lifesitenews--2020-06-24--Trump promises executive order to ‘make the cities guard their monuments’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — U.S. president Donald Trump stated that he has plans to issue an executive order aimed at protecting statues from being destroyed by leftist protesters and rioters , in many cases while police stand by and watch .
EWTN ’ s Raymond Arroyo questioned Trump yesterday on the federal government ’ s response to the destruction of the statues of historical figures .
“ Mr .
President , ” he asked Trump , “ this week we saw Columbus go down , Roosevelt is now going down , St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along California .
What can you and the federal government do about this ?
” “ It ’ s a disgrace , ” Trump said .
“ Most of these people don ’ t even know what they ’ re taking down.
” “ We ’ re going to do something very soon , ” Trump promised .
“ We ’ re going to do an executive order , and we 're going to make the cities guard their monuments .
This is a disgrace.
” Trump ’ s pledge came in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States within the past weeks .
Protesters led by members of the American Indian Movement in St. Paul , Minnesota toppled a statue of Christopher Columbus , claiming it was “ a slap in the face to all Native people and all people of color.
” Christopher Columbus , famous for discovering and bringing Catholicism to America , is often erroneously attacked and blamed for slavery in the United States .
In Baltimore , a statue of the first American president and famous general , George Washington , was defaced with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ BLM ” and “ Destroy Racists ” on the base of the statue .
A statue of Ulysses S. Grant , the man who led the victorious army in the Civil War to defeat slavery , was torn down in San Francisco on June 19 .
Originally , the protesters targeted historical figures whom they labeled as “ racist.
” They are now targeting Catholic statues as well .
On June 20 , protesters in San Francisco and Los Angeles tore down statues of St. Junipero Serra , a missionary to America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Spanish Franciscan , founded nine missions in California .
On top of this , a prominent leader in the Black Lives Matter movement , Shaun King , is now calling for the destruction of images of a “ white ” Jesus .
“ All murals and stained-glass windows of white Jesus , and his European mother , and their white friends should also come down .
They are a gross form [ of ] white supremacy , ” he tweeted .
In his interview with Trump , Arroyo pressed the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re seeing unprecedented violence across the country , ” Arroyo said .
“ Is there anything you from this office can do to restore order and safety ?
” PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
Trump pointed out that the states that are suffering from the riots are Democrat bastions .
“ Take a look ... in Chicago .
It ’ s Democrat , ” he said .
“ All of these places are run by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat-run.
” “ They don ’ t know what they 're doing , and if Biden got in , this country would be a disaster , ” Trump said .
“ Take a look at the way we ’ re running things ; we ’ re running them good.
” “ If I weren ’ t president , they would have overrun , ” Trump continued .
“ We wouldn ’ t have any statues standing right now .
Because I did things that you don ’ t know about to save a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ripped one down the other night right in front of the police headquarters , ” he stated .
“ We have a Liberal Democrat mayor , and she should not have allowed that to happen.
” In a video responding to the destruction of American monuments , Fox commentator Tucker Carlson said that there ’ s a reason mobs are tearing down statues of American heroes .
“ They know that if they can force you to watch as they topple your heroes , they have won .
There is nothing they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide how you raise your children , how you vote , what you ’ re allowed to believe.
” “ Once they 've humiliated you , they can control you , and that ’ s why , across the country , mobs are tearing down America ’ s monuments.
” In his interview with Trump , Arroyo also mentioned Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò ’ s open letter to the president on the “ children of darkness ” and the “ deep state.
” “ Archbishop Viganò wrote your letter that you tweeted out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , he said what you ’ re facing is a battle of the children of the light versus the children of darkness .
He said these protests were infernal deceptions .
How did you react to that letter ?
He asked people to pray for you , and is that an accurate reading where we are ?
” The president characterized the letter as “ a tremendous letter of support from the Catholic Church.
” “ It was beautiful , ” he added .
“ It was really three pages long , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I appreciated it .
Yeah , but he ’ s right in what he says.
” “ I think he ’ s a great gentleman , ” Trump said of Viganò .
“ He ’ s highly respected , as you know .
”

‘We’re going to do an executive order, and we're going to make the cities guard their monuments. This is a disgrace.’
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — U.S. president Donald Trump stated that he has plans to issue an executive order aimed at protecting statues from being destroyed by leftist protesters and rioters, in many cases while police stand by and watch.
EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo questioned Trump yesterday on the federal government’s response to the destruction of the statues of historical figures. “Mr. President,” he asked Trump, “this week we saw Columbus go down, Roosevelt is now going down, St. Junipero Serra who built all the missions along California. What can you and the federal government do about this?”
“It’s a disgrace,” Trump said. “Most of these people don’t even know what they’re taking down.”
“We’re going to do something very soon,” Trump promised. “We’re going to do an executive order, and we're going to make the cities guard their monuments. This is a disgrace.”
Trump’s pledge came in response to the destruction of public statues across the United States within the past weeks. Protesters led by members of the American Indian Movement in St. Paul, Minnesota toppled a statue of Christopher Columbus, claiming it was “a slap in the face to all Native people and all people of color.” Christopher Columbus, famous for discovering and bringing Catholicism to America, is often erroneously attacked and blamed for slavery in the United States.
In Baltimore, a statue of the first American president and famous general, George Washington, was defaced with red blood-like paint. Rioters had written “BLM” and “Destroy Racists” on the base of the statue.
A statue of Ulysses S. Grant, the man who led the victorious army in the Civil War to defeat slavery, was torn down in San Francisco on June 19.
Originally, the protesters targeted historical figures whom they labeled as “racist.” They are now targeting Catholic statues as well.
On June 20, protesters in San Francisco and Los Angeles tore down statues of St. Junipero Serra, a missionary to America in the late eighteenth century. Serra, a Spanish Franciscan, founded nine missions in California.
On top of this, a prominent leader in the Black Lives Matter movement, Shaun King, is now calling for the destruction of images of a “white” Jesus.
“All murals and stained-glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down. They are a gross form [of] white supremacy,” he tweeted.
In his interview with Trump, Arroyo pressed the president if there was anything he could do.
“We’re seeing unprecedented violence across the country,” Arroyo said. “Is there anything you from this office can do to restore order and safety?”
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
Trump pointed out that the states that are suffering from the riots are Democrat bastions. “Take a look … in Chicago. It’s Democrat,” he said. “All of these places are run by Democrats; 20 out of 20 are Democrat-run.”
“They don’t know what they're doing, and if Biden got in, this country would be a disaster,” Trump said. “Take a look at the way we’re running things; we’re running them good.”
“If I weren’t president, they would have overrun,” Trump continued. “We wouldn’t have any statues standing right now. Because I did things that you don’t know about to save a lot of them.”
“Now they ripped one down the other night right in front of the police headquarters,” he stated. “We have a Liberal Democrat mayor, and she should not have allowed that to happen.”
In a video responding to the destruction of American monuments, Fox commentator Tucker Carlson said that there’s a reason mobs are tearing down statues of American heroes.
“They know that if they can force you to watch as they topple your heroes, they have won. There is nothing they can’t do now. They can decide how you raise your children, how you vote, what you’re allowed to believe.”
“Once they've humiliated you, they can control you, and that’s why, across the country, mobs are tearing down America’s monuments.”
Carlson called the statue-destroyers a “serious and highly organized political movement.”
In his interview with Trump, Arroyo also mentioned Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s open letter to the president on the “children of darkness” and the “deep state.”
“Archbishop Viganò wrote your letter that you tweeted out,” Arroyo said. “In it, he said what you’re facing is a battle of the children of the light versus the children of darkness. He said these protests were infernal deceptions. How did you react to that letter? He asked people to pray for you, and is that an accurate reading where we are?”
The president characterized the letter as “a tremendous letter of support from the Catholic Church.”
“It was beautiful,” he added. “It was really three pages long, and it was a beautiful letter, and I appreciated it. Yeah, but he’s right in what he says.”
“I think he’s a great gentleman,” Trump said of Viganò. “He’s highly respected, as you know.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-24--Is racism the norm in America?

Is racism the norm in America?

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – My fellow Americans , we are being sold a bill of goods .
Race is not what is dividing us .
Rather , we are being divided by competing ideologies .
Let us put our focus where it belongs .
Listening to the news , you would think that racism is deeply entrenched in every neighborhood in our country .
That racial hatred is the norm .
That judging people by the color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American does .
But I do not believe that for a second – and I say that while fully acknowledging the very real racial issues we continue to face .
A caller to my radio show on Monday said he was born in Hong Kong .
Then he lived in Ghana , in West Africa .
Then in Ireland .
And now in America .
He said that America was by far the least racist place he lived .
( The call starts here . )
One week earlier , I had interviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one of the world ’ s foremost New Testament scholars .
He is white but was ordained into the ministry in a black church in America , and he is married to an African woman and they have a son .
Craig has also co-authored two books on race relations , together with a black co-author .
He is acutely aware of racial issues and does not downplay them for a minute .
But he said that his wife , a highly educated woman who speaks fluent French , suffered real discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrive for a job interview , for which she was well qualified .
But when they met her , they would say , “ We don ’ t hire blacks.
” She never experienced that here in America .
Not only so , but Craig told me that the worst racism she ever faced was within her home country in Africa , where the racism had nothing to do with skin color , since everyone was black .
It had to do with where you came from or what strata of society you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not believe racism is the norm in America .
