lifesitenews--2020-05-13--US bishop: You can’t be Catholic and ‘pro-abortion’

PROVIDENCE , Rhode Island , May 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The bishop of the smallest U.S. state strongly criticized those who claim to be Catholic yet think it ’ s no problem to defend abortion .
In a tweet sent out on May 7 , Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence , Rhode Island said one can not be an “ authentic ” Catholic and hold a pro-abortion position .
“ Just saw a headline in a Catholic newspaper with the phrase ‘ pro-abortion Catholic.
’ Sorry .
That ’ s a contradiction in terms .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least not an authentic one , and be ‘ pro-abortion.
’ Or ‘ pro-choice.
’ It ’ s the same thing , ” said Tobin .
On May 7 , the National Catholic Register ran an article with the headline “ Running for President as a Pro-Abortion Catholic , Is Biden a Problem for US Bishops ?
” PETITION : Support pro-lifers threatened and arrested for praying outside of abortion facilities !
Sign the petition here .
Former vice president Joe Biden , who says he is a practicing Catholic , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee for president and is pro-abortion .
In 2019 , Biden was refused Communion .
He said afterward that he is “ a practicing Catholic.
” One respondent to Tobin said on Twitter , “ You also can ’ t be pro-life and a catholic if you support someone like Trump who is responsible for 70,000 deaths , lies , cheats , and steals on a daily basis.
” However , many of the replies seemed to be supportive of Tobin .
One commenter praised him for speaking the truth about the Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Truth of the Catholic Church , Bishop Tobin .
Prayers for confused Governor of RI and so many in RI General Assembly , ” replied this respondent .
The current governor of Rhode Island , Democrat Gina M. Raimondo , is a Catholic who just last year signed an extreme pro-abortion law in her state .
While many prominent celebrities and politicians who say they are Catholic openly support the pro-abortion Democrat Party , Tobin in the past has held firm in his resolve to hold Catholics to account to the teachings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tobin made headlines after asking then–U.S .
representative Patrick Kennedy not to receive Communion because of his pro-abortion political stance .
In 2016 , Tobin asked faithful Catholics to vote pro-life in Rhode Island ’ s primary election , saying “ never to vote for any candidate , of any party , who supports abortion.
” He also drew the ire of LGBT activists in 2019 after he said in a Twitter message that “ Pride Month ” activities are harmful to kids .

'Just saw a headline in a Catholic newspaper with the phrase 'pro-abortion Catholic,'' noted Bishop Thomas Tobin. 'Sorry. That's a contradiction in terms.'
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, May 13, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The bishop of the smallest U.S. state strongly criticized those who claim to be Catholic yet think it’s no problem to defend abortion.
In a tweet sent out on May 7, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island said one cannot be an “authentic” Catholic and hold a pro-abortion position.
“Just saw a headline in a Catholic newspaper with the phrase ‘pro-abortion Catholic.’ Sorry. That’s a contradiction in terms. You can’t be a Catholic, at least not an authentic one, and be ‘pro-abortion.’ Or ‘pro-choice.’ It’s the same thing,” said Tobin.
On May 7, the National Catholic Register ran an article with the headline “Running for President as a Pro-Abortion Catholic, Is Biden a Problem for US Bishops?”
PETITION: Support pro-lifers threatened and arrested for praying outside of abortion facilities! Sign the petition here.
Former vice president Joe Biden, who says he is a practicing Catholic, is the Democratic Party’s de facto nominee for president and is pro-abortion.
In 2019, Biden was refused Communion. He said afterward that he is“a practicing Catholic.”
One respondent to Tobin said on Twitter, “You also can’t be pro-life and a catholic if you support someone like Trump who is responsible for 70,000 deaths, lies, cheats, and steals on a daily basis.”
However, many of the replies seemed to be supportive of Tobin. One commenter praised him for speaking the truth about the Catholic faith.
“Thank you for re-stating this Truth of the Catholic Church, Bishop Tobin. Prayers for confused Governor of RI and so many in RI General Assembly,” replied this respondent.
The current governor of Rhode Island, Democrat Gina M. Raimondo, is a Catholic who just last year signed an extreme pro-abortion law in her state.
While many prominent celebrities and politicians who say they are Catholic openly support the pro-abortion Democrat Party, Tobin in the past has held firm in his resolve to hold Catholics to account to the teachings of the Church.
In 2009, Tobin made headlines after asking then–U.S. representative Patrick Kennedy not to receive Communion because of his pro-abortion political stance.
In 2016, Tobin asked faithful Catholics to vote pro-life in Rhode Island’s primary election, saying “never to vote for any candidate, of any party, who supports abortion.” He also drew the ire of LGBT activists in 2019 after he said in a Twitter message that “Pride Month” activities are harmful to kids.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-14--San Antonio City Council condemns ‘hate speech’ of calling COVID-19 ‘China virus’

SAN ANTONIO , May 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The city council of San Antonio , Texas voted unanimously last week to pass a resolution condemning “ hate speech , ” including use of the name “ China virus ” to refer to COVID-19 , which came from China .
“ COVID-19 is a public health issue , not a racial , religious or ethnic one , and the deliberate use of terms such as ‘ Chinese virus ’ or ‘ Kung Fu virus ’ to describe COVID-19 only encourages hate crimes and incidents against Asians and further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be working together to get through this crisis , ” the resolution declares , as reported by The Texan .
Only one community member showed up to comment on the proposal , local conservative activist Jack Finger .
He asked it it would be similarly “ discriminating ” to use the name “ West Nile virus ” and used a pair of binoculars to theatrically identify council members who weren ’ t wearing masks .
Councilor Manny Pelàez later dismissed Finger ’ s comments as “ bad dinner theater.
” U.S. Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution as “ nuts , ” pointing out that the mainstream media routinely referred to COVID-19 by its place of origin until left-wing activists decided that doing so was “ problematic ” : PETITION : No to mandatory contact tracing and government surveillance for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
Contrary to claims that the “ Chinese virus ” name is motivated by race , it is common practice to name infectious diseases after the places where they were discovered .
Further , those who insist on doing so for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold the Chinese government accountable for unleashing the virus on the world and then covering it up .
The San Antonio City Council is no stranger to championing left-wing causes , from approving a Planned Parenthood expansion in excess of city zoning laws to blacklisting Chick-fil-A from the Texas San Antonio International Airport for the company ’ s biblical view of marriage and sexuality .
As of May 13 , the United States is estimated to have seen more than 1.4 million cases of COVID-19 , with almost 85,000 deaths and more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far more of the public has contracted and recovered from the virus than the official count indicates .
At the same time , state bans on “ non-essential ” activity across the country have caused massive job losses , with more than 33 million Americans filing for unemployment and studies predicting that tens of thousands of small businesses that have closed down will never reopen .
Other medical experts argue that the evidence warrants a strategy more narrowly targeted toward protecting the elderly and immunocompromised while allowing the younger and healthier to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on the elderly , we will bring a death rate that is likely no more than 1 % down to fractions of a percent , ” says Dr. Donald Yealy , chair of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center .
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world .

SAN ANTONIO, May 13, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The city council of San Antonio, Texas voted unanimously last week to pass a resolution condemning “hate speech,” including use of the name “China virus” to refer to COVID-19, which came from China.
“COVID-19 is a public health issue, not a racial, religious or ethnic one, and the deliberate use of terms such as ‘Chinese virus’ or ‘Kung Fu virus’ to describe COVID-19 only encourages hate crimes and incidents against Asians and further spreads misinformation at a time when communities should be working together to get through this crisis,” the resolution declares, as reported by The Texan.
Only one community member showed up to comment on the proposal, local conservative activist Jack Finger. He asked it it would be similarly “discriminating” to use the name “West Nile virus” and used a pair of binoculars to theatrically identify council members who weren’t wearing masks. Councilor Manny Pelàez later dismissed Finger’s comments as “bad dinner theater.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) condemned the resolution as “nuts,” pointing out that the mainstream media routinely referred to COVID-19 by its place of origin until left-wing activists decided that doing so was “problematic”:
This is NUTS. SA City Council behaving like a lefty college faculty lounge, triggered by Chick-fil-A & the words “Wuhan virus.” If they want to investigate someone, start with NYT & CNN who both repeatedly (and rightly) referred to it as “the Chinese coronavirus.” #NoSpeechPolice https://t.co/a10BZAvleQ — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 7, 2020
PETITION: No to mandatory contact tracing and government surveillance for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
Contrary to claims that the “Chinese virus” name is motivated by race, it is common practice to name infectious diseases after the places where they were discovered. Further, those who insist on doing so for COVID-19 are often motivated by a desire to hold the Chinese government accountable for unleashing the virus on the world and then covering it up.
The San Antonio City Council is no stranger to championing left-wing causes, from approving a Planned Parenthood expansion in excess of city zoning laws to blacklisting Chick-fil-A from the Texas San Antonio International Airport for the company’s biblical view of marriage and sexuality.
As of May 13, the United States is estimated to have seen more than 1.4 million cases of COVID-19, with almost 85,000 deaths and more than 307,000 recoveries, although mounting evidence suggests far more of the public has contracted and recovered from the virus than the official count indicates. At the same time, state bans on “non-essential” activity across the country have caused massive job losses, with more than 33 million Americans filing for unemployment and studies predicting that tens of thousands of small businesses that have closed down will never reopen.
Other medical experts argue that the evidence warrants a strategy more narrowly targeted toward protecting the elderly and immunocompromised while allowing the younger and healthier to go about their lives. “If we focus on the elderly, we will bring a death rate that is likely no more than 1% down to fractions of a percent,” says Dr. Donald Yealy, chair of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-14--French bishop denounces ‘violation’ of Catholics’ right to ‘participate freely in Mass’

