lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Chicago Catholic group: Cupich’s plan to re-open churches is ‘betrayal of Christ’

CHICAGO , Illinois , May 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A group of Chicago Catholics has issued a statement strongly criticizing Cardinal Blase Cupich ’ s government-approved plan to re-open Catholic churches in his archdiocese .
The St. Charles Borromeo Society , founded just weeks ago , refers to his directives as “ insidious ” and a “ betrayal of Christ.
” Cupich issued his plan to re-open churches earlier this week .
Public Masses in the Archdiocese had been cancelled since mid-March .
The St. Charles Borromeo Society has been holding prayer vigils outside Holy Name Cathedral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
The group , which has demanded that churches be considered “ essential ” during the coronavirus outbreak , reached out to Cupich previously so they could discuss ideas on how to re-open churches safely and quickly but were turned away by his office .
In his announcement letter Wednesday , Cupich says his plan was made in conjunction with the office of Illinois ’ pro-abortion Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker .
“ We should also be motivated to cooperate with public safety norms , given our reverence for life and human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surely , there have been moments in history when governments and rulers have persecuted Christians and banned their public worship .
This is not one of them.
” The plan calls for a two-phased re-opening of churches in the archdiocese .
A “ certification of readiness ” and “ ongoing discussions with pastors , health care professionals and civil authorities ” will guide the process , Cupich announced .
Masses will have a 10-person limit early on with the possiblity of more in the future .
Lisa Bergman , one of the co-founders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wholeheartedly rejected the guidelines , especially the certification plan , calling Cupich ’ s remarks laced with “ secular wisdom.
” “ Cardinal Cupich has blithely yielded the Authority of the Church and subjugated the primacy of her worship to laws of man which are being successfully challenged by other denominations , '' her statement reads .
“ In doing so , he replaces what has been heroically defended for thousands of years with the absurd perception that the Mass and the Sacraments are less necessary and more potentially dangerous than grocery stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take-out restaurants , laundries , the postal service , and construction trades , all of which are having no trouble observing CDC regulations.
” “ This monstrous triple betrayal of Christ and His Church , from beginning to end , normalizes the narrative that the Church is secondary and must abase itself as though it were merely a place of recreation , ” Bergman continued .
Read the St. Charles Borromeo Society ’ s statement in full below : It is crucial for all Catholics to be made aware of the new guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reopening of churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago .
They represent nothing less than a triple betrayal of Christ and His Church , because they institutionalize what has till now been merely implied : the narrative that the Church is secondary and must abase itself as though it were merely a place of recreation .
With the stroke of a pen , Cardinal Cupich has blithely yielded the Authority of the Church and subjugated the primacy of her worshipto laws of man which are being successfully challenged by other denominations .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been heroically defended for thousands of years with the absurd perception that the Mass and the Sacraments are less necessary and more potentially dangerousthan grocery stores , gas stations , hardware stores , take-out restaurants , laundries , the postal service , and construction trades , all of which are having no trouble observing CDC regulations .
His second and more insidious betrayal lies in the fact that none of these essential business , nor any other diocese , has been subjected to any official certification process in order to open .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Church than all of these ?
Note carefully that the government is not the one forcing a certification process on our churches .
Cardinal Cupich has taken this upon himself , circumventing any legal recourse the laity might have for relief from this inequitable policy .
What could he possibly stand to gain by such a self-punitive plan ?
Could it be because it gives him an unchecked power to grant or revoke this certification according to his tastes ?
Anyone who doubts this possibility would do well to consider the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul Kalchik , or the church in South Dakota whose doors he locked during the Easter Triduum .
Cupich ’ s third betrayal is his thin veneer of self-righteousness which undermines the true virtue of our Church .
Secular wisdom abounds in his introduction to these new policies , and the entire Gospel is ignored while we are admonished about being “ our brother ’ s keeper.
” This gaffe is not unusual ; most of us will recall his ” rabbit hole ” episode .
I suppose he never stopped to realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sarcastic way of deflecting his own guilt for murdering his brother—simply because God had favored Abel ’ s sacrifice over his own .
Ironically , these insidious policies were announced on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima , who appeared to three children in Portugal at a time when the government was doing its best to stamp out the “ superstition ” of religion .
After months of apparitions , Our Lady proved herself with the Miracle of the Sun , which was witnessed by over 30,000 people .
Why is this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warn the world that , despite His great mercy , God would not hold back forever the punishment we deserve for our countless sins and offenses against Him .
With tears in her eyes , she begged us to offer reparation , describing the tribulations that lay in store if her warning were ignored .
Where is this message today ?
Where is the voice of the Church in the midst of this crisis , calling for reparation for our sins and offenses , lest we suffer further chastisement ?
Where is Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the call for reparation , the representatives of our Church insist that this worldwide scourge can not possibly be a punishment from God .
Rather , it is likely a result of our offenses against “ Mother Earth ” …and prayer is really nothing more than wishful thinking .
Thus refusing to humble ourselves before God ’ s judgment , we rush to humble ourselves before man ’ s .
“ Amen I say to you , unless you be converted , and become as little children , you shall not enter into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18:3 ) Children trust .
Sheep trust .
We have a profound need to trust our Shepherds .
But Christ the Good Shepherd himself warned us to beware of wolves in sheep ’ s clothing : “ By their fruits you shall know them.
” When the fruit of the Shepherds is distrust , hubris and betrayal , it becomes the duty of the sheep to recognize these signs and act accordingly .
“ The fool hath said in his heart : There is no God .
They are corrupt , and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is none that doth good , no not one.
” ( Ps 13:1 )

Cardinal Cupich's plan has 'yielded the authority of the Church and subjugated the primacy of her worship to laws of man,' they say.
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A group of Chicago Catholics has issued a statement strongly criticizing Cardinal Blase Cupich’s government-approved plan to re-open Catholic churches in his archdiocese.
The St. Charles Borromeo Society, founded just weeks ago, refers to his directives as “insidious” and a “betrayal of Christ.”
Cupich issued his plan to re-open churches earlier this week. Public Masses in the Archdiocese had been cancelled since mid-March. The St. Charles Borromeo Society has been holding prayer vigils outside Holy Name Cathedral on Fridays starting at 12:00pm for the last month. The group, which has demanded that churches be considered “essential” during the coronavirus outbreak, reached out to Cupich previously so they could discuss ideas on how to re-open churches safely and quickly but were turned away by his office.
In his announcement letter Wednesday, Cupich says his plan was made in conjunction with the office of Illinois’ pro-abortion Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker.
“We should also be motivated to cooperate with public safety norms, given our reverence for life and human dignity,” Cupich stated. “Surely, there have been moments in history when governments and rulers have persecuted Christians and banned their public worship. This is not one of them.”
The plan calls for a two-phased re-opening of churches in the archdiocese. A “certification of readiness” and “ongoing discussions with pastors, health care professionals and civil authorities” will guide the process, Cupich announced. Masses will have a 10-person limit early on with the possiblity of more in the future.
Lisa Bergman, one of the co-founders of the St. Charles Borromeo Society, wholeheartedly rejected the guidelines, especially the certification plan, calling Cupich’s remarks laced with “secular wisdom.”
“Cardinal Cupich has blithely yielded the Authority of the Church and subjugated the primacy of her worship to laws of man which are being successfully challenged by other denominations,” her statement reads.
“In doing so, he replaces what has been heroically defended for thousands of years with the absurd perception that the Mass and the Sacraments are less necessary and more potentially dangerous than grocery stores, gas stations, hardware stores, take-out restaurants, laundries, the postal service, and construction trades, all of which are having no trouble observing CDC regulations.”
“This monstrous triple betrayal of Christ and His Church, from beginning to end, normalizes the narrative that the Church is secondary and must abase itself as though it were merely a place of recreation,” Bergman continued.
Read the St. Charles Borromeo Society’s statement in full below:
It is crucial for all Catholics to be made aware of the new guidelines that have recently been set forth for the reopening of churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago. They represent nothing less than a triple betrayal of Christ and His Church, because they institutionalize what has till now been merely implied: the narrative that the Church is secondary and must abase itself as though it were merely a place of recreation. With the stroke of a pen, Cardinal Cupich has blithely yielded the Authority of the Church and subjugated the primacy of her worshipto laws of man which are being successfully challenged by other denominations. In doing so, he replaces what has been heroically defended for thousands of years with the absurd perception that the Mass and the Sacraments are less necessary and more potentially dangerousthan grocery stores, gas stations, hardware stores, take-out restaurants, laundries, the postal service, and construction trades, all of which are having no trouble observing CDC regulations. His second and more insidious betrayal lies in the fact that none of these essential business, nor any other diocese, has been subjected to any official certification process in order to open. Why on earth would we place less trust in the Church than all of these? Note carefully that the government is not the one forcing a certification process on our churches. Cardinal Cupich has taken this upon himself, circumventing any legal recourse the laity might have for relief from this inequitable policy. What could he possibly stand to gain by such a self-punitive plan? Could it be because it gives him an unchecked power to grant or revoke this certification according to his tastes? Anyone who doubts this possibility would do well to consider the cases of Father Frank Phillips or Father Paul Kalchik, or the church in South Dakota whose doors he locked during the Easter Triduum. Cupich’s third betrayal is his thin veneer of self-righteousness which undermines the true virtue of our Church. Secular wisdom abounds in his introduction to these new policies, and the entire Gospel is ignored while we are admonished about being “our brother’s keeper.” This gaffe is not unusual; most of us will recall his ”rabbit hole” episode. I suppose he never stopped to realize that this phrase was Cain’s sarcastic way of deflecting his own guilt for murdering his brother—simply because God had favored Abel’s sacrifice over his own. Ironically, these insidious policies were announced on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, who appeared to three children in Portugal at a time when the government was doing its best to stamp out the “superstition” of religion. After months of apparitions, Our Lady proved herself with the Miracle of the Sun, which was witnessed by over 30,000 people. Why is this ironic? Because Our Lady came to warn the world that, despite His great mercy, God would not hold back forever the punishment we deserve for our countless sins and offenses against Him. With tears in her eyes, she begged us to offer reparation,describing the tribulations that lay in store if her warning were ignored. Where is this message today? Where is the voice of the Church in the midst of this crisis, calling for reparation for our sins and offenses, lest we suffer further chastisement? Where is Her care of souls? In place of the call for reparation, the representatives of our Church insist that this worldwide scourge cannot possibly be a punishment from God. Rather, it is likely a result of our offenses against “Mother Earth”…and prayer is really nothing more than wishful thinking. Thus refusing to humble ourselves before God’s judgment, we rush to humble ourselves before man’s. “Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18:3) Children trust. Sheep trust. We have a profound need to trust our Shepherds. But Christ the Good Shepherd himself warned us to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing: “By their fruits you shall know them.” When the fruit of the Shepherds is distrust, hubris and betrayal, it becomes the duty of the sheep to recognize these signs and act accordingly. “The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one.” (Ps 13:1)
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Trump’s plan to fast-track coronavirus vaccines raises serious moral, safety issues: pro-life expert