On June 11 , I polled my Twitter followers , asking , “ Would you be completely at home having a neighbor of a different race ?
” Now remember , even though my Twitter followers ( a little over 41,000 , so not particularly large ) are roughly equivalent to the national averages when it comes to demographics , they are quite conservative .
The strong majority are probably Trump supporters as well .
How did they respond to the poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Absolutely.
” ( The exact number was 96.8 percent . )
Yes , almost 97 percent said they would absolutely “ be completely at home having a neighbor of a different race.
” Only 2 percent answered with “ Depends on which race.
” Only 1.2 percent said , “ Absolutely not.
” And remember : this is an anonymous poll , so people can vote freely .
As for the results , they didn ’ t surprise me in the least , especially in Christian circles .
( The vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
Many of our churches are multi-racial , especially if they are in multi-racial locations .
And when they are not , joining together for multi-racial gatherings is often considered a highlight .
And in cities across America , pastors work together in multi-racial coalitions .
And just ask yourself about your own circle of friends or co-workers .
How common is racism in your midst ?
Getting back to the poll , I was inspired to do the “ neighbor ” poll by a 2013 article by Max Fisher in The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A fascinating map of the world ’ s most and least racially tolerant countries.
” Fisher reported the results of a major study by two Swedish economists who felt the number one way to determine racial attitudes was this : “ The survey asked respondents in more than 80 different countries to identify kinds of people they would not want as neighbors.
” What were their findings ?
“ Anglo and Latin countries most tolerant .
People in the survey were most likely to embrace a racially diverse neighbor in the United Kingdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , Canada , Australia and New Zealand ) and in Latin America.
” Conversely , “ India and Jordan by far the least tolerant .
In only two of 81 surveyed countries , more than 40 percent of respondents said they would not want a neighbor of a different race .
This included 43.5 percent of Indians and 51.4 percent of Jordanian.
” So , America is one of the least racist countries on the planet ?
To repeat : This does not mean that we do not have problems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated before , to the chagrin of some of my conservative friends , I have no problem asking if there is still systemic racism in America .
( If not systemic racism , then system inequity . )
My point in this article is to stress that our biggest issues in America are not race-based .
They are ideologically based .
And right now , those pushing a radical leftist agenda are the most divisive among us , by far .
Of course , if the radical right ( which includes the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today , they would be just as divisive .
But they do not .
They have been largely marginalized , and for that I am glad .
Instead , it is the radical left ( which includes the BLM movement and its Marxist-fueled agenda ) which has become dominant , championed by a complicit ( or foolishly naïve ) media .
They are the ones dividing us .
On a personal level , I will continue to listen to people of color as they share perspectives with me ( like a caller on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cotton at the age of 5 and that I had no idea what his life experience was like ; he is correct ) .
And I will continue to ask God to show me my blind spots .
But I will not allow cultural radicals to paint a false picture of our nation .
We are far from perfect .
But we are hardly a country that is deeply divided by race .
Let us join together then and stand as one for what is right .
I truly believe that is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .

PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – My fellow Americans, we are being sold a bill of goods. Race is not what is dividing us. Rather, we are being divided by competing ideologies. Let us put our focus where it belongs.
Listening to the news, you would think that racism is deeply entrenched in every neighborhood in our country. That racial hatred is the norm. That judging people by the color of their skin is what the average American does.
But I do not believe that for a second – and I say that while fully acknowledging the very real racial issues we continue to face.
A caller to my radio show on Monday said he was born in Hong Kong. Then he lived in Ghana, in West Africa. Then in Ireland. And now in America.
He said that America was by far the least racist place he lived. (The call starts here.)
One week earlier, I had interviewed Professor Craig Keener, a dear friend and one of the world’s foremost New Testament scholars.
He is white but was ordained into the ministry in a black church in America, and he is married to an African woman and they have a son. Craig has also co-authored two books on race relations, together with a black co-author.
He is acutely aware of racial issues and does not downplay them for a minute.
But he said that his wife, a highly educated woman who speaks fluent French, suffered real discrimination while living in France. She would arrive for a job interview, for which she was well qualified. But when they met her, they would say, “We don’t hire blacks.”
She never experienced that here in America.
Not only so, but Craig told me that the worst racism she ever faced was within her home country in Africa, where the racism had nothing to do with skin color, since everyone was black. It had to do with where you came from or what strata of society you lived in.
Racism knows no bounds.
That being said, I do not believe racism is the norm in America.
On June 11, I polled my Twitter followers, asking, “Would you be completely at home having a neighbor of a different race?”
Now remember, even though my Twitter followers (a little over 41,000, so not particularly large) are roughly equivalent to the national averages when it comes to demographics, they are quite conservative. The strong majority are probably Trump supporters as well.
How did they respond to the poll?
Just under 97 percent said “Absolutely.” (The exact number was 96.8 percent.) Yes, almost 97 percent said they would absolutely “be completely at home having a neighbor of a different race.”
Only 2 percent answered with “Depends on which race.” Only 1.2 percent said, “Absolutely not.”
And remember: this is an anonymous poll, so people can vote freely.
As for the results, they didn’t surprise me in the least, especially in Christian circles. (The vast majority of my social media followers identify as Christian.)
Many of our churches are multi-racial, especially if they are in multi-racial locations. And when they are not, joining together for multi-racial gatherings is often considered a highlight. And in cities across America, pastors work together in multi-racial coalitions.
And just ask yourself about your own circle of friends or co-workers. How common is racism in your midst?
Getting back to the poll, I was inspired to do the “neighbor” poll by a 2013 article by Max Fisher in The Washington Post. It was titled “A fascinating map of the world’s most and least racially tolerant countries.”
Fisher reported the results of a major study by two Swedish economists who felt the number one way to determine racial attitudes was this: “The survey asked respondents in more than 80 different countries to identify kinds of people they would not want as neighbors.”
What were their findings?
“Anglo and Latin countries most tolerant. People in the survey were most likely to embrace a racially diverse neighbor in the United Kingdom and its Anglo former colonies (the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) and in Latin America.”
Conversely, “India and Jordan by far the least tolerant. In only two of 81 surveyed countries, more than 40 percent of respondents said they would not want a neighbor of a different race. This included 43.5 percent of Indians and 51.4 percent of Jordanian.”
So, America is one of the least racist countries on the planet?
To repeat: This does not mean that we do not have problems to address. And, as I have stated before, to the chagrin of some of my conservative friends, I have no problem asking if there is still systemic racism in America. (If not systemic racism, then system inequity.)
My point in this article is to stress that our biggest issues in America are not race-based. They are ideologically based. And right now, those pushing a radical leftist agenda are the most divisive among us, by far.
Of course, if the radical right (which includes the “alt-right”) had a bigger platform today, they would be just as divisive. But they do not. They have been largely marginalized, and for that I am glad.
Instead, it is the radical left (which includes the BLM movement and its Marxist-fueled agenda) which has become dominant, championed by a complicit (or foolishly naïve) media. They are the ones dividing us.
On a personal level, I will continue to listen to people of color as they share perspectives with me (like a caller on Monday who told me he started picking cotton at the age of 5 and that I had no idea what his life experience was like; he is correct). And I will continue to ask God to show me my blind spots.
But I will not allow cultural radicals to paint a false picture of our nation.
We are far from perfect. But we are hardly a country that is deeply divided by race.
Let us join together then and stand as one for what is right.
I truly believe that is what the great majority of Americans want to do.
Do you agree?
Follow Michael Dr. Brown is the author of more than 35 books, including Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, which has been translated into more than twelve languages, the highly acclaimed five-volume series, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, a commentary on Jeremiah (part of the revised edition of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary), and several books on revival and the Jesus revolution. His most recent book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?
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lifesitenews--2020-06-24--‘It’s not right’ Canada has no abortion law: conservative leadership candidate Sloan

TORONTO , Ontario , June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Conservative Party of Canada ( CPC ) leadership hopeful and member of parliament ( M.P . )
Derek Sloan said his fellow candidates would “ agree with him ” that “ it ’ s not right ” that Canada has no laws governing abortion in remarks he made during the CPC English leadership debate last week .
“ I think it ’ s important to recognize that there is a lot of agreement within the party behind the scenes , even my two friends over here , Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would agree with me that it ’ s not right that Canada does n't have any laws when it comes to abortion , ” said Sloan last Thursday .
“ It is out of whack , and it is out of whack with other developed nations , it ’ s out of whack with most of the developed world , and you know we can kid get ourselves and say ‘ well , you know , if we talk about that , we ’ re going to lose.
’ Everything the Liberals campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t ignore division.
” Canada having no law regarding abortion means that the practice is permitted through all nine months of pregnancy .
Abortion was legalized in Canada in 1969 after a heavily criticized omnibus bill was passed to amend the criminal code to allow abortions to be done in hospitals under permissive circumstances .
This law was struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada as unconstitutional in the 1988 Morgentaler decision and removed on a technicality .
This left the Canadian Parliament to come up with replacement abortion legislation , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined at the English debate by his fellow CPC leadership candidates , M.P .
Erin O ’ Toole , Dr. Leslyn Lewis , and former M.P .
Peter MacKay .
O ’ Toole and MacKay identify as pro-abortion , Sloan and Lewis as pro-family and pro-life .