May 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — In a pastoral letter to all the faithful of his diocese , Bishop Bernard Ginoux of Montauban made an impassioned plea for the rights of Catholics to practice their religion ( read full letter below ) .
The bishop made it clear that no civil law can overturn the fundamental right of religious liberty .
He pointed out that for Catholics , Mass is much more than a mere community gathering ; it is the renewal of Christ ’ s sacrifice on the Cross .
His strongly worded letter received widespread attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis and its “ sanitary ” measures ( which Bishop Athanasius Schneider has called a “ sanitary dictatorship ” ) , Bishop Ginoux has been particularly outspoken and courageous .
In one of his most recent tweets reacting to an article in Le Monde about possible compulsory vaccination and nano-chipping , Bishop Ginoux said : “ Watch out !
Danger !
The liberty of each person is being violated in the name of a good .
We must say no.
” Last Sunday , in another tweet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet another Sunday of suffering ( despite the fact that we are in the joy of Easter ) for all those who are unjustly deprived of the Eucharist .
I am with you.
” In his pastoral letter , Bishop Ginoux commented at length on the continued prohibition of public worship , stating : “ Our freedom is at stake and it is being seriously undermined.
” PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
He added : “ I denounce the violation of the rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Mass ; I denounce the denial of this right .
Civil law , whose binding nature in this matter remains to be proven , can not be imposed on my conscience as a pastor when it prevents me from fulfilling my duty .
I am a priest and bishop in order to give Christ to the faithful in need .
This is my mission and I want to tell them so .
The Catholic Church has always recalled the right of the human person to practice his religion .
Preventing the exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundamental human rights that could lead to other abuses.
” Bishop Ginoux also insisted on the specific need for Catholics to join Mass physically , especially now the coronavirus epidemic is receding and at a time when many other activities are permitted .
Below is LifeSite ’ s full translation of Bishop Ginoux ’ s letter .
On May 11 , 2007 , I was appointed bishop of Montauban , and since my ordination on September 2 , 2007 , I have endeavored to fulfill my mission with dedication and concern for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an end as the canonical age of retirement draws near .
The weeks that we have just experienced have been an ordeal that for some will have led to death and for others to the struggle with illness .
Many have suffered because of measures of protection so rigorous that their mental health has been more severely affected than their physical health .
I think of all the elderly who were not affected by this virus .
Of course , they had to be protected from it , but was it necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties to the point where grandparents were forbidden to see their grandchildren ?
If consistent preventive measures had been taken and if the necessary tools ( such as masks ) had been given from the outset , family tragedies would have been avoided .
We are also well aware that some of these people allowed themselves to die .
Among younger people , suicides were caused by accumulated tension .
An honest assessment of these realities will have to be made .
But these facts do not detract from the work done by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service of others , efforts made by many anonymous people in their determination to fight COVID-19 .
The Catholic Church has not failed to be present on the most exposed fronts and in its permanent service of charity , especially with populations in difficulty such as migrants .
She has also accepted the draconian measures which have not allowed us to live the great moments of our Christian faith , from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday , Holy Week , the heart and foundation of faith in Christ who died and rose again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immense sense of loss that our faithful have surely experienced .
Their suffering has been somewhat mitigated by broadcasts and all the audio-visual techniques .
The fact remains that our faith is not nourished by these means ; the Catholic faith is nourished by the real presence of Jesus Christ .
The Church is realized unceasingly through the sacrifice of the Mass , where Christ 's unique sacrifice on the cross is made present .
The Mass introduces us to him , makes him present and makes us participate in what is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we truly take our place at his table .
It is not a time of prayer or even a simple listening to the Word of God , still less a fraternal gathering .
We can do without all this , but we can not do without the Eucharist , just as we need the other sacraments .
Mass is the life of the Catholic Church .
Even though we are united to Christ in many ways , we live by him through the Eucharist .
At a time when a very large number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can find ourselves next to each other on an airplane , in supermarkets , or in outdoor activities such as at the racetracks , a part of the citizenry who have the freedom to practice their religion by participating in Mass is prevented from doing so under the pretext of a pandemic whose numbers are declining .
The numbers speak for themselves .
Moreover , most of our churches are very large , and we have all the means to comply with health measures .
Our freedom is at stake , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard from many people who are suffering , and I am speaking on their behalf .
I am a bishop in a place where , one day in August 1942 , Bishop Pierre-Marie Theas dared almost alone to condemn the attacks on the freedom and dignity of French citizens .
We have not reached this point of ignominy .
But I denounce the violation of the rights of the Catholic faithful to participate freely in Mass ; I denounce the denial of this right .
Civil law , whose binding nature in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be imposed on my conscience as a pastor when it prevents me from fulfilling my duty .
I am a priest and bishop in order to give Christ to the faithful in need .
This is my mission , and I want to tell them so .
The Catholic Church has always recalled the right of the human person to practice his religion .
Preventing the exercise of this right is an infringement of fundamental human rights that could lead to other abuses .
This letter is an appeal to the conscience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montauban , which is dear to me and of which I have been the pastor for thirteen years .
Knowing that you can live your faith freely will be a strong pastoral joy for me because , even in times of great epidemics , the Church , albeit with precautions , has always offered to the People of God the presence of the Savior through public worship .
I entrust to the Blessed Virgin Mary , honored in the Cathedral of Montauban under the name of Our Lady of the Assumption , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she watch over us and keep us under her protection .

May 13, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — In a pastoral letter to all the faithful of his diocese, Bishop Bernard Ginoux of Montauban made an impassioned plea for the rights of Catholics to practice their religion (read full letter below).
The bishop made it clear that no civil law can overturn the fundamental right of religious liberty. He pointed out that for Catholics, Mass is much more than a mere community gathering; it is the renewal of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.
His strongly worded letter received widespread attention in the French Catholic media.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis and its “sanitary” measures (which Bishop Athanasius Schneider has called a “sanitary dictatorship”), Bishop Ginoux has been particularly outspoken and courageous.
In one of his most recent tweets reacting to an article in Le Monde about possible compulsory vaccination and nano-chipping, Bishop Ginoux said: “Watch out! Danger! The liberty of each person is being violated in the name of a good. We must say no.”
Last Sunday, in another tweet, he wrote: “#Mass. Yet another Sunday of suffering (despite the fact that we are in the joy of Easter) for all those who are unjustly deprived of the Eucharist. I am with you.”
In his pastoral letter, Bishop Ginoux commented at length on the continued prohibition of public worship, stating: “Our freedom is at stake and it is being seriously undermined.”
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
He added: “I denounce the violation of the rights of the Catholic faithful to participate freely in Mass; I denounce the denial of this right. Civil law, whose binding nature in this matter remains to be proven, cannot be imposed on my conscience as a pastor when it prevents me from fulfilling my duty. I am a priest and bishop in order to give Christ to the faithful in need. This is my mission and I want to tell them so. The Catholic Church has always recalled the right of the human person to practice his religion. Preventing the exercise of this right is an infringement of fundamental human rights that could lead to other abuses.”
Bishop Ginoux also insisted on the specific need for Catholics to join Mass physically, especially now the coronavirus epidemic is receding and at a time when many other activities are permitted.
Below is LifeSite’s full translation of Bishop Ginoux’s letter.
On May 11, 2007, I was appointed bishop of Montauban, and since my ordination on September 2, 2007, I have endeavored to fulfill my mission with dedication and concern for the common good. This mission is coming to an end as the canonical age of retirement draws near. The weeks that we have just experienced have been an ordeal that for some will have led to death and for others to the struggle with illness. Many have suffered because of measures of protection so rigorous that their mental health has been more severely affected than their physical health. I think of all the elderly who were not affected by this virus. Of course, they had to be protected from it, but was it necessary to cut them off from their natural ties to the point where grandparents were forbidden to see their grandchildren? If consistent preventive measures had been taken and if the necessary tools (such as masks) had been given from the outset, family tragedies would have been avoided. We are also well aware that some of these people allowed themselves to die. Among younger people, suicides were caused by accumulated tension. An honest assessment of these realities will have to be made.
But these facts do not detract from the work done by the caretakers, lives given in the service of others, efforts made by many anonymous people in their determination to fight COVID-19. The Catholic Church has not failed to be present on the most exposed fronts and in its permanent service of charity, especially with populations in difficulty such as migrants. She has also accepted the draconian measures which have not allowed us to live the great moments of our Christian faith, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, Holy Week, the heart and foundation of faith in Christ who died and rose again. We have accepted this despite the immense sense of loss that our faithful have surely experienced. Their suffering has been somewhat mitigated by broadcasts and all the audio-visual techniques. The fact remains that our faith is not nourished by these means; the Catholic faith is nourished by the real presence of Jesus Christ. The Church is realized unceasingly through the sacrifice of the Mass, where Christ's unique sacrifice on the cross is made present. The Mass introduces us to him, makes him present and makes us participate in what is the “banquet of the Lord”: we truly take our place at his table. It is not a time of prayer or even a simple listening to the Word of God, still less a fraternal gathering. We can do without all this, but we cannot do without the Eucharist, just as we need the other sacraments. Mass is the life of the Catholic Church. Even though we are united to Christ in many ways, we live by him through the Eucharist.
At a time when a very large number of activities are resuming, when we can find ourselves next to each other on an airplane, in supermarkets, or in outdoor activities such as at the racetracks, a part of the citizenry who have the freedom to practice their religion by participating in Mass is prevented from doing so under the pretext of a pandemic whose numbers are declining. The numbers speak for themselves. Moreover, most of our churches are very large, and we have all the means to comply with health measures. Our freedom is at stake, and it is being seriously undermined. I have heard from many people who are suffering, and I am speaking on their behalf.
I am a bishop in a place where, one day in August 1942, Bishop Pierre-Marie Theas dared almost alone to condemn the attacks on the freedom and dignity of French citizens. We have not reached this point of ignominy. But I denounce the violation of the rights of the Catholic faithful to participate freely in Mass; I denounce the denial of this right. Civil law, whose binding nature in this matter remains to be proven, cannot be imposed on my conscience as a pastor when it prevents me from fulfilling my duty. I am a priest and bishop in order to give Christ to the faithful in need. This is my mission, and I want to tell them so. The Catholic Church has always recalled the right of the human person to practice his religion. Preventing the exercise of this right is an infringement of fundamental human rights that could lead to other abuses. This letter is an appeal to the conscience of the Catholics of the Diocese of Montauban, which is dear to me and of which I have been the pastor for thirteen years. Knowing that you can live your faith freely will be a strong pastoral joy for me because, even in times of great epidemics, the Church, albeit with precautions, has always offered to the People of God the presence of the Savior through public worship.
I entrust to the Blessed Virgin Mary, honored in the Cathedral of Montauban under the name of Our Lady of the Assumption, the diocese and all its inhabitants. May she watch over us and keep us under her protection.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-14--Euthanasia expert: Canada on track to become ‘worst’ suicide jurisdiction in world

