPC.
” Sloan is a lawyer who was trained at Queen ’ s University law school and is married with three young children .
He came out strongly in support of Décarie after he was barred from entering the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race last Saturday .
On Twitter Thursday , Sloan thanked Décarie for his support saying : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of Richard Décarie , who continues to be a strong voice for Quebec and for all Canadian conservatives .
# cdnpoli.
” Décarie said that there was no reason given to him for his disqualification by the Conservative Party of Canada ’ s Leadership Election Organizing Committee ( LEOC ) .
While Sloan is not fully bilingual , Décarie in his email made note of that fact , saying that Sloan has already begun working to become fluent in French .
On Tuesday , Décarie voiced his support for Sloan for party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Canadian conservative news outlet True North .
“ I already told Derek Sloan who is a very nice man , an MP from Ontario , we were very close to his positions socially , unfortunately Derek doesn ’ t speak French so I told him that I would support him because he will beat Peter MacKay who doesn ’ t speak French anyway , so it ’ s not a big problem , ” said Décarie to Lawton .
Lawton said he found it interesting that the only candidates in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Décarie against him being disallowed to run in the leadership race were Sloan and Jim Karahalios .
In response to this , Décarie said , “ I think the silence is talking by itself.
” A total of eight candidates met the first deadline and were approved to run by the LEOC .
Marilyn Gladu , Rudy Husny , Jim Karahalios , Leslyn Lewis , Peter MacKay , Erin O ’ Toole , Rick Peterson , and Derek Sloan .
Of these candidates , only Lewis , Karahalios , and Sloan have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-family views .
The next deadline for the conservative candidates is March 25 .
They must submit an additional 2000 signatures along with $ 300,000 to stay in the race .
The leader will be announced at the June 27 party convention in Toronto .

MONTREAL, Quebec, March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – After being barred as a candidate for Canada’s conservative party leadership race, pro-life and pro-family advocate Richard Décarie has publicly voiced his support for Conservative Member of Parliament Derek Sloan for party leader.
In an email sent to his followers Wednesday, with the title, “Derek Sloan, M.P: Conservative. Without apology,” Décarie, a former Stephen-Harper-staffer, urged his supporters to back rookie Member of Parliament and conservative party leadership nominee Derek Sloan.
Décarie’s email said Sloan has “demonstrated that he is unafraid to speak for the culture of life,” adding, “that is why I ask my supporters to get behind Derek Sloan’s campaign to lead the CPC.”
Sloan is a lawyer who was trained at Queen’s University law school and is married with three young children. He came out strongly in support of Décarie after he was barred from entering the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race last Saturday.
On Twitter Thursday, Sloan thanked Décarie for his support saying: “Honoured to receive the endorsement and support of Richard Décarie, who continues to be a strong voice for Quebec and for all Canadian conservatives. #cdnpoli.”
Décarie said that there was no reason given to him for his disqualification by the Conservative Party of Canada’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC).
While Sloan is not fully bilingual, Décarie in his email made note of that fact, saying that Sloan has already begun working to become fluent in French.
On Tuesday, Décarie voiced his support for Sloan for party leader in an interview with Andrew Lawton of the Canadian conservative news outlet True North.
“I already told Derek Sloan who is a very nice man, an MP from Ontario, we were very close to his positions socially, unfortunately Derek doesn’t speak French so I told him that I would support him because he will beat Peter MacKay who doesn’t speak French anyway, so it’s not a big problem,” said Décarie to Lawton.
“We will be supporting Derek Sloan,” added Décarie.
Lawton said he found it interesting that the only candidates in the running to show solidarity and defense of Décarie against him being disallowed to run in the leadership race were Sloan and Jim Karahalios.
In response to this, Décarie said, “I think the silence is talking by itself.”
A total of eight candidates met the first deadline and were approved to run by the LEOC. Marilyn Gladu, Rudy Husny, Jim Karahalios, Leslyn Lewis, Peter MacKay, Erin O’Toole, Rick Peterson, and Derek Sloan.