Trump’s plan to fast-track coronavirus vaccines raises serious moral, safety issues: pro-life experts

PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , May 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – President Donald Trump unveiled an ambitious plan on Friday to fast-track the development and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine by January 2021 , tapping experts and resources in science , medicine , the military , and the private sector .
However , experts told LifeSiteNews that the plan raises serious ethical and safety questions which are of grave importance not only to pro-life citizens , but to everyone .
The president described the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” as a new “ Manhattan Project , ” which will bring together “ the best of American industry and innovation , the full resources of the United States government , and the excellence and precision of the United States military.
” “ Its objective is to finish developing and then to manufacture and distribute a proven coronavirus vaccine as fast as possible , ” he explained .
“ In addition , it will continue accelerating the development of diagnostics and breakthrough therapies.
” Trump said the government will speed up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they meet regulatory approvals .
“ This will eliminate any unnecessary delay and enable us to begin providing Americans with a proven vaccine the day our scientists say , ‘ We ’ re ready , we got it.
’ ” He said his administration has already narrowed the field of possible vaccine candidates from 100 to 14 .
LifeSiteNews has asked the White House to identify the 14 candidates but has yet to receive a reply .
Of towering concern for many pro-life Americans regarding the vaccines under rushed development is whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been derived from aborted fetal cells .
Unfortunately , Trump – who has been hailed as the “ most pro-life president in history ” – gave no indication during his presentation that his administration would explore only morally acceptable , non-abortion related vaccines .
Because the list of 14 vaccines being fast-tracked has not been made available , the public is unaware if moral issues might stand in the way of millions of pro-life individuals receiving any drug which might become the finalist in “ Operation Warp Speed.
” The pro-life group Children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpful list of all the COVID-19 vaccines in development , identifying which are morally produced and which are derived from aborted fetal cell lines .
Yet even if potential vaccines derived from aborted fetal cells were to be eliminated from contention in the race to combat the virus , issues of safety and efficacy remain .
A new vaccine is deemed to be “ safe ” for use by the general public if it doesn ’ t make test subjects sick , either with the disease it is meant to ward off or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , the drug thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant mothers to prevent morning sickness without having first undergone adequate testing , and produced disastrous results .
Thalidomide had previously been used to treat leprosy , but the drug ’ s manufacturer claimed it had found that it also helped alleviate nausea and vomiting for pregnant moms .
While a near disaster was prevented in the United States thanks to a Food and Drug Administration medical watchdog ’ s demand for better evidence of the drug ’ s safety from the manufacturer , thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe birth defects – arms and legs missing with hands and feet projecting directly from the shoulders and hips – before the drug was withdrawn for use by pregnant women .
While the drug evidently did help with morning sickness , it produced tragic unintended consequences .
“ Efficacy ” has to do with demonstrating that a new vaccine actually does inoculate people against the disease its manufacturer hopes it will combat .
This usually begins with animal testing before moving on to human trials .
Developing a vaccine at warp speed – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving faster than the speed of light – will involve omitting crucial steps .
“ Some of these vaccines which are being fast tracked by the FDA , and being pushed politically , are being fast tracked without being subject to any previous animal efficacy or safety trials , ” Dr. Alan Moy , Vice President of the John Paul II Medical Research Institute , told LifeSiteNews .
“ That means that if a patient gets vaccinated and subsequently gets exposed to COVID-19 , he or she could become much more sick than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinated , ” continued Dr. Moy .
“ It ’ s a huge issue.
” In order to ameliorate such tragic outcomes , the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) and the World Health Organization ( WHO ) are reportedly in talks about how to proceed with quickly performing “ challenge trials ” which use human volunteers instead of animal subjects to test the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines .
Volunteers would be given the vaccine in development and would then be exposed to the disease under study .
A polarizing debate has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vaccine trial , which is usually only conducted if there is some proven treatment already in existence .
Some politicians , anxious to find a cure as quickly as possible , are backing the idea of challenge trials .
“ Our situation in this pandemic is analogous to war , in which there is a long tradition of volunteers risking their health and lives on dangerous missions for which they understand the risks and are willing to do so in order to help save the lives of others , ” 35 U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
Renowned vaccinologist Stanley Plotkin and bioethicist Arthur Caplan are also backing the idea , writing in the journal Vaccine that the trial process “ normally takes months to years , during which [ the coronavirus ] will infect and possibly kill millions .
Acceleration of that standard process is necessary.
” In a statement to The Hill , FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum last month seemed to be opposed to the notion of proceeding at “ warp speed , ” warning that “ human challenge studies used to develop a COVID-19 vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be avoided with the use of animal models.
” Jeffrey Kahn , director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics , told The Hill he did not see how an institutional review board that oversees research would approve a human challenge trial for the coronavirus .
“ Consent can only do so much work , ” he said , raising the hypothetical of whether it would be ethical to take out someone ’ s heart and replace it with an experimental device simply because the person consented , according to The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only move science so fast , ” Dr. Moy told LifeSiteNews .
“ You can have a vaccine ready by the end of the year , but that doesn ’ t mean it ’ s going to work and it doesn ’ t mean the vaccine is going to be safe.
” Deborah Vinnedge , founder and President of Children of God for Life , echoed Dr. Moy ’ s concerns , noting that omitting clinical trials will leave a lot of important questions unanswered before unleashing a hastily developed vaccine on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is “ potential harm to millions of people if a future vaccine is not tested properly , ” she said .
“ Operation Warp Speed is making the necessary preparations to distribute these life-saving treatments at scale , so that millions of Americans will immediately have access to them , ” Trump said Friday .
“ This includes ramping up production of supplies needed for distribution such as cold chain storage , glass vials , needles , syringes , and more.
” “ When a vaccine is ready , the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and soldier required to help distribute it to the American people as quickly as possible , ” declared the president .
“ We have the mightiest military in the long history of humankind .
We have the best and most devoted workers ever to walk the face of the Earth .
And now we ’ re combining all of these amazing strengths for the most aggressive vaccine project in history , ” he said .
Amid wide concern over governments ’ curtailing of basic freedoms in response to the pandemic , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus could be made mandatory .
In just one week , over 430,000 people signed a LifeSiteNews petition addressed to world leaders opposing a mandatory coronavirus vaccination .
After President Trump briefly introduced the idea of mobilizing the military to help deploy the new vaccines , some were concerned that this hinted that the drug would be forcibly administered .
Earlier this week , one website asked , “ what will do when they come to door , and tell you it ’ s mandatory ?
” However , President Trump addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new vaccine is for those “ who want to get it .
Not everyone is going to want to get it.
” While none of the experts LifeSiteNews spoke with were concerned about forced vaccinations for the general population , Dr. Moy wondered if members of the military might be required to take the COVID-19 vaccination .
“ What if a soldier is Catholic or otherwise pro-life and they don ’ t want to take the vaccine ?
” asked Moy .
“ What will be done to them ?
Will they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Will they be kicked out of the military ?
” Dr. Moy suggested that Canadian citizens might face stronger pressure from their government to be vaccinated than U.S. citizens will face .
When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked by reporters April 28 whether a coronavirus would be mandatory , he said , `` As to what sort of vaccination protocols will be in place , we still have a fair bit of time to reflect on that in order to get it right.
” The danger of politicizing an infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now being undertaken , Deborah Vinnedge worries about “ the loss of medical autonomy of our own bodies and the loss of freedom , ” if an untested vaccine is urged upon the population .
Most of all , Vinnedge is concerned there will be fear-mongering during a presidential election year , and that a “ serious health issue ” will be “ turned into a political issue.
” The possibility that COVID-19 might be turned into a political football horrifies Vinnedge .
Pitting Republicans against Democrats over a health issue like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
The president named Dr. Mocef Slaoui , a world renowned immunologist who has helped create 14 new vaccines , as Chief Scientist heading Operation Warp Speed .
Four Star General Guss Perna , who as the current commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command is an expert in logistics , is Operation Warp Speed ’ s chief operating officer .

PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – President Donald Trump unveiled an ambitious plan on Friday to fast-track the development and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine by January 2021, tapping experts and resources in science, medicine, the military, and the private sector.
However, experts told LifeSiteNews that the plan raises serious ethical and safety questions which are of grave importance not only to pro-life citizens, but to everyone.
A new ‘Manhattan Project’
The president described the plan, dubbed “Operation Warp Speed,” as a new “Manhattan Project,” which will bring together “the best of American industry and innovation, the full resources of the United States government, and the excellence and precision of the United States military.”
“Its objective is to finish developing and then to manufacture and distribute a proven coronavirus vaccine as fast as possible,” he explained. “In addition, it will continue accelerating the development of diagnostics and breakthrough therapies.”
Trump said the government will speed up the process by investing in manufacturing the vaccines before they meet regulatory approvals. “This will eliminate any unnecessary delay and enable us to begin providing Americans with a proven vaccine the day our scientists say, ‘We’re ready, we got it.’”
He said his administration has already narrowed the field of possible vaccine candidates from 100 to 14. LifeSiteNews has asked the White House to identify the 14 candidates but has yet to receive a reply.
Moral and safety issues with fast-tracked vaccines
Of towering concern for many pro-life Americans regarding the vaccines under rushed development is whether or not the drugs in question have been derived from aborted fetal cells.
Unfortunately, Trump – who has been hailed as the “most pro-life president in history” – gave no indication during his presentation that his administration would explore only morally acceptable, non-abortion related vaccines.
Because the list of 14 vaccines being fast-tracked has not been made available, the public is unaware if moral issues might stand in the way of millions of pro-life individuals receiving any drug which might become the finalist in “Operation Warp Speed.”
The pro-life group Children of God for Life has published a helpful list of all the COVID-19 vaccines in development, identifying which are morally produced and which are derived from aborted fetal cell lines.
Yet even if potential vaccines derived from aborted fetal cells were to be eliminated from contention in the race to combat the virus, issues of safety and efficacy remain.
A new vaccine is deemed to be “safe” for use by the general public if it doesn’t make test subjects sick, either with the disease it is meant to ward off or through serious side effects.
Sixty years ago, the drug thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant mothers to prevent morning sickness without having first undergone adequate testing, and produced disastrous results.
Thalidomide had previously been used to treat leprosy, but the drug’s manufacturer claimed it had found that it also helped alleviate nausea and vomiting for pregnant moms.
While a near disaster was prevented in the United States thanks to a Food and Drug Administration medical watchdog’s demand for better evidence of the drug’s safety from the manufacturer, thousands of babies were born in Europe with severe birth defects – arms and legs missing with hands and feet projecting directly from the shoulders and hips – before the drug was withdrawn for use by pregnant women.
While the drug evidently did help with morning sickness, it produced tragic unintended consequences.
“Efficacy” has to do with demonstrating that a new vaccine actually does inoculate people against the disease its manufacturer hopes it will combat.
This usually begins with animal testing before moving on to human trials. Developing a vaccine at warp speed – a term borrowed from Star Trek for moving faster than the speed of light – will involve omitting crucial steps.
“Some of these vaccines which are being fast tracked by the FDA, and being pushed politically, are being fast tracked without being subject to any previous animal efficacy or safety trials,” Dr. Alan Moy, Vice President of the John Paul II Medical Research Institute, told LifeSiteNews.
“That means that if a patient gets vaccinated and subsequently gets exposed to COVID-19, he or she could become much more sick than if he or she had not been vaccinated,” continued Dr. Moy. “It’s a huge issue.”
In order to ameliorate such tragic outcomes, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are reportedly in talks about how to proceed with quickly performing “challenge trials” which use human volunteers instead of animal subjects to test the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
Volunteers would be given the vaccine in development and would then be exposed to the disease under study.
A polarizing debate has erupted among medical researchers about this type of vaccine trial, which is usually only conducted if there is some proven treatment already in existence.
Some politicians, anxious to find a cure as quickly as possible, are backing the idea of challenge trials.
“Our situation in this pandemic is analogous to war, in which there is a long tradition of volunteers risking their health and lives on dangerous missions for which they understand the risks and are willing to do so in order to help save the lives of others,” 35 U.S. House lawmakers wrote to the FDA last month.
Renowned vaccinologist Stanley Plotkin and bioethicist Arthur Caplan are also backing the idea, writing in the journal Vaccine that the trial process “normally takes months to years, during which [the coronavirus] will infect and possibly kill millions. Acceleration of that standard process is necessary.”
In a statement to The Hill, FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum last month seemed to be opposed to the notion of proceeding at “warp speed,” warning that “human challenge studies used to develop a COVID-19 vaccine may present ethical and feasibility issues that can be avoided with the use of animal models.”
Jeffrey Kahn, director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, told The Hill he did not see how an institutional review board that oversees research would approve a human challenge trial for the coronavirus.
“Consent can only do so much work,” he said, raising the hypothetical of whether it would be ethical to take out someone’s heart and replace it with an experimental device simply because the person consented, according to The Hill’s report.
“You can only move science so fast,” Dr. Moy told LifeSiteNews. “You can have a vaccine ready by the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to work and it doesn’t mean the vaccine is going to be safe.”
Deborah Vinnedge, founder and President of Children of God for Life, echoed Dr. Moy’s concerns, noting that omitting clinical trials will leave a lot of important questions unanswered before unleashing a hastily developed vaccine on the public, with possible disastrous consequences.
There is “potential harm to millions of people if a future vaccine is not tested properly,” she said.
Military mobilization
“Operation Warp Speed is making the necessary preparations to distribute these life-saving treatments at scale, so that millions of Americans will immediately have access to them,” Trump said Friday. “This includes ramping up production of supplies needed for distribution such as cold chain storage, glass vials, needles, syringes, and more.”
“When a vaccine is ready, the U.S. government will deploy every plane, truck, and soldier required to help distribute it to the American people as quickly as possible,” declared the president.
“We have the mightiest military in the long history of humankind. We have the best and most devoted workers ever to walk the face of the Earth. And now we’re combining all of these amazing strengths for the most aggressive vaccine project in history,” he said.
Amid wide concern over governments’ curtailing of basic freedoms in response to the pandemic, many have feared the possibility that vaccination for the virus could be made mandatory. In just one week, over 430,000 people signed a LifeSiteNews petition addressed to world leaders opposing a mandatory coronavirus vaccination.
After President Trump briefly introduced the idea of mobilizing the military to help deploy the new vaccines, some were concerned that this hinted that the drug would be forcibly administered. Earlier this week, one website asked, “what will you do when they come to your door, and tell you it’s mandatory?”
However, President Trump addressed such concerns on Friday, saying that the new vaccine is for those “who want to get it. Not everyone is going to want to get it.”
While none of the experts LifeSiteNews spoke with were concerned about forced vaccinations for the general population, Dr. Moy wondered if members of the military might be required to take the COVID-19 vaccination.
“What if a soldier is Catholic or otherwise pro-life and they don’t want to take the vaccine?” asked Moy. “What will be done to them? Will they be allowed to exercise their moral conscience? Will they be kicked out of the military?”
Dr. Moy suggested that Canadian citizens might face stronger pressure from their government to be vaccinated than U.S. citizens will face.
When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked by reporters April 28 whether a coronavirus would be mandatory, he said, “As to what sort of vaccination protocols will be in place, we still have a fair bit of time to reflect on that in order to get it right.”
The danger of politicizing an infectious disease
In view of the herculean effort now being undertaken, Deborah Vinnedge worries about “the loss of medical autonomy of our own bodies and the loss of freedom,” if an untested vaccine is urged upon the population.
Most of all, Vinnedge is concerned there will be fear-mongering during a presidential election year, and that a “serious health issue” will be “turned into a political issue.”
The possibility that COVID-19 might be turned into a political football horrifies Vinnedge.
Pitting Republicans against Democrats over a health issue like this at this time would be “sinister,” she said.
The president named Dr. Mocef Slaoui, a world renowned immunologist who has helped create 14 new vaccines, as Chief Scientist heading Operation Warp Speed.
Four Star General Guss Perna, who as the current commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command is an expert in logistics, is Operation Warp Speed’s chief operating officer.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Facebook announces progress in developing AI to silence ‘hate speech’