OTTAWA , Ontario , May 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Over a thousand people tuned in to view a screening of a powerful film about euthanasia and assisted suicide for day three of the 23rd annual National March for Life in Canada .
The event is taking place virtually this year because of the coronavirus .
The screening of Kevin Dunn ’ s Fatal Flaws : Legalizing Assisted Death , was preceded by a conversation with Campaign Life Coalition ( CLC ) ’ s Youth Coordinator Josie Luetke and Alex Schadenberg , executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Fatal Flaws .
“ It was a joy to see people tuning in not only from all across Canada , from Athabasca , Alberta , to Dieppe , New Brunswick , but also from the United States , ” said Luetke .
“ I 'd watched Fatal Flaws before , but even re-watching it , I was brought near tears once again — to see how fragile life is , and how we 've inexcusably permitted physicians to decide just to throw it away if they deem someone weak and helpless.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for CLC , told LifeSiteNews that one viewer was struck by how “ oblivious ” Canadians are to the issue of euthanasia .
`` What struck me the most about the movie Fatal Flaws is that we are oblivious to the potential dangers of euthanasia in Canada , and after watching the movie and seeing what happened in Belgium and the Netherlands , we should be motivated to stand up against euthanasia , '' said viewer G. Keenan .
The live stream of Day 3 , and all other days of the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seen on CLC ’ s YouTube channel .
Schadenberg noted in his conversation with Luetke that Fatal Flaws is the second film in a series , with the first film titled Euthanasia Deception .
He noted that Euthanasia Deception focussed on the issue from the perspective of Belgium and Canada , and after its debut , he said he faced criticism that it was “ too one-sided.
” This prompted him to begin production on Fatal Flaws , which features interviews from individuals from both sides of the spectrum .
PETITION : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
Euthanasia was legalized in Canada by the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016 with Bill C-14 .
In their conversation , Schadenberg spoke with Luetke about Bill C-7 , which was introduced in February and expands on Bill C-14 .
“ Bill C-7 is really bad ; it ’ s really , really crazy .
If it ’ s passed , it would make us [ Canada ] the worst jurisdiction in the world , and it needs to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bill C-7 came about as Trudeau 's acceptance to a Quebec court decision last September .
That ruling struck down the requirement that a person ’ s “ natural death be reasonably foreseeable ” to qualify the person for death by lethal injection .
In an analysis of Bill C-7 , Schadenberg said the bill will further expand Canada ’ s euthanasia laws , allowing for the lethal injection of individuals who are not able to properly consent .
This would be for those with dementia and who have issued an advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future .
For Sunday ’ s kickoff of the Virtual March for Life , more than 3,000 tuned in to view a free screening of global pro-life advocate Obianuju Ekeocha ’ s documentary Strings Attached .
Sunday ’ s event saw such a high demand that for a brief time , the site marchforlife.ca crashed .
Day 2 of Canada ’ s virtual March for Life featured two powerful pro-life films , Crescendo and Sing a Little Louder .
More than a thousand tuned in to view the films , which included a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and advocacy adviser , Mattea Merta , and the producer of the film , pro-life activist and film producer Jason Jones , who is the founder and president of Movie to Movement .
CLC decided in April to hold this year ’ s March for Life virtually , as the coronavirus health restrictions on public gatherings made it impossible to conduct the march in Ottawa .
CLC is the largest leading national pro-life and pro-family political lobbying group in Canada .
The CLC virtual Canadian March for Life started Sunday and will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s theme is “ Be not afraid Canada !
” Being in a virtual format , the 2020 March for Life will replicate some of the March ’ s usual mainstays , such as the candlelight vigil , Masses , and a rally .
The “ virtual ” march will take place on Thursday , May 14 .
This day is chosen for the March as it is the same day 51 years ago in 1969 when abortion was legalized in Canada .
This was the day when then–prime minister Pierre Trudeau ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a heavily criticized omnibus bill that amended the Criminal Code to allow abortions to be done in hospitals .
This law remained in effect until the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the 1969 law as unconstitutional in the 1988 Morgentaler decision .
The law was removed on a technicality , however .
The court ruled that it violated a woman ’ s Charter right to security of the person since the law could not be applied equally across the country .
The court encouraged the Canadian Parliament to come up with replacement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then–prime minister Brian Mulroney ’ s draft law failed in a Senate tie vote .
Canada has since had no abortion law at all , thus abortion is permitted through all nine months of pregnancy .
Today , there was a pro-life Mass in memory of Fr .
Alphonse de Valk , CSB , followed by the virtual candlelight vigil for victims of abortion .
Thursday ’ s program begins with the National Mass for Life from Ottawa ’ s Notre-Dame Cathedral starting at noon EST .
It will be celebrated by Archbishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed by a “ Be Not Afraid ” pro-life special hosted by EWTN ’ s Doug Keck .
The virtual march will then take place from 2:30 to 4:40 P.M. EST , which will include a “ great lineup of pro-life , religious , and political leaders , ” according to the March for Life website .
The Virtual March for Life will end Friday , May 15 , with a pro-life webinar organized by CLC ’ s Youth and Niagara Region Right to Life .
Before the evening ends , there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film Because of Grácia , which will include an interview with the film ’ s director , Tom Simes .