Of these candidates, only Lewis, Karahalios, and Sloan have the backing of CLC for their pro-life and pro-family views.
The next deadline for the conservative candidates is March 25. They must submit an additional 2000 signatures along with $300,000 to stay in the race. The leader will be announced at the June 27 party convention in Toronto.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--Petition boycotting Disney kids’ movie for pushing LGBT agenda surges past 50K

PETITION : Boycott Disney 's new kids film 'Onward ' for pushing LGBT agenda !
Sign the petition here .
March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Earlier this week , LifeSite ’ s petition calling for a boycott of the new Disney movie “ Onward ” hit 50,000 signatures .
Since reaching that milestone , the number of signatures has only continued to grow , now standing at 53,000 .
The petition , addressed to Disney CEO Bob Chapek , calls on parents and grandparents to boycott the new film which is the studio 's first animated movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Onward , ” which opens in U.S. theaters today , features a purple cyclops police officer , Officer Specter , who , in addition to being one-eyed and purple , is also an open lesbian .
“ 53,000 signers represent a whole section of society which is fed up at having loose morals and dangerous , sexually-charged ideas foisted on us by Hollywood , ” said Scott Schittl , one of the campaign ’ s organizers .
“ People go to the movies to be entertained , not indoctrinated.
” Although Disney has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter in other releases , the inclusion of an openly homosexual character in an animated film is indicative of the latest initiative by LGBT activists .
“ Beginning late last year , we have seen homosexuality and transgenderism pushed hard in children ’ s films and series , as well as formerly ‘ family-friendly ’ entertainment , ” Schittl said .
“ First Hallmark , then Sesame Street , and now Disney…Parents are rightly alarmed , and , by this petition , we ’ re letting Disney know that we ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the petition , other conservative , pro-family advocacy organizations , like One Million Moms and CitizenGO , have also launched similar petitions .
Many petition signers have also written in , saying that they will no longer support any companies that support or allow this kind of indoctrination of their children and grandchildren .
The petition can be signed HERE .

'Onward' opens in US theaters today and features a character who, in addition to being one-eyed and purple, is also an open lesbian.
PETITION: Boycott Disney's new kids film 'Onward' for pushing LGBT agenda! Sign the petition here.
March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Earlier this week, LifeSite’s petition calling for a boycott of the new Disney movie “Onward” hit 50,000 signatures. Since reaching that milestone, the number of signatures has only continued to grow, now standing at 53,000.
The petition, addressed to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, calls on parents and grandparents to boycott the new film which is the studio's first animated movie with an openly homosexual character.
“Onward,” which opens in U.S. theaters today, features a purple cyclops police officer, Officer Specter, who, in addition to being one-eyed and purple, is also an open lesbian.
“53,000 signers represent a whole section of society which is fed up at having loose morals and dangerous, sexually-charged ideas foisted on us by Hollywood,” said Scott Schittl, one of the campaign’s organizers. “People go to the movies to be entertained, not indoctrinated.”
Although Disney has pushed the LGBT agenda before with suggestive matter in other releases, the inclusion of an openly homosexual character in an animated film is indicative of the latest initiative by LGBT activists.
“Beginning late last year, we have seen homosexuality and transgenderism pushed hard in children’s films and series, as well as formerly ‘family-friendly’ entertainment,” Schittl said. “First Hallmark, then Sesame Street, and now Disney…Parents are rightly alarmed, and, by this petition, we’re letting Disney know that we’re not taking it anymore.”
Since LifeSite launched the petition, other conservative, pro-family advocacy organizations, like One Million Moms and CitizenGO, have also launched similar petitions.
Many petition signers have also written in, saying that they will no longer support any companies that support or allow this kind of indoctrination of their children and grandchildren.
The petition can be signed HERE.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--Cdl. Burke, Bp. Strickland to speak at April conference in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA , Pennsylvania , March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Cardinal Raymond Burke will speak about every Christian ’ s call to holiness at a conference in Philadelphia on April 4 , 2020 .