Neither MacKay nor O ’ Toole rebuked Sloan ’ s comments regarding the fact that there is no official abortion law in Canada .
In the French leadership debate held last Wednesday , O ’ Toole said he would defend women ’ s “ right ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an abortion should he become prime minister .
MacKay also spelled out his pro-abortion position in the French debate , saying “ I ’ m pro-choice .
I agree with gay marriage.
” In Thursday ’ s English debate , Lewis said it ’ s important that the CPC “ recognize ” people with “ traditional ” values and that the party uphold these values .
“ I saw that there was a potential that social conservatives would be ousted from the party , and I think it ’ s very important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values , people with religious values , that all of these parts are important to our great democracy .
And that is what I would do , is uphold all of these values within our party , ” said Lewis .
During the debate , Lewis went on to say there needs to be a “ parental bill of rights ” and that “ we should allow children to just be children.
” She also brought up the issue of euthanasia , saying it should not be “ imposed ” on Canadian seniors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do not impose euthanasia on these seniors because some of them feel compelled to relieve suffering from this system and their family members , ” said Lewis .
Sloan also said , “ The Liberals are so radically far to the left of their ideas when it comes to conversion therapy and abortion that we can gain ground on these ideas.
” “ Many new Canadians are social conservatives .
They don ’ t believe that there ’ s 72 or 102 genders , they don ’ t want their kids to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harper cut funding for foreign abortions ?
We won a majority after that.
” A few weeks ago , Sloan came under fire for saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is legislating “ child abuse ” with Bill C-8 , which , if passed , will prohibit parents from seeking to help their children overcome gender confusion .
PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
In Thursday ’ s English debate , Sloan reaffirmed in his opening remarks that he would defund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I will never sell out Canada , and I will always put Canadians first .
I will never give an inch to political correctness .
I won ’ t seed an ounce of our sovereignty to international organizations , ” said Sloan .
“ I ’ m the only candidate that is committed to defunding the World Health Organization and getting Canada out of the Paris agreement .
I will never put the rich elite and international corporations before the Canadian worker in small business.
” In an email sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if he becomes prime minister , he will defund foreign abortions , the WHO , Planned Parenthood , and “ Pride ” parades .
Lewis did not mention her pro-life position directly at any point in the French debate , but in her opening remarks , she did say there needs to be “ compassion for vulnerable people ” and that she wants to see the “ family ” as the “ cornerstone of society.
” Sloan ’ s remarks regarding Canadian abortion laws in Thursday ’ s English debate come after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement in the French debate .
“ Pregnancy is not a disease ; abortion can not be health care .
As prime minister , I would prevent Canada from funding abortions internationally and encourage debate on this , ” said Sloan in the French-to-English translation on CPAC .
As part of his platform , Sloan published a 12-point pro-life plan .
He recently spoke about his proposals with Campaign Life Coalition as part of the 2020 Virtual March for Life .
Sloan ’ s plan includes a ban on sex-selective abortion , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscience for health care workers , and a review of the current euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation .
Campaign Life Coalition ( CLC ) praises Sloan and Lewis for their English debate performance Campaign Life Coalition ( CLC ) director of political operations Jack Fonseca told LifeSiteNews that he was pleased with the “ powerful ” performance of Sloan and said Lewis “ upped her game.
” “ Sloan delivered another powerful performance , lamenting the fact that there ’ s no abortion law in Canada , framing the Liberals as being ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pledging again to repeal transgender ideology bill C-16 and promising action to restore our dwindling right to free speech , ” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews .
“ Sloan also skillfully destroyed the lie that being pro-life and pro-family hurts the Conservative Party in elections , pointing out that Stephen Harper won his only majority after defunding international abortions and that Doug Ford won a supermajority , including GTA ridings , by campaigning to repeal the Liberal sex curriculum.
” Fonseca noted to LifeSiteNews that he was happy to see that Lewis openly spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leslyn Lewis also upped her game with respect to moral issues , suggesting that Canada needs a parental bill of rights , lamenting the fact that society is putting pressure on seniors to see themselves as burdens and steering them towards euthanasia , and agreeing with Derek that Bill C-8 to ban conversion therapy is an affront to religious freedom , ” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews .
Fonseca said the kind of leaders “ we need to see from Conservatives ” are those who align with the “ values of the majority of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sloan and Lewis proved in the English debate that they are not “ one-issue candidates ” and was pleased with their performance on other issues .
“ They were both very competent in fiscal , energy , sovereignty , foreign relations , and other policy areas that will be important to mushy-middle voters who don ’ t identify as socons .
As a result , I think they both broadened their appeal to all voters , and thus , have put themselves more within reach of victory , ” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CPC leadership , “ barring any further ballot-rigging conducted by the corrupt party establishment , as an ‘ insurance policy ’ to maintain red Tory hold on power .
“ We recently observed how the deep state in the US , including the FBI , ginned up an ‘ insurance policy ’ to try keeping Trump out of the White House , ” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews .

‘It is out of whack, and it is out of whack with other developed nations, it’s out of whack with most of the developed world.’
TORONTO, Ontario, June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership hopeful and member of parliament (M.P.) Derek Sloan said his fellow candidates would “agree with him” that “it’s not right” that Canada has no laws governing abortion in remarks he made during the CPC English leadership debate last week.
“I think it’s important to recognize that there is a lot of agreement within the party behind the scenes, even my two friends over here, Peter MacKay and Erin O’Toole, would agree with me that it’s not right that Canada doesn't have any laws when it comes to abortion,” said Sloan last Thursday.
“It is out of whack, and it is out of whack with other developed nations, it’s out of whack with most of the developed world, and you know we can kid get ourselves and say ‘well, you know, if we talk about that, we’re going to lose.’ Everything the Liberals campaign on is divisive. We can’t ignore division.”
Canada having no law protecting babies from abortion means that the practice is permitted through all nine months of pregnancy.
Abortion was legalized in Canada in 1969 after a heavily criticized omnibus bill was passed to amend the criminal code to allow abortions to be done in hospitals under permissive circumstances.
This law was struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada as unconstitutional in the 1988 Morgentaler decision and removed on a technicality. This left the Canadian Parliament to come up with replacement abortion legislation, which has not yet occurred.
Sloan was joined at the English debate by his fellow CPC leadership candidates, M.P. Erin O’Toole, Dr. Leslyn Lewis, and former M.P. Peter MacKay. O’Toole and MacKay identify as pro-abortion, Sloan and Lewis as pro-family and pro-life.
Neither MacKay nor O’Toole rebuked Sloan’s comments regarding the fact that there is no official abortion law in Canada.
In the French leadership debate held last Wednesday, O’Toole said he would defend women’s “right” to “choose for themselves” to have an abortion should he become prime minister.
MacKay also spelled out his pro-abortion position in the French debate, saying “I’m pro-choice. I agree with gay marriage.”
In Thursday’s English debate, Lewis said it’s important that the CPC “recognize” people with “traditional” values and that the party uphold these values.
“I saw that there was a potential that social conservatives would be ousted from the party, and I think it’s very important that we recognize that people with traditional values, people with religious values, that all of these parts are important to our great democracy. And that is what I would do, is uphold all of these values within our party,” said Lewis.
During the debate, Lewis went on to say there needs to be a “parental bill of rights” and that “we should allow children to just be children.”
She also brought up the issue of euthanasia, saying it should not be “imposed” on Canadian seniors.
“We need to make sure we do not impose euthanasia on these seniors because some of them feel compelled to relieve suffering from this system and their family members,” said Lewis.
Sloan also said, “The Liberals are so radically far to the left of their ideas when it comes to conversion therapy and abortion that we can gain ground on these ideas.”
“Many new Canadians are social conservatives. They don’t believe that there’s 72 or 102 genders, they don’t want their kids to be confused. And remember when Stephen Harper cut funding for foreign abortions? We won a majority after that.”
A few weeks ago, Sloan came under fire for saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is legislating “child abuse” with Bill C-8, which, if passed, will prohibit parents from seeking to help their children overcome gender confusion.
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
In Thursday’s English debate, Sloan reaffirmed in his opening remarks that he would defund the World Health Organization (WHO).
“I will never sell out Canada, and I will always put Canadians first. I will never give an inch to political correctness. I won’t seed an ounce of our sovereignty to international organizations,” said Sloan.
“I’m the only candidate that is committed to defunding the World Health Organization and getting Canada out of the Paris agreement. I will never put the rich elite and international corporations before the Canadian worker in small business.”
In an email sent to his followers last week, Sloan said that if he becomes prime minister, he will defund foreign abortions, the WHO, Planned Parenthood, and “Pride” parades.
Lewis did not mention her pro-life position directly at any point in the French debate, but in her opening remarks, she did say there needs to be “compassion for vulnerable people” and that she wants to see the “family” as the “cornerstone of society.”
Sloan’s remarks regarding Canadian abortion laws in Thursday’s English debate come after reaffirming his pro-life stance in his opening statement in the French debate.
“Pregnancy is not a disease; abortion cannot be health care. As prime minister, I would prevent Canada from funding abortions internationally and encourage debate on this,” said Sloan in the French-to-English translation on CPAC.
As part of his platform, Sloan published a 12-point pro-life plan. He recently spoke about his proposals with Campaign Life Coalition as part of the 2020 Virtual March for Life.
Sloan’s plan includes a ban on sex-selective abortion, a ban on partial-birth abortion, freedom of conscience for health care workers, and a review of the current euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation.
Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) praises Sloan and Lewis for their English debate performance
Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) director of political operations Jack Fonseca told LifeSiteNews that he was pleased with the “powerful” performance of Sloan and said Lewis “upped her game.”
“Sloan delivered another powerful performance, lamenting the fact that there’s no abortion law in Canada, framing the Liberals as being ‘radical’ on conversion therapy and abortion, pledging again to repeal transgender ideology bill C-16 and promising action to restore our dwindling right to free speech,” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews.
“Sloan also skillfully destroyed the lie that being pro-life and pro-family hurts the Conservative Party in elections, pointing out that Stephen Harper won his only majority after defunding international abortions and that Doug Ford won a supermajority, including GTA ridings, by campaigning to repeal the Liberal sex curriculum.”
Fonseca noted to LifeSiteNews that he was happy to see that Lewis openly spoke about parental rights and euthanasia.
“Leslyn Lewis also upped her game with respect to moral issues, suggesting that Canada needs a parental bill of rights, lamenting the fact that society is putting pressure on seniors to see themselves as burdens and steering them towards euthanasia, and agreeing with Derek that Bill C-8 to ban conversion therapy is an affront to religious freedom,” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews.
Fonseca said the kind of leaders “we need to see from Conservatives” are those who align with the “values of the majority of the party’s base.”
He said Sloan and Lewis proved in the English debate that they are not “one-issue candidates” and was pleased with their performance on other issues.
“They were both very competent in fiscal, energy, sovereignty, foreign relations, and other policy areas that will be important to mushy-middle voters who don’t identify as socons. As a result, I think they both broadened their appeal to all voters, and thus, have put themselves more within reach of victory,” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews.
Fonseca added that a pro-lifer can win the CPC leadership, “barring any further ballot-rigging conducted by the corrupt party establishment, as an ‘insurance policy’ to maintain red Tory hold on power.
“We recently observed how the deep state in the US, including the FBI, ginned up an ‘insurance policy’ to try keeping Trump out of the White House,” Fonseca told LifeSiteNews.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-24--America’s descent into rebellion and anarchy is largely due to absence of fathers

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The recent celebration of Father ’ s Day occurred at a time when our land is experiencing chaos , anarchy and rebellion , all of which can be summed up as lawlessness .
We didn ’ t reach this point overnight .
The past few decades have seen traditional precepts of law — that is to say , natural law , God ’ s law — set aside in favor of an array @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal system has normalized abortion for the sake of an imagined right to total personal autonomy .
The character of marriage ( which had always been understood as a legal / social / economic bond between a man and a woman ) has been stretched to include “ loving ” relationships between persons of the same sex .
And now , the Supreme Court has ruled that “ same-sex attraction ” and “ gender identity ” are natural characteristics protected from discrimination .
Even the definition of religion itself has been altered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diabolic images have been set up as civic monuments .
This past weekend , devil worshippers staged marches in nearly 20 cities , trying to establish the Kingdom of Satan as a publicly recognized faith .
At the same time , we ’ ve seen precipitous declines in many of the institutions we once depended upon to shield our freedom from the encroachments of state power : churches , schools , the news media , social and fraternal organizations , and most tragically , the family .
Today , almost a quarter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in single-parent households .
In most of these cases , the missing parent is the father .
Family life today is caught in a great irony .
The need for fathers to protect their children from the effects of chaos , anarchy and rebellion has never been greater .
Meanwhile , the absence of fathers is , itself , a principal cause of the lawlessness undermining family life .
Too many men who have fathered children don ’ t take their responsibilities as fathers seriously .
Moreover , the social and legal structures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer function to buttress fatherly dedication .
We ’ ve come to accept out-of-wedlock births as common , removing the pressure to “ do the decent thing ” and get married .
Extensive social welfare programs have exacerbated the problem by easing the financial obligation of child support .
We ’ ve accepted divorce as a ready solution to marital stress and discord .
Marriage is no longer assumed to be lifelong and sacred because it was ordained by God .
Instead , freedom and personal fulfillment are held up as preeminent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t provide them , then that marriage can be cast off .
Such assumptions militate against secure family life .
They are evil .
And the results of that evil are troubled and insecure children , increases in mental instability , over-dependence on psychotherapeutic medications , and ultimately , lawlessness .
The deep metaphysical roots of our current dilemma are in Satan himself — “ the man of lawlessness , ” as St. Paul calls him in the Letter to the Thessalonians — the being who breeds hatred , anger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our own lives .
We all eventually must grapple with Satan .
But it is the duty of a father to directly confront the forces of evil that attack his family .
A father must embrace his responsibilities as the head of the family , make sure that his marriage stays intact , and protect his children .
These days , one of the things he must protect them from is school .
Our public education system , and many private schools as well , have long since abandoned their essential mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , contributing members of society .
Today , schools tend to be conduits of ideology , steeping children in distortions of history and warped sexual propaganda .
A father must be alert to what his children are being taught .
And he must counter untruth when he spots it , teaching his children properly and privately at home .
The failure of so many fathers to do that is evident right now on the inflamed streets of our cities .
Fathers must reassert themselves in the life of the family .
They must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s laws , go to church , and serve as role models for their children .
They must be holy men .
In this way , they accomplish the most important aspect of fatherhood — not just raising their children to be successful in this world , but saving their immortal souls .
A priest of the Diocese of Camden , New Jersey , Rev .
Michael P. Orsi currently serves as parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Naples , Florida .
He is host of “ Action for Life TV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pro-life issues , and his writings appear in numerous publications and online journals .
His TV show episodes can be viewed online here .

‘Too many men who have fathered children don’t take their responsibilities as fathers seriously.’
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The recent celebration of Father’s Day occurred at a time when our land is experiencing chaos, anarchy and rebellion, all of which can be summed up as lawlessness.
We didn’t reach this point overnight. The past few decades have seen traditional precepts of law — that is to say, natural law, God’s law — set aside in favor of an array of highly questionable individual rights.
Our legal system has normalized abortion for the sake of an imagined right to total personal autonomy. The character of marriage (which had always been understood as a legal / social / economic bond between a man and a woman ) has been stretched to include “loving” relationships between persons of the same sex. And now, the Supreme Court has ruled that “same-sex attraction” and “gender identity” are natural characteristics protected from discrimination.
Even the definition of religion itself has been altered to accommodate such spiritual aberrations as Satanism. Diabolic images have been set up as civic monuments. This past weekend, devil worshippers staged marches in nearly 20 cities, trying to establish the Kingdom of Satan as a publicly recognized faith.
At the same time, we’ve seen precipitous declines in many of the institutions we once depended upon to shield our freedom from the encroachments of state power: churches, schools, the news media, social and fraternal organizations, and most tragically, the family.
Today, almost a quarter of children under the age of 18 live in single-parent households. In most of these cases, the missing parent is the father.
Family life today is caught in a great irony. The need for fathers to protect their children from the effects of chaos, anarchy and rebellion has never been greater. Meanwhile, the absence of fathers is, itself, a principal cause of the lawlessness undermining family life.
Too many men who have fathered children don’t take their responsibilities as fathers seriously. Moreover, the social and legal structures that once encouraged men in responsible fatherhood no longer function to buttress fatherly dedication.
We’ve come to accept out-of-wedlock births as common, removing the pressure to “do the decent thing” and get married. Extensive social welfare programs have exacerbated the problem by easing the financial obligation of child support.
We’ve accepted divorce as a ready solution to marital stress and discord. Marriage is no longer assumed to be lifelong and sacred because it was ordained by God. Instead, freedom and personal fulfillment are held up as preeminent values. And if a marriage relationship doesn’t provide them, then that marriage can be cast off.
Such assumptions militate against secure family life. They are evil. And the results of that evil are troubled and insecure children, increases in mental instability, over-dependence on psychotherapeutic medications, and ultimately, lawlessness.
The deep metaphysical roots of our current dilemma are in Satan himself — “the man of lawlessness,” as St. Paul calls him in the Letter to the Thessalonians — the being who breeds hatred, anger, and division.
We all face evil in our own lives. We all eventually must grapple with Satan. But it is the duty of a father to directly confront the forces of evil that attack his family. A father must embrace his responsibilities as the head of the family, make sure that his marriage stays intact, and protect his children.
These days, one of the things he must protect them from is school. Our public education system, and many private schools as well, have long since abandoned their essential mission of preparing young people to be balanced, contributing members of society. Today, schools tend to be conduits of ideology, steeping children in distortions of history and warped sexual propaganda.
A father must be alert to what his children are being taught. And he must counter untruth when he spots it, teaching his children properly and privately at home. The failure of so many fathers to do that is evident right now on the inflamed streets of our cities.
Fathers must reassert themselves in the life of the family. They must live their faith, obey God’s laws, go to church, and serve as role models for their children.
They must be holy men.
In this way, they accomplish the most important aspect of fatherhood — not just raising their children to be successful in this world, but saving their immortal souls.
A priest of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, Rev. Michael P. Orsi currently serves as parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Naples, Florida. He is host of “Action for Life TV,” a weekly cable television series devoted to pro-life issues, and his writings appear in numerous publications and online journals. His TV show episodes can be viewed online here.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-23--German communist party erects Lenin statue despite town’s outrage

PETITION : Investigate George Soros ' role in funding domestic terrorism !