Alex Schadenberg told Canadians on Day 3 of the virtual National March for life that Bill C-7 'needs to be stopped.'
OTTAWA, Ontario, May 13, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Over a thousand people tuned in to view a screening of a powerful film about euthanasia and assisted suicide for day three of the 23rd annual National March for Life in Canada. The event is taking place virtually this year because of the coronavirus.
The screening of Kevin Dunn’s Fatal Flaws: Legalizing Assisted Death, was preceded by a conversation with Campaign Life Coalition (CLC)’s Youth Coordinator Josie Luetke and Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Schadenberg also served as co-producer for Fatal Flaws.
“It was a joy to see people tuning in not only from all across Canada, from Athabasca, Alberta, to Dieppe, New Brunswick, but also from the United States,” said Luetke.
“I'd watched Fatal Flaws before, but even re-watching it, I was brought near tears once again — to see how fragile life is, and how we've inexcusably permitted physicians to decide just to throw it away if they deem someone weak and helpless.”
Debbie Duval, the national capital organizer for CLC, told LifeSiteNews that one viewer was struck by how “oblivious” Canadians are to the issue of euthanasia.
“What struck me the most about the movie Fatal Flaws is that we are oblivious to the potential dangers of euthanasia in Canada, and after watching the movie and seeing what happened in Belgium and the Netherlands, we should be motivated to stand up against euthanasia,” said viewer G. Keenan.
The live stream of Day 3, and all other days of the 2020 Virtual National March for Life, can be seen on CLC’s YouTube channel.
Schadenberg noted in his conversation with Luetke that Fatal Flaws is the second film in a series, with the first film titled Euthanasia Deception.
He noted that Euthanasia Deception focussed on the issue from the perspective of Belgium and Canada, and after its debut, he said he faced criticism that it was “too one-sided.”
This prompted him to begin production on Fatal Flaws, which features interviews from individuals from both sides of the spectrum.
PETITION: No to mandatory contact tracing and government surveillance for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
Euthanasia was legalized in Canada by the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016 with Bill C-14. In their conversation, Schadenberg spoke with Luetke about Bill C-7, which was introduced in February and expands on Bill C-14.
“Bill C-7 is really bad; it’s really, really crazy. If it’s passed, it would make us [Canada] the worst jurisdiction in the world, and it needs to be stopped,” said Schadenberg to Luetke.
Bill C-7 came about as Trudeau's acceptance to a Quebec court decision last September. That ruling struck down the requirement that a person’s “natural death be reasonably foreseeable” to qualify the person for death by lethal injection.
In an analysis of Bill C-7, Schadenberg said the bill will further expand Canada’s euthanasia laws, allowing for the lethal injection of individuals who are not able to properly consent. This would be for those with dementia and who have issued an advance directive asking to be euthanized in the future.
For Sunday’s kickoff of the Virtual March for Life, more than 3,000 tuned in to view a free screening of global pro-life advocate Obianuju Ekeocha’s documentary Strings Attached. Sunday’s event saw such a high demand that for a brief time, the site marchforlife.ca crashed.
Day 2 of Canada’s virtual March for Life featured two powerful pro-life films, Crescendo and Sing a Little Louder.
More than a thousand tuned in to view the films, which included a conversation with CLC’s global policy and advocacy adviser, Mattea Merta, and the producer of the film, pro-life activist and film producer Jason Jones, who is the founder and president of Movie to Movement.
CLC decided in April to hold this year’s March for Life virtually, as the coronavirus health restrictions on public gatherings made it impossible to conduct the march in Ottawa.
CLC is the largest leading national pro-life and pro-family political lobbying group in Canada. The CLC virtual Canadian March for Life started Sunday and will continue until May 15. This year’s theme is “Be not afraid Canada!”
Being in a virtual format, the 2020 March for Life will replicate some of the March’s usual mainstays, such as the candlelight vigil, Masses, and a rally.
The “virtual” march will take place on Thursday, May 14. This day is chosen for the March as it is the same day 51 years ago in 1969 when abortion was legalized in Canada. This was the day when then–prime minister Pierre Trudeau (Justin Trudeau’s father) passed a heavily criticized omnibus bill that amended the Criminal Code to allow abortions to be done in hospitals.
This law remained in effect until the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the 1969 law as unconstitutional in the 1988 Morgentaler decision. The law was removed on a technicality, however. The court ruled that it violated a woman’s Charter right to security of the person since the law could not be applied equally across the country.
The court encouraged the Canadian Parliament to come up with replacement abortion legislation. This effort failed when then–prime minister Brian Mulroney’s draft law failed in a Senate tie vote. Canada has since had no abortion law at all, thus abortion is permitted through all nine months of pregnancy.
Today, there was a pro-life Mass in memory of Fr. Alphonse de Valk, CSB, followed by the virtual candlelight vigil for victims of abortion.
Thursday’s program begins with the National Mass for Life from Ottawa’s Notre-Dame Cathedral starting at noon EST. It will be celebrated by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast.
The Mass will be followed by a “Be Not Afraid” pro-life special hosted by EWTN’s Doug Keck. The virtual march will then take place from 2:30 to 4:40 P.M. EST, which will include a “great lineup of pro-life, religious, and political leaders,” according to the March for Life website.
The Virtual March for Life will end Friday, May 15, with a pro-life webinar organized by CLC’s Youth and Niagara Region Right to Life.
Before the evening ends, there will be a free one-time screening of the film Because of Grácia, which will include an interview with the film’s director, Tom Simes.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-14--Pro-abortion Washington Post columnist says it’s not pro-life to reopen states

May 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — As the debate over whether the cure is worse than the disease with regard to the COVID-19 lockdowns grows , progressives are responding to the suggestion of some that it may be time to loosen restrictions by leveling their favorite criticism at Republicans and conservatives : See ?
You ’ re not pro-life at all !
The headlines are nearly nonstop , with Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post leading the charge .
Rubin is one of those commentators who , for entirely mysterious reasons , gets called “ conservative ” despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions on social issues , fawns embarrassingly over Joe Biden , and loathes Donald Trump so much that her Twitter feed often prompts genuine concern from those who peruse it .
In fact , I would have had no idea she was conservative if her Twitter bio hadn ’ t told me .
Rubin , who is herself pro-abortion , has decided that tearing into conservatives over the alleged hypocrisy of being both a ) opposed to aborting babies in the womb and b ) skeptical that sweeping lockdowns will not cause more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of attack .
On April 14 , for example , she produced a column titled “ The GOP is not a pro-life party , ” apparently assuming that that could persuade readers that she is a good judge of who is and who is not pro-life .
PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
A few days later on April 20 , she penned another angry column titled “ Rolling back the curtain on the not-all-that-pro-life movement.
” And then , just in case we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rubin inflicted another fresh portion of confusing accusations on her editors with a May 6 column titled “ At least we can dump the pretense that the GOP is the ‘ pro-life ’ party.
” This column , too , made the same tired point : Republicans who disagree with Rubin on the best way to respond to the COVID-19 crisis are obviously pro-death , mostly because they disagree with her .
And because they oppose butchering babies in the womb while disagreeing with her , this makes them hypocrites .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m somewhat surprised that it took Rubin three columns to articulate it .
As leading pro-life apologist Scott Klusendorf , the author of The Case for Life and Pro-Life 101 , noted on my podcast last week , the pro-life position is that we can never intentionally kill an innocent human being .
That ’ s it .
Pro-lifers can radically differ ( and do ) on the best economic models , foreign policy , taxes , and the welfare state , just so long as they oppose killing innocent human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorse Jennifer Rubin ’ s preferred economic reopening strategy ( and it is unsurprising that a woman who can work and earn her paycheck from home isn ’ t in much of a hurry to end the lockdowns ) means that someone isn ’ t pro-life is idiotic .
Progressives like Rubin — especially those claiming to be conservative in order to get on the payrolls of media organizations who then pay them to attack and berate their “ fellow ” conservatives — like to accuse pro-lifers of hypocrisy because it kills two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they get to discredit opponents of killing pre-born children , which they very much want to do .
Second , they get to distract people from the fact that they do support killing pre-born children in the womb by pretending they are pro-life because they support preferred policy X and the anti-abortion folks do not .
Win-win .
Jennifer Rubin and the rest of the pundits who support the legal destruction of human beings in the womb appear to think it is a clever gotcha move to take the slogan of a movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings in the womb and turn it against us .
If they weren ’ t so blinded by partisan rage , or capable of attempting to understand the motives and positions of their ideological opponents , perhaps they wouldn ’ t produce such drivel .
Being “ pro-life ” means one thing : opposing the killing of innocent human beings .
It does not mean “ having a policy disagreement with Jennifer Rubin.
” Somebody should tell her that .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life and pro-family movement .
In his latest episode , he interviews Scott Klusendorf about the fundamental flaw Klusendorf sees in the idea of locking down the country under the guise of preventing people from getting coronavirus .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

Being 'pro-life' means one thing: opposing the killing of innocent human beings. It does not mean 'having a policy disagreement with Jennifer Rubin.'
May 13, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — As the debate over whether the cure is worse than the disease with regard to the COVID-19 lockdowns grows, progressives are responding to the suggestion of some that it may be time to loosen restrictions by leveling their favorite criticism at Republicans and conservatives: See? You’re not pro-life at all!
The headlines are nearly nonstop, with Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post leading the charge. Rubin is one of those commentators who, for entirely mysterious reasons, gets called “conservative” despite the fact that she holds no conservative positions on social issues, fawns embarrassingly over Joe Biden, and loathes Donald Trump so much that her Twitter feed often prompts genuine concern from those who peruse it. In fact, I would have had no idea she was conservative if her Twitter bio hadn’t told me.
Rubin, who is herself pro-abortion, has decided that tearing into conservatives over the alleged hypocrisy of being both a) opposed to aborting babies in the womb and b) skeptical that sweeping lockdowns will not cause more harm than good is a fruitful line of attack. On April 14, for example, she produced a column titled “The GOP is not a pro-life party,” apparently assuming that that could persuade readers that she is a good judge of who is and who is not pro-life.
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
A few days later on April 20, she penned another angry column titled “Rolling back the curtain on the not-all-that-pro-life movement.” And then, just in case we all hadn’t gotten the point, Rubin inflicted another fresh portion of confusing accusations on her editors with a May 6 column titled “At least we can dump the pretense that the GOP is the ‘pro-life’ party.” This column, too, made the same tired point: Republicans who disagree with Rubin on the best way to respond to the COVID-19 crisis are obviously pro-death, mostly because they disagree with her. And because they oppose butchering babies in the womb while disagreeing with her, this makes them hypocrites.
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
This accusation is so boring and clichéd that I’m somewhat surprised that it took Rubin three columns to articulate it. As leading pro-life apologist Scott Klusendorf, the author of The Case for Life and Pro-Life 101, noted on my podcast last week, the pro-life position is that we can never intentionally kill an innocent human being. That’s it. Pro-lifers can radically differ (and do) on the best economic models, foreign policy, taxes, and the welfare state, just so long as they oppose killing innocent human beings. The idea that declining to endorse Jennifer Rubin’s preferred economic reopening strategy (and it is unsurprising that a woman who can work and earn her paycheck from home isn’t in much of a hurry to end the lockdowns) means that someone isn’t pro-life is idiotic.
Progressives like Rubin — especially those claiming to be conservative in order to get on the payrolls of media organizations who then pay them to attack and berate their “fellow” conservatives — like to accuse pro-lifers of hypocrisy because it kills two birds with one stone. First, they get to discredit opponents of killing pre-born children, which they very much want to do. Second, they get to distract people from the fact that they do support killing pre-born children in the womb by pretending they are pro-life because they support preferred policy X and the anti-abortion folks do not. Win-win.
Jennifer Rubin and the rest of the pundits who support the legal destruction of human beings in the womb appear to think it is a clever gotcha move to take the slogan of a movement dedicated to fighting the legal destruction of human beings in the womb and turn it against us. If they weren’t so blinded by partisan rage, or capable of attempting to understand the motives and positions of their ideological opponents, perhaps they wouldn’t produce such drivel.
Being “pro-life” means one thing: opposing the killing of innocent human beings. It does not mean “having a policy disagreement with Jennifer Rubin.” Somebody should tell her that.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Scott Klusendorf about the fundamental flaw Klusendorf sees in the idea of locking down the country under the guise of preventing people from getting coronavirus.
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
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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lifesitenews--2020-05-14--German cardinal says fellow bishops hypocritical to condemn Nazi-era predecessors