The famous cardinal will be joined by Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler , Texas and Father Dennis Gill , rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul .
The conference will take place in the cathedral and will include Eucharistic adoration , the recitation of the rosary , a Marian procession , and the crowning of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Entitled “ You Are Called to Holiness , ” the conference and day of recollection is being organized by the St. John Neumann Chapter of Catholics United for the Faith .
“ We decided on this theme as a way to encourage Catholics in this unusual period in the Church , ” Fr .
Gill told LifeSiteNews .
“ There is a great deal of confusion , concern , and the ever present sense of crisis , ” he continued .
“ The one thing that we can do now and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christ and with one another in the Church.
” Gill characterized the Christian life as “ a holy life , a life that imitates the Savior and has been lived through the centuries.
” “ It is our prayer that the conference will compel those who attend to be enthused and vigilant about the call to holiness , ” he concluded .
Organizer Anne Wilson told LifeSiteNews that the theme was chosen “ unanimously ” by the conference committee .
“ We felt this was something all of us need to pursue in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she explained .
Wilson added that the conference will follow the same format as 2018 ’ s very successful Conference on Matrimony , a mixture of prayer and reflection on the talks by the speakers .
Attendees came from 14 states , and Wilson reported that many people said “ how beautiful [ the conference ] was and that , in some cases , it was a life changing event.
” Burke and Gill both spoke at that conference ; this is a first appearance for Bishop Strickland .
Participants will attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass as part of the conference , and visiting priests are invited to concelebrate .
“ The liturgy will be beautiful as Father Dennis Gill , the Rector and Pastor of the Cathedral will guarantee it , ” Wilson promised .
She described the St. John Neumann Chapter as a local group consisting of members of the international Catholics United for the Faith organization .
This was formed in 1968 in response to the Second Vatican Council ’ s call to the laity for interior spiritual renewal .
“ It was started in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Support , Defend and Advance the Efforts of the Teaching Church , ’ ” Wilson said .
“ The organization has remained committed to these goals and has [ chapters ] both here in this country and abroad , ” she continued .
“ We also authored the Faith and Life Catechetical Series for school children .
Our local chapter started in 1977 and we have done over 21 spiritual conferences , dozens of days and evenings of recollection , Bible studies , apologetics courses , and dinners with outstanding Catholic speakers.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ also taken part in pro-life activities .
Cardinal Burke is one of the most well-known and beloved defenders of the pro-life cause and Catholic orthodoxy .
The American cardinal was previously the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura , essentially the Church ’ s supreme court .
Burke joined three other cardinals in writing a dubia , or formal request , to Pope Francis asking whether Amoris Laetitia is aligned with Catholic morality .
The pontiff has yet to respond .
Since then , two of the dubia signers , Cardinals Joachim Meisner and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burke , the fourth signer , Cardinal Walter Brandmüller , 91 , continues to defend doctrinal orthodoxy .
Most recently , Burke has critiqued aspects of October ’ s Synod of Bishops for the Amazonian region , particularly its working document , or Instrumentum Laboris , which he said amounted to “ apostasy.
” Bishop Strickland has also been a strong voice for the perennial doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church .
In February he gently stood up to bullies who accused him of “ condemning ” LGBT people by proclaiming the truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ’ General Assembly last November , he offered fraternal correction to bishops who allow pro-LGBT speakers to challenge Church teaching in their dioceses .
At the same conference , he defended the preeminence of the slaughter of the unborn among the social justice issues of our time .
Strickland has also emerged from bishops ’ meetings to pray the rosary with lay Catholics protesting the bishops ’ role in the ongoing clerical sex abuse and cover-up crisis .
During the 2018 USCCB General Assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bishops were gathered to join the 200 Catholics protesting the bishops ’ role in the ongoing clerical sex abuse and cover-up crisis .
“ I didn ’ t know if they were going to start yelling at me , or what , ” he told LifeSiteNews .
“ But I went , holding my rosary , praying , [ and they were ] very quiet , people of the family of the Church.
” To register for the “ You are Called to Holiness ” Conference , click HERE .