Sign the petition here .
June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A 6.5-foot high statue of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov , who went down in history as Lenin , founder of the most deadly incarnation of Marxism and Soviet Russia ’ s first head of government after the October Revolution of 1917 , was unveiled last Saturday in the German town of Gelsenkirchen near Dortmund , erected on private property by the German communist party .
It is the first statue of Lenin to be erected in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the Federal Republic of Germany that did not fall under communist rule in 1949 , and remarkably , the event took place more than 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall .
By a strange coincidence , Lenin ’ s statue was honored by a public installation at a period in time when many statues of so-called white oppressors , from Christopher Columbus and St. Junipero Serra to Isabella the Catholic of Spain and Winston Churchill were tagged , vandalized or toppled .
This is despite the fact that Marxist-Leninist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million deaths in the 20th century alone , according to the ( conservative ) academic estimate of French researcher Stéphane Courtois , and to the enslavement of millions more .
The municipal council of Gelsenkirchen tried in vain to prevent the cast-iron statue , produced in 1957 in former Czechoslovakia , from being placed in a square in front of Germany ’ s tiny Marxist-Leninist Party ( MPLD ) headquarters , on a piece of private land but in full view of the public .
“ Lenin stood for violence , oppression and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council ’ s main parties stated in a resolution .
The authorities of Gelsenkirchen also issued a construction ban based on the fact that the statue of Lenin would spoil the view of a historical building , a classified construction of the 1930s erected by a building society that actually belongs to the MPLD .
The statement added that all legal means would be used to block the small communist party ’ s initiative .
The council “ will not tolerate such an anti-democratic symbol in its district , ” added the statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welle .
But even the council ’ s esthetical objections were rejected by the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia in Münster last March , depriving the local council ’ s construction ban of its binding force .
The official inauguration was supposed to take place later that month , days before the 150th anniversary of Lenin ’ s birth on April 22 , but was postponed because of the coronavirus .
Finally , the inauguration took place on June 20 , in presence of some “ 800 ” sympathizers , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceremony with nonstop speeches in homage to the communist dictator .
The speeches were delivered under a large red banner with the words : “ Don ’ t give anticommunism , fascism , passeism and anti-Semitism a chance.
” The statue itself was covered with a red cloth until its official unveiling .
The meeting took place under police protection .
Two counter-demonstrations , including representatives of right-wing groups , took place , according to a police spokesman .
Gelsenkirchen has launched a historical initiative to counter the impact of Lenin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the tag “ # keinplatzfuerlenin ” ( no place for Lenin ) , public figures have been encouraged to air their take on the statue .
Some , such as Dr. Rainer Eckert , historian and former director of the Leipzig Forum for Contemporary History , see Lenin as a true tyrant : “ The murder of Stalin and the death in the GULag are slowly being forgotten today .
But that will be delayed given the scale of these crimes .
Another question , however , is what the memory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lenin as its leader actually is .
Too many are willing to take a largely positive view of both .
This is wrong .
( … ) Stalin ’ s crimes followed up on Lenin ’ s misdeeds and increased them beyond belief .
Therefore ‘ Leninism ’ and ‘ Stalinism ’ can not be seen as opposites , but belong to the same kind of totalitarian exercise of power.
” Others are more lenient , such as Pr .
Stefan Berger , director of the Institute for Social Movements , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote : “ To my taste , there were too many anti-communist reflexes in the debate about the monument .
Is it still necessary to hit a dead horse today ?
In short , I actually think that if we still have dozens of Bismarck monuments , we can also accept a monument to Lenin , even if we are not Leninists and are rather critical of Lenin .
I think a democratic culture of commemoration has to endure these tensions.
” Regarding Lenin , however , there is a difference of nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures , controversial as they may or may not be .
Lenin was the inspirational force and active leader of the Bolshevik revolution , whose writings inspired many to use any kind of violence , lying and agitation to further the socialist and communist aims of Marxist theory , by transforming it into a “ praxis ” guided by revolutionary tactics and strategy .
During the first years of Soviet Russia and until his death in 1924 , Lenin presided over the first mass killings , the overthrow and murder of Tsar Nicholas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reversal of traditional morals , the first organized famine and the establishment of a cruel secret police under Felix Djerzinski , whom he saw as a hero of the Revolution .
His favorite advice was to make prisoners at the infamous Lubianka “ suffer as much as possible and as long as possible ” in order to obtain “ confessions.
” Djerzinski set up the Red Terror from 1918 to 1924 that killed both the “ bourgeois ” and rebellious workers , whose murder Lenin himself encouraged under the accusation of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foundational book about Lenin , Inventor of totalitarianism , published in 2016 , French historian Stéphane Courtois explained how Lenin differed from the actors of the “ Terreur ” during the French Revolution , such as Robespierre , because he went much further in his legitimation of revolutionary terrorism .
Politics , according to Lenin , “ is the continuation of war by other means.
” Lenin ’ s aim was to abolish property and in order to do that he was prepared to order massive killing even at a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at stake .
As early as 1905 , Lenin was already encouraging his circle of Bolshevik activists to prepare violently to confront a Russian “ Vendée ” during their first revolutionary attempts .
The Vendée , which was subjected to the first modern organized genocide because it gave rise to the French army of peasants and local nobles who battled “ for God and King ” against the anti-Catholic Revolution of 1789 , was in fact Lenin ’ s first inspiration , according to Courtois .
Many statues of Lenin are still standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Square in Moscow .
In the Soviet Union ’ s satellite republics , they have been overwhelmingly dismantled .
That a new statue should have been erected and honored in Germany is a sad omen .
No one would have accepted the same to have taken place for Hitler , another socialist tyrant .
Such a move would have aroused international fury .

The municipal council tried in vain to prevent the cast-iron statue from being placed in a square in front of Germany’s tiny Marxist-Leninist Party (MPLD) headquarters.
PETITION: Investigate George Soros' role in funding domestic terrorism! Sign the petition here.
June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A 6.5-foot high statue of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, who went down in history as Lenin, founder of the most deadly incarnation of Marxism and Soviet Russia’s first head of government after the October Revolution of 1917, was unveiled last Saturday in the German town of Gelsenkirchen near Dortmund, erected on private property by the German communist party.
It is the first statue of Lenin to be erected in what was formerly “West Germany,” the Federal Republic of Germany that did not fall under communist rule in 1949, and remarkably, the event took place more than 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
By a strange coincidence, Lenin’s statue was honored by a public installation at a period in time when many statues of so-called white oppressors, from Christopher Columbus and St. Junipero Serra to Isabella the Catholic of Spain and Winston Churchill were tagged, vandalized or toppled.
This is despite the fact that Marxist-Leninist communism was responsible for more than 100 million deaths in the 20th century alone, according to the (conservative) academic estimate of French researcher Stéphane Courtois, and to the enslavement of millions more.
The municipal council of Gelsenkirchen tried in vain to prevent the cast-iron statue, produced in 1957 in former Czechoslovakia, from being placed in a square in front of Germany’s tiny Marxist-Leninist Party (MPLD) headquarters, on a piece of private land but in full view of the public.
“Lenin stood for violence, oppression and terrible human suffering,” the district council’s main parties stated in a resolution. The authorities of Gelsenkirchen also issued a construction ban based on the fact that the statue of Lenin would spoil the view of a historical building, a classified construction of the 1930s erected by a building society that actually belongs to the MPLD. The statement added that all legal means would be used to block the small communist party’s initiative. The council “will not tolerate such an anti-democratic symbol in its district,” added the statement, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.
But even the council’s esthetical objections were rejected by the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia in Münster last March, depriving the local council’s construction ban of its binding force. The official inauguration was supposed to take place later that month, days before the 150th anniversary of Lenin’s birth on April 22, but was postponed because of the coronavirus.
Finally, the inauguration took place on June 20, in presence of some “800” sympathizers, according to the MPLD, in a 2 1/2-hour ceremony with nonstop speeches in homage to the communist dictator. The speeches were delivered under a large red banner with the words: “Don’t give anticommunism, fascism, passeism and anti-Semitism a chance.” The statue itself was covered with a red cloth until its official unveiling.
The meeting took place under police protection. Two counter-demonstrations, including representatives of right-wing groups, took place, according to a police spokesman.
Gelsenkirchen has launched a historical initiative to counter the impact of Lenin’s statue in one of its squares. Under the tag “#keinplatzfuerlenin” (no place for Lenin), public figures have been encouraged to air their take on the statue.
Some, such as Dr. Rainer Eckert, historian and former director of the Leipzig Forum for Contemporary History, see Lenin as a true tyrant: “The murder of Stalin and the death in the GULag are slowly being forgotten today. But that will be delayed given the scale of these crimes. Another question, however, is what the memory of the ‘Great October Socialist Revolution’ and Lenin as its leader actually is. Too many are willing to take a largely positive view of both. This is wrong. (…) Stalin’s crimes followed up on Lenin’s misdeeds and increased them beyond belief. Therefore ‘Leninism’ and ‘Stalinism’ cannot be seen as opposites, but belong to the same kind of totalitarian exercise of power.”
Others are more lenient, such as Pr. Stefan Berger, director of the Institute for Social Movements, at the Ruhr University in Bochum, who wrote: “To my taste, there were too many anti-communist reflexes in the debate about the monument. Is it still necessary to hit a dead horse today? In short, I actually think that if we still have dozens of Bismarck monuments, we can also accept a monument to Lenin, even if we are not Leninists and are rather critical of Lenin. I think a democratic culture of commemoration has to endure these tensions.”
