lifesitenews--2020-06-20--Catholic bishops, priests call on Americans to overcome ‘sin of racism’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , June 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — After two weeks of horrific violence and destruction inflicted on urban communities following the death of George Floyd beneath the knee of a rogue policeman , the crystal clarity of Catholicism has shone as a bright beacon amid darkness and haze .
“ For Americans of goodwill , the chaos and criminality transpiring in the name of George Floyd are absolutely baffling , ” wrote Catholic Bill McGurn in his Main Street column at the Wall Street Journal .
“ If justice for George Floyd is the goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes any sense to trash already-vulnerable neighborhoods , kill other African-American men in the process , and destroy black-owned stores that , as former President Barack Obama just pointed out , may never come back , ” wrote McGurn .
“ But it makes perfect sense if the goal is to indict America as fatally compromised by racism since birth .
And if the mayhem provokes authorities such as Mr. Trump into further inflaming the situation , so much the better.
” “ Those promoting — and manipulating — the violence aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least of all those that might contradict their narrative about a war on unarmed black men by white police , ” noted McGurn .
“ They are using the mayhem to shut down honest debate and bully anyone who dares offer the slightest criticism into confessing he speaks from a position of moral inferiority.
” The disturbing images of violence against policemen and civilians attempting to protect themselves and their property purposefully obscure the original intent of that first protest in Minneapolis .
The Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) political movement has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those initial worthy pleas for an end to the very real vestiges of racism in the U.S. , while Antifa has simply sought to inject maximum anarchy .
While Antifa exists solely to create mayhem , BLM seeks to undermine biological families and human sexuality .
Among the group ’ s stated beliefs : “ We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement , ” and “ We foster a queer‐affirming network .
When we gather , we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or any Christian — to do in response to the tangled web of messages and demands ?
“ My advice to my students is the same as my advice to myself — and to everyone : Seek the truth , ” wrote Professor Robert P. George , McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and a leading Catholic voice , in a Facebook posting .
“ Speak the truth as best you understand it .
Do not permit yourself to be bullied into silence .
Do not allow yourself to be shamed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing yourself inauthentically — by , for example , embracing movements or endorsing slogans about which you have reservations .
Do not let fear of the mob or lust for acceptance or applause — or the desire to get ahead — dictate what you say and don ’ t say.
” Monsignor Charles Pope led a procession through the streets of Washington , D.C. as a means to gather for prayer those Catholics “ who don ’ t want to have any politicization ... just pray and make reparation.
” “ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straddle political boundaries , ” declared Msgr .
Pope in an EWTN interview following the procession .
“ We wanted to come out in a very nonpartisan , nonpolitical way and just say , ‘ We care for our brother ’ and ‘ We care for the fact that there is racism in this country.
’ ” “ It ’ s gone on for a long time and it ’ s something we have to think about and repent of in our own life , ” said Msgr .
Pope .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes we ’ re victims of it , sometimes we ’ re perpetrators .
We all need to pray and make reparation because it ’ s a community problem , ” he added .
“ As a nation , we abolished slavery legally , but we have not dealt with its enduring legacy , ” said Boston ’ s Cardinal Sean O ’ Malley , OFM Cap .
in a video message .
“ If we reject slavery , then we must reject and denounce the dehumanizing attitudes that foster discrimination , inequality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be explicit , but it can also be unrecognized , unacknowledged , ” explained O ’ Malley , “ yet all of its manifestations are deadly and corrosive to civil society.
” Racism “ is overcome by God , by His mercy .
It is not our achievement , ” said Phoenix bishop Thomas J. Olmsted in a homily last week , according to CNA .
“ We have a key part to play , in cooperation with His grace , but only God can change minds and hearts .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eucharist play such vital roles in overcoming the sin of racism.
” “ While racism is a sinful act that prejudice , injustice , and lack of respect for human dignity brings about , racism also hides itself behind indifference , ” added Olmsted .
Last Monday , Catholics in Washington , D.C. , including about two dozen priests , gathered on the north side of Lafayette Park , opposite the White House , to rededicate themselves “ to the defense of all life and recommit to an anti-racism agenda.
” LifeSiteNews spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participated in the event , and all were quick to differentiate between the violence displayed in nightly news reports and on social media and the righteous pleas to end racism .
Msgr .
Raymond East , the black American pastor of Washington , D.C. ’ s St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church , preached a heartfelt message , declaring , “ The church has not affirmed loud enough that black lives matter .
That ’ s why we are here.
” “ Imagine if 64 million Catholics said , ‘ Black lives matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That would be a sea change in America .
We ’ re not there yet .
We ’ ve got work to do .
”

'The church has not affirmed loud enough that black lives matter,' declared Msgr. Raymond East at a rally in Washington, D.C. 'That’s why we are here.'
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — After two weeks of horrific violence and destruction inflicted on urban communities following the death of George Floyd beneath the knee of a rogue policeman, the crystal clarity of Catholicism has shone as a bright beacon amid darkness and haze.
“For Americans of goodwill, the chaos and criminality transpiring in the name of George Floyd are absolutely baffling,” wrote Catholic Bill McGurn in his Main Street column at the Wall Street Journal.
“If justice for George Floyd is the goal, many cannot fathom how it makes any sense to trash already-vulnerable neighborhoods, kill other African-American men in the process, and destroy black-owned stores that, as former President Barack Obama just pointed out, may never come back,” wrote McGurn. “But it makes perfect sense if the goal is to indict America as fatally compromised by racism since birth. And if the mayhem provokes authorities such as Mr. Trump into further inflaming the situation, so much the better.”
“Those promoting — and manipulating — the violence aren’t interested in debate or facts, least of all those that might contradict their narrative about a war on unarmed black men by white police,” noted McGurn. “They are using the mayhem to shut down honest debate and bully anyone who dares offer the slightest criticism into confessing he speaks from a position of moral inferiority.”
The disturbing images of violence against policemen and civilians attempting to protect themselves and their property purposefully obscure the original intent of that first protest in Minneapolis. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) political movement has overlaid its Marxist demands on top of those initial worthy pleas for an end to the very real vestiges of racism in the U.S., while Antifa has simply sought to inject maximum anarchy.
While Antifa exists solely to create mayhem, BLM seeks to undermine biological families and human sexuality.
Among the group’s stated beliefs: “We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement,” and “We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking.”
What’s a Catholic — or any Christian — to do in response to the tangled web of messages and demands?
“My advice to my students is the same as my advice to myself — and to everyone: Seek the truth,” wrote Professor Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and a leading Catholic voice, in a Facebook posting. “Speak the truth as best you understand it. Do not permit yourself to be bullied into silence. Do not allow yourself to be shamed into saying things you don't believe or expressing yourself inauthentically — by, for example, embracing movements or endorsing slogans about which you have reservations. Do not let fear of the mob or lust for acceptance or applause — or the desire to get ahead — dictate what you say and don’t say.”
Monsignor Charles Pope led a procession through the streets of Washington, D.C. as a means to gather for prayer those Catholics “who don’t want to have any politicization … just pray and make reparation.”
“We’re a big Church, and we straddle political boundaries,” declared Msgr. Pope in an EWTN interview following the procession. “We wanted to come out in a very nonpartisan, nonpolitical way and just say, ‘We care for our brother’ and ‘We care for the fact that there is racism in this country.’”