'There is a great deal of confusion, concern, and the ever present sense of crisis,' said Father Dennis Gill. 'The one thing that we can do now and all the time is recall our relationship with Christ and with one another in the Church.'
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Raymond Burke will speak about every Christian’s call to holiness at a conference in Philadelphia on April 4, 2020.
The famous cardinal will be joined by Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas and Father Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. The conference will take place in the cathedral and will include Eucharistic adoration, the recitation of the rosary, a Marian procession, and the crowning of the National Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
Entitled “You Are Called to Holiness,” the conference and day of recollection is being organized by the St. John Neumann Chapter of Catholics United for the Faith.
“We decided on this theme as a way to encourage Catholics in this unusual period in the Church,” Fr. Gill told LifeSiteNews.
“There is a great deal of confusion, concern, and the ever present sense of crisis,” he continued.
“The one thing that we can do now and all the time is recall our relationship with Christ and with one another in the Church.”
Gill characterized the Christian life as “a holy life, a life that imitates the Savior and has been lived through the centuries.”
“It is our prayer that the conference will compel those who attend to be enthused and vigilant about the call to holiness,” he concluded.
Organizer Anne Wilson told LifeSiteNews that the theme was chosen “unanimously” by the conference committee.
“We felt this was something all of us need to pursue in our lives to gain eternal salvation,” she explained.
Wilson added that the conference will follow the same format as 2018’s very successful Conference on Matrimony, a mixture of prayer and reflection on the talks by the speakers. Attendees came from 14 states, and Wilson reported that many people said “how beautiful [the conference] was and that, in some cases, it was a life changing event.”
Burke and Gill both spoke at that conference; this is a first appearance for Bishop Strickland.
Participants will attend the parish’s regular Palm Sunday Mass as part of the conference, and visiting priests are invited to concelebrate.
“The liturgy will be beautiful as Father Dennis Gill, the Rector and Pastor of the Cathedral will guarantee it,” Wilson promised.
She described the St. John Neumann Chapter as a local group consisting of members of the international Catholics United for the Faith organization. This was formed in 1968 in response to the Second Vatican Council’s call to the laity for interior spiritual renewal.
“It was started in New York by H. Lyman Stebbins to ‘Support, Defend and Advance the Efforts of the Teaching Church,’” Wilson said.
“The organization has remained committed to these goals and has [chapters] both here in this country and abroad,” she continued.
“We also authored the Faith and Life Catechetical Series for school children. Our local chapter started in 1977 and we have done over 21 spiritual conferences, dozens of days and evenings of recollection, Bible studies, apologetics courses, and dinners with outstanding Catholic speakers.”
Catholics United for the Faith has also taken part in pro-life activities.
Cardinal Burke is one of the most well-known and beloved defenders of the pro-life cause and Catholic orthodoxy. The American cardinal was previously the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, essentially the Church’s supreme court.
Burke joined three other cardinals in writing a dubia, or formal request, to Pope Francis asking whether Amoris Laetitia is aligned with Catholic morality. The pontiff has yet to respond. Since then, two of the dubia signers, Cardinals Joachim Meisner and Carlo Caffara, have died. Like Burke, the fourth signer, Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, 91, continues to defend doctrinal orthodoxy.
Most recently, Burke has critiqued aspects of October’s Synod of Bishops for the Amazonian region, particularly its working document, or Instrumentum Laboris, which he said amounted to “apostasy.”
Bishop Strickland has also been a strong voice for the perennial doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. In February he gently stood up to bullies who accused him of “condemning” LGBT people by proclaiming the truth of Church teaching about marriage and sexuality. At the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ General Assembly last November, he offered fraternal correction to bishops who allow pro-LGBT speakers to challenge Church teaching in their dioceses. At the same conference, he defended the preeminence of the slaughter of the unborn among the social justice issues of our time.