May 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Facebook recently announced a new set of advances in development of artificial intelligence systems to police “ hateful ” conduct on its platform , despite the social media giant ’ s checkered history of algorithm-based content moderation flagging mainstream speech .
Facebook claims in a May 12 blog post that its current AI “ proactively detects 88.8 percent of the hate speech content we remove , ” and that it “ took action on 9.6 million pieces of content for violating our hate speech policies ” in just the first three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through giving their technology a “ deeper semantic understanding of language , so our systems detect more subtle and complex meanings ” ; and “ broadening how our tools understand content , so that our systems look at the image , text , comments , and other elements holistically.
” The post goes on to detail the challenges of programming AI to capture the various nuances of human communication , and the technical aspects of bringing their systems closer to doing so without actual humans reading the content in question .
“ Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate speech , but it is challenging to detect hate speech in all its forms ; across hundreds of languages , regions , and countries ; and in cases where people are deliberately trying to avoid being caught , ” the company says .
“ As we improve our systems to address these challenges , it ’ s crucial to get it right .
Mistakenly classifying content as hate speech can mean preventing people from expressing themselves and engaging with others .
Counterspeech — a response to hate speech that may include the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to classify correctly because it can look so similar to the hate speech itself.
” “ These challenges are far from solved , and our systems will never be perfect , ” Facebook concludes .
“ But by breaking new ground in research , we hope to make further progress in using AI to detect hate speech , remove it quickly , and keep people safe on our platforms.
” However , the premises that social media users need to be “ kept safe ” from offensive speech , or that efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain hotly disputed .
For years , Facebook has been criticized for suppressing or otherwise discriminating against many right-of-center pages and posts , while multiple analyses have found that Facebook ’ s algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites .
Last year , an insider revealed that Facebook “ deboosts ” traffic to several mainstream conservative sites .
Facebook often reverses such censorship actions after sufficient media coverage pressures them to do so , insisting they were isolated errors rather than part of a willful pattern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen , and conservatives say they do not trust Facebook ’ s content Oversight Board , which is largely staffed by left-wing figures , to protect their freedom of speech .
Most recently , Facebook has made itself an arbiter of “ misinformation ” and “ harmful ” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak , with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the interests of the World Health Organization , which has been accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world .

The social media platform says it now detects and removes 88.8 percent of what it considers 'hate speech.'
May 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Facebook recently announced a new set of advances in development of artificial intelligence systems to police “hateful” conduct on its platform, despite the social media giant’s checkered history of algorithm-based content moderation flagging mainstream speech.
Facebook claims in a May 12 blog post that its current AI “proactively detects 88.8 percent of the hate speech content we remove,” and that it “took action on 9.6 million pieces of content for violating our hate speech policies” in just the first three months of 2020. This was made possible through giving their technology a “deeper semantic understanding of language, so our systems detect more subtle and complex meanings”; and “broadening how our tools understand content, so that our systems look at the image, text, comments, and other elements holistically.”
The post goes on to detail the challenges of programming AI to capture the various nuances of human communication, and the technical aspects of bringing their systems closer to doing so without actual humans reading the content in question.
“Facebook has established clear rules on what constitutes hate speech, but it is challenging to detect hate speech in all its forms; across hundreds of languages, regions, and countries; and in cases where people are deliberately trying to avoid being caught,” the company says. “As we improve our systems to address these challenges, it’s crucial to get it right. Mistakenly classifying content as hate speech can mean preventing people from expressing themselves and engaging with others. Counterspeech — a response to hate speech that may include the same offensive terms — is particularly challenging to classify correctly because it can look so similar to the hate speech itself.”
“These challenges are far from solved, and our systems will never be perfect,” Facebook concludes. “But by breaking new ground in research, we hope to make further progress in using AI to detect hate speech, remove it quickly, and keep people safe on our platforms.”
However, the premises that social media users need to be “kept safe” from offensive speech, or that efforts to do so are a net positive, remain hotly disputed.
For years, Facebook has been criticized for suppressing or otherwise discriminating against many right-of-center pages and posts, while multiple analyses have found that Facebook’s algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites. Last year, an insider revealed that Facebook “deboosts” traffic to several mainstream conservative sites.
Facebook often reverses such censorship actions after sufficient media coverage pressures them to do so, insisting they were isolated errors rather than part of a willful pattern. Still, such incidents continue to happen, and conservatives say they do not trust Facebook’s content Oversight Board, which is largely staffed by left-wing figures, to protect their freedom of speech.
Most recently, Facebook has made itself an arbiter of “misinformation” and “harmful” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak, with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the interests of the World Health Organization, which has been accused of covering for the Chinese government’s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--USAID head to UN Secretary General: Stop peddling abortion as COVID-19 relief

NEW YORK , May 18 , 2020 ( C-Fam ) – The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development told the UN Secretary General to stop treating abortion as “ essential ” humanitarian relief during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The letter is unprecedented in its direct criticism of the UN bureaucracy ’ s promotion of abortion as humanitarian aid .
Acting Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development John Barsa sent UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres a letter in which he corrected Guterres for “ cynically placing the provision of ‘ sexual and reproductive health services ’ on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , essential health care , malnutrition , shelter , and sanitation.
” In the letter , Barsa asked Guterres to remove references to “ sexual and reproductive health ” from the UN ’ s COVID-19 policies and to “ drop the provision of abortion as an essential component of the UN ’ s priorities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
” The top U.S. aid official ’ s criticism was revealed today in an unprecedented letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres .
The letter is an answer to the UN ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , published by Guterres last month , and the appeal he has made for nearly $ 7 billion to fund it .
“ The UN should not use this crisis as an opportunity to advance access to abortion as an essential service , ” warned Barsa , rebuking Guterres for promoting “ the widespread distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and abortion supplies , and for the promotion of abortion in local country settings.
” Barsa said the UN should focus on “ life-saving interventions ” and the “ most urgent , concrete needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential healthcare ” and addressing “ food shortages ” as examples .
“ To achieve global unity toward this goal , it is essential that the UN ’ s response to the pandemic avoid creating controversy , ” Barsa insisted , explaining that the term “ sexual and reproductive health ” is controversial and ambiguous .
UN agencies should be guided by “ clear language and take clear action to address the real needs of vulnerable people around the world without promoting abortion ” Barsa wrote .
The USAID chief highlighted the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has released to fight the pandemic , of which $ 45.3 million went to UN agencies .
This is in addition to the $ 3.5 billion the U.S. contributed as a matter of course to UN agencies in 2019 .
“ The UN should not intimidate or coerce Member States that are committed to the right to life , ” Barsa wrote .
“ To use the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification to pressure governments to change their laws is an affront to the autonomy of each society to determine its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter comes at a key moment in UN negotiations over resolutions bearing on the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations is negotiating an annual resolution on humanitarian work of the UN system adding focused interventions on the pandemic .
The UN Secretary General is asking UN member states to endorse his plan and fund it in the humanitarian resolution .
The General Assembly is also negotiating two resolutions about the effect of the pandemic on women , which insert abortion-related policies into the UN ’ s response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to “ gender-based violence ” that includes abortion .
The purpose of the letter , sources told the Friday Fax , was to be public and widely distributed among member States .
It is not clear if the letter will be circulated as a document of the General Assembly by the U.S .
Ambassador to the United Nations , Kelly Craft .