“It’s gone on for a long time and it’s something we have to think about and repent of in our own life,” said Msgr. Pope.
“We also have to accept the fact that sometimes we’re victims of it, sometimes we’re perpetrators. We all need to pray and make reparation because it’s a community problem,” he added.
Amid #DCProtests over the death of #GeorgeFloyd yesterday, a rosary procession with #Catholic lay/religious in #DC prayed for healing from #racism. @MsgrPope says it’s “something that we have to think about and repent of in our own life…it’s a community problem” pic.twitter.com/YTKLIZDvtd — Mark Irons (@MarkIronsMedia) June 7, 2020
“As a nation, we abolished slavery legally, but we have not dealt with its enduring legacy,” said Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap. in a video message. “If we reject slavery, then we must reject and denounce the dehumanizing attitudes that foster discrimination, inequality, and violence.”
“Racism can be explicit, but it can also be unrecognized, unacknowledged,” explained O’Malley, “yet all of its manifestations are deadly and corrosive to civil society.”
Racism “is overcome by God, by His mercy. It is not our achievement,” said Phoenix bishop Thomas J. Olmsted in a homily last week, according to CNA. “We have a key part to play, in cooperation with His grace, but only God can change minds and hearts. That’s why the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist play such vital roles in overcoming the sin of racism.”
“While racism is a sinful act that prejudice, injustice, and lack of respect for human dignity brings about, racism also hides itself behind indifference,” added Olmsted.
Last Monday, Catholics in Washington, D.C., including about two dozen priests, gathered on the north side of Lafayette Park, opposite the White House, to rededicate themselves “to the defense of all life and recommit to an anti-racism agenda.”
LifeSiteNews spoke with several members of the clergy who participated in the event, and all were quick to differentiate between the violence displayed in nightly news reports and on social media and the righteous pleas to end racism.
Msgr. Raymond East, the black American pastor of Washington, D.C.’s St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, preached a heartfelt message, declaring, “The church has not affirmed loud enough that black lives matter. That’s why we are here.”
“Imagine if 64 million Catholics said, ‘Black lives matter,’” said East. “That would be a sea change in America. We’re not there yet. We’ve got work to do.”
Follow Doug Doug Mainwaring is a journalist for LifeSiteNews, an author, and a marriage, family and children's rights activist. He has testified before the United States Congress and state legislative bodies, originated and co-authored amicus briefs for the United States Supreme Court, and has been a guest on numerous TV and radio programs. Doug and his family live in the Washington, DC suburbs.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-23--California bishops fail to condemn tearing down of saint’s statue in weak statement

SACRAMENTO , California , June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The bishops of California have issued a carefully worded statement on June 22 expressing their disapproval of the tearing down of several statues of St. Junipero Serra , who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015 .
The bishops failed to condemn tearing down the statue of a Catholic saint who made heroic sacrifices to advance the welfare of the indigenous people of California .
They only asked that for this process of tearing down statues is “ to be truly effective as a remedy for racism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the historical figure in question made to American life , especially in advancing the rights of marginalized peoples.
” In other words , as long as this criterion is met , tearing down a statue , and thus destroying public or private property , could be justified , according to the bishops of California , which includes the current president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops , Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles .
The bishops did not distinguish between the mob destruction of a statue and its removal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides make their case , and elected officials then make a decision .
Regarding the statues of St. Junipero Serra , “ protesters have failed that test ” of discerning “ carefully the entire contribution that the historical figure in question made to American life , ” the bishops pointed out .
In recent days , rioters have pulled down and desecrated statues of St. Junipero Serra in both San Francisco and Los Angeles , after local authorities in Los Angeles approved the removal of another of his statues outside Ventura City Hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times reported that Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere , along with representatives from the Barbareño/Venureño Band of Mission Indians and Father Tom Elewaut , a Catholic priest based at the San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura , had issued a joint statement agreeing to take down the statue of Serra outside Ventura City Hall and have it “ moved to a more appropriate non-public location.
” On Saturday , 100 people reportedly helped to topple a statue of the missionary saint with ropes on Olvera Street in Los Angeles .
In a video of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying “ this is for our ancestors ” as the statue came crashing down .
In Golden Gate Park , San Francisco , activists pulled down another statue of St. Junipero Serra .
A video of the incident shows those in attendance cheering as the statue is toppled .
One person can be seen hitting the statue with their fists and another person hitting it with a skateboard once it has fallen to the ground .
The careful statement of the California bishops was praised by Bishop Robert Barron , an auxiliary bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am very grateful to share this statement of the Bishops of California regarding the removal and destruction of statues of St. Junipero Serra , ” Barron tweeted .
“ I have been advocating for this statement for the last several days and encourage you to share it with others.
” The bishops ’ statement referred to another statement from June 20 , made by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone .
He asked , “ What is happening to our society ?
” “ A renewed national movement to heal memories and correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our country has been hijacked by some into a movement of violence , looting and vandalism , ” Cordileone continued , spelling out what happened during many of the protests .
Tearing down the statue of Junipero Serra “ was mob rule , ” the archbishop said , “ a troubling phenomenon that seems to be repeating itself throughout the country.
” “ Our dear city bears the name of one of history ’ s most iconic figures of peace and goodwill : St. Francis of Assisi , ” Cordileone explained .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the various Franciscan orders of brothers , sisters and priests that trace their inspiration back to him have been exemplary of not only serving , but identifying with , the poor and downtrodden and giving them their rightful dignity as children of God .
St. Junipero Serra is no exception.
” The Archbishop of San Francisco went on to briefly recount the saint ’ s achievement in his life .
This section was later quoted by the statement of the California bishops .
“ St .
Serra made heroic sacrifices to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conquerors , especially the soldiers , ” Cordileone wrote .
“ Even with his infirmed leg which caused him such pain , he walked all the way to Mexico City to obtain special faculties of governance from the Viceroy of Spain in order to discipline the military who were abusing the Indians .
And then he walked back to California.
” “ And lest there be any doubt , we have a physical reminder to this day : everywhere there is a presidio ( soldiers ’ barracks ) associated with a mission in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded , the presidio is miles away from the mission itself and the school , ” he pointed out .
“ St .
Junipero Serra also offered them the best thing he had : the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ , which he and his fellow Franciscan friars did through education , health care , and training in the agrarian arts.
” Msgr .
Francis Weber , a former archivist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and author of several works on St. Junipero Serra , said in 2019 , “ Serra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , and a great exemplar for young people .
He was an outstanding person.
” “ The Native Americans had no formal education , and the missionaries ’ idea was to bring them to the missions , [ introduce them to ] agriculture and raise cattle and other livestock , ” Weber said .
He emphasized that the saint did not mistreat any native Americans .
“ There ’ s no single recorded example in the official documentation of the period that Serra mistreated the Native Americans … in fact , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get a bill of rights issued for them .
He was a great man all around.
” The memory of St. Junipero Serra has been under attack for years now .
In 2015 , two state legislatures in California proposed to remove his statue from the U.S. Capitol in Washington , D.C. , and replace it with that of homosexual astronaut Sally Ride .
In 2017 , two statues of St. Junipero Serra in California were vandalized .
One was beheaded , the other had the word “ murder ” written on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical wrongs have occurred , even by people of good will , and healing of memories and reparation is much needed.