Strickland has also emerged from bishops’ meetings to pray the rosary with lay Catholics protesting the bishops’ role in the ongoing clerical sex abuse and cover-up crisis. During the 2018 USCCB General Assembly, Strickland left the hotel in which the bishops were gathered to join the 200 Catholics protesting the bishops’ role in the ongoing clerical sex abuse and cover-up crisis.
“I didn’t know if they were going to start yelling at me, or what,” he told LifeSiteNews.
“But I went, holding my rosary, praying, [and they were] very quiet, people of the family of the Church.”
To register for the “You are Called to Holiness” Conference, click HERE.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--Middle school hangs LGBT flag in cafeteria, bans flag of traditional family

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota , March 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A small town Minnesota school has become a center of controversy because of a LGBT pride flag hanging in its cafeteria .
Following several weeks of parental and community concern , packed school board meetings , and student anxiety , Thomas More Society attorneys have requested an array of formal documents from school officials to investigate how policies may have been violated in this scenario .
Marshall Middle School in Marshall , Minnesota , serves 679 students in grades 5 to 8 .
The rainbow pride flag , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have chosen a lesbian , gay , bisexual , or transgender lifestyle , hangs in the school ’ s cafeteria alongside the United States flag and a variety of international flags .
A student-circulated petition opposing the LGBT flag and requests to display other flags offered by the school population were not welcomed by the administration .
Thomas More Society Special Counsel Erick Kaardal , who has been retained to represent a group of Marshall residents , commented on the situation .
“ At the very least , it ’ s divisive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school supports one group ’ s beliefs at the expense of others.
” Kaardal added that when students expressed their concern to teachers and administrators over the lifestyle that the flag promotes , they were bullied .
“ Whether this was an inappropriate decision by a staff member or a deliberate violation of students ’ rights , this is a serious matter , ” Kaardal remarked .
“ It is incumbent upon school officials to write and enforce rules that prevent the public school from being turned into a forum for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the academic community , these administrators should understand that you can not trample on the right to free speech.
” Kaardal stated that the school ’ s denial of other flags , such as the historical American Gadsden ( Don ’ t Tread on Me ) flag and a banner depicting a heterosexual family , shows that officials are imposing ideological beliefs on students .
“ Ironically , of course , the rainbow flag is most famous for being involved in protest , but now those advocating that symbol of protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideas , ” Kaardal observed .
Whether the school ’ s controversial display of the LGBT pride flag will result in a federal lawsuit remains to be seen , and will depend on how the Marshall School Board responds to the request for its written policies .
“ School buildings are funded by public tax dollars , ” explained Kaardal .
“ A ‘ viewpoint neutral ’ policy toward flags and other displays will assure taxpayers that their money does not go to promote symbols of beliefs they may not agree with .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make this happen , we are equipped to pursue that action.
” Read the March 5 , 2020 , letter from Thomas More Society Special Counsel Erick Kaardal to the Marshall , Minnesota , School District requesting documentation of policies and communications pertinent to petitions , displays , anti-bullying , and related matters as required under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act here .

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, March 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A small town Minnesota school has become a center of controversy because of a LGBT pride flag hanging in its cafeteria. Following several weeks of parental and community concern, packed school board meetings, and student anxiety, Thomas More Society attorneys have requested an array of formal documents from school officials to investigate how policies may have been violated in this scenario.
Marshall Middle School in Marshall, Minnesota, serves 679 students in grades 5 to 8. The rainbow pride flag, which is used to represent people who have chosen a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender lifestyle, hangs in the school’s cafeteria alongside the United States flag and a variety of international flags.
A student-circulated petition opposing the LGBT flag and requests to display other flags offered by the school population were not welcomed by the administration.
Thomas More Society Special Counsel Erick Kaardal, who has been retained to represent a group of Marshall residents, commented on the situation. “At the very least, it’s divisive and insensitive. It makes it appear that the school supports one group’s beliefs at the expense of others.” Kaardal added that when students expressed their concern to teachers and administrators over the lifestyle that the flag promotes, they were bullied.