'The UN should not use this crisis as an opportunity to advance access to abortion as an essential service.'
NEW YORK, May 18, 2020 (C-Fam) – The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development told the UN Secretary General to stop treating abortion as “essential” humanitarian relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter is unprecedented in its direct criticism of the UN bureaucracy’s promotion of abortion as humanitarian aid.
Acting Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development John Barsa sent UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres a letter in which he corrected Guterres for “cynically placing the provision of ‘sexual and reproductive health services’ on the same level of importance as food-insecurity, essential health care, malnutrition, shelter, and sanitation.”
In the letter, Barsa asked Guterres to remove references to “sexual and reproductive health” from the UN’s COVID-19 policies and to “drop the provision of abortion as an essential component of the UN’s priorities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The top U.S. aid official’s criticism was revealed today in an unprecedented letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The letter is an answer to the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan for the COVID-19 pandemic, published by Guterres last month, and the appeal he has made for nearly $7 billion to fund it.
“The UN should not use this crisis as an opportunity to advance access to abortion as an essential service,” warned Barsa, rebuking Guterres for promoting “the widespread distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and abortion supplies, and for the promotion of abortion in local country settings.”
Barsa said the UN should focus on “life-saving interventions” and the “most urgent, concrete needs” instead. He cited providing “essential healthcare” and addressing “food shortages” as examples.
“To achieve global unity toward this goal, it is essential that the UN’s response to the pandemic avoid creating controversy,” Barsa insisted, explaining that the term “sexual and reproductive health” is controversial and ambiguous. UN agencies should be guided by “clear language and take clear action to address the real needs of vulnerable people around the world without promoting abortion” Barsa wrote.
The USAID chief highlighted the $650.7 million in foreign aid the Trump administration has released to fight the pandemic, of which $45.3 million went to UN agencies. This is in addition to the $3.5 billion the U.S. contributed as a matter of course to UN agencies in 2019.
“The UN should not intimidate or coerce Member States that are committed to the right to life,” Barsa wrote. “To use the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification to pressure governments to change their laws is an affront to the autonomy of each society to determine its own national policies on health care.”
The letter comes at a key moment in UN negotiations over resolutions bearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations is negotiating an annual resolution on humanitarian work of the UN system adding focused interventions on the pandemic.
The UN Secretary General is asking UN member states to endorse his plan and fund it in the humanitarian resolution.
The General Assembly is also negotiating two resolutions about the effect of the pandemic on women, which insert abortion-related policies into the UN’s response to the pandemic, including UN programming related to “gender-based violence” that includes abortion.
The purpose of the letter, sources told the Friday Fax, was to be public and widely distributed among member States. It is not clear if the letter will be circulated as a document of the General Assembly by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft.
Reprinted with permission from C-FAM.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Learning your faith in bite sized pieces

Formerly Heart to Heart with Mother Miriam , Mother Miriam Live brings you inspiration and solutions for life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Miriam is a Catholic nun on a mission to bring hope to a world that @ @ @ @ @ let her share that hope and joy with you !
To tune into Mother Miriam @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page here every Monday to Friday at 10am .

To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate here.
Watch Mother Miriam's Live show from 5.18.2020. Today, Mother continues to go through drills to help listeners learn and deepen their faith. She focuses on the 10 commandments and days of fasting.
You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page.
Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live here.


lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Canadians want sex-selective abortions banned, MP tells Virtual March for Life

Tell Trudeau Liberals : Do n't discriminate against Christians on COVID-19 relief funding !
Sign the petition here .
TORONTO , May 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Saskatchewan Member of Parliament Cathay Wagantall introduced a bill to ban sex-selective abortion because the majority of Canadians are “ absolutely against ” the practice , she said in an interview during Thursday ’ s Virtual March for Life and Rally .
According to a poll in the National Post , “ 84 percent of Canadians said that this should be illegal , ” Wagantall explained .
“ So in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where our country is so divided… this , I felt was an opportunity for us to work together across the whole nation on an issue that clearly the majority of Canadians agree with , ” she said .
Wagantall was among many prominent pro-life guests and one of nine Conservative MPs who sent video greetings during an online rally on day four of last week ’ s virtual March for Life organized by Campaign Life Coalition ( CLC ) , Canada ’ s national pro-life political lobbying group .
The March for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life event , but coronavirus pandemic restrictions compelled Campaign Life to move the 23rd annual March online .
The event marks May 14 , 1969 , the day Pierre Trudeau ’ s Liberal government passed an omnibus bill legalizing abortion under certain circumstances .
The Supreme Court of Canada struck down that law in January 1988 , leaving Canada with no legislation on abortion .
Most Canadians are “ appalled ” when they learn this is the case , Wagantall told Campaign Life Coalition ’ s Josie Luetke .
Canadians are also shocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada .
“ There ’ s been research done in the last three , four years specifically in this regard and the Canadian Medical Association has come out saying actually this is a growing problem in Canada and that it needs to be addressed , ” she said .
Her Bill C-233 , introduced February 26 , will make it a crime for any physician to knowingly carry out an abortion solely because of the sex of the unborn baby .
Wagantall also introduced Cassie and Molly ’ s Law in 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crime , but it was voted down by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ’ s then-majority government .
“ The advantage I have with this bill is that , you know , our government touts that they are about equality , equality between men and women , boys and girls , and so that ’ s the premise of this , ” Wagantall said .
“ If you are truly about equality and not discrimination against young babies in the womb that are girls , then you have to support this , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” Campaign Life ’ s Luetke said she was looking forward to “ our feminist prime minister trying to defend his position on ... sex-selective ” abortions .
She urged pro-life advocates to sign the Campaign Life petition in support of Bill C-233 , here .
She also asked them to write to their MPs “ and point out this bill has popular support .
We should be able to say this type of abortion is abhorrent , at the very least.
” Eight Conservative MPs also sent greetings to the Virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MP for Peace River-Westlock , Alberta , pointed out that 300 preborn children are killed every day in Canada .
“ Who will speak for the preborn ?
You will and I will…There are more pro-life MPs than ever before .
If we work together , we will be able to protect the preborn.
” Derek Sloan , MP for Hastings-Lennox-Addington , Ontario , who is running for Conservative leader , promised that if “ elected as leader , there will be debates , there will be discussion , there will be votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He told pro-life advocates : “ You are doing the right thing to march today for life , you ’ re doing the right thing to stand up to those who are unable to stand up for themselves.
” Sloan also talked with CLC political operations director Jack Fonseca about his 12-point pro-life plan ( see related story here ) .
Garnet Genuis , MP for Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan , Alberta , spoke about the need for religious freedoms to be respected .
“ Diversity is built on a foundation of freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we see threats to freedom of conscience and religion in government today… Members of Parliament need to stand up for those principles.
” Rosemarie Falk , MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster , Saskatchewan , encouraged everyone to keep the faith and stand firm in their convictions .
“ Thank you to each of you for your commitment to the sanctity of life , from conception to natural death .
And every minute in between , life has value….Together we can shift culture and change the narrative.
” Michael Barrett , MP for Leeds-Greenville-Thousands Islands and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that “ the dignity of the human person must be the foundational block of the truly right and just society .
And I ask you to stand with us in support of the right for life for every Canadian from conception to natural death.
” Ted Falk , MP for Provencher , Manitoba , spoke about the tragedy of abortions .
“ In any given year some 100,000 Canadian lives are ended prematurely in the womb .
Their deaths are not the result or threat or disease but of the unwillingness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights of unborn Canadians.
” Tamara Jansen , MP for Cloverdale-Langley City , British Columbia , said she was honored to be a part of the march .
“ We need to keep going and ensure that our country has a robust palliative care system so that all Canadians can live with dignity till their natural death.
” Kelly Block , MP for Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek , Saskatchewan , spoke about how the march continues despite the pandemic .
“ It continues because we all care deeply about the value and dignity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural death .
”