WÜRZBURG , Germany , May 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — German cardinal Walter Brandmüller criticized his country ’ s bishops for accusing their predecessors of being “ complicit ” during the Second World War , warning that today ’ s prelates , who he says are acting out of “ current political correctness , ” are themselves guilty of an “ eloquent silence ” when it comes to abortion , gender ideology , and homosexual practices .
“ What will people say about this in the year 2100 ?
Our generation is truly sitting in a glass house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the cardinal wrote in an article first published by Die Tagespost ( read full article below ) .
The German bishops ’ conference stated in an April 29 23-page document , released 75 years after the end of World War II , that their predecessors , “ by not countering the war ” with an “ unequivocal ‘ no , ’ instead most of them strengthening the will to persevere ... made themselves complicit in the war.
” “ Both in September 1939 and afterwards the open protest of the German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annihilation failed to materialize , ” the bishops continued in their document .
“ Even in view of the monstrous crimes against others , especially the Jews , who were discriminated against and persecuted as ‘ racially foreign , ’ hardly a voice was raised in the Church in Germany.
” For Brandmüller , today ’ s German bishops ’ conference is trying “ to come to terms with the past in the light of current political correctness.
” PETITION : Join faithful German Catholics in resisting bishops ’ plan to ‘ Protestantize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ninety-one-year-old Cardinal Brandmüller , who for more than a decade led the Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences , warned the German bishops not to throw stones while sitting in a glass house .
Brandmüller , one of the four signers of the dubia on questionable aspects of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia , said “ there will be no small amount to understand and no small number of embarrassing questions to be answered by our generation.
” He gave several examples , first talking about Pope Paul VI ’ s encyclical Humanae @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of contraceptives is immoral .
“ Do we still remember the storm of protest , as furious as it was rabble-rousing , with which the 1968 ‘ Katholikentag ’ [ a regular large gathering of Catholics ] in Essen responded to Paul VI ’ s ‘ pill encyclical ’ Humanae Vitae , long since recognized as prophetic ?
At that time , only two of the German moral theologians — Gustav Ermecke and Bernhard Schöpf — had sided with the Pope.
” Cardinal Julius Döpfner , Brandmüller pointed out , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position of the bishops of East Germany , which was fully supportive of the pope .
Brandmüller , who is a recognized expert on Church history , especially the history of the councils , then turned to Pope John Paul II ’ s encyclical Veritatis Splendor , which talks about moral absolutes .
The German bishops , as well as many theologians , “ did not want — in the sense of that fatal situation ethics — to admit any longer that there are actions which are always and everywhere reprehensible , independently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing of an innocent man .
A burning problem , if one thinks of the mass killing of the unborn.
” While pushing an anti-Catholic agenda , “ there is an eloquent silence about gender ideology while talking loudly and clearly about the recognition of homosexual practice — and other such things , ” Brandmüller said .
He concluded , “ What will people say about this in the year 2100 ?
” The German cardinal even questioned the wisdom of the famous penitential service of March 12 , 2000 , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the sins committed by members of the Church in the last millennium .
“ Was it possible to repent of the sins of past generations and ask for forgiveness for them ?
One could only beat one ’ s own breast and say mea culpa , but not confess the sins of others , people said at the time.
” Brandmüller appeared to compare the German bishops , who many decades after the end of World War II still feel obliged to talk about their predecessors ’ alleged guilt , to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tormented by the feeling of guilt , never coming to rest.
” “ In particular , it would have been important to clarify whether it was at all necessary , useful , sensible for the German bishops ’ conference to issue a declaration on the topic of World War II , ” he said .
“ Did the episcopates of other nations affected by the war in any way do the same thing ?
” The past appears quite involuntarily in the light of the present , and it requires the conscious exclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into view .
This means that the historian , indeed anyone who seriously deals with history , must consciously place himself in the horizon of experience of those whose – at that time – judgments , actions and omissions he wants to understand .
This naturally requires a certain intellectual discipline .
It is a demand of fairness , because the actors of that time could not know what effects their actions or omissions would have in the future .
On the other hand , today ’ s observer of the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that time knew , what induced them to their actions in the first place .
For these very reasons , the historian should be careful to avoid acting as the prosecutor , defense counsel , and judge of the past , but least of all to act as an executioner .
For this , he is lacking conditions and competence .
His role is more that of the investigator , the detective .
Finally , the historian must not forget a principle already in force in ancient Rome .
De internis non @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the human being , his conscience , the judge can not make a judgment .
There , now , our attention turns to that exceedingly impressive penitential service of March 12 of the Holy Year 2000 , in which Pope John Paul II asked for the forgiveness of all the sins committed by members of the Church in the last millennium .
The Pope performed this act despite the reservations that had been raised against it .
Was it possible to repent of the sins of past generations and ask for forgiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ’ s own breast and say mea culpa , but not confess the sins of others , people said at the time .
And today , similar questions are to be addressed to the authors of that paper of the German Bishops ’ Conference that deals with the position of the German bishops on the Second World War .
This text raises some questions that should have been asked before proceeding to publish it .
In particular , it would have been important to clarify whether it was at all necessary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Conference to issue a declaration on the topic of World War II .
Did the episcopates of others nations affected by the war in any way do the same thing ?
This concerns the “ why.
” Now the next question , “ what for.
” We remember well – one example is enough – the impressive exchange of request for and granting of forgiveness between the German and Polish bishops .
That was a difficult but nevertheless successful coming to terms with the past .
The fact that the German episcopate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and confessors has also been recognized and confessed often .
Even outstanding episcopal figures such as Graf von Galen , Johann Baptist Sproll , Graf von Preysing , even Michael von Faulhaber , Michael Rackl , and Matthias Ehrenfried – to name but those few – were “ questioned ” rather than adequately acknowledged .
But now , once again , we are probably beginning to come to terms with the past in the light of current political correctness – or why , for whatever reason .
What it means from a socio-psychological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here we are referring to the Catholic Church in Germany – to deal with its own past in such a way would indeed be worth considering .
When it comes to the sin and failure of an ordinary human being , the following applies : once recognized , repented of , known and forgiven , the following applies : “ Your sins are forgiven – go in peace.
” The scrupulous person who is nevertheless constantly tormented by the feeling of guilt , never coming to rest : a case for the psychiatrist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this apply not only to the individual , but also to communities ?
Peoples , the Church ?
What does “ coming to terms with the past ” mean in this context ?
Indeed , peoples can also recognize and rehabilitate injustices that have occurred in a similar way .
The admission of Germany into the League of Nations after World War I and the sensational creation of three German cardinals – von Galen , von Preysing , and Frings – by Pius XII in 1946 were widely understood and appreciated in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously , that one does not have to learn from the past , and if necessary also make reparations .
The latter has happened , for instance , as regards the foreign forced laborers who were used in church institutions during the war , or the so-called “ Heimkinder ” [ children living in a children ’ s home ] .
Such considerations should finally also be decisive with regard to the research and appreciation of Church behavior in the Second World War .
So before one sits down on the judgment seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider all this .
Above all , one should not forget that – who knows how soon – our descendants will sit in judgment also about us today , as those who have so assiduously come to terms with the past and beat the breast of the fathers .
Unless , unlike us , they prefer to understand first .
In that case , however , there will be no small amount to understand and no small number of embarrassing questions to be answered by our generation .
Let us ask the crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rome ?
” Some bullet points may suffice : Do we still remember the storm of protest , as furious as it was rabble-rousing , with which the 1968 “ Katholikentag ” [ a regular large gathering of Catholics ] in Essen responded to Paul VI ’ s “ pill encyclical ” Humanae vitae , long since recognized as prophetic ?
At that time , only two of the German moral theologians – Gustav Ermecke and Bernhard Schöpf – had sided with the Pope .
They were mercilessly punished for it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chairman of the German Bishops ’ Conference , simply embezzled that letter from Berlin Cardinal Bengsch to the German Bishops ’ Conference , in which the bishops of the East Germany committed themselves to the Pope ’ s encyclical ?
Only in this way could the “ Königstein Declaration ” have come about , in which the German Bishops ’ Conference left the use of contraceptives to the judgment of the individual conscience .
This was a breach in the dam .
John Paul II ’ s repeated request to revise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with icy silence .
The German-speaking moral theologians took a similar approach to the truly groundbreaking encyclical Veritatis splendor by the “ Polish Pope , ” which affirmed the timelessly valid principles of ethics .
They did not want – in the sense of that fatal situation ethics – to admit any longer that there are actions which are always and everywhere reprehensible , independently of any situation , as for instance the killing of an innocent man .
A burning problem , if one thinks of the mass killing of the unborn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German Bishops ’ Conference , only a droning silence can be heard , while in the USA , for example , numerous cardinals and bishops lead the “ marches for life.
” No wonder that the German Bishops ’ Conference also supports the morally highly questionable activity of “ Donum Vitae ” [ a counseling organization issuing declarations that allow women to get an abortion ] .
Where was the Catholic protest when Chancellor Helmut Kohl paid for the reunification of Germany by adopting the East German abortion law ?
Does one also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades the theological education of female candidates has been pursued – for now – for the ordained ministry of women – however that may be understood – , promoted by Cardinal Lehmann , among others ?
At the same time there is an eloquent silence about the gender ideology , while talking loudly and clearly about the recognition of homosexual practice – and other such things .
What will people say about this in the year 2100 ?
Our generation is truly sitting in a glass house itself .
It should not throw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article was originally written for Die Tagespost .
It has been translated by Martin Bürger and is published here with permission .