“Whether this was an inappropriate decision by a staff member or a deliberate violation of students’ rights, this is a serious matter,” Kaardal remarked. “It is incumbent upon school officials to write and enforce rules that prevent the public school from being turned into a forum for the display of a single ideology. As members of the academic community, these administrators should understand that you cannot trample on the right to free speech.”
Kaardal stated that the school’s denial of other flags, such as the historical American Gadsden (Don’t Tread on Me) flag and a banner depicting a heterosexual family, shows that officials are imposing ideological beliefs on students.
“Ironically, of course, the rainbow flag is most famous for being involved in protest, but now those advocating that symbol of protest will not tolerate the expression of opposing ideas,” Kaardal observed.
Whether the school’s controversial display of the LGBT pride flag will result in a federal lawsuit remains to be seen, and will depend on how the Marshall School Board responds to the request for its written policies.
“School buildings are funded by public tax dollars,” explained Kaardal. “A ‘viewpoint neutral’ policy toward flags and other displays will assure taxpayers that their money does not go to promote symbols of beliefs they may not agree with. If a federal lawsuit is needed to make this happen, we are equipped to pursue that action.”
Read the March 5, 2020, letter from Thomas More Society Special Counsel Erick Kaardal to the Marshall, Minnesota, School District requesting documentation of policies and communications pertinent to petitions, displays, anti-bullying, and related matters as required under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act here.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-06--UN expert: World religions should defer to the authority of UN experts

WASHINGTON , D.C. , March 6 , 2020 ( C-Fam ) — According to the UN ’ s special expert on freedom of religion , the fringe views of UN human rights bodies must take precedence over the mainstream beliefs of many leading world religions , when it comes to law and policy .
In his newly-launched annual report , Ahmad Shaheed , the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief , wrote about the intersection of religion and gender equality .
He concluded that laws based in traditional morality , often religious in nature , should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of human rights scholars and UN experts .
“ States have an obligation to guarantee to everyone , including women , girls and LGBT+ people , an equal right to freedom of religion or belief , ” he said , “ including by creating an enabling environment where pluralist and progressive self-understandings can manifest.
” In order to enable these “ self-understandings , ” laws criminalizing abortion or various sexual behaviors would need to be overruled .
Shaheed noted that laws regarding abortion and homosexual behavior often arise from the application of religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family , and sexual morality .
While stopping short of directly calling on major world religions , such as Christianity or Islam , to change their doctrines , he attempted to differentiate between “ patriarchal ” and “ gender equal ” interpretations of religious teachings .
The report cites the work of scholars who have worked to promote “ progressive ” reinterpretations of faith traditions , adding that the source of gender-based violence or discrimination is not necessarily religions , but , rather , certain interpretations of them , “ which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ LGBT+ rights , ” a concept that has only recently entered the parlance of scholars , and which has no international consensus , much less a formally accepted definition , is treated by the report as a given .
In contrast , religious traditions , some dating back thousands of years , are treated as subordinate .
The special rapporteur cites “ many feminists and human rights scholars ” in arguing that “ rules regulating the status of men and women , including in the appointment of clergy , ” are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and therefore “ are a concern for the State and international human rights law.
” Last November , Shaheed Tweeted a quote from a workshop focusing on gender equality and freedom of religion : “ When access to safe abortion is denied , the right to life , the right to health , the right to equal human dignity is denied.
” On Monday , the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur , where a joint statement was presented on behalf of several pro-life and pro-family organizations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report ’ s disregard for the rights of unborn children and calls to restrict the rights of conscientious objection to abortion by health care professionals .
The position of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief is part of the subset of the UN Human Rights Council known as Special Procedures .
As such , he serves in an individual , unpaid , capacity , and his reports are advisory and nonbinding .
Nevertheless , they feed into the UN ’ s library of human rights documents that frequently cite each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are far from gaining widespread support among UN Member States .
Previous special rapporteurs , including those whose mandates include torture , violence against women , and the right to health , have used their posts to advance pro-abortion positions .