” At the same time , “ just as historical wrongs can not be righted by keeping them hidden , neither can they be righted by re-writing the history .
Anger against injustice can be a healthy response when it is that righteous indignation which moves a society forward .
But as Christ himself teaches , and St. Francis modeled , love and not rage is the only answer.
” LifeSiteNews has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conference of Catholic Bishops “ to issue a statement rebuking the wanton destruction of statues of Catholic cultural and religious saints and heroes.
” The petition has been signed by more than 12,000 people so far .
Readers may click here to support the petition .

The bishops even appeared to justify tearing down statues in certain circumstances
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
SACRAMENTO, California, June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The bishops of California have issued a carefully worded statement on June 22 expressing their disapproval of the tearing down of several statues of St. Junipero Serra, who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015.
The bishops failed to condemn tearing down the statue of a Catholic saint who made heroic sacrifices to advance the welfare of the indigenous people of California. They only asked that for this process of tearing down statues is “to be truly effective as a remedy for racism, it must discern carefully the entire contribution that the historical figure in question made to American life, especially in advancing the rights of marginalized peoples.”
In other words, as long as this criterion is met, tearing down a statue, and thus destroying public or private property, could be justified, according to the bishops of California, which includes the current president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles.
The bishops did not distinguish between the mob destruction of a statue and its removal after a political debate, where both sides make their case, and elected officials then make a decision.
Regarding the statues of St. Junipero Serra, “protesters have failed that test” of discerning “carefully the entire contribution that the historical figure in question made to American life,” the bishops pointed out.
In recent days, rioters have pulled down and desecrated statues of St. Junipero Serra in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, after local authorities in Los Angeles approved the removal of another of his statues outside Ventura City Hall.
Last week, the Los Angeles Times reported that Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, along with representatives from the Barbareño/Venureño Band of Mission Indians and Father Tom Elewaut, a Catholic priest based at the San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura, had issued a joint statement agreeing to take down the statue of Serra outside Ventura City Hall and have it “moved to a more appropriate non-public location.”
On Saturday, 100 people reportedly helped to topple a statue of the missionary saint with ropes on Olvera Street in Los Angeles. In a video of the incident, one participant can be heard saying “this is for our ancestors” as the statue came crashing down.
Natives just tore down the statue of Junipero Serra at Placita Olvera in solidarity with #BLMprotest #antiracism #antislavery pic.twitter.com/8ZDdv7vej7 — L.A. TACO (@LATACO) June 20, 2020
In Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, activists pulled down another statue of St. Junipero Serra. A video of the incident shows those in attendance cheering as the statue is toppled. One person can be seen hitting the statue with their fists and another person hitting it with a skateboard once it has fallen to the ground.
Activists just toppled the Junipero Serra statue in Golden Gate Park here in San Francisco Now they’re onto Francis Scott Key, slave owner and writer of the Star Spangled Banner pic.twitter.com/Ykv0hFMZvK — Joe Rivano Barros (@jrivanob) June 20, 2020
The careful statement of the California bishops was praised by Bishop Robert Barron, an auxiliary bishop for Los Angeles.
“Friends, I am very grateful to share this statement of the Bishops of California regarding the removal and destruction of statues of St. Junipero Serra,” Barron tweeted. “I have been advocating for this statement for the last several days and encourage you to share it with others.”
Friends, I am very grateful to share this statement of the Bishops of California regarding the removal and destruction of statues of St. Junipero Serra. I have been advocating for this statement for the last several days and encourage you to share it with others. pic.twitter.com/aMMDLE5uxX — Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) June 22, 2020
The bishops’ statement referred to another statement from June 20, made by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.
He asked, “What is happening to our society?”
“A renewed national movement to heal memories and correct the injustices of racism and police brutality in our country has been hijacked by some into a movement of violence, looting and vandalism,” Cordileone continued, spelling out what happened during many of the protests.
Tearing down the statue of Junipero Serra “was mob rule,” the archbishop said, “a troubling phenomenon that seems to be repeating itself throughout the country.”
“Our dear city bears the name of one of history’s most iconic figures of peace and goodwill: St. Francis of Assisi,” Cordileone explained. “For the past 800 years, the various Franciscan orders of brothers, sisters and priests that trace their inspiration back to him have been exemplary of not only serving, but identifying with, the poor and downtrodden and giving them their rightful dignity as children of God. St. Junipero Serra is no exception.”
The Archbishop of San Francisco went on to briefly recount the saint’s achievement in his life. This section was later quoted by the statement of the California bishops.
“St. Serra made heroic sacrifices to protect the indigenous people of California from their Spanish conquerors, especially the soldiers,” Cordileone wrote. “Even with his infirmed leg which caused him such pain, he walked all the way to Mexico City to obtain special faculties of governance from the Viceroy of Spain in order to discipline the military who were abusing the Indians. And then he walked back to California.”
“And lest there be any doubt, we have a physical reminder to this day: everywhere there is a presidio (soldiers’ barracks) associated with a mission in the chain of 21 missions that he founded, the presidio is miles away from the mission itself and the school,” he pointed out.
“St. Junipero Serra also offered them the best thing he had: the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, which he and his fellow Franciscan friars did through education, health care, and training in the agrarian arts.”
Msgr. Francis Weber, a former archivist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and author of several works on St. Junipero Serra, said in 2019, “Serra is one of the great heroes of California, and a great exemplar for young people. He was an outstanding person.”
“The Native Americans had no formal education, and the missionaries’ idea was to bring them to the missions, [introduce them to] agriculture and raise cattle and other livestock,” Weber said.
He emphasized that the saint did not mistreat any native Americans. “There’s no single recorded example in the official documentation of the period that Serra mistreated the Native Americans … in fact, he walked all the way to Mexico City to get a bill of rights issued for them. He was a great man all around.”
The memory of St. Junipero Serra has been under attack for years now.
In 2015, two state legislatures in California proposed to remove his statue from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and replace it with that of homosexual astronaut Sally Ride.
In 2017, two statues of St. Junipero Serra in California were vandalized. One was beheaded, the other had the word “murder” written on it.
Archbishop Cordileone admitted that “historical wrongs have occurred, even by people of good will, and healing of memories and reparation is much needed.”
At the same time, “just as historical wrongs cannot be righted by keeping them hidden, neither can they be righted by re-writing the history. Anger against injustice can be a healthy response when it is that righteous indignation which moves a society forward. But as Christ himself teaches, and St. Francis modeled, love and not rage is the only answer.”
LifeSiteNews has launched a petition urging the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops “to issue a statement rebuking the wanton destruction of statues of Catholic cultural and religious saints and heroes.”
The petition has been signed by more than 12,000 people so far. Readers may click here to support the petition.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-23--Trump calls Abp. Viganò letter ‘tremendous letter of support from the Catholic Church’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Donald Trump has praised Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò for his open letter to the U.S. president on the “ children of darkness ” and the “ deep state , ” explaining , “ He ’ s right in what he says.
” In his powerful letter , the former apostolic nuncio to the United States had warned the president that the current crises over the coronavirus pandemic and the George Floyd riots are part of the eternal spiritual struggle between the forces of good and evil .
Viganò @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of the “ children of light.
” “ In society , Mr. President , these two opposing realities co-exist as eternal enemies , just as God and Satan are eternal enemies , ” wrote Viganò .