WÜRZBURG, Germany, May 13, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — German cardinal Walter Brandmüller criticized his country’s bishops for accusing their predecessors of being “complicit” during the Second World War, warning that today’s prelates, who he says are acting out of “current political correctness,” are themselves guilty of an “eloquent silence” when it comes to abortion, gender ideology, and homosexual practices.
“What will people say about this in the year 2100? Our generation is truly sitting in a glass house itself. It should not throw stones,” the cardinal wrote in an article first published by Die Tagespost (read full article below).
The German bishops’ conference stated in an April 29 23-page document, released 75 years after the end of World War II, that their predecessors, “by not countering the war” with an “unequivocal ‘no,’ instead most of them strengthening the will to persevere … made themselves complicit in the war.”
“Both in September 1939 and afterwards the open protest of the German bishops against the National Socialist war of annihilation failed to materialize,” the bishops continued in their document.
“Even in view of the monstrous crimes against others, especially the Jews, who were discriminated against and persecuted as ‘racially foreign,’ hardly a voice was raised in the Church in Germany.”
For Brandmüller, today’s German bishops’ conference is trying “to come to terms with the past in the light of current political correctness.”
PETITION: Join faithful German Catholics in resisting bishops’ plan to ‘Protestantize’ Church Sign the petition here.
Ninety-one-year-old Cardinal Brandmüller, who for more than a decade led the Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences, warned the German bishops not to throw stones while sitting in a glass house.
Brandmüller, one of the four signers of the dubia on questionable aspects of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, said “there will be no small amount to understand and no small number of embarrassing questions to be answered by our generation.”
He gave several examples, first talking about Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae, which upheld Church teaching that the use of contraceptives is immoral.
“Do we still remember the storm of protest, as furious as it was rabble-rousing, with which the 1968 ‘Katholikentag’ [a regular large gathering of Catholics] in Essen responded to Paul VI’s ‘pill encyclical’ Humanae Vitae, long since recognized as prophetic? At that time, only two of the German moral theologians — Gustav Ermecke and Bernhard Schöpf — had sided with the Pope.”
Cardinal Julius Döpfner, Brandmüller pointed out, even “embezzled” a letter representing the position of the bishops of East Germany, which was fully supportive of the pope.
Brandmüller, who is a recognized expert on Church history, especially the history of the councils, then turned to Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Veritatis Splendor, which talks about moral absolutes.
The German bishops, as well as many theologians, “did not want — in the sense of that fatal situation ethics — to admit any longer that there are actions which are always and everywhere reprehensible, independently of any situation, as for instance the killing of an innocent man. A burning problem, if one thinks of the mass killing of the unborn.”
While pushing an anti-Catholic agenda, “there is an eloquent silence about gender ideology while talking loudly and clearly about the recognition of homosexual practice — and other such things,” Brandmüller said.
He concluded, “What will people say about this in the year 2100?”
The German cardinal even questioned the wisdom of the famous penitential service of March 12, 2000, in which he asked for the forgiveness of all the sins committed by members of the Church in the last millennium.
“Was it possible to repent of the sins of past generations and ask for forgiveness for them? One could only beat one’s own breast and say mea culpa, but not confess the sins of others, people said at the time.”
Brandmüller appeared to compare the German bishops, who many decades after the end of World War II still feel obliged to talk about their predecessors’ alleged guilt, to a “scrupulous person who is nevertheless constantly tormented by the feeling of guilt, never coming to rest.”
“In particular, it would have been important to clarify whether it was at all necessary, useful, sensible for the German bishops’ conference to issue a declaration on the topic of World War II,” he said. “Did the episcopates of other nations affected by the war in any way do the same thing?”
***
Full text of Cardinal Walter Brandmüller’s article below:
The past appears quite involuntarily in the light of the present, and it requires the conscious exclusion of current events if history is to come into view. This means that the historian, indeed anyone who seriously deals with history, must consciously place himself in the horizon of experience of those whose – at that time – judgments, actions and omissions he wants to understand. This naturally requires a certain intellectual discipline. It is a demand of fairness, because the actors of that time could not know what effects their actions or omissions would have in the future.
On the other hand, today’s observer of the past often does not know what the actors of that time knew, what induced them to their actions in the first place. For these very reasons, the historian should be careful to avoid acting as the prosecutor, defense counsel, and judge of the past, but least of all to act as an executioner. For this, he is lacking conditions and competence. His role is more that of the investigator, the detective. Finally, the historian must not forget a principle already in force in ancient Rome. De internis non iudicat praetor: On the inner life of the human being, his conscience, the judge cannot make a judgment.
There, now, our attention turns to that exceedingly impressive penitential service of March 12 of the Holy Year 2000, in which Pope John Paul II asked for the forgiveness of all the sins committed by members of the Church in the last millennium. The Pope performed this act despite the reservations that had been raised against it.
Was it possible to repent of the sins of past generations and ask for forgiveness for them? One could only beat one’s own breast and say mea culpa, but not confess the sins of others, people said at the time. And today, similar questions are to be addressed to the authors of that paper of the German Bishops’ Conference that deals with the position of the German bishops on the Second World War. This text raises some questions that should have been asked before proceeding to publish it. In particular, it would have been important to clarify whether it was at all necessary, useful, sensible for the German Bishops’ Conference to issue a declaration on the topic of World War II. Did the episcopates of others nations affected by the war in any way do the same thing? This concerns the “why.”
Now the next question, “what for.” We remember well – one example is enough – the impressive exchange of request for and granting of forgiveness between the German and Polish bishops. That was a difficult but nevertheless successful coming to terms with the past. The fact that the German episcopate did not consist without exception of martyrs and confessors has also been recognized and confessed often. Even outstanding episcopal figures such as Graf von Galen, Johann Baptist Sproll, Graf von Preysing, even Michael von Faulhaber, Michael Rackl, and Matthias Ehrenfried – to name but those few – were “questioned” rather than adequately acknowledged.
But now, once again, we are probably beginning to come to terms with the past in the light of current political correctness – or why, for whatever reason. What it means from a socio-psychological point of view for a society – here we are referring to the Catholic Church in Germany – to deal with its own past in such a way would indeed be worth considering.
When it comes to the sin and failure of an ordinary human being, the following applies: once recognized, repented of, known and forgiven, the following applies: “Your sins are forgiven – go in peace.” The scrupulous person who is nevertheless constantly tormented by the feeling of guilt, never coming to rest: a case for the psychiatrist, not for the confessor. Does this apply not only to the individual, but also to communities? Peoples, the Church? What does “coming to terms with the past” mean in this context? Indeed, peoples can also recognize and rehabilitate injustices that have occurred in a similar way. The admission of Germany into the League of Nations after World War I and the sensational creation of three German cardinals – von Galen, von Preysing, and Frings – by Pius XII in 1946 were widely understood and appreciated in this sense.
That does not mean, obviously, that one does not have to learn from the past, and if necessary also make reparations. The latter has happened, for instance, as regards the foreign forced laborers who were used in church institutions during the war, or the so-called “Heimkinder” [children living in a children’s home]. Such considerations should finally also be decisive with regard to the research and appreciation of Church behavior in the Second World War.
So before one sits down on the judgment seat and breaks the stick, one should consider all this. Above all, one should not forget that – who knows how soon – our descendants will sit in judgment also about us today, as those who have so assiduously come to terms with the past and beat the breast of the fathers. Unless, unlike us, they prefer to understand first.
In that case, however, there will be no small amount to understand and no small number of embarrassing questions to be answered by our generation. Let us ask the crucial question, “What is your opinion of Rome?” Some bullet points may suffice: Do we still remember the storm of protest, as furious as it was rabble-rousing, with which the 1968 “Katholikentag” [a regular large gathering of Catholics] in Essen responded to Paul VI’s “pill encyclical” Humanae vitae, long since recognized as prophetic? At that time, only two of the German moral theologians – Gustav Ermecke and Bernhard Schöpf – had sided with the Pope. They were mercilessly punished for it.
Does one still remember that Cardinal Döpfner, chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, simply embezzled that letter from Berlin Cardinal Bengsch to the German Bishops’ Conference, in which the bishops of the East Germany committed themselves to the Pope’s encyclical? Only in this way could the “Königstein Declaration” have come about, in which the German Bishops’ Conference left the use of contraceptives to the judgment of the individual conscience.
This was a breach in the dam. John Paul II’s repeated request to revise the fatal declaration was answered by the DBK with icy silence. The German-speaking moral theologians took a similar approach to the truly groundbreaking encyclical Veritatis splendor by the “Polish Pope,” which affirmed the timelessly valid principles of ethics. They did not want – in the sense of that fatal situation ethics – to admit any longer that there are actions which are always and everywhere reprehensible, independently of any situation, as for instance the killing of an innocent man. A burning problem, if one thinks of the mass killing of the unborn. But on the part of the German Bishops’ Conference, only a droning silence can be heard, while in the USA, for example, numerous cardinals and bishops lead the “marches for life.”
No wonder that the German Bishops’ Conference also supports the morally highly questionable activity of “Donum Vitae” [a counseling organization issuing declarations that allow women to get an abortion]. Where was the Catholic protest when Chancellor Helmut Kohl paid for the reunification of Germany by adopting the East German abortion law? Does one also still think of the fact that for decades the theological education of female candidates has been pursued – for now – for the ordained ministry of women – however that may be understood –, promoted by Cardinal Lehmann, among others? At the same time there is an eloquent silence about the gender ideology, while talking loudly and clearly about the recognition of homosexual practice – and other such things. What will people say about this in the year 2100? Our generation is truly sitting in a glass house itself. It should not throw stones.
Cardinal Walter Brandmüller’s article was originally written for Die Tagespost. It has been translated by Martin Bürger and is published here with permission.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-15--Democrat senators’ bill would force Trump to follow WHO directions on pandemics