Special rapporteur Ahmad Shaheed concluded that laws based in traditional morality, often religious in nature, should be repealed if they conflict with the opinions of human rights scholars and U.N. experts.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 6, 2020 (C-Fam) — According to the UN’s special expert on freedom of religion, the fringe views of UN human rights bodies must take precedence over the mainstream beliefs of many leading world religions, when it comes to law and policy.
In his newly-launched annual report, Ahmad Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, wrote about the intersection of religion and gender equality. He concluded that laws based in traditional morality, often religious in nature, should be repealed if they conflict with the opinions of human rights scholars and UN experts.
“States have an obligation to guarantee to everyone, including women, girls and LGBT+ people, an equal right to freedom of religion or belief,” he said, “including by creating an enabling environment where pluralist and progressive self-understandings can manifest.”
In order to enable these “self-understandings,” laws criminalizing abortion or various sexual behaviors would need to be overruled.
Shaheed noted that laws regarding abortion and homosexual behavior often arise from the application of religious teachings regarding the sanctity of life, the family, and sexual morality. While stopping short of directly calling on major world religions, such as Christianity or Islam, to change their doctrines, he attempted to differentiate between “patriarchal” and “gender equal” interpretations of religious teachings. The report cites the work of scholars who have worked to promote “progressive” reinterpretations of faith traditions, adding that the source of gender-based violence or discrimination is not necessarily religions, but, rather, certain interpretations of them, “which are not protected per se.”
The notion of “LGBT+ rights,” a concept that has only recently entered the parlance of scholars, and which has no international consensus, much less a formally accepted definition, is treated by the report as a given. In contrast, religious traditions, some dating back thousands of years, are treated as subordinate. The special rapporteur cites “many feminists and human rights scholars” in arguing that “rules regulating the status of men and women, including in the appointment of clergy,” are not only religious, but political, and therefore “are a concern for the State and international human rights law.”
Last November, Shaheed Tweeted a quote from a workshop focusing on gender equality and freedom of religion: “When access to safe abortion is denied, the right to life, the right to health, the right to equal human dignity is denied.”
On Monday, the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, where a joint statement was presented on behalf of several pro-life and pro-family organizations, including C-Fam, raising objections to the report’s disregard for the rights of unborn children and calls to restrict the rights of conscientious objection to abortion by health care professionals.
The position of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief is part of the subset of the UN Human Rights Council known as Special Procedures. As such, he serves in an individual, unpaid, capacity, and his reports are advisory and nonbinding. Nevertheless, they feed into the UN’s library of human rights documents that frequently cite each other in defending interpretations of human rights that are far from gaining widespread support among UN Member States.
Previous special rapporteurs, including those whose mandates include torture, violence against women, and the right to health, have used their posts to advance pro-abortion positions.
Published with permission from C-Fam.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-07--Belgium killed almost 3,000 people by euthanasia in 2019, including one child

March 6 , 2020 ( Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ) — Earlier this week , Belgium ’ s Euthanasia Commission announced that 2,655 Belgians were killed by euthanasia in 2019 , which was an increase of 12.5 % compared to the previous year .
One child is confirmed to have been killed .
This figure exposes a significant increase in the number of Belgians killed by euthanasia since the death laws were introduced in 2002 .
In 2010 , 954 Belgians were killed by euthanasia , showing a huge increase in deaths over the past nine years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Belgium Belgium has some of the world ’ s most lax euthanasia laws which are not restricted to the terminally ill or to adults as children and people with psychiatric conditions are also eligible to be killed there .
Despite the lax laws already in place , lawmakers are currently inquiring into how to further expand legislation in order to permit euthanasia based on having a ‘ completed life.
’ ‘ Completed life ’ euthanasia would allow people to be killed if they feel their life is complete , regardless of age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can not Make The Same Mistake ” John Deighan said : “ The worsening situation in Belgium is an example of the ‘ slippery slope ’ in operation .
“ Here in the UK , we can not make the same mistake .
We must oppose every move to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide .
That would be a tragic step towards creating a culture where people feel their best option in life is to die .
“ There is no such thing as a ‘ safe ’ law on assisted suicide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea that it is always a ‘ voluntary ’ act .