'This is a growing problem in Canada...it needs to be addressed.'
Tell Trudeau Liberals: Don’t discriminate against Christians on COVID-19 relief funding! Sign the petition here.
TORONTO, May 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Saskatchewan Member of Parliament Cathay Wagantall introduced a bill to ban sex-selective abortion because the majority of Canadians are “absolutely against” the practice, she said in an interview during Thursday’s Virtual March for Life and Rally.
According to a poll in the National Post, “84 percent of Canadians said that this should be illegal,” Wagantall explained.
“So in the environment we’re in right now, where our country is so divided… this, I felt was an opportunity for us to work together across the whole nation on an issue that clearly the majority of Canadians agree with,” she said.
Wagantall was among many prominent pro-life guests and one of nine Conservative MPs who sent video greetings during an online rally on day four of last week’s virtual March for Life organized by Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), Canada’s national pro-life political lobbying group.
The March for Life is Canada’s largest annual pro-life event, but coronavirus pandemic restrictions compelled Campaign Life to move the 23rd annual March online.
The event marks May 14, 1969, the day Pierre Trudeau’s Liberal government passed an omnibus bill legalizing abortion under certain circumstances. The Supreme Court of Canada struck down that law in January 1988, leaving Canada with no legislation on abortion.
Most Canadians are “appalled” when they learn this is the case, Wagantall told Campaign Life Coalition’s Josie Luetke.
Canadians are also shocked to learn sex-selective abortion is happening in Canada.
“There’s been research done in the last three, four years specifically in this regard and the Canadian Medical Association has come out saying actually this is a growing problem in Canada and that it needs to be addressed,” she said.
Her Bill C-233, introduced February 26, will make it a crime for any physician to knowingly carry out an abortion solely because of the sex of the unborn baby.
Wagantall also introduced Cassie and Molly’s Law in 2016, which sought legal protection for unborn victims of crime, but it was voted down by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s then-majority government.
“The advantage I have with this bill is that, you know, our government touts that they are about equality, equality between men and women, boys and girls, and so that’s the premise of this,” Wagantall said.
“If you are truly about equality and not discrimination against young babies in the womb that are girls, then you have to support this, and Canadians are calling on us to support it.”
Campaign Life’s Luetke said she was looking forward to “our feminist prime minister trying to defend his position on…sex-selective” abortions.
She urged pro-life advocates to sign the Campaign Life petition in support of Bill C-233, here. She also asked them to write to their MPs “and point out this bill has popular support. We should be able to say this type of abortion is abhorrent, at the very least.”
Eight Conservative MPs also sent greetings to the Virtual March for Life.
Arnold Viersen, MP for Peace River-Westlock, Alberta, pointed out that 300 preborn children are killed every day in Canada. “Who will speak for the preborn? You will and I will…There are more pro-life MPs than ever before. If we work together, we will be able to protect the preborn.”
Derek Sloan, MP for Hastings-Lennox-Addington, Ontario, who is running for Conservative leader, promised that if “elected as leader, there will be debates, there will be discussion, there will be votes on all aspects and issues surrounding abortion.” He told pro-life advocates: “You are doing the right thing to march today for life, you’re doing the right thing to stand up to those who are unable to stand up for themselves.” Sloan also talked with CLC political operations director Jack Fonseca about his 12-point pro-life plan (see related story here).
Garnet Genuis, MP for Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, spoke about the need for religious freedoms to be respected. “Diversity is built on a foundation of freedom,” he said, but “we see threats to freedom of conscience and religion in government today… Members of Parliament need to stand up for those principles.”
Rosemarie Falk, MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, encouraged everyone to keep the faith and stand firm in their convictions. “Thank you to each of you for your commitment to the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death. And every minute in between, life has value….Together we can shift culture and change the narrative.”
Michael Barrett, MP for Leeds-Greenville-Thousands Islands and Rideau Lakes, British Columbia, pointed out that “the dignity of the human person must be the foundational block of the truly right and just society. And I ask you to stand with us in support of the right for life for every Canadian from conception to natural death.”
Ted Falk, MP for Provencher, Manitoba, spoke about the tragedy of abortions. “In any given year some 100,000 Canadian lives are ended prematurely in the womb. Their deaths are not the result or threat or disease but of the unwillingness of Canada’s leaders to protect the rights of unborn Canadians.”
Tamara Jansen, MP for Cloverdale-Langley City, British Columbia, said she was honored to be a part of the march. “We need to keep going and ensure that our country has a robust palliative care system so that all Canadians can live with dignity till their natural death.”
Kelly Block, MP for Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek, Saskatchewan, spoke about how the march continues despite the pandemic. “It continues because we all care deeply about the value and dignity of each human life, from conception to natural death.”
Anthony Murdoch contributed to this report.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Trudeau gov’t has similarities with China’s communist regime: Former Canadian ambassador to China

TORONTO , May 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The “ fundamental dishonesty ” of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ’ s governing is reminiscent of how China ’ s Communist regime operates , says a former Canadian ambassador to China .
David Mulroney told Canada ’ s Virtual Rally and March for Life on Thursday that two things strike him about Trudeau ’ s actions .
“ One is the fundamental dishonesty , and just as with the Chinese , where they use euphemisms , they call things by other names to pretend they ’ re not doing what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the same thing here in Canada , ” said Mulroney .
“ So that under rubric of the ‘ feminist foreign policy , ’ all kinds of things are happening , including things that are very detrimental , of course , to…women and girls , ” Mulroney told Campaign Life Coalition ’ s Josie Luetke in a live interview .
His second concern is the Trudeau government ’ s “ radical attack on freedom of speech , freedom of belief , and freedom of religion.
” Mulroney noticed that particularly when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were ideologically compliant with the government ’ s policies when it came to abortion and when it came to ideas about gender ” in order to get summer job grants , he said .
“ I never thought that I would see that , ” he added .
“ I ’ m much more worried about it now and I see it coming from our own government.
” Canada ’ s ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012 , and president of St. Michael ’ s University from 2015 to 2018 , Mulroney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guests featured during the three-hour Virtual March for Life organized by Canada ’ s national pro-life political lobbying group Campaign Life Coalition .
The March for Life is Canada ’ s biggest annual pro-life event and marks the legalization of abortion on May 14 , 1969 .
Since then an estimated four million unborn children have been killed by abortion in Canada .
This year Campaign Life hosted its first ever Virtual March for Life with the 23rd annual march cancelled because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions .
Indeed , the pandemic , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused people around the world “ to realize how dangerous the Chinese Communist Party is , ” Luetke observed .
Confirming the claims of many critics , a leaked dossier by the “ Five Eyes ” intelligence alliance — the United States , Canada , United Kingdom , Australia , and New Zealand — found that President Xi Jinping ’ s regime covered up the outbreak and lied about human-to-human transmission of the virus , thus allowing its catastrophic spread around the globe .
The report also blasted the World Health Organization ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s false claims .
Mulroney spoke to Luetke about China ’ s infamous “ one-child ” population control program , and the state of religious freedom there .
“ What I noticed in China , and unfortunately I never thought I ’ d have to say this but I notice it in Canada , too , is that there ’ s such a fundamental connection between respect for religious belief , religious freedom , having a robust religious culture and a defense of life , ” he said .
Just as Canada “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Chinese began to build their family planning and abortion campaigns in the 1970s , ” Mulroney said .
The “ shocking ” thing was that “ China was seen as the big objective of the international abortion lobby and industry , ” and foreign advisors — Ford Foundation , Rockefeller Foundation , United Nations , International Planned Parenthood — influenced Beijing in implementing its brutal one-child policy , which by the 1980s was “ at full steam , ” he said .
“ They were aborting massive numbers of children every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to tell people that it was voluntary , that it was helping China build its economy .
It was nothing of the kind , ” observed Mulroney .
“ And when finally stories began to emerge of coerced abortion , of forced abortion , of the violence done against women , and of course , against millions and millions of fetuses , the international lobby got very silent.
” There was also silence about the “ growing recognition of the huge impact of sex-selective abortion ” which has “ basically blighted China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s now a country with a statistically abnormally large population of men , ” Mulroney said .
“ It ’ s led to things like the trafficking of women , the importation of brides , ” and the creation of “ these very sad families , where you have a husband and a wife , possibly one child , supporting their parents and grandparents , ” he added .
“ So it ’ s been a disaster for China that no one will talk about , ” he said .
“ Canadian supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” Moreover , China “ shows no signs ” of learning from this , and is one of the countries encouraging an “ international campaign against life ” — as is Canada ’ s government , he said .
Trudeau ’ s then-foreign minister , Chrystia Freeland , said in 2017 that their government puts abortion “ at the core of our foreign policy , ” and the Liberals have pledged $ 7.1 billion by 2030 to promote and provide abortion in the developing world as part of its international aid .