WASHINGTON , D.C. , May 14 , 2020 ( C-Fam ) — Democrat Senators released a bill to reverse President Trump ’ s COVID-19 pandemic response efforts , his pro-life policies , and cede Presidential prerogatives to deal with pandemics to international agencies .
The COVID-19 International Response and Recovery Act ( CIRRA ) , sponsored by Senator Bob Menendez ( D-NJ ) , authorizes $ 9 billion in already-appropriated and new emergency funding to address the pandemic .
It cedes the President ’ s executive authority to coordinate government responses in any future global health emergencies to the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international agencies .
The bill authorizes $ 2.8 billion in new and arrear payments to all UN Agencies including to the World Health Organization , UN Population Fund , Pan American Health Organization and the World Bank .
The bill would require the President and federal agencies to follow the lead of the World Health Organization .
It achieves this by increasing funding for international agencies and by establishing multiple layers of new federal bureaucracy to align U.S. policy with global policy .
The bill would make it harder for the U.S. to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel restrictions like the ones put in place by the Trump Administration in February on all travel from China to the U.S. Democrat lawmakers opposed the Trump Administration ’ s decision to halt payments to the WHO pending an investigation on whether its handling of the pandemic was politically influenced by China .
Experts say the delayed response by WHO to inform the global community about the virus resulted in a greater loss of lives .
COVID-19 has claimed the lives of nearly 300,000 people globally with close to 90,000 in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump ’ s decision to withhold funds to the UN Population Fund .
The Trump administration revoked its funding citing its complicity in China ’ s coerced family planning programs .
It would authorize $ 4 billion in new bilateral funding for urgent humanitarian assistance , including $ 1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria , which is not compelled to include protections provided by the expanded Mexico City Policy like bilateral assistance through PEPFAR would .
The Global Fund partners with the International Planned Parenthood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations would be governed by the United Nations COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan released by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in March .
The response plan has been criticized by pro-life organizations for the inclusion of abortion as an “ essential service.
” The bill mandates that sexual and reproductive health be prioritized through “ trusted providers ” and requires gender-based violence services be “ essential ” and “ fully resourced.
” International programming for gender-based violence is a known focus area for expansion by abortion industry groups .
Democrats have criticized President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though the U.S. joined consensus on United Nation resolutions directly addressing the pandemic .
The U.S. remains the largest single country donor to the response efforts globally .
Senator Jim Risch ( R-ID ) , chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where the bill will be debated , emailed a statement to the Friday Fax in response to a request for comment .
“ The most basic right humans have is the right to life , which is why I am strongly pro-life and always have been .
I only support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the unborn , and I will continue voting in such a way that defends pro-life policies , ” he said in reference to pro-life concerns .
“ When it comes to concerns with the WHO , I am focused on advocating for an independent interim review of its response to the COVID-19 outbreak and advancing critically needed reforms , not rubber stamping the status quo , ” he added .

The bill would also circumvent President Trump’s decision to withhold funds to the pro-abortion U.N. Population Fund.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 2020 (C-Fam) — Democrat Senators released a bill to reverse President Trump’s COVID-19 pandemic response efforts, his pro-life policies, and cede Presidential prerogatives to deal with pandemics to international agencies.
The COVID-19 International Response and Recovery Act (CIRRA), sponsored by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), authorizes $9 billion in already-appropriated and new emergency funding to address the pandemic. It cedes the President’s executive authority to coordinate government responses in any future global health emergencies to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international agencies.
The bill authorizes $2.8 billion in new and arrear payments to all UN Agencies including to the World Health Organization, UN Population Fund, Pan American Health Organization and the World Bank.
The bill would require the President and federal agencies to follow the lead of the World Health Organization. It achieves this by increasing funding for international agencies and by establishing multiple layers of new federal bureaucracy to align U.S. policy with global policy. The bill would make it harder for the U.S. to take unilateral decisions during pandemics, including travel restrictions like the ones put in place by the Trump Administration in February on all travel from China to the U.S.
Democrat lawmakers opposed the Trump Administration’s decision to halt payments to the WHO pending an investigation on whether its handling of the pandemic was politically influenced by China. Experts say the delayed response by WHO to inform the global community about the virus resulted in a greater loss of lives. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of nearly 300,000 people globally with close to 90,000 in the United States.
The bill would also circumvent President Trump’s decision to withhold funds to the UN Population Fund. The Trump administration revoked its funding citing its complicity in China’s coerced family planning programs.
It would authorize $4 billion in new bilateral funding for urgent humanitarian assistance, including $1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which is not compelled to include protections provided by the expanded Mexico City Policy like bilateral assistance through PEPFAR would. The Global Fund partners with the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Funds directed to the United Nations would be governed by the United Nations COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan released by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in March. The response plan has been criticized by pro-life organizations for the inclusion of abortion as an “essential service.”
The bill mandates that sexual and reproductive health be prioritized through “trusted providers” and requires gender-based violence services be “essential” and “fully resourced.” International programming for gender-based violence is a known focus area for expansion by abortion industry groups.
Democrats have criticized President Trump for a lack of multilateral cooperation, though the U.S. joined consensus on United Nation resolutions directly addressing the pandemic. The U.S. remains the largest single country donor to the response efforts globally.
Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where the bill will be debated, emailed a statement to the Friday Fax in response to a request for comment.
“The most basic right humans have is the right to life, which is why I am strongly pro-life and always have been. I only support legislation that protects and promotes human life, including the unborn, and I will continue voting in such a way that defends pro-life policies,” he said in reference to pro-life concerns.
“When it comes to concerns with the WHO, I am focused on advocating for an independent interim review of its response to the COVID-19 outbreak and advancing critically needed reforms, not rubber stamping the status quo,” he added.
Published with permission from C-Fam.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-14--UPDATED: 2 priests, 2 pro-lifers arrested inside Washington, DC abortion centers

Update on May 14 , 2020 at 7:41 p.m. : Father Fidelis Moscinski and Will Goodman were arrested at Capital Women ’ s Services , bringing the total number of rescuers arrested today to four .
Imbarrato said all four of them were released around 2:00 p.m. EST .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , May 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Catholic priest and pro-life activist were just arrested for refusing to leave an abortion center in the nation ’ s capital , and three more – one of whom is also a priest – are risking arrest inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Linda Mueller were arrested this morning inside SurgiClinic , a late-term abortion center in D.C. ’ s upscale Foggy Botton neighborhood , near George Washington University .
Today is the 15th anniversary of Imbarrato ’ s ordination to the Catholic priesthood .
Father Fidelis Moscinski , CFR , Will Goodman , and Joan McKee are inside Capital Women ’ s Services , a late-term abortion facility that advertises abortions up to 36 weeks into pregnancy .
The facility , whose online reviews are replete with criticisms of it as “ terrifying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” and “ unprofessional , ” shares a building with a D.C. Department of Health office .
The activists are conducting a Red Rose Rescue during which they offer moms roses and beg them to not to go through with scheduled abortions .
The Red Rose Rescue movement is inspired by Canadian pro-life activist Mary Wagner .
It is something of a revival of the rescue movement of the early days of the pro-life movement , before the Federal Access to Clinic Entrances Act ( FACE ) imposed harsh penalties on pro-lifers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access ” to abortion facilities .
Yesterday two pro-lifers were arrested and five received trespassing citations at a Red Rose Rescue and pro-life protest in Grand Rapids , Michigan .
“ Steven Brigham , who allegedly owns Capital Women 's Center , and Cesare Santangelo , who owns and operates SurgiClinic , both have notorious and well-publicized pasts as abortionists , ” Imbarrato told LifeSiteNews .
“ In spite of their dark histories , because they operate in Washington , D.C. – which offers no abortion restrictions or any oversight of abortion facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they operate in multi-unit buildings.
” Imbarrato , who spent seven days in a Washington , D.C. jail for his participation in a 2017 rescue , told LifeSiteNews the layouts of SurgiClinic and Capital Women ’ s Services pose unique challenges to pro-life activists .
“ Rarely if ever do pro-lifers pray or counsel in front of these facilities because , the offices being hidden in multi-unit buildings , pro-lifers can not normally access or identify the women entering the building as pregnant moms in crisis , ” the priest explained .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the women in the waiting rooms or in the halls outside the waiting rooms of these abortionists .
Many babies have been saved in past Red Rose Rescues in these facilities – babies that otherwise would have died.
” The rescuers are reportedly wearing masks and not standing close to others in accordance with the current recommended coronavirus guidelines .
Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser just extended the city ’ s strict lockdown until June 8 , under which abortion is apparently considered essential .
“ Our primary concern is lovingly interacting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saving their babies , ” said Imbarrato .
“ All the rescuers risking arrest trying to save these babies are serious Catholics and thus are additionally motivated by the fact that these governments which sanction , protect , and fund the murder of babies have , in this COVID-19 crisis , deemed these murders as ‘ essential ’ while proclaiming the Catholic Church ‘ non-essential.
’ As a Catholic priest , and I am sure my Catholic colleagues would agree , trying to save babies from the intrinsic evil of abortion is essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are about directly intervening to save unborn babies from being murdered , ” Imbarrato said .
“ I use the term ‘ murder ’ because in this , the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of Evangelium Vitae , I am constantly reminded that Saint John Paul II told the world that we need ‘ to look the truth in the eye and call things by their proper name without compromise.
’ Then he referenced abortion as ‘ murder ’ ( EV article 58 ) .
” He said the rescuers today chose the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the center of our government which has sanctioned , protected , and funded the daily mass murder of preborn children for over 47 years.
” In the 25 years since the publication of Pope John Paul II ’ s pro-life encyclical Evangelium Vitae , “ a strong case can be made that the Church has not proportionately responded in word and deed to this worldwide holocaust , ” said Imbarrato .
“ Some Catholics have said that this reality alone is a sign that the Church has rendered itself ‘ non-essential ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide abortion to become ‘ essential.
’ ” There have now been close to 20 Red Rose Rescues in the U.S. since 2017 .
Legally , they have resulted in charges being dropped a number of times , notably in federal court ; others have ended in trespassing convictions .
The state of Michigan has treated rescuers the most harshly , jailing pro-lifers and even charging four with a felony for obstruction of officers .
Michigan ’ s attorney general is a lesbian in a same-sex “ marriage.
” Rescuers have ranged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Red Rose Rescue conference is scheduled to take place the first weekend of November , right after the 2020 presidential election ( it had been scheduled for April , but organizers were forced to postpone it because of the coronavirus ) .
“ We are hoping to encourage many to join our prayerful and peaceful activism ministry designed to save babies [ who ] otherwise would die from abortion , ” said Imbarrato .
“ Red Rose Rescues are not just about risking arrest to save babies , but about prayerful witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to the workers to leave the industry of death , to law enforcement and courts which protect the killing , and to the many people we encounter on the sidewalks where we rescue and who hear or read about our ministry of saving babies.
” “ The overwhelming majority of people involved in the Red Rose Rescue movement do not risk arrest , but are equally needed and important in this effort to save the unborn and bring abortion to a decisive end in our country .
”

'Our primary concern is lovingly interacting with the moms in the hope of saving their babies.'
Update on May 14, 2020 at 7:41 p.m.: Father Fidelis Moscinski and Will Goodman were arrested at Capital Women’s Services, bringing the total number of rescuers arrested today to four. Imbarrato said all four of them were released around 2:00 p.m. EST.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Catholic priest and pro-life activist were just arrested for refusing to leave an abortion center in the nation’s capital, and three more – one of whom is also a priest – are risking arrest inside another abortion facility.
Father Stephen Imbarrato and Linda Mueller were arrested this morning inside SurgiClinic, a late-term abortion center in D.C.’s upscale Foggy Botton neighborhood, near George Washington University. Today is the 15th anniversary of Imbarrato’s ordination to the Catholic priesthood.
Father Fidelis Moscinski, CFR, Will Goodman, and Joan McKee are inside Capital Women’s Services, a late-term abortion facility that advertises abortions up to 36 weeks into pregnancy. The facility, whose online reviews are replete with criticisms of it as “terrifying,” “dirty,” “filthy,” and “unprofessional,” shares a building with a D.C. Department of Health office.
The activists are conducting a Red Rose Rescue during which they offer moms roses and beg them to not to go through with scheduled abortions. The Red Rose Rescue movement is inspired by Canadian pro-life activist Mary Wagner. It is something of a revival of the rescue movement of the early days of the pro-life movement, before the Federal Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) imposed harsh penalties on pro-lifers who save babies by physically blocking “access” to abortion facilities.
Yesterday two pro-lifers were arrested and five received trespassing citations at a Red Rose Rescue and pro-life protest in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“Steven Brigham, who allegedly owns Capital Women's Center, and Cesare Santangelo, who owns and operates SurgiClinic, both have notorious and well-publicized pasts as abortionists,” Imbarrato told LifeSiteNews. “In spite of their dark histories, because they operate in Washington, D.C. – which offers no abortion restrictions or any oversight of abortion facilities – these two men go unnoticed because they operate in multi-unit buildings.”
Imbarrato, who spent seven days in a Washington, D.C. jail for his participation in a 2017 rescue, told LifeSiteNews the layouts of SurgiClinic and Capital Women’s Services pose unique challenges to pro-life activists.
“Rarely if ever do pro-lifers pray or counsel in front of these facilities because, the offices being hidden in multi-unit buildings, pro-lifers cannot normally access or identify the women entering the building as pregnant moms in crisis,” the priest explained. “Thus we enter the buildings and counsel the women in the waiting rooms or in the halls outside the waiting rooms of these abortionists. Many babies have been saved in past Red Rose Rescues in these facilities – babies that otherwise would have died.”
The rescuers are reportedly wearing masks and not standing close to others in accordance with the current recommended coronavirus guidelines. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser just extended the city’s strict lockdown until June 8, under which abortion is apparently considered essential.
“Our primary concern is lovingly interacting with the moms in the hope of saving their babies,” said Imbarrato. “All the rescuers risking arrest trying to save these babies are serious Catholics and thus are additionally motivated by the fact that these governments which sanction, protect, and fund the murder of babies have, in this COVID-19 crisis, deemed these murders as ‘essential’ while proclaiming the Catholic Church ‘non-essential.’ As a Catholic priest, and I am sure my Catholic colleagues would agree, trying to save babies from the intrinsic evil of abortion is essential and necessary.”
Government is sanctioning, protecting, funding ‘daily mass murder’
“Red Rose Rescues are about directly intervening to save unborn babies from being murdered,” Imbarrato said. “I use the term ‘murder’ because in this, the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of Evangelium Vitae, I am constantly reminded that Saint John Paul II told the world that we need ‘to look the truth in the eye and call things by their proper name without compromise.’ Then he referenced abortion as ‘murder’ (EV article 58).”
He said the rescuers today chose the nation’s capital because it “is the center of our government which has sanctioned, protected, and funded the daily mass murder of preborn children for over 47 years.”
In the 25 years since the publication of Pope John Paul II’s pro-life encyclical Evangelium Vitae, “a strong case can be made that the Church has not proportionately responded in word and deed to this worldwide holocaust,” said Imbarrato. “Some Catholics have said that this reality alone is a sign that the Church has rendered itself ‘non-essential’ and in that time frame has allowed worldwide abortion to become ‘essential.’”
There have now been close to 20 Red Rose Rescues in the U.S. since 2017. Legally, they have resulted in charges being dropped a number of times, notably in federal court; others have ended in trespassing convictions. The state of Michigan has treated rescuers the most harshly, jailing pro-lifers and even charging four with a felony for obstruction of officers. Michigan’s attorney general is a lesbian in a same-sex “marriage.”
Rescuers have ranged in age from 21 to 65.
The first Red Rose Rescue conference is scheduled to take place the first weekend of November, right after the 2020 presidential election (it had been scheduled for April, but organizers were forced to postpone it because of the coronavirus).
“We are hoping to encourage many to join our prayerful and peaceful activism ministry designed to save babies [who] otherwise would die from abortion,” said Imbarrato. “Red Rose Rescues are not just about risking arrest to save babies, but about prayerful witness: to moms to save their babies, to the workers to leave the industry of death, to law enforcement and courts which protect the killing, and to the many people we encounter on the sidewalks where we rescue and who hear or read about our ministry of saving babies.”
“The overwhelming majority of people involved in the Red Rose Rescue movement do not risk arrest, but are equally needed and important in this effort to save the unborn and bring abortion to a decisive end in our country.”
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