lifesitenews--2020-09-24--Committee head to pick new SCOTUS justice: If nominee’s faith is attacked, ‘We’ll have a hell of a f

Committee head to pick new SCOTUS justice: If nominee’s faith is attacked, ‘We’ll have a hell of a fight’

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
September 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) , who as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee will oversee confirmation hearings for the next Supreme Court justice , promised that if the nominee ’ s religious faith is attacked , “ we ’ ll have a hell of a fight.
” “ You saw Kavanaugh , you ’ ve seen Bork , you ’ ve seen Thomas , you saw Alito , ” said Graham , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominees proposed by Republican presidents were savagely attacked by Senate Democrats and the media .
“ Why is it always our people who go through these terrible ordeals ?
” asked Graham .
The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman promised , “ We will be firm , we will be fair , and we ’ ll make sure the nominee is tested but not abused.
” Tony Perkins , president of the Family Research Council ( FRC ) , who hosted a discussion with Graham during Wednesday night ’ s virtual Value Voters Summit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Kavanaugh confirmation where you stood up and made an impassioned appeal for humanity and justice.
” “ What type of battle do you anticipate ?
” asked Perkins , given what the nation witnessed during the ugly Kavanaugh confirmation hearing .
“ A challenging hearing is appropriate because this is a lifetime appointment , ” noted Graham , but “ what happened [ with ] Kavanaugh was despicable and should never happen again.
” “ We were arguing about a party in high school that nobody could remember , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country upside-down .
They tried to ruin Judge Kavanaugh ’ s life.
” Graham detects that Democrats have a similar uncivil strategy now in the works .
“ Since the passing of Justice Ginsburg , ‘ Act Blue , ’ which is the Democratic funding site , has raised over $ 150 million , ” noted Graham .
“ So I expect , given the political donations , that the Democratic Party is on fire .
They ’ re looking for a champion to ‘ come after ’ this nominee , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , I would remember what happened [ with ] Kavanaugh , ” warned Graham .
If the nominee is someone who is noted for his religious faith , and Democrats “ attack the person for being faithful , we will have a hell of a fight.
” Perkins predicted that if one of President Trump ’ s top picks is seated on the Supreme Court , a consistent conservative majority will be established , creating a “ seismic shift ” in the court ’ s rulings on religious freedom and the sanctity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Perkins anticipates that a “ ferocious battle ” will be waged in Graham ’ s committee .
Graham agreed but said Democrats had better be careful because the whole country will be watching .
“ If Democrats try to destroy this conservative nominee , they do so at their own peril.
” People will be paying close attention , Graham reiterated .
During the Kavanaugh hearing , the nation witnessed Democrats ’ “ attempt to ruin a very good man ’ s life.
” “ I am ready to play it any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play it , ” declared Graham .
“ I ’ m praying that we have a challenging hearing for the nominee , ” but not one that ’ s “ embarrassing to the country and the Senate.
” “ It ’ s OK to be a religious conservative .
It ’ s OK to be on the Supreme Court if you ’ re a religious conservative , ” said Graham , proclaiming , “ We ’ re not going to tolerate a country where you ’ re punished for your faith.
” When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a line he will not allow Democrats to cross if they attempt to attack the nominee ’ s faith , Graham simply responded : “ Stay tuned.
” Graham also explained why Republicans must move quickly to seat a new justice after Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death , stressing that with litigation certain to follow the upcoming presidential election , the country needs to have a nine-member court in place to settle disputes .