TORONTO, May 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The “fundamental dishonesty” of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s governing is reminiscent of how China’s Communist regime operates, says a former Canadian ambassador to China.
David Mulroney told Canada’s Virtual Rally and March for Life on Thursday that two things strike him about Trudeau’s actions.
“One is the fundamental dishonesty, and just as with the Chinese, where they use euphemisms, they call things by other names to pretend they’re not doing what they’re actually doing, we see the same thing here in Canada,” said Mulroney.
“So that under rubric of the ‘feminist foreign policy,’ all kinds of things are happening, including things that are very detrimental, of course, to…women and girls,” Mulroney told Campaign Life Coalition’s Josie Luetke in a live interview.
His second concern is the Trudeau government’s “radical attack on freedom of speech, freedom of belief, and freedom of religion.”
Mulroney noticed that particularly when the Liberals required employers to attest they “were ideologically compliant with the government’s policies when it came to abortion and when it came to ideas about gender” in order to get summer job grants, he said.
“I never thought that I would see that,” he added. “I’m much more worried about it now and I see it coming from our own government.”
Canada’s ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012, and president of St. Michael’s University from 2015 to 2018, Mulroney was among a roster of prominent pro-life guests featured during the three-hour Virtual March for Life organized by Canada’s national pro-life political lobbying group Campaign Life Coalition.
The March for Life is Canada’s biggest annual pro-life event and marks the legalization of abortion on May 14, 1969. Since then an estimated four million unborn children have been killed by abortion in Canada.
Global abortion industry pushed China on ‘one-child’ policy
This year Campaign Life hosted its first ever Virtual March for Life with the 23rd annual march cancelled because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
Indeed, the pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, has caused people around the world “to realize how dangerous the Chinese Communist Party is,” Luetke observed.
Confirming the claims of many critics, a leaked dossier by the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance — the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand — found that President Xi Jinping’s regime covered up the outbreak and lied about human-to-human transmission of the virus, thus allowing its catastrophic spread around the globe.
The report also blasted the World Health Organization (WHO) for uncritically repeating Beijing’s false claims.
Mulroney spoke to Luetke about China’s infamous “one-child” population control program, and the state of religious freedom there.
“What I noticed in China, and unfortunately I never thought I’d have to say this but I notice it in Canada, too, is that there’s such a fundamental connection between respect for religious belief, religious freedom, having a robust religious culture and a defense of life,” he said.
“And China, unfortunately, offers neither.”
Just as Canada “opened its door to abortion in 1969, the Chinese began to build their family planning and abortion campaigns in the 1970s,” Mulroney said.
The “shocking” thing was that “China was seen as the big objective of the international abortion lobby and industry,” and foreign advisors — Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, United Nations, International Planned Parenthood — influenced Beijing in implementing its brutal one-child policy, which by the 1980s was “at full steam,” he said.
One-child policy leads to sex-selective abortion
“They were aborting massive numbers of children every year and the international backers of this like to tell people that it was voluntary, that it was helping China build its economy. It was nothing of the kind,” observed Mulroney.
“And when finally stories began to emerge of coerced abortion, of forced abortion, of the violence done against women, and of course, against millions and millions of fetuses, the international lobby got very silent.”
There was also silence about the “growing recognition of the huge impact of sex-selective abortion” which has “basically blighted China’s economic progress. It’s now a country with a statistically abnormally large population of men,” Mulroney said.
“It’s led to things like the trafficking of women, the importation of brides,” and the creation of “these very sad families, where you have a husband and a wife, possibly one child, supporting their parents and grandparents,” he added.
“So it’s been a disaster for China that no one will talk about,” he said. “Canadian supporters of abortion did not want to hear it.”
Moreover, China “shows no signs” of learning from this, and is one of the countries encouraging an “international campaign against life” — as is Canada’s government, he said.
Trudeau’s then-foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, said in 2017 that their government puts abortion “at the core of our foreign policy,” and the Liberals have pledged $7.1 billion by 2030 to promote and provide abortion in the developing world as part of its international aid.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Last chance to register for 2020 Rome Life Forum: Coronavirus in light of Fatima

May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — LifeSiteNews in conjunction with Voice of the Family is hosting the 2020 Rome Life Forum online as a virtual conference for free starting Wednesday , May 20 and running through Friday , May 22 .
Click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com .
The theme of this year ’ s conference , the seventh such undertaking , is “ Coronavirus in Light of Fatima : A Tragedy and A Source of Hope.
” Speakers will focus on whether the COVID-19 pandemic could be part of the chastisement , preceding the Triumph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Our Blessed Mother spoke about in Fatima in 1917 ( talks listed below ) .
The Rome Life Forum was started in 2014 , and has hosted some of the most prominent clergy and lay Catholics in the world .
For LifeSite ’ s coverage of previous Rome Life Forums , click the following : 2019 , 2018 , 2017 , 2016 , 2015 , 2014 .
This year ’ s conference , which will feature a question and answer period with each speaker , will be streamed online at no cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For more information and a full conference schedule , and to submit your questions to the speakers , visit www.RomeLifeForum.com .
• Cardinal Raymond Burke , Prefect Emeritus , Apostolic Signatura , “ Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima ” • Bishop Athanasius Schneider , Astana , Kazakhstan , “ Repenting of the sins against the Holy Eucharist ” • John-Henry Westen , Co-founder and editor-in-chief LifeSite News , “ The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today ?
” • Fr .
Linus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Family Life International , “ Reforming our lives according to Our Lady ’ s call in Fatima.
” • John Smeaton , Society for the Protection of Unborn Children , Moderator • Fr .
Serafino Lanzetta , Catholic author and pastor in the Diocese of Portsmouth , UK , “ Co-redemption and Marian consecration in the light of the Fatima message for our times ” The conference schedule is as follows : • 12:20pm , Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima , Cardinal Burke • 1:00pm , Co-redemption and Marian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message for our times , Fr .
Serafino Lanzetta • 12:50pm , The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today ?
, John-Henry Westen • 12:10pm , Reforming our lives according to Our Lady ’ s call in Fatima , Fr .
Linus Clovis • 12:50pm , Repenting of the sins against the Holy Spirit , Bishop Athanasius Schneider To watch the 2020 Rome Life Forum , click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com .
If you ’ d like to make sure this year ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s are able to be held , please click here to donate : https : //give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife

This year's online virtual conference will be held Wednesday, May 20th through Friday, May 22nd.
May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — LifeSiteNews in conjunction with Voice of the Family is hosting the 2020 Rome Life Forum online as a virtual conference for free starting Wednesday, May 20 and running through Friday, May 22. Click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com.
The theme of this year’s conference, the seventh such undertaking, is “Coronavirus in Light of Fatima: A Tragedy and A Source of Hope.” Speakers will focus on whether the COVID-19 pandemic could be part of the chastisement, preceding the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that Our Blessed Mother spoke about in Fatima in 1917 (talks listed below).
The Rome Life Forum was started in 2014, and has hosted some of the most prominent clergy and lay Catholics in the world. For LifeSite’s coverage of previous Rome Life Forums, click the following: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.
This year’s conference, which will feature a question and answer period with each speaker, will be streamed online at no cost beginning May 20th at 12:00pm EST. For more information and a full conference schedule, and to submit your questions to the speakers, visit www.RomeLifeForum.com.
Confirmed speakers include:
Cardinal Raymond Burke , Prefect Emeritus, Apostolic Signatura, “Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima”
, Prefect Emeritus, Apostolic Signatura, “Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima” Bishop Athanasius Schneider , Astana, Kazakhstan, “Repenting of the sins against the Holy Eucharist”
, Astana, Kazakhstan, “Repenting of the sins against the Holy Eucharist” Professor Roberto de Mattei , Lepanto Foundation, “Divine interventions in human history”
, Lepanto Foundation, “Divine interventions in human history” John-Henry Westen , Co-founder and editor-in-chief LifeSite News, “The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today?”
, Co-founder and editor-in-chief LifeSite News, “The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today?” Fr. Linus Clovis, Spiritual Director and Chairman, Family Life International, “Reforming our lives according to Our Lady’s call in Fatima.”
Spiritual Director and Chairman, Family Life International, “Reforming our lives according to Our Lady’s call in Fatima.” John Smeaton , Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Moderator
, Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Moderator Fr. Serafino Lanzetta, Catholic author and pastor in the Diocese of Portsmouth, UK, “Co-redemption and Marian consecration in the light of the Fatima message for our times”
The conference schedule is as follows:
Day 1, Wednesday, May 20
12:00pm, Introduction to Day 1, John Smeaton
12:20pm, Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima, Cardinal Burke
1:00pm, Co-redemption and Marian consecration in the light of the Fatima message for our times, Fr. Serafino Lanzetta
1:40pm, Q&A with Cardinal Burke and Fr. Lanzetta
2:00pm, Concluding remarks, John Smeaton
Day 2, Thursday, May 21
12:00pm, Introduction to Day 2, John Smeaton
12:10pm, Divine interventions in human history, Professor Roberto de Mattei
12:50pm, The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today?, John-Henry Westen
1:30pm, Q&A with Professor de Mattei and John-Henry Westen
1:50pm, Concluding remarks, John Smeaton
Day 3, Friday, May 22
12:00pm, Introduction to Day 3, John Smeaton
12:10pm, Reforming our lives according to Our Lady’s call in Fatima, Fr. Linus Clovis
12:50pm, Repenting of the sins against the Holy Spirit, Bishop Athanasius Schneider
1:30pm, Q&A with Bishop Schneider and Fr. Clovis
1:50pm, Concluding remarks, John Smeaton
2:00 – 3:00pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (tentative)
To watch the 2020 Rome Life Forum, click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com.
If you’d like to make sure this year’s and future Rome Life Forum’s are able to be held, please click here to donate: https://give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