Regarding Lenin, however, there is a difference of nature and not of degree with other historical figures, controversial as they may or may not be.
Lenin was the inspirational force and active leader of the Bolshevik revolution, whose writings inspired many to use any kind of violence, lying and agitation to further the socialist and communist aims of Marxist theory, by transforming it into a “praxis” guided by revolutionary tactics and strategy.
During the first years of Soviet Russia and until his death in 1924, Lenin presided over the first mass killings, the overthrow and murder of Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian imperial family, the reversal of traditional morals, the first organized famine and the establishment of a cruel secret police under Felix Djerzinski, whom he saw as a hero of the Revolution. His favorite advice was to make prisoners at the infamous Lubianka “suffer as much as possible and as long as possible” in order to obtain “confessions.”
Djerzinski set up the Red Terror from 1918 to 1924 that killed both the “bourgeois” and rebellious workers, whose murder Lenin himself encouraged under the accusation of “sabotage” of the Revolution.
In a foundational book about Lenin, Inventor of totalitarianism, published in 2016, French historian Stéphane Courtois explained how Lenin differed from the actors of the “Terreur” during the French Revolution, such as Robespierre, because he went much further in his legitimation of revolutionary terrorism. Politics, according to Lenin, “is the continuation of war by other means.” Lenin’s aim was to abolish property and in order to do that he was prepared to order massive killing even at a time when the future of his revolution was not at stake.
As early as 1905, Lenin was already encouraging his circle of Bolshevik activists to prepare violently to confront a Russian “Vendée” during their first revolutionary attempts. The Vendée, which was subjected to the first modern organized genocide because it gave rise to the French army of peasants and local nobles who battled “for God and King” against the anti-Catholic Revolution of 1789, was in fact Lenin’s first inspiration, according to Courtois.
Many statues of Lenin are still standing in Russia and his Mausoleum remains on Red Square in Moscow. In the Soviet Union’s satellite republics, they have been overwhelmingly dismantled. That a new statue should have been erected and honored in Germany is a sad omen. No one would have accepted the same to have taken place for Hitler, another socialist tyrant. Such a move would have aroused international fury.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-23--Why Ocasio-Cortez is simply wrong in accusing Trump of being a ‘white supremacist’

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – This past Saturday , after President Donald Trump ’ s Tulsa rally did not draw the expected capacity crowd , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted , “ Actually you just got ROCKED by teens on TikTok who flooded the Trump campaign w/ fake ticket reservations & tricked you into believing a million people wanted your white supremacist open mic enough to pack an arena during COVID.
” “ Shout out to Zoomers .
Y @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ☺ ” Ocasio-Cortez was responding to claims that TikTok , with apparent help from within China , flooded the Trump campaign with fake reservation requests , discouraging others from attending .
But what was most telling in her tweet was the reference to Trump ’ s “ white supremacist open mic.
” This dangerous and ugly accusation is now standard fare for the left .
Trump is a white supremacist , as are his white supporters .
Of course , you could see this building for several years now .
First , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacist , based especially on his comments about Mexican immigrants and Muslims .
Confirmation for this was found when men like David Duke endorsed him .
Then , there was the misrepresentation of his words about Charlottesville , where he allegedly said that there were some “ very fine people ” among the neo-Nazi demonstrators .
To the contrary , he categorically condemned those very people , saying , “ Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs , including the KKK , neo-Nazis , white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the misrepresentation continues to this day , repeated regularly by presidential candidate Joe Biden .
The next step in the left-wing media ’ s strategy was to brand you a white supremacist if you were white and supported Trump .
In fact , in some circles , it is assumed that , for white supporters of Trump , MAGA really means , “ Make America White Again.
” ( House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made this very claim . )
For people like Ocasio-Cortez , this is simply taken for granted .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evangelicals At the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
In the book , I meticulously lay out the case against Trump , including the charges that he is an unashamed racist .
And I do this , not to whitewash such charges but to examine them carefully and fairly .
Is Donald Trump a white supremacist and racist ?
Some of Trump ’ s statements have certainly lacked precision , leading to further misunderstanding and confusion .
And I recognize that , in many ways , he has been highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend those aspects of his speech or conduct .
Still , as I demonstrate in my book , the charges of “ white supremacy ” have no substance at all .
( According to Merriam-Webster , a white supremacist is “ a person who believes that the white race is inherently superior to other races and that white people should have control over people of other races.
” ) White supremacists do not go out of their way to meet regularly with black leaders for input and wisdom .
White supremacists do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect non-whites .
White supremacists do not gain stories in The New York Times like this one , from September 10 , 2019 , headlined , “ Trump Focuses on Black Economic Gains and Support for Historically Black Colleges.
” As the Times reported , “ Since the beginning of Mr. Trump ’ s presidency , the administration has , in fact , made an effort to support historically black schools , increasing investment in their programs by 14.3 percent.
” ( For further documentation of these points , see Evangelicals at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately call for the FBI and the Department of Justice to look into the death of a black man , George Floyd , at the hands of a white cop , Derek Chauvin .
And white supremacists do not call for special forums titled “ transition to greatness , ” where the focus is on listening to black leaders address the problem of racism in America .
Cynics would say , “ He ’ s a politician .
He ’ s just doing this for votes.
” But real white supremacists do no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose very reputation depends on their racism .
( When it comes to politicians doing things for votes , which politician does not do things for votes ? )
Yet , as bogus as the charge of “ white supremacist ” is when it comes to Trump , it is even more bogus for the vast majority of his white supporters .
Many of them would have voted for Ben Carson in a heartbeat had the elections been between Dr. Carson and Hillary Clinton .
White supremacists would not do this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have voted for Hispanic candidates like Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio had they run against Hillary . )
And the vast majority of white Trump supporters opposed President Obama because of his policies , not because of the color of his skin .
( The last I checked , both Hillary and Biden are white , so our rejection of them has nothing to do with skin color . )
Not only so , but some of Trump ’ s most prominent white evangelical supporters have been involved in interracial ministry for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposing racism .
And of the many white Trump supporters I know , not a single one of them fits the definition of “ white supremacist ” cited above .
Let us , then , call out this ugly accusation for what it is : slanderous , libelous , and dangerous .
Shame on those who use such ugly words as a political and ideological tool .

‘Let us call out this ugly accusation for what it is: slanderous, libelous, and dangerous.’
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – This past Saturday, after President Donald Trump’s Tulsa rally did not draw the expected capacity crowd, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “Actually you just got ROCKED by teens on TikTok who flooded the Trump campaign w/ fake ticket reservations & tricked you into believing a million people wanted your white supremacist open mic enough to pack an arena during COVID.”
“Shout out to Zoomers. Y’all make me so proud. ☺”
Ocasio-Cortez was responding to claims that TikTok, with apparent help from within China, flooded the Trump campaign with fake reservation requests, discouraging others from attending.
But what was most telling in her tweet was the reference to Trump’s “white supremacist open mic.” This dangerous and ugly accusation is now standard fare for the left. Trump is a white supremacist, as are his white supporters.
Of course, you could see this building for several years now.
First, the left-wing media branded candidate Trump a white supremacist, based especially on his comments about Mexican immigrants and Muslims.
Confirmation for this was found when men like David Duke endorsed him.
Then, there was the misrepresentation of his words about Charlottesville, where he allegedly said that there were some “very fine people” among the neo-Nazi demonstrators.
To the contrary, he categorically condemned those very people, saying, “Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups.”
But the misrepresentation continues to this day, repeated regularly by presidential candidate Joe Biden.
The next step in the left-wing media’s strategy was to brand you a white supremacist if you were white and supported Trump. In fact, in some circles, it is assumed that, for white supporters of Trump, MAGA really means, “Make America White Again.” (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made this very claim.)
For people like Ocasio-Cortez, this is simply taken for granted.
I documented these accusations in my new book Evangelicals At the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?
In the book, I meticulously lay out the case against Trump, including the charges that he is an unashamed racist. And I do this, not to whitewash such charges but to examine them carefully and fairly. Is Donald Trump a white supremacist and racist?
Some of Trump’s statements have certainly lacked precision, leading to further misunderstanding and confusion. And I recognize that, in many ways, he has been highly divisive. I have no desire to defend those aspects of his speech or conduct.
Still, as I demonstrate in my book, the charges of “white supremacy” have no substance at all. (According to Merriam-Webster, a white supremacist is “a person who believes that the white race is inherently superior to other races and that white people should have control over people of other races.”)
White supremacists do not go out of their way to meet regularly with black leaders for input and wisdom.
White supremacists do not pass major criminal justice bills that largely affect non-whites.
White supremacists do not gain stories in The New York Times like this one, from September 10, 2019, headlined, “Trump Focuses on Black Economic Gains and Support for Historically Black Colleges.” As the Times reported, “Since the beginning of Mr. Trump’s presidency, the administration has, in fact, made an effort to support historically black schools, increasing investment in their programs by 14.3 percent.” (For further documentation of these points, see Evangelicals at the Crossroads.)
White supremacists do not immediately call for the FBI and the Department of Justice to look into the death of a black man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white cop, Derek Chauvin.
And white supremacists do not call for special forums titled “transition to greatness,” where the focus is on listening to black leaders address the problem of racism in America.