Once assisted suicide is legal , disabled , sick and elderly people can easily be made to feel that they ought to choose death .
“ For example in 2018 in Washington State , where assisted suicide is legal , 51 % of people who were killed by assisted suicide said that being a burden on family , friends and caregivers was a reason to end their lives .
“ And in Oregon in 2018 , 54.2 % of people killed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on family , friends and caregivers was a reason to end their lives.
” Addressing The Assisted Suicide Threat In The UK Assisted suicide has already been debated this year in Parliament , in a Westminster Hall debate led by Christine Jardine MP .
During that debate , many MPs on both sides of the argument mentioned the importance of palliative care .
Last month , SPUC organised a seminar in Parliament entitled , ‘ Palliative Care Not Assisted Suicide ’ .
The event was attended by a large number of MPs from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was addressed by Dr Dominic Whitehouse , a palliative care specialist .
John Deighan added : “ We are urging SPUC ’ s supporters to remain on red alert for attempts to introduce assisted suicide legislation in Parliament and to lobby their MPs to find out where they stand.
” He continued : “ SPUC ’ s commitment to opposing assisted suicide and euthanasia is absolute and total .
The tragedy occurring in Belgium and elsewhere in the world must not be repeated here.
” Published with permission from the Society for the @ @ @ @ @

This figure exposes a significant increase in the number of Belgians killed by euthanasia since the death laws were introduced in 2002.
March 6, 2020 (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) — Earlier this week, Belgium’s Euthanasia Commission announced that 2,655 Belgians were killed by euthanasia in 2019, which was an increase of 12.5% compared to the previous year. One child is confirmed to have been killed.
This figure exposes a significant increase in the number of Belgians killed by euthanasia since the death laws were introduced in 2002. In 2010, 954 Belgians were killed by euthanasia, showing a huge increase in deaths over the past nine years.
Euthanasia Expected To Expand And Soar In Belgium
Belgium has some of the world’s most lax euthanasia laws which are not restricted to the terminally ill or to adults as children and people with psychiatric conditions are also eligible to be killed there.
Despite the lax laws already in place, lawmakers are currently inquiring into how to further expand legislation in order to permit euthanasia based on having a ‘completed life.’
‘Completed life’ euthanasia would allow people to be killed if they feel their life is complete, regardless of age or any physical suffering.
“We Cannot Make The Same Mistake”
John Deighan said: “The worsening situation in Belgium is an example of the ‘slippery slope’ in operation.
“Here in the UK, we cannot make the same mistake. We must oppose every move to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. That would be a tragic step towards creating a culture where people feel their best option in life is to die.
“There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ law on assisted suicide. And we cannot hide behind the idea that it is always a ‘voluntary’ act. Once assisted suicide is legal, disabled, sick and elderly people can easily be made to feel that they ought to choose death.
“For example in 2018 in Washington State, where assisted suicide is legal, 51% of people who were killed by assisted suicide said that being a burden on family, friends and caregivers was a reason to end their lives.
“And in Oregon in 2018, 54.2% of people killed by assisted suicide said that being a burden on family, friends and caregivers was a reason to end their lives.”
Addressing The Assisted Suicide Threat In The UK
Assisted suicide has already been debated this year in Parliament, in a Westminster Hall debate led by Christine Jardine MP. During that debate, many MPs on both sides of the argument mentioned the importance of palliative care.
Last month, SPUC organised a seminar in Parliament entitled, ‘Palliative Care Not Assisted Suicide’. The event was attended by a large number of MPs from across the political spectrum in attendance and was addressed by Dr Dominic Whitehouse, a palliative care specialist.
John Deighan added: “We are urging SPUC’s supporters to remain on red alert for attempts to introduce assisted suicide legislation in Parliament and to lobby their MPs to find out where they stand.”
He continued: “SPUC’s commitment to opposing assisted suicide and euthanasia is absolute and total. The tragedy occurring in Belgium and elsewhere in the world must not be repeated here.”
Published with permission from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.
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