May 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united in praying the rosary together , at the same time , every day at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
To date , Catholics from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as other countries , have been joining in .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we can shape history , change the world , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-05-18--The abortion wars are a big reason why people don’t trust the government on coronavirus. Here’s why.

May 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – There has been much talk of conspiracy theories over the past several weeks .
Some people are proposing them , prestigious publications like The Atlantic are issuing dire warnings ( the conspiracy theorists are winning ! )
, Christian thinkers are attempting to lay out why the ground is so fertile for such theories , and I attempted to explain why so many of these theories are swirling around Bill Gates .
In a hyper-politicized age where everybody ’ s motives are suspect , it is difficult to know who to trust—especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are often the very institutions promoting hormone blockers , birth control , and abortion .
I ’ d like to reiterate a point I ’ ve made about this before : Much of the erosion of public trust and growing polarization is a direct result of the abortion wars .
Government bodies expect people to believe that they have the public interest in view , but they cancelled chemotherapy treatments and delayed other essential medical needs while awaiting the COVID-19 surge—while keeping every abortion clinic open for business .
They stated that feticide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer patients .
They claimed that everything they were doing was to protect the vulnerable , while also telling us that the destruction of the vulnerable was so important that it was one of the only services permitted to remain open during a global pandemic .
Consider , for example , a story from Alexandra DeSanctis in National Review .
J.B. Pritzker , the Democratic governor of Illinois , has insisted that he will not yet lift the state-wide lockdown he has imposed despite the mayors and sheriffs in some areas suggesting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response , Pritzker “ warned that he will crack down on any business or local area that attempts to stray from his order before he allows it .
‘ Businesses and individual professionals that are licensed by state agencies can be held accountable for defying public health orders…Counties that try to reopen in defiance will not be reimbursed by FEMA for damage they cause themselves .
Local law enforcement and the Illinois State Police can and will take action.
’ ” Pritzker ’ s justification for this heavy-handedness , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be to risk lives .
The economic damage sustained by small business owners and large corporations alike is worth it to protect the vulnerable .
Even if one disagrees with the lockdowns as a strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19 , it is easy to understand the underlying logic behind the restrictions .
Except , of course for this .
From DeSanctis : “ Meanwhile , in Waukegan , Ill. , less than an hour north of the heart of Chicago , Planned Parenthood has just opened a brand-new abortion clinic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Illinois Right to Life , Planned Parenthood used shell-company names on its license applications so no one would be aware that an abortion clinic was opening in the area until it had been approved .
Despite the strict shutdown in Illinois , Pritzker ’ s stay-at-home order stipulated that ‘ reproductive health care providers ’ were essential and should remain open.
” As executive director of Illinois Right to Life Mary Kate Knorr said in a statement : “ Governor Pritzker reminds us every day in his press conferences that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so as to protect human life , yet a brand-new abortion clinic has been allowed to open .
Churches , schools , and businesses are closed but the nation ’ s largest killer of the unborn is expanding.
” How do men like Pritzker expect people to trust him , let alone believe him , when he is shutting down businesses while ensuring that Planned Parenthood can open a new clinic during a pandemic lockdown ?
The lies of the abortion industry , abortion activists , and the Democratic Party have poisoned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public trust .
Because if they will lie about something as fundamental as whether or not the child in the womb is a child , what won ’ t they lie about ?

May 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – There has been much talk of conspiracy theories over the past several weeks. Some people are proposing them, prestigious publications like The Atlantic are issuing dire warnings (the conspiracy theorists are winning!), Christian thinkers are attempting to lay out why the ground is so fertile for such theories, and I attempted to explain why so many of these theories are swirling around Bill Gates. In a hyper-politicized age where everybody’s motives are suspect, it is difficult to know who to trust—especially when government bodies and public health agencies are often the very institutions promoting hormone […]
May 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – There has been much talk of conspiracy theories over the past several weeks. Some people are proposing them, prestigious publications like The Atlantic are issuing dire warnings (the conspiracy theorists are winning!), Christian thinkers are attempting to lay out why the ground is so fertile for such theories, and I attempted to explain why so many of these theories are swirling around Bill Gates. In a hyper-politicized age where everybody’s motives are suspect, it is difficult to know who to trust—especially when government bodies and public health agencies are often the very institutions promoting hormone blockers, birth control, and abortion.
I’d like to reiterate a point I’ve made about this before: Much of the erosion of public trust and growing polarization is a direct result of the abortion wars. Government bodies expect people to believe that they have the public interest in view, but they cancelled chemotherapy treatments and delayed other essential medical needs while awaiting the COVID-19 surge—while keeping every abortion clinic open for business. They stated that feticide was healthcare while delaying life-saving treatments for cancer patients. They claimed that everything they were doing was to protect the vulnerable, while also telling us that the destruction of the vulnerable was so important that it was one of the only services permitted to remain open during a global pandemic.
Consider, for example, a story from Alexandra DeSanctis in National Review. J.B. Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, has insisted that he will not yet lift the state-wide lockdown he has imposed despite the mayors and sheriffs in some areas suggesting that it was time to ease some restrictions. In response, Pritzker “warned that he will crack down on any business or local area that attempts to stray from his order before he allows it. ‘Businesses and individual professionals that are licensed by state agencies can be held accountable for defying public health orders…Counties that try to reopen in defiance will not be reimbursed by FEMA for damage they cause themselves. Local law enforcement and the Illinois State Police can and will take action.’”
Pritzker’s justification for this heavy-handedness, of course, is that to disobey him would be to risk lives. The economic damage sustained by small business owners and large corporations alike is worth it to protect the vulnerable. Even if one disagrees with the lockdowns as a strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19, it is easy to understand the underlying logic behind the restrictions.
Except, of course for this. From DeSanctis: “Meanwhile, in Waukegan, Ill., less than an hour north of the heart of Chicago, Planned Parenthood has just opened a brand-new abortion clinic, one of about 20 in the state. According to Illinois Right to Life, Planned Parenthood used shell-company names on its license applications so no one would be aware that an abortion clinic was opening in the area until it had been approved. Despite the strict shutdown in Illinois, Pritzker’s stay-at-home order stipulated that ‘reproductive health care providers’ were essential and should remain open.”
As executive director of Illinois Right to Life Mary Kate Knorr said in a statement: “Governor Pritzker reminds us every day in his press conferences that we are being confined to our homes so as to protect human life, yet a brand-new abortion clinic has been allowed to open. Churches, schools, and businesses are closed but the nation’s largest killer of the unborn is expanding.”
How do men like Pritzker expect people to trust him, let alone believe him, when he is shutting down businesses while ensuring that Planned Parenthood can open a new clinic during a pandemic lockdown?
The lies of the abortion industry, abortion activists, and the Democratic Party have poisoned the debate on public health and hugely eroded the public trust. Because if they will lie about something as fundamental as whether or not the child in the womb is a child, what won’t they lie about?
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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