Cynics would say, “He’s a politician. He’s just doing this for votes.”
But real white supremacists do no such things, especially white supremacist politicians, whose very reputation depends on their racism. (When it comes to politicians doing things for votes, which politician does not do things for votes?)
Yet, as bogus as the charge of “white supremacist” is when it comes to Trump, it is even more bogus for the vast majority of his white supporters.
Many of them would have voted for Ben Carson in a heartbeat had the elections been between Dr. Carson and Hillary Clinton. White supremacists would not do this. (Of course, white Trump supporters would have voted for Hispanic candidates like Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio had they run against Hillary.)
And the vast majority of white Trump supporters opposed President Obama because of his policies, not because of the color of his skin. (The last I checked, both Hillary and Biden are white, so our rejection of them has nothing to do with skin color.)
Not only so, but some of Trump’s most prominent white evangelical supporters have been involved in interracial ministry for decades, with a long history of opposing racism. And of the many white Trump supporters I know, not a single one of them fits the definition of “white supremacist” cited above.
Let us, then, call out this ugly accusation for what it is: slanderous, libelous, and dangerous. Shame on those who use such ugly words as a political and ideological tool.
Follow Michael Dr. Brown is the author of more than 35 books, including Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, which has been translated into more than twelve languages, the highly acclaimed five-volume series, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, a commentary on Jeremiah (part of the revised edition of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary), and several books on revival and the Jesus revolution. His most recent book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?
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lifesitenews--2020-06-23--‘Barbarians have returned’: Spanish bishop decries destruction of saintly statues by US mobs

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
June 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – One of Spain ’ s most outspoken bishops preached on Sunday against the defacement or destruction of statues of Catholic heroes and saints in the present “ Black Lives Matter ” agitation in the United States .
Bishop Juan Antonio Reig Pla of Alcalá de Henares near Madrid said the attacks against Christian symbols marks “ the return of the barbarians ” and a great loss for all because only Jesus-Christ and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , can give men the truth they need to follow to be truly free .
His full sermon in Spanish can be watched here ( read transcript of homily below ) .
Bishop Reig Pla spoke in particular of Isabella the Catholic , the Queen of Spain who commissioned Christopher Columbus to navigate to “ India , ” going West , and Junipero Serra , the canonized Spanish missionary of California .
He said that the present crisis is first and foremost a “ crisis of the intelligence ” and an “ eclipse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer seeks what is true and no longer realizes his vocation to transcendence .
Going a step further than Benedict XVI , the Spanish prelate said our time is not only that of “ moral relativism ” but of “ nihilism.
” Reig Pla insisted that we must not be afraid of those who can only harm the body , because we must have the same destiny as Jesus Christ , who was persecuted and killed after an iniquitous trial but who defeated death ; with Him , victory is certain .
Below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bishop Reig Pla ’ s powerful homily .
The removal of the image of Isabella the Catholic from the Capitol in Washington , D.C. , and the overturning of the statue of St. Junipero Serra means that the barbarians have returned .
We can not simply call these facts ignorance .
It is possible that materially , those who did these things may be ignorant .
But behind the ignorant , in truth , are the barbarians .
And what the barbarians want is to put an end to Christian civilization .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are many more of them in the West .
( … ) Today we need to listen to the prophetic voice of the Catholic Church , not only to denounce these facts , which would be something simply negative , but to give the content of what truly gives dignity to the human person from the beginning of his natural life until death : what gives meaning to his life to live with hope , and those realities which are essential to him as a human person .
These have all been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the true man .
It is He who reveals to man the mystery of man .
Therefore , to harm Christian reality by means of this Christianophobia is the worst thing that could happen to us .
That is why we must be attentive , and like the Prophet , take refuge in God and feel with Him freedom itself .
( ... ) We are experiencing a profound crisis of truth .
Deep down , it is a crisis of intelligence that does not dare to seek the truth .
Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bridge , if it is not well built , collapses , and therefore it must be built with every possible guarantee .
But then there is man , man and woman ...
There is no order for man as there are plans for buildings , bridges , trains and planes , because obviously these have no freedom .
And the rest of us , why do we have freedom ?
To follow the truth .
If there is a crisis of truth , then freedom guides us .
At the same time as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of truth , there is a perversion of freedom , because it does not know which path to follow .
( ... ) It is as if there were an eclipse of the sun where we would all be in darkness , where there would only be opinions .
“ Where are we going ?
” we tell each other .
And this is what is happening in this jungle that is being formed , that exalts the individual to affirm his radical autonomy , to define himself even in his body and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has given him , starting with marriage , the family , Catholic tradition itself , love of one 's land , love of the nation .
All of this is in a deep crisis .
Who will enlighten us ?
( ... ) Without light , freedom advances blindly , and you know what it is then reduced to : to the instincts of each person , to affects and emotions .
And so in this technological and consumerist world , people 's intelligence is constantly shrinking , reducing them to being mere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have before us , and – I insist – we need the prophetic voice .
( ... ) At the same time as the crisis , the eclipse of truth and of intelligence , together with the perversion of freedom , comes what is even worse : the darkness of moral conscience .
This is what we call , not only as did Benedict XVI , moral relativism , but nihilism .
So what does nihilism mean ?
Moral conscience is in the dark ; it can not distinguish between good and evil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are you going ?
It says : I 'm not going anywhere , but I 'm happy .
I am simply conforming to the ordinary realities of each day .
Remember all the time we spent in our homes ; think of the good that could have come out of it , and I pray that it will .
But who truly triumphs today ?
It 's the big multinationals , it 's Twitter , Facebook , Netflix : all things purely virtual – they 've done big business .
And what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left of the reality of one 's own identity as a person ?
What remains of people 's original and compelling vocation to love ?
What remains of the greatness of marriage and the social good of the family ?
What remains of what it means to build social peace in justice so that we grow as a nation ?
I do not know .
But we must at least ask the question .
What important factor can regenerate this situation ?
I do n't know any other than Jesus Christ .
Jesus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way , He is life .
And when I say Jesus Christ , I am talking about Jesus Christ living in us and therefore continuing in His disciples .
The Church is the discipleship of Jesus Christ .
( ... ) In His Apostolic Discourse Jesus vested the Apostles with authority .
He gave them power over spirits and over demons .
He said to them : I send you as lambs among the wolves , but now you must proclaim what I have taught you , whether in private or publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shall not be revealed : what I have told you in secret , in private , you must proclaim from the rooftops .
This means : this is the mission of the Church , to tell from every possible platform the truth of Jesus Christ that makes man grow , that makes him be considered personally in his bonds of communion , giving meaning to human life with the vocation to love , establishing the solid foundation of families and from there , the social good , in justice and fraternity .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must not fail us .
Having said that , Jesus adds : do not be afraid of men .
And He repeats : do not be afraid .
What does this mean ?
That He is giving them some kind of psychological support ?
No , Jesus does not do that at all .
He says to them : your destiny is mine .
And what is my destiny ?
I have been persecuted , I have been judged in an iniquitous judgment , and I have been condemned .
I was led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But do not be afraid , for I overcame sin and the consequence of sin which is death .
I have conquered the world .
And therefore , do not be afraid , and do not be afraid of those who may simply harm your body .
Today , physical violence continues , but there is a more insidious violence , which consists in condemning the prophet to civil death .
This is ridiculing his message .
It is making it commonplace .
And that is what the constant means of communication are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break with political correctness .
Political correctness is what is peculiar to the things that are happening not only in the United States but also here in Spain : this may be the return of the barbarians .
That is why we need the prophetic voice , and why we need to lose fear .
To lose fear , Jesus insists on it twice , we must realize that in Jesus there is the beginning of something totally new : He has come to re-create this situation that was a situation of death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were condemned to death , and He initiated with His word and His testimony of extreme love towards us a reality that I call the new creation , the New Genesis .
This is why the Church can not remain silent .
We can not confine the Church .
We can not silence the voice of the prophets .
And when we speak of the prophets in the plural , in fact we are referring to Jesus Christ who redeems the hearts of men .
That is the most compassionate element , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He who does not know Jesus does not know himself .
He who does not know the compassion and mercy of God is called to live in despair like so many people who even today do not know where to look or where to direct their steps… Towards the Christian civilization which built the West and which is called to cry out from every rooftop and in every square of the world , because this is the Lord 's will and the burden he has left us .
Fear those who can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious , dear friends .
How can the soul be ruined ?
When God is killed in the heart .
By denying the transcendence of what the person is , of what the human life of all people is .
And how do we do that ?
By educational laws distorted by ideology , which teach everything to our children except what the vocation to transcendence is , the vocation to God , the vocation to virtues in order to gain freedom , and the dignity of human life at its beginning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stages .
This is what the hypocrites are doing : the same people who have committed themselves to the elderly who die in retirement homes are preparing the law of euthanasia .
These are the same people who have promoted the destruction of nascent life in the womb .
These are the same people who promote laws for ignorance .
And that is why we can not remain silent .
We must follow the Lord , knowing that his destiny is ours – but it is a destiny of victory .
The last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He who defends me before men , I will defend him before God my father .
He who denies me ... it is a call to our responsibility .
Today , we do not only need the voice of pastors , we need the voice of all , and especially the voice of lay Christians , so that everywhere with their personal responsibility , in the family circle or that of the company , of work , and in social life , trade unions , human institutions , politics , the voice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not to impose on anyone , the treasure that we have received .