“ And it appears that the children of darkness — whom we may easily identify with the deep state which you wisely oppose and which is fiercely waging war against you in these days — have decided to show their cards , so to speak , by now revealing their plans.
” On June 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So honored by Archbishop Viganò ’ s incredible letter to me .
I hope everyone , religious or not , reads it !
” During a wide-ranging interview with EWTN ’ s Raymond Arroyo , the president characterized his 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.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great gentleman , ” Trump said of Viganò .
“ He ’ s highly respected , as you know.
” Contrasting the praise in Abp .
Viganò ’ s letter is a history of criticism from Pope Francis , who once evoked Herod in a talk about border security in “ other parts ” of the world and explicitly drew a parallel between the president ’ s border security policies and the Berlin Wall .
When the pope and the president met in May of 2017 , Francis presented Trump with copies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adultery among other written works bearing the pontiff ’ s name .
The president addressed accusations that he is less pro-life than Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , given the latter ’ s support for ending the death penalty and his willingness to address the issue of climate change .
PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
“ I am totally in favor of the death penalty for heinous crimes , ” Trump emphasized .
“ That ’ s the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life , he ’ s not , ” he continued , talking about Biden .
“ And the Democrats , look who he ’ s putting on the court .
They want to put people on the court , you have no chance.
” “ It ’ s not just him , it ’ s the party , it ’ s the platform , ” Trump said .
“ Take a look at the platform.
” Trump referred to remarks made by the Democratic governor of Virginia , who had said in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resuscitate an infant born alive after a failed abortion , “ if that ’ s what the mother and the family desire.
” “ So in this particular example , if the mother is in labor , I can tell you exactly what would happen : the infant would be delivered ; the infant would be kept comfortable ; the infant would be resuscitated if that ’ s what the mother and the family desire , and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother , ” according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ execution , ” adding , “ That ’ s the Democrats .
And that ’ s Biden.
” The president also talked about the tearing down of statues by rioters in recent weeks , including statues of Catholic missionary St. Junipero Serra , who protected the indigenous people of California .
“ It ’ s a disgrace , ” he said .
“ Also , remember , some of this is great artwork .
This is magnificent artwork , as good as there is anywhere in the world , as good as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you see anywhere.
” “ Most of these people don ’ t even know what they ’ re taking down , ” according to the president .
He promised to issue an executive order making the cities “ guard their monuments.
” Talking about the riots taking place in various cities across the country , Trump said , “ I want people to watch just for a little while.
” “ It ’ s all Democrats , ” he explained , “ usually liberal Democrats .
Take a look .
Whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat , Seattle , it ’ s Democrat , the state of Washington , it ’ s Democrat , Portland , it ’ s Democrat .
All of these places are run by Democrats.
” According to Trump , “ They don ’ t know what they ’ re doing.
” Without elaborating on it , the president said he “ did things that you don ’ t know about ” to save many statues .
While mentioning last week ’ s Supreme Court ruling on DACA , which continues to allow children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the country to remain and apply for work permits , Raymond Arroyo did not ask the president about last week ’ s other Supreme Court ruling that was slammed by conservatives .
On Monday , the Supreme Court , led by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch , redefined the term “ sex ” in the 1964 Civil Rights Act to mean not simply “ male ” and “ female ” as biological facts , but also “ sexual orientation ” and “ gender identity.
” Among many others , Princeton University legal scholar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ legislation , ” predicting it to have “ far-reaching consequences , including the eventual destruction of all-women ’ s sports.
” Other topics covered during the interview include police reform , Trump ’ s achievements for the black community , the comparatively low attendance at his rally in Oklahoma last week , the coronavirus restrictions , and John Bolton ’ s book about his time in the White House .

'It was beautiful,' the president 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.'
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Donald Trump has praised Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò for his open letter to the U.S. president on the “children of darkness” and the “deep state,” explaining, “He’s right in what he says.”
In his powerful letter, the former apostolic nuncio to the United States had warned the president that the current crises over the coronavirus pandemic and the George Floyd riots are part of the eternal spiritual struggle between the forces of good and evil. Viganò had encouraged Trump to continue the fight on behalf of the “children of light.”
“In society, Mr. President, these two opposing realities co-exist as eternal enemies, just as God and Satan are eternal enemies,” wrote Viganò. “And it appears that the children of darkness — whom we may easily identify with the deep state which you wisely oppose and which is fiercely waging war against you in these days — have decided to show their cards, so to speak, by now revealing their plans.”
On June 10, the president had already tweeted, “So honored by Archbishop Viganò’s incredible letter to me. I hope everyone, religious or not, reads it!”
So honored by Archbishop Viganò’s incredible letter to me. I hope everyone, religious or not, reads it! https://t.co/fVhkCz89g5 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2020
During a wide-ranging interview with EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo, the president characterized his 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.”
Contrasting the praise in Abp. Viganò’s letter is a history of criticism from Pope Francis, who once evoked Herod in a talk about border security in “other parts” of the world and explicitly drew a parallel between the president’s border security policies and the Berlin Wall. When the pope and the president met in May of 2017, Francis presented Trump with copies of his encyclicals on the environment and adultery among other written works bearing the pontiff’s name.
The president addressed accusations that he is less pro-life than Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, given the latter’s support for ending the death penalty and his willingness to address the issue of climate change.
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
“I am totally in favor of the death penalty for heinous crimes,” Trump emphasized. “That’s the way it is.”
“I’m pro-life, he’s not,” he continued, talking about Biden. “And the Democrats, look who he’s putting on the court. They want to put people on the court, you have no chance.”
“It’s not just him, it’s the party, it’s the platform,” Trump said. “Take a look at the platform.”
Trump referred to remarks made by the Democratic governor of Virginia, who had said in 2019 that doctors should be free to refuse to resuscitate an infant born alive after a failed abortion, “if that’s what the mother and the family desire.”
“So in this particular example, if the mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen: the infant would be delivered; the infant would be kept comfortable; the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desire, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother,” according to Northam.
Trump described this as an “execution,” adding, “That’s the Democrats. And that’s Biden.”
The president also talked about the tearing down of statues by rioters in recent weeks, including statues of Catholic missionary St. Junipero Serra, who protected the indigenous people of California.
“It’s a disgrace,” he said. “Also, remember, some of this is great artwork. This is magnificent artwork, as good as there is anywhere in the world, as good as you see in France, as good as you see anywhere.”
“Most of these people don’t even know what they’re taking down,” according to the president.
He promised to issue an executive order making the cities “guard their monuments.”
Talking about the riots taking place in various cities across the country, Trump said, “I want people to watch just for a little while.”
“It’s all Democrats,” he explained, “usually liberal Democrats. Take a look. Whether it’s Chicago, it’s Democrat, Seattle, it’s Democrat, the state of Washington, it’s Democrat, Portland, it’s Democrat. All of these places are run by Democrats.”
According to Trump, “They don’t know what they’re doing.”
Without elaborating on it, the president said he “did things that you don’t know about” to save many statues.
While mentioning last week’s Supreme Court ruling on DACA, which continues to allow children of illegal aliens who were illegally brought into the country to remain and apply for work permits, Raymond Arroyo did not ask the president about last week’s other Supreme Court ruling that was slammed by conservatives.
On Monday, the Supreme Court, led by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch, redefined the term “sex” in the 1964 Civil Rights Act to mean not simply “male” and “female” as biological facts, but also “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”
Among many others, Princeton University legal scholar Robert P. George referred to the ruling as “legislation,” predicting it to have “far-reaching consequences, including the eventual destruction of all-women’s sports.”
Other topics covered during the interview include police reform, Trump’s achievements for the black community, the comparatively low attendance at his rally in Oklahoma last week, the coronavirus restrictions, and John Bolton’s book about his time in the White House.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-23--Natural law judges are the only way to save the judiciary

June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – One reason conservatives give major importance to elections is that they know the selection of judges can impact law for decades .
Thus , when President Trump selected two Supreme Court judges , many hoped that the Court would shift to the right .
The June 15 Bostock v. Clayton County , Georgia decision dashed these hopes .
What legislators could not obtain in the halls of Congress , the conservative-dominated Court imposed on the American people .
The 6-3 court decision extended workplace protections to include sexual orientation and transsexual “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act .
Thus , it transforms sinful behavior into a civil right protected by law and imposes second-class citizenship on those whose religious beliefs run contrary .
What made matters worse is that conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion that gave the LGBT lobby its victory .
Bush nominee Chief Justice John Roberts also voted with the majority in the now-infamous ruling .
Even the feared Justice Brett Kavanaugh approved the merits of the move but said that Congress should have made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right or wrong of the matter .
Their dissent only criticized judicial overreach .
From a moral perspective , the decision was 9-0 .
Thus , many are asking what went wrong with the process by which judges considered solid on major conservative issues , suddenly broke ranks and voted with the liberals .
Others wonder how judicial candidates vetted by conservative groups like the Federalist Society could end up reading into the Constitution and American law things that were never there .
The decision makes clear that a complete change of judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why conservative judges have failed is that they have adopted defective schools of interpretation .
Their role should be to apply the immutable principles of the law to the changing concrete circumstances of the day .
However , modern justices interpret the law by other means .
Some take a constitutionalist approach to American law , based on a strict reading of the Constitution .
Originalist and textualist judges interpret the law according to what they consider was the original intent of the founders or legislators .
While these and other approaches do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not anchored to an objective moral law but only in documents , opinions , and intentions .
Judges come to believe that the law finds its origins in their opinions and speculation about these documents , not unchangeable norms of justice .
The conservative judges must also confront the liberal conception of values-free law .
American law is influenced by Enlightenment thought that tends to turn the legal order into systems of value-neutral contracts .
These are supposed to work mechanically to keep society in order .
Within this amoral framework , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own legal orders based on distorted visions of freedom that now allow people to create their own realities .
Court decisions then provide the tyranny to impose these fantasies upon the whole population .
When the law has no firm moral anchor , anything is possible , including granting privileged , protected status to immoral gender ideology .
If this notion is not changed , important decisions will always be 9-0 .
A law valid for all times and all peoples At least , the disastrous decision makes clear the only path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to America ’ s higher law tradition anchored in natural law norms that do not change .
America was founded on a higher law tradition that reaches back to the Ten Commandments , which summarizes natural law .
This perspective holds that the source of all law—whether customary , common , Roman , or statutory—is God and His eternal law .
Whether a person believes in God is immaterial , since this law is found in the nature of things , not in a sacred text .
It was known by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seen in Cicero , for example , who used the terms “ eternal law , ” “ moral law , ” or “ natural law ” to describe an objective moral compass that makes social order possible .
This natural law is the same for all peoples , places , and times , although its applications vary .
It can be perceived in society by unaided reason .
Saint Paul says it is written on the hearts of all , Christian or pagan ( see Rom .
2:15 ) .
The American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition from English common law .
Thus , a proposed change to a higher law is not an innovation but a return to what once existed .
It is not an invention like those now being imposed as law , as seen in the Bostock decision .
Leftist ideologues are constantly proposing new legal changes based on socialist , ecological , and sexual agendas .
History has shown how proposals like these run counter to human nature and result in socio-political disasters like communism and Nazism .
A natural law perspective comes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is not imposed but relies upon those natural regulating institutions inside society that always emerge when individuals resolve to unite in pursuit of the common good .
Unlike the left ’ s ideologies , it can not be regulated , stimulated , or legislated into existence .
It is rooted in the social institutions of family , community , and faith .
And although it applies to everyone , the Church is its best and most secure guardian .
The Bostock decision makes it clear that the only way to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law judges .
Present judges need to be informed by natural law .
This involves returning America to whence she came .
There needs to be a moral compass to counter the immoral one that now dominates and distorts all law and leads the country to anarchy and ruin .
John Horvat II is a scholar , researcher , educator , international speaker , and author of the book Return to Order , as well as the author of hundreds of published articles .
He lives in Spring Grove , Pennsylvania where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Society for the Defense of Tradition , Family and Property .

June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – One reason conservatives give major importance to elections is that they know the selection of judges can impact law for decades. Thus, when President Trump selected two Supreme Court judges, many hoped that the Court would shift to the right.
The June 15 Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia decision dashed these hopes. What legislators could not obtain in the halls of Congress, the conservative-dominated Court imposed on the American people.
The 6-3 court decision extended workplace protections to include sexual orientation and transsexual “identity.” It arbitrarily inserted these categories into Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Thus, it transforms sinful behavior into a civil right protected by law and imposes second-class citizenship on those whose religious beliefs run contrary.
Betrayal by ‘conservative’ judges
What made matters worse is that conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion that gave the LGBT lobby its victory. Bush nominee Chief Justice John Roberts also voted with the majority in the now-infamous ruling.
Even the feared Justice Brett Kavanaugh approved the merits of the move but said that Congress should have made the decision. No dissenting judge questioned the right or wrong of the matter. Their dissent only criticized judicial overreach. From a moral perspective, the decision was 9-0.
Thus, many are asking what went wrong with the process by which judges considered solid on major conservative issues, suddenly broke ranks and voted with the liberals. Others wonder how judicial candidates vetted by conservative groups like the Federalist Society could end up reading into the Constitution and American law things that were never there.
The decision makes clear that a complete change of judicial perspective is urgently needed.
Defective interpretations of American law
The reason why conservative judges have failed is that they have adopted defective schools of interpretation. Their role should be to apply the immutable principles of the law to the changing concrete circumstances of the day.
However, modern justices interpret the law by other means. Some take a constitutionalist approach to American law, based on a strict reading of the Constitution. Originalist and textualist judges interpret the law according to what they consider was the original intent of the founders or legislators.
While these and other approaches do tend to conserve some traditions, they are not anchored to an objective moral law but only in documents, opinions, and intentions. Judges come to believe that the law finds its origins in their opinions and speculation about these documents, not unchangeable norms of justice.
Judges must confront and reject modern law theories
The conservative judges must also confront the liberal conception of values-free law. American law is influenced by Enlightenment thought that tends to turn the legal order into systems of value-neutral contracts. These are supposed to work mechanically to keep society in order.
Within this amoral framework, a liberal judiciary is free to imagine its own legal orders based on distorted visions of freedom that now allow people to create their own realities. Court decisions then provide the tyranny to impose these fantasies upon the whole population.
When the law has no firm moral anchor, anything is possible, including granting privileged, protected status to immoral gender ideology. If this notion is not changed, important decisions will always be 9-0.
A law valid for all times and all peoples
At least, the disastrous decision makes clear the only path to victory.
The only alternative is to return to America’s higher law tradition anchored in natural law norms that do not change.
America was founded on a higher law tradition that reaches back to the Ten Commandments, which summarizes natural law. This perspective holds that the source of all law—whether customary, common, Roman, or statutory—is God and His eternal law.
Whether a person believes in God is immaterial, since this law is found in the nature of things, not in a sacred text. It was known by ancient peoples. Its universal character can be seen in Cicero, for example, who used the terms “eternal law,” “moral law,” or “natural law” to describe an objective moral compass that makes social order possible.
This natural law is the same for all peoples, places, and times, although its applications vary. It can be perceived in society by unaided reason. Saint Paul says it is written on the hearts of all, Christian or pagan (see Rom. 2:15).
Returning to America’s higher law tradition
The American legal system inherited a strong higher law tradition from English common law. Thus, a proposed change to a higher law is not an innovation but a return to what once existed.
It is not an invention like those now being imposed as law, as seen in the Bostock decision. Leftist ideologues are constantly proposing new legal changes based on socialist, ecological, and sexual agendas. History has shown how proposals like these run counter to human nature and result in socio-political disasters like communism and Nazism.
A natural law perspective comes from a proven order well-suited to human nature. It is not imposed but relies upon those natural regulating institutions inside society that always emerge when individuals resolve to unite in pursuit of the common good. Unlike the left’s ideologies, it cannot be regulated, stimulated, or legislated into existence. It is rooted in the social institutions of family, community, and faith. And although it applies to everyone, the Church is its best and most secure guardian.
The Bostock decision makes it clear that the only way to save the judiciary is through correctly oriented natural law judges. Present judges need to be informed by natural law. This involves returning America to whence she came. There needs to be a moral compass to counter the immoral one that now dominates and distorts all law and leads the country to anarchy and ruin.
John Horvat II is a scholar, researcher, educator, international speaker, and author of the book Return to Order, as well as the author of hundreds of published articles. He lives in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania where he is the vice president of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-23--NIH approves 70 new human embryonic stem cell lines for use in federally funded research

WASHINGTON , D.C. , June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) has approved 70 new embryonic stem cell lines for use in projects eligible for federally funded research .
The new cell lines , which come from human embryos created and destroyed in a laboratory , were approved by the NIH last month .
The new cell lines come from the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Israel .
Despite President Donald Trump ’ s many pro-life accomplishments , pro-lifers have expressed concern about NIH director Francis Collins , an Obama appointee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aborted babies .
In 2018 , the March for Life and Live Action called for Collins to be ousted .
Collins ’ replacement should be “ someone who recognizes that children who are killed by abortion should be mourned , not experimented on , ” Live Action President Lila Rose said at the time .
President George W. Bush ’ s administration banned public funding of research involving the creation of new stem cell lines through the destruction of new human embryos .
In other words , he stopped taxpayer funding of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose sole purpose for being created was so they could then be destroyed for research .
During Bush ’ s presidency private funding of such research was not prohibited , and research using existing stem cell lines was permitted to continue .
But in 2009 , shortly after he first assumed office , via executive order , President Barack Obama reversed Bush ’ s ban on public funding for research involving new stem cell lines created through the destruction of new human embryos .
Last year the Trump administration removed funding from some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ babies .
The administration also instituted a policy which had the effect of making it more difficult for projects which use fetal tissue from aborted babies to receive federal funding .
However , federal funding applications for projects using embryonic stem cells or embryonic cell lines were not impacted and the policy specifically excluded them in its definition of research involving human fetal tissue .

In 2018, pro-lifers called for NIH director Francis Collins to be ousted, but he remains in power.
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has approved 70 new embryonic stem cell lines for use in projects eligible for federally funded research.
The new cell lines, which come from human embryos created and destroyed in a laboratory, were approved by the NIH last month. The new cell lines come from the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Israel.
Despite President Donald Trump’s many pro-life accomplishments, pro-lifers have expressed concern about NIH director Francis Collins, an Obama appointee who has defended research using tissue from aborted babies. In 2018, the March for Life and Live Action called for Collins to be ousted.
Collins’ replacement should be “someone who recognizes that children who are killed by abortion should be mourned, not experimented on,” Live Action President Lila Rose said at the time.
President George W. Bush’s administration banned public funding of research involving the creation of new stem cell lines through the destruction of new human embryos. In other words, he stopped taxpayer funding of the creation of new human beings in laboratories whose sole purpose for being created was so they could then be destroyed for research.
During Bush’s presidency private funding of such research was not prohibited, and research using existing stem cell lines was permitted to continue.
But in 2009, shortly after he first assumed office, via executive order, President Barack Obama reversed Bush’s ban on public funding for research involving new stem cell lines created through the destruction of new human embryos.
Last year the Trump administration removed funding from some projects using human fetal tissue from aborted babies. The administration also instituted a policy which had the effect of making it more difficult for projects which use fetal tissue from aborted babies to receive federal funding. However, federal funding applications for projects using embryonic stem cells or embryonic cell lines were not impacted and the policy specifically excluded them in its definition of research involving human fetal tissue.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-23--French bishop tells faithful to defy govt interference in right worship

June 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — As lockdown measures in France continue to be lifted , one of the most outspoken bishops in France against the “ confinement ” of public worship because of the COVID-19 crisis , Bishop Bernard Ginoux of Montauban , has given a interview to the independent television station TV Libertés .
Answering the questions of Jean-Pierre Maugendre , of “ Renaissance catholique , ” Bishop Ginoux insisted that the French State should not have interfered with the way in which Catholics worship and how Masses are organized .
Beyond this point of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having forgotten “ the spiritual dimension ” of the crisis and further underscored the specificity of Catholic worship in which Christ is truly present on the altar in the “ bloodless sacrifice ” of the Mass .
This point was in fact brought up by traditional priestly institutes and lay associations that obtained the reopening of public worship by a decision of the Council of State after a first series of lifting of lockdown measures on May 11 ignored that aspect of French citizens ’ lives .
Bishop Ginoux also complained that discussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were conducted bringing together not only the different religions present in France but also Freemasons and secularist organizations as well as the scientific council that dictates sanitary measures relative to the Wuhan coronavirus , although these last groups are against religious worship .
Bishop Ginoux raised other important issues such as the spiritual accompaniment of the sick and the dying and the “ disturbing ” symbolism of wearing face masks .
COVID-19 infections and related deaths have slowed dramatically in France , and many collective activities have been re-allowed over the last weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dioceses , assistance at Mass is still subject to prior registration ; limited to one third of churches ’ capacity ; and , in theory , dependent on wearing masks .
In a ringing phrase , Bishop Ginoux said : “ As a Christian , I proclaim that nothing is above God and that we are not to serve the State when it prevents us from serving God.
” Here below is LifeSite ’ s transcription and translation of Bishop Ginoux ’ s interview .
He first commented on his letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was published by LifeSite here .
Bishop Ginoux : I wanted to show at a time when everything was going to open up again that we were still in the midst of a great discussion about the resumption of public worship .
While the churches have always been able to remain open , and I was very insistent that our churches in the diocese of Montauban should be open – I mean the main churches of course – and that there should be funeral celebrations whenever possible , in other words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have the possibility of welcoming people for public worship .
On the one hand , I wanted to reassure the faithful of the diocese , on the other hand , I wanted to remind them that everything was going to open up , such as supermarkets and activities , but that there were still uncertainties about the opening of our churches to the public .
It was a distinct shortcoming ; the State was forgetting the spiritual dimension of this crisis and the right of the human person to practice his religion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and freedom .
My letter insisted on what religious freedom means , recalling also that the Second Vatican Council , sometimes misunderstood on this point , also mentioned this religious freedom .
That is the summary of my letter to the faithful of the diocese of Montauban , to remind them that the Mass is the life of the Catholic Church .
Jean-Pierre Maugendre : What exactly do these three months of confinement teach about the relations of the Church and the State in 2020 ?
Bp .
Ginoux : When looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see that there are a number of glitches .
There were the words of a minister who showed a lack of understanding of what the Catholic Church is all about .
There is also , since 2010 , this is not new , the assimilation of all religions in a common dialogue with the State .
The President of the Republic had a videoconference with all the representatives of religions and schools of thought : Freemasonry , the Secularist committee , et cetera , were part of it , and so was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who do not want religion at all , are also part of the discussion , so that the specificity of each religious tradition is not taken into account .
This is particularly true for us Catholics : the specificity of the Mass , of the Holy Mass , that is to say the sacred presence of the Risen Jesus that we live out in every Eucharist and that we can also bring to sick people , to people at the end of life .
This unique quality of the Mass is that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not a gathering to pray together .
Of course we pray together , but it is much more than that .
Minister Castaner said that we could pray at home – and of course we are in full agreement with that – but the Mass is not just a prayer , it is not just the paschal meal , it is the bloodless sacrifice of Christ on the cross ; it is the foundation of our faith .
The mystery of the faith is great .
The mysterium fidei is present there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mystery : “ This is my Body , this is my Blood.
” And we need the spiritual food , the food that is the Eucharist .
Some days ago we celebrated the feast of the Blessed Sacrament , Corpus Domini .
It is to remind us that Jesus is there and that we celebrate His presence , and that He is there for us to give Himself to us so that we may give ourselves to others .
This is what should have been expressed .
The lockdown has led in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a certain attenuation , not to say equalization , of the state 's behavior with regard to all religions and all their forms .
Above all , it has put in second place the participation of religions in the crisis , i.e .
the spiritual help that we can provide , particularly the Catholic Church at the moment of death .
The Catholic Church in its accompaniment of the end of life , the Catholic Church in its accompaniment of the sick has been put aside , since in most of EHPADs [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was forbidden for priests to visit the sick at the end of life .
This is non-assistance to persons in spiritual danger .
These people were left to die alone , and this is not appropriate , it is not humanly just .
J.-P. M. : Civil legislation includes the obligation that civil marriage must precede religious marriage .
By the simple fact of prohibiting civil marriages , the political authority has prohibited religious marriages , in a way interfering in an aspect of religious worship .
What are your comments ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dates back to Napoleon .
It reminds us that there is a discrepancy between religious commitment and civic commitment and that there are people who would like to avoid having to pass through the town hall in order to get married .
In fact , that is what happens with other religions .
The so-called customary law marriage , which is recognized and takes place in foreign countries , is exactly that : it ’ s a marriage that is only religious .
So we could consider changing the law .
This law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so would call into question the sacrosanct law of 1905 that proclaimed the separation of Church and State .
What is disturbing is that in these times of crisis , some people have had to postpone their marriage , and that is all the more troublesome because even in civil matters , marriage has lost much of its raison d ’ être , particularly with the PACS [ civil unions which are overtaking marriages in France ] .
Here too , we are witnessing what is indirectly a way for the State to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above them .
But as a Christian , I proclaim that nothing is above God and that we are not to serve the State when it prevents us from serving God .
We need to have a reserved attitude .
It is not a question of wanting to place ourselves outside the law , but of keeping the right degree of reserve and the necessary distance .
The State has no right to oblige us , for example , in the way we worship .
Some people thought that we should no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown but rather because of the number of people participating .
This is totally wrong : the State should not intervene in the way we celebrate a person ’ s funeral , with or without Mass .
J.-P. M. : As a bishop , what is your assessment of this ordeal ?
Bp .
Ginoux : As in all trials , there are joys and sorrows .
As regards the joys , there were the gatherings by videoconference , by technical means , of a certain number of people , even priests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from each priest ... oh , there are not many of them in this diocese , but it was a need both for them and for me .
It was also a joy for some priests to pray together by Skype or by videoconference .
There were also signs of charity , of help .
The Diocese of Paris served a very large number of packed lunches to destitute people because the crisis also has this very painful economic consequence that we are going to see a lot of new poverty , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What remains negative is the great panic .
Most of the doctors I meet and know are alarmed by the panic that has gripped the public .
We see it in our Masses : people are masked , they do n't dare move .
Of course , precautions have to be taken , still a few .
But gestures of fraternity could not be made because of the panic , while the systematic announcement of the count of deaths every evening was a way of demoralizing people , as if every day the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being announced .
J.-P. M. : It is totally anxiety-inducing , and even more so for people who are alone .
Bp .
Ginoux : The treatment of the elderly in EHPADs was shameful and out of all proportion to what was happening .
The same goes for the suspension of public worship : we saw that with the decision of the Council of State , which explained that the suspension was disproportionate , and overturned the government 's decision , in the same way that it overturned the decision to send drones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the other hand , there have been double standards .
Look at the demonstrations we have seen in recent weeks , which are beyond comprehension , in the face of the crowds they entail , and the promiscuity that develops there .
There is really a great deal of inconsistency .
Also , contrary to what is sometimes said , there have been denunciations and suspicious attitudes which have shown that man often remains a wolf to man .
These are situations that develop an individualistic tendency which opposes others and which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Masks mean that the other is my potential enemy since he can potentially harm me .
Symbolically , this is very disturbing .
That is why as a celebrant I refuse to wear this kind of thing when I celebrate Mass .
There is truly a fracture , a fracture in the relationship between people and in the construction of society .

'I proclaim that nothing is above God and that we are not to serve the State when it prevents us from serving God.'
June 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — As lockdown measures in France continue to be lifted, one of the most outspoken bishops in France against the “confinement” of public worship because of the COVID-19 crisis, Bishop Bernard Ginoux of Montauban, has given a interview to the independent television station TV Libertés.
Answering the questions of Jean-Pierre Maugendre, of “Renaissance catholique,” Bishop Ginoux insisted that the French State should not have interfered with the way in which Catholics worship and how Masses are organized.
Beyond this point of law, Ginoux accused the French State of having forgotten “the spiritual dimension” of the crisis and further underscored the specificity of Catholic worship in which Christ is truly present on the altar in the “bloodless sacrifice” of the Mass.
This point was in fact brought up by traditional priestly institutes and lay associations that obtained the reopening of public worship by a decision of the Council of State after a first series of lifting of lockdown measures on May 11 ignored that aspect of French citizens’ lives.
Bishop Ginoux also complained that discussions between the Catholic Church and the government were conducted bringing together not only the different religions present in France but also Freemasons and secularist organizations as well as the scientific council that dictates sanitary measures relative to the Wuhan coronavirus, although these last groups are against religious worship.
Bishop Ginoux raised other important issues such as the spiritual accompaniment of the sick and the dying and the “disturbing” symbolism of wearing face masks.
COVID-19 infections and related deaths have slowed dramatically in France, and many collective activities have been re-allowed over the last weeks. However, in a number of dioceses, assistance at Mass is still subject to prior registration; limited to one third of churches’ capacity; and, in theory, dependent on wearing masks.
In a ringing phrase, Bishop Ginoux said: “As a Christian, I proclaim that nothing is above God and that we are not to serve the State when it prevents us from serving God.”
Here below is LifeSite’s transcription and translation of Bishop Ginoux’s interview. He first commented on his letter to the faithful of his diocese on May 12, which was published by LifeSite here.
* * *
Bishop Ginoux : I wanted to show at a time when everything was going to open up again that we were still in the midst of a great discussion about the resumption of public worship. While the churches have always been able to remain open, and I was very insistent that our churches in the diocese of Montauban should be open – I mean the main churches of course – and that there should be funeral celebrations whenever possible, in other words, all the time, we did not have the possibility of welcoming people for public worship. On the one hand, I wanted to reassure the faithful of the diocese, on the other hand, I wanted to remind them that everything was going to open up, such as supermarkets and activities, but that there were still uncertainties about the opening of our churches to the public. It was a distinct shortcoming; the State was forgetting the spiritual dimension of this crisis and the right of the human person to practice his religion fully, in a country of rights and freedom. My letter insisted on what religious freedom means, recalling also that the Second Vatican Council, sometimes misunderstood on this point, also mentioned this religious freedom. That is the summary of my letter to the faithful of the diocese of Montauban, to remind them that the Mass is the life of the Catholic Church.
Jean-Pierre Maugendre: What exactly do these three months of confinement teach about the relations of the Church and the State in 2020?
Bp. Ginoux: When looking at the relations between Church and State we see that there are a number of glitches. There were the words of a minister who showed a lack of understanding of what the Catholic Church is all about. There is also, since 2010, this is not new, the assimilation of all religions in a common dialogue with the State. The President of the Republic had a videoconference with all the representatives of religions and schools of thought: Freemasonry, the Secularist committee, et cetera, were part of it, and so was the scientific committee. Therefore atheists, people who do not want religion at all, are also part of the discussion, so that the specificity of each religious tradition is not taken into account.
This is particularly true for us Catholics: the specificity of the Mass, of the Holy Mass, that is to say the sacred presence of the Risen Jesus that we live out in every Eucharist and that we can also bring to sick people, to people at the end of life. This unique quality of the Mass is that it is not just any gathering, it is not a gathering to pray together. Of course we pray together, but it is much more than that. Minister Castaner said that we could pray at home – and of course we are in full agreement with that – but the Mass is not just a prayer, it is not just the paschal meal, it is the bloodless sacrifice of Christ on the cross; it is the foundation of our faith. The mystery of the faith is great. The mysterium fidei is present there, that is where we live the mystery: “This is my Body, this is my Blood.” And we need the spiritual food, the food that is the Eucharist.
Some days ago we celebrated the feast of the Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Domini. It is to remind us that Jesus is there and that we celebrate His presence, and that He is there for us to give Himself to us so that we may give ourselves to others. This is what should have been expressed.
The lockdown has led in the Church's relations with the State to a certain attenuation, not to say equalization, of the state's behavior with regard to all religions and all their forms. Above all, it has put in second place the participation of religions in the crisis, i.e. the spiritual help that we can provide, particularly the Catholic Church at the moment of death. The Catholic Church in its accompaniment of the end of life, the Catholic Church in its accompaniment of the sick has been put aside, since in most of EHPADs [nursing homes for the dependent elderly) it was forbidden for priests to visit the sick at the end of life. This is non-assistance to persons in spiritual danger. These people were left to die alone, and this is not appropriate, it is not humanly just.
J.-P. M.: Civil legislation includes the obligation that civil marriage must precede religious marriage. By the simple fact of prohibiting civil marriages, the political authority has prohibited religious marriages, in a way interfering in an aspect of religious worship. What are your comments?
Bp. Ginoux: Yes, this dates back to Napoleon. It reminds us that there is a discrepancy between religious commitment and civic commitment and that there are people who would like to avoid having to pass through the town hall in order to get married. In fact, that is what happens with other religions. The so-called customary law marriage, which is recognized and takes place in foreign countries, is exactly that: it’s a marriage that is only religious. So we could consider changing the law. This law is not an obligation. But doing so would call into question the sacrosanct law of 1905 that proclaimed the separation of Church and State. What is disturbing is that in these times of crisis, some people have had to postpone their marriage, and that is all the more troublesome because even in civil matters, marriage has lost much of its raison d’être, particularly with the PACS [civil unions which are overtaking marriages in France]. Here too, we are witnessing what is indirectly a way for the State to govern religious denominations and to put itself above them. But as a Christian, I proclaim that nothing is above God and that we are not to serve the State when it prevents us from serving God. We need to have a reserved attitude. It is not a question of wanting to place ourselves outside the law, but of keeping the right degree of reserve and the necessary distance. The State has no right to oblige us, for example, in the way we worship. Some people thought that we should no longer celebrate Mass, not because of the lockdown but rather because of the number of people participating. This is totally wrong: the State should not intervene in the way we celebrate a person’s funeral, with or without Mass.
J.-P. M.: As a bishop, what is your assessment of this ordeal?
Bp. Ginoux: As in all trials, there are joys and sorrows. As regards the joys, there were the gatherings by videoconference, by technical means, of a certain number of people, even priests. They allowed me to hear very directly from each priest… oh, there are not many of them in this diocese, but it was a need both for them and for me. It was also a joy for some priests to pray together by Skype or by videoconference.
There were also signs of charity, of help. The Diocese of Paris served a very large number of packed lunches to destitute people because the crisis also has this very painful economic consequence that we are going to see a lot of new poverty, in fact we are already seeing it.
What remains negative is the great panic. Most of the doctors I meet and know are alarmed by the panic that has gripped the public. We see it in our Masses: people are masked, they don't dare move. Of course, precautions have to be taken, still a few. But gestures of fraternity could not be made because of the panic, while the systematic announcement of the count of deaths every evening was a way of demoralizing people, as if every day the deaths of cancer or myocardial infarction were being announced.
J.-P. M.: It is totally anxiety-inducing, and even more so for people who are alone.
Bp. Ginoux: The treatment of the elderly in EHPADs was shameful and out of all proportion to what was happening. The same goes for the suspension of public worship: we saw that with the decision of the Council of State, which explained that the suspension was disproportionate, and overturned the government's decision, in the same way that it overturned the decision to send drones to monitor what we were doing.
On the other hand, there have been double standards. Look at the demonstrations we have seen in recent weeks, which are beyond comprehension, in the face of the crowds they entail, and the promiscuity that develops there. There is really a great deal of inconsistency.
Also, contrary to what is sometimes said, there have been denunciations and suspicious attitudes which have shown that man often remains a wolf to man. These are situations that develop an individualistic tendency which opposes others and which causes people to turn inwards to themselves. Masks mean that the other is my potential enemy since he can potentially harm me. Symbolically, this is very disturbing. That is why as a celebrant I refuse to wear this kind of thing when I celebrate Mass.
There is truly a fracture, a fracture in the relationship between people and in the construction of society.
Share