'Why is it always our people who go through these terrible ordeals?' asked Sen. Lindsey Graham.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
September 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee will oversee confirmation hearings for the next Supreme Court justice, promised that if the nominee’s religious faith is attacked, “we’ll have a hell of a fight.”
“You saw Kavanaugh, you’ve seen Bork, you’ve seen Thomas, you saw Alito,” said Graham, referring to past fiery confirmation hearings where nominees proposed by Republican presidents were savagely attacked by Senate Democrats and the media.
“Why is it always our people who go through these terrible ordeals?” asked Graham.
The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman promised, “We will be firm, we will be fair, and we’ll make sure the nominee is tested but not abused.”
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council (FRC), who hosted a discussion with Graham during Wednesday night’s virtual Value Voters Summit, recalled to Graham “that moment in the Kavanaugh confirmation where you stood up and made an impassioned appeal for humanity and justice.”
“What type of battle do you anticipate?” asked Perkins, given what the nation witnessed during the ugly Kavanaugh confirmation hearing.
“A challenging hearing is appropriate because this is a lifetime appointment,” noted Graham, but “what happened [with] Kavanaugh was despicable and should never happen again.”
“We were arguing about a party in high school that nobody could remember,” said Graham, and “that turned the country upside-down. They tried to ruin Judge Kavanaugh’s life.”
Graham detects that Democrats have a similar uncivil strategy now in the works.
“Since the passing of Justice Ginsburg, ‘Act Blue,’ which is the Democratic funding site, has raised over $150 million,” noted Graham.
“So I expect, given the political donations, that the Democratic Party is on fire. They’re looking for a champion to ‘come after’ this nominee,” said Graham.
“But if I were them, I would remember what happened [with] Kavanaugh,” warned Graham. If the nominee is someone who is noted for his religious faith, and Democrats “attack the person for being faithful, we will have a hell of a fight.”
Perkins predicted that if one of President Trump’s top picks is seated on the Supreme Court, a consistent conservative majority will be established, creating a “seismic shift” in the court’s rulings on religious freedom and the sanctity of human life.
Because of this, Perkins anticipates that a “ferocious battle” will be waged in Graham’s committee.
Graham agreed but said Democrats had better be careful because the whole country will be watching. “If Democrats try to destroy this conservative nominee, they do so at their own peril.”
People will be paying close attention, Graham reiterated. During the Kavanaugh hearing, the nation witnessed Democrats’ “attempt to ruin a very good man’s life.”
“I am ready to play it any way [Senate Democrats] want to play it,” declared Graham. “I’m praying that we have a challenging hearing for the nominee,” but not one that’s “embarrassing to the country and the Senate.”
“It’s OK to be a religious conservative. It’s OK to be on the Supreme Court if you’re a religious conservative,” said Graham, proclaiming, “We’re not going to tolerate a country where you’re punished for your faith.”
When Perkins asked Graham if there’s a line he will not allow Democrats to cross if they attempt to attack the nominee’s faith, Graham simply responded: “Stay tuned.”
Graham also explained why Republicans must move quickly to seat a new justice after Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, stressing that with litigation certain to follow the upcoming presidential election, the country needs to have a nine-member court in place to settle disputes.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--Cardinal: ‘I am open’ to female ‘priests’

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world : Feed your flock !
Sign the petition here .
September 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In a recent interview published by katholisch.de , the official internet portal of the Catholic Church in Germany , Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich stated that he is “ open ” to women becoming priests .
He also spoke in favor of welcoming illegal foreign ( mostly Muslim ) refugees in the European Union , and called the widespread fall in church-attendance since the COVID-19 lockdowns a possible “ opportunity ” that would lead the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cardinal Hollerich is one of the most prominent cardinals in Europe .
As Archbishop of Luxembourg – his nomination dates back to 2011 – his diocese is but a small one ; however , since March 2018 , he was elected president of the Commission of the Bishops ’ Conferences of the European Union ( COMECE ) .
He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in October 2019 .
The day before he received his cardinal ’ s hat , he told katholisch.de that he was open to a married priesthood : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ [ morally proven married men ] are a solution , why not ?
, ” he said at the time .
The new Jesuit cardinal was invited as one of Pope Francis ’ personal guests to the Amazon Synod .
He was also one of Pope Francis ’ appointees to the 2018 Synod of Bishops on Youth , Faith , and vocational discernment .
A rising star under the present pontificate , Cardinal Hollerich was made a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture on February 21 , 2020 , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dialogue on July 8 , 2020 .
Hollerich has now gone one step further in progressivism by refusing to reject the heretical idea that women can become priests .
He identified “ the position of women in the Church ” as one of the “ very important issues ” in the Synodal Path that is underway in Germany .
“ I am not saying that they have to become priestesses ; I simply do not know .
But I am open to it .
But it is clear that the current situation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and realize that women have a say in the church .
What I like about the Synodal Path is that it is a way of which one does not always know how it will continue .
One takes steps and looks together for the next , ” he said , echoing Pope Francis ’ habitual ideas about “ moving forward ” and “ openness ” to new impulses within the Church .
In the same interview with Roland Juchem of the official German Catholic News Agency published on September 18 by katholisch.de , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ great respect ” for the Synodal Path that is at present under discussion in Germany , adding that “ very big questions have to be asked ” and that he approves that people should “ dare ” to do so .
Among other modernist proposals , the German Synodal Path ’ s working document , to be voted on this month , suggests redefining fertility to include same-sex couples , and sees marriage as only one among many other ways “ to live love and sexuality.
” Cardinal Hollerich does realize that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hierarchy can agree about these issues .
He told Juchem : “ I do not want to interfere in any way – but should the answers to these questions be given in a single country , or would it not be necessary , with time , to hold a European Synod ?
When I see individual German bishops thinking about blessings for homosexual couples and hear with the bishops in Poland have to say on such issues , it becomes difficult .
Churches often think too nationally , referring to the situation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange more.
” In other words , Hollerich suggested that the synodal way of operating should be extended to Europe to put violent transgressions of the faith upon the table for the whole region , instead of calling on all to find and reaffirm answers to these questions in the traditional teachings of the Church .
His approach regarding women can be summed up in his assertion that he would have preferred to call the upcoming papal Encyclical on Human Fraternity : Fratelli e sorelle tutti , “ Brothers and Sisters All , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regarding the Encyclical , Hollerich added that like Laudato si ’ , it will “ enable various alliances.
” “ I am indeed sure that the President of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg , Werner Hoyer , is on the same lines.
” Hoyer is a member of the European Federalists and is in favor of the “ green recovery : ” using the COVID-19 crisis as a “ defining successful moment in our fight against climate change and against environmental degradation.
” To Roland Juchem ’ s question : “ [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard on the churches .
What do you , as a bishop , do to counteract this ?
, ” Cardinal Hollerich answered : “ I can ’ t simply give orders .
The numbers of first communions and catechism assistance have fallen sharply .
Although there were good online offerings , families were overwhelmed because parents had to help children with their schoolwork .
In addition , many Christians who practiced out of habit are staying away , realizing that they do not miss church .
They aren ’ t coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He expanded on this surprising statement , explaining : “ We can set ourselves up differently , we have to form communities now , that are not limited to church-going only .
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ must be at the center , otherwise we would have nothing to say in the COVID crisis .
We can give hope , we need new forms of evangelization , not a restoration of former conditions.
” Evangelization , he added , is “ To proclaim the message of the gospel in word and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people .
If you live this with conviction , it also changes structures and creates new ministries in the Church.
” Hollerich ’ s objective is clearly to “ change structures ” within the Church , not only its teachings and morals .
Together with the new paradigm of welcoming refugees and fostering the “ green economy , ” a revolution is underway .

'I am not saying that they have to [be ordained]; I simply do not know.'
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock! Sign the petition here.
September 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In a recent interview published by katholisch.de, the official internet portal of the Catholic Church in Germany, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich stated that he is “open” to women becoming priests. He also spoke in favor of welcoming illegal foreign (mostly Muslim) refugees in the European Union, and called the widespread fall in church-attendance since the COVID-19 lockdowns a possible “opportunity” that would lead the Church to set itself up “differently.”
Cardinal Hollerich is one of the most prominent cardinals in Europe. As Archbishop of Luxembourg – his nomination dates back to 2011 – his diocese is but a small one; however, since March 2018, he was elected president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in October 2019.
The day before he received his cardinal’s hat, he told katholisch.de that he was open to a married priesthood: “When here the ‘viri probati’ [morally proven married men] are a solution, why not?,” he said at the time. The new Jesuit cardinal was invited as one of Pope Francis’ personal guests to the Amazon Synod. He was also one of Pope Francis’ appointees to the 2018 Synod of Bishops on Youth, Faith, and vocational discernment.
A rising star under the present pontificate, Cardinal Hollerich was made a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture on February 21, 2020, and a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on July 8, 2020.
Hollerich has now gone one step further in progressivism by refusing to reject the heretical idea that women can become priests. He identified “the position of women in the Church” as one of the “very important issues” in the Synodal Path that is underway in Germany.
“I am not saying that they have to become priestesses; I simply do not know. But I am open to it. But it is clear that the current situation is not enough. You have to see and realize that women have a say in the church. What I like about the Synodal Path is that it is a way of which one does not always know how it will continue. One takes steps and looks together for the next,” he said, echoing Pope Francis’ habitual ideas about “moving forward” and “openness” to new impulses within the Church.
In the same interview with Roland Juchem of the official German Catholic News Agency published on September 18 by katholisch.de, Hollerich first made clear that he has “great respect” for the Synodal Path that is at present under discussion in Germany, adding that “very big questions have to be asked” and that he approves that people should “dare” to do so. Among other modernist proposals, the German Synodal Path’s working document, to be voted on this month, suggests redefining fertility to include same-sex couples, and sees marriage as only one among many other ways “to live love and sexuality.”
Cardinal Hollerich does realize that not all European members of the Catholic hierarchy can agree about these issues. He told Juchem: “I do not want to interfere in any way – but should the answers to these questions be given in a single country, or would it not be necessary, with time, to hold a European Synod? When I see individual German bishops thinking about blessings for homosexual couples and hear with the bishops in Poland have to say on such issues, it becomes difficult. Churches often think too nationally, referring to the situation in their respective countries. We need to exchange more.”
In other words, Hollerich suggested that the synodal way of operating should be extended to Europe to put violent transgressions of the faith upon the table for the whole region, instead of calling on all to find and reaffirm answers to these questions in the traditional teachings of the Church.
His approach regarding women can be summed up in his assertion that he would have preferred to call the upcoming papal Encyclical on Human Fraternity: Fratelli e sorelle tutti, “Brothers and Sisters All,” instead of “Brothers All.”
Regarding the Encyclical, Hollerich added that like Laudato si’, it will “enable various alliances.” “I am indeed sure that the President of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg, Werner Hoyer, is on the same lines.” Hoyer is a member of the European Federalists and is in favor of the “green recovery:” using the COVID-19 crisis as a “defining successful moment in our fight against climate change and against environmental degradation.”
To Roland Juchem’s question: “[COVID] pandemic and lockdown are very hard on the churches. What do you, as a bishop, do to counteract this?,” Cardinal Hollerich answered:
“I can’t simply give orders. The numbers of first communions and catechism assistance have fallen sharply. Although there were good online offerings, families were overwhelmed because parents had to help children with their schoolwork. In addition, many Christians who practiced out of habit are staying away, realizing that they do not miss church. They aren’t coming back, which is also an opportunity.”
He expanded on this surprising statement, explaining: “We can set ourselves up differently, we have to form communities now, that are not limited to church-going only. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ must be at the center, otherwise we would have nothing to say in the COVID crisis. We can give hope, we need new forms of evangelization, not a restoration of former conditions.”
Evangelization, he added, is “To proclaim the message of the gospel in word and deed, the attention of Jesus to the people. If you live this with conviction, it also changes structures and creates new ministries in the Church.”
Hollerich’s objective is clearly to “change structures” within the Church, not only its teachings and morals. Together with the new paradigm of welcoming refugees and fostering the “green economy,” a revolution is underway.
Contact information for respectful communication:
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich
+352 44 74 34 01
[email protected]
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--Viral petition supporting priest who said Catholics can’t be Democrats delivered to bishop

PETITION : Stand with priest who faces Church penalties for saying `` You ca n't be a Catholic and a Democrat. ''
!
Sign the petition here .
September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — LifeSiteNews delivered a petition in support of Fr .
James Altman this past Saturday at his parish , St. James the Less , in La Crosse , Wisconsin .
The petition numbered over 64,000 , and since then , the petition signatures have climbed to over 69,000 .
Elizabeth Garibaldi representing LifeSiteNews presented the petition to Fr .
Altman .
Fr .
Altman sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reverberated around the world in the past three weeks when he published a now viral video entitled “ You can ’ t be a Catholic and a Democrat.
” Shortly after the video garnered thousands of views , Bishop Callahan asked that Fr .
Altman cease the livestreaming of his Masses , and asserted that “ [ c ] anonical penalties are not far away if my attempts at fraternal correction do not work.
” LifeSiteNews launched a petition thereafter asking Bishop Callahan to support Fr .
Altman and , further , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceived or bullied by the Democratic Party or by the mainstream media — neither of which have the best interests of the Church at heart.
” This petition to His Excellency was delivered to the chancery in La Crosse , Wis. , today , Wednesday , September 23 .
It was delivered in conjunction with “ Stand with Fr .
Altman , ” a lay-run Facebook group who started their own petition and accompanying letter .
The letter pleads with the bishop to “ please focus on the truth of his message ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good fruit that Fr .
Altman has born , for “ by their fruits you will know them , ” as Matthew 7:16 states .
Some of the inspiring quotes from viewers online include the following : The letter concludes , “ We respectfully submit to you that this is verification of all the good Fr .
Altman has done to bring the faithful back to the fold with clarity and charity ” and a strong appeal to Bishop Callahan not to impose penalties on a true shepherd who is laying down his @ @ @ @ @

Fr. Altman sent shockwaves through the American Catholic Church with his now viral video entitled 'You can't be a Catholic and a Democrat.' Now he is under fire from his bishop.
PETITION: Stand with priest who faces Church penalties for saying “You can't be a Catholic and a Democrat.”! Sign the petition here.
September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — LifeSiteNews delivered a petition in support of Fr. James Altman this past Saturday at his parish, St. James the Less, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The petition numbered over 64,000, and since then, the petition signatures have climbed to over 69,000. Elizabeth Garibaldi representing LifeSiteNews presented the petition to Fr. Altman.
Fr. Altman sent shockwaves through the American Catholic Church that have reverberated around the world in the past three weeks when he published a now viral video entitled “You can’t be a Catholic and a Democrat.” Shortly after the video garnered thousands of views, Bishop