If Jesus and only He has given us the power to expel demons , who are the fathers of lies , it is so that the person can be reborn to hope , and he has assured us an eternal destiny , that is to say , the most serious thing in human life .
`` Who defends me before men : '' this must be our will .
I started by mentioning Isabella the Catholic .
Isabella the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't know why .
It 's because of the complex of Spain , the decadence of our people : the holiness of this woman is more than established .
Let us say nothing of Brother Junipero Serra ... Holiness is the splendid light of heaven that comes to us to illuminate us like lamps that light up in the face of the darkness of civilizations , which have walked in darkness because they have not known him who is the Sun of Justice , Jesus Christ .

PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – One of Spain’s most outspoken bishops preached on Sunday against the defacement or destruction of statues of Catholic heroes and saints in the present “Black Lives Matter” agitation in the United States.
Bishop Juan Antonio Reig Pla of Alcalá de Henares near Madrid said the attacks against Christian symbols marks “the return of the barbarians” and a great loss for all because only Jesus-Christ and the Catholic Church, which is His continuation, can give men the truth they need to follow to be truly free. His full sermon in Spanish can be watched here (read transcript of homily below).
Bishop Reig Pla spoke in particular of Isabella the Catholic, the Queen of Spain who commissioned Christopher Columbus to navigate to “India,” going West, and Junipero Serra, the canonized Spanish missionary of California.
He said that the present crisis is first and foremost a “crisis of the intelligence” and an “eclipse of truth” by which man no longer seeks what is true and no longer realizes his vocation to transcendence. Going a step further than Benedict XVI, the Spanish prelate said our time is not only that of “moral relativism” but of “nihilism.”
Reig Pla insisted that we must not be afraid of those who can only harm the body, because we must have the same destiny as Jesus Christ, who was persecuted and killed after an iniquitous trial but who defeated death; with Him, victory is certain.
Below is LifeSite’s transcript and translation of Bishop Reig Pla’s powerful homily.
***
The removal of the image of Isabella the Catholic from the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the overturning of the statue of St. Junipero Serra means that the barbarians have returned. We cannot simply call these facts ignorance. It is possible that materially, those who did these things may be ignorant. But behind the ignorant, in truth, are the barbarians. And what the barbarians want is to put an end to Christian civilization. These are mere signs, symptoms, there are many more of them in the West. (…)
Today we need to listen to the prophetic voice of the Catholic Church, not only to denounce these facts, which would be something simply negative, but to give the content of what truly gives dignity to the human person from the beginning of his natural life until death: what gives meaning to his life to live with hope, and those realities which are essential to him as a human person. These have all been made explicit in Christ, who is the true man. It is He who reveals to man the mystery of man.
Therefore, to harm Christian reality by means of this Christianophobia is the worst thing that could happen to us.
That is why we must be attentive, and like the Prophet, take refuge in God and feel with Him freedom itself. (…) We are experiencing a profound crisis of truth. Deep down, it is a crisis of intelligence that does not dare to seek the truth. Yes, it seeks the practical truth. A bridge, if it is not well built, collapses, and therefore it must be built with every possible guarantee.
But then there is man, man and woman … There is no order for man as there are plans for buildings, bridges, trains and planes, because obviously these have no freedom. And the rest of us, why do we have freedom? To follow the truth.
If there is a crisis of truth, then freedom guides us. At the same time as the crisis of intelligence and the eclipse of truth, there is a perversion of freedom, because it does not know which path to follow. (…) It is as if there were an eclipse of the sun where we would all be in darkness, where there would only be opinions. “Where are we going?” we tell each other.
And this is what is happening in this jungle that is being formed, that exalts the individual to affirm his radical autonomy, to define himself even in his body and to break all the bonds that tradition has given him, starting with marriage, the family, Catholic tradition itself, love of one's land, love of the nation. All of this is in a deep crisis.
Who will enlighten us? (…) Without light, freedom advances blindly, and you know what it is then reduced to: to the instincts of each person, to affects and emotions. And so in this technological and consumerist world, people's intelligence is constantly shrinking, reducing them to being mere consumers. This is the world we have before us, and – I insist – we need the prophetic voice.
(…) At the same time as the crisis, the eclipse of truth and of intelligence, together with the perversion of freedom, comes what is even worse: the darkness of moral conscience. This is what we call, not only as did Benedict XVI, moral relativism, but nihilism. So what does nihilism mean? Moral conscience is in the dark; it cannot distinguish between good and evil. When we ask it: Where are you going? It says: I'm not going anywhere, but I'm happy. I am simply conforming to the ordinary realities of each day.
Remember all the time we spent in our homes; think of the good that could have come out of it, and I pray that it will. But who truly triumphs today? It's the big multinationals, it's Twitter, Facebook, Netflix: all things purely virtual – they've done big business. And what's left of the person? What is left of the reality of one's own identity as a person? What remains of people's original and compelling vocation to love? What remains of the greatness of marriage and the social good of the family? What remains of what it means to build social peace in justice so that we grow as a nation? I do not know. But we must at least ask the question.
What important factor can regenerate this situation? I don't know any other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the truth, He is the way, He is life. And when I say Jesus Christ, I am talking about Jesus Christ living in us and therefore continuing in His disciples. The Church is the discipleship of Jesus Christ.
(…) In His Apostolic Discourse Jesus vested the Apostles with authority. He gave them power over spirits and over demons. He said to them: I send you as lambs among the wolves, but now you must proclaim what I have taught you, whether in private or publicly, for there is nothing secret that shall not be revealed: what I have told you in secret, in private, you must proclaim from the rooftops. This means: this is the mission of the Church, to tell from every possible platform the truth of Jesus Christ that makes man grow, that makes him be considered personally in his bonds of communion, giving meaning to human life with the vocation to love, establishing the solid foundation of families and from there, the social good, in justice and fraternity. This is the voice of the Church which must not fail us. Having said that, Jesus adds: do not be afraid of men. And He repeats: do not be afraid.
What does this mean? That He is giving them some kind of psychological support? No, Jesus does not do that at all. He says to them: your destiny is mine. And what is my destiny? I have been persecuted, I have been judged in an iniquitous judgment, and I have been condemned. I was led to death and I was buried. But do not be afraid, for I overcame sin and the consequence of sin which is death. I have conquered the world. And therefore, do not be afraid, and do not be afraid of those who may simply harm your body.
Today, physical violence continues, but there is a more insidious violence, which consists in condemning the prophet to civil death. This is ridiculing his message. It is making it commonplace. And that is what the constant means of communication are doing to all those who dare to break with political correctness. Political correctness is what is peculiar to the things that are happening not only in the United States but also here in Spain: this may be the return of the barbarians.
That is why we need the prophetic voice, and why we need to lose fear. To lose fear, Jesus insists on it twice, we must realize that in Jesus there is the beginning of something totally new: He has come to re-create this situation that was a situation of death. We had no way out, we were condemned to death, and He initiated with His word and His testimony of extreme love towards us a reality that I call the new creation, the New Genesis. This is why the Church cannot remain silent. We cannot confine the Church. We cannot silence the voice of the prophets. And when we speak of the prophets in the plural, in fact we are referring to Jesus Christ who redeems the hearts of men. That is the most compassionate element, the one that gives the greatest consolation. He who does not know Jesus does not know himself. He who does not know the compassion and mercy of God is called to live in despair like so many people who even today do not know where to look or where to direct their steps…
Towards the Christian civilization which built the West and which is called to cry out from every rooftop and in every square of the world, because this is the Lord's will and the burden he has left us.
Fear those who can ruin your soul. This is very serious, dear friends. How can the soul be ruined? When God is killed in the heart. By denying the transcendence of what the person is, of what the human life of all people is. And how do we do that? By educational laws distorted by ideology, which teach everything to our children except what the vocation to transcendence is, the vocation to God, the vocation to virtues in order to gain freedom, and the dignity of human life at its beginning, at its end and in all its stages.
This is what the hypocrites are doing: the same people who have committed themselves to the elderly who die in retirement homes are preparing the law of euthanasia. These are the same people who have promoted the destruction of nascent life in the womb. These are the same people who promote laws for ignorance. And that is why we cannot remain silent. We must follow the Lord, knowing that his destiny is ours – but it is a destiny of victory.
The last word of the Gospel is wonderful: He who defends me before men, I will defend him before God my father. He who denies me … it is a call to our responsibility. Today, we do not only need the voice of pastors, we need the voice of all, and especially the voice of lay Christians, so that everywhere with their personal responsibility, in the family circle or that of the company, of work, and in social life, trade unions, human institutions, politics, the voice of the Catholic must be present to offer, not to impose on anyone, the treasure that we have received. If Jesus and only He has given us the power to expel demons, who are the fathers of lies, it is so that the person can be reborn to hope, and he has assured us an eternal destiny, that is to say, the most serious thing in human life. “Who defends me before men:” this must be our will.
(…)
I started by mentioning Isabella the Catholic. Isabella the Catholic is not a saint, I don't know why. It's because of the complex of Spain, the decadence of our people: the holiness of this woman is more than established. Let us say nothing of Brother Junipero Serra … Holiness is the splendid light of heaven that comes to us to illuminate us like lamps that light up in the face of the darkness of civilizations, which have walked in darkness because they have not known him who is the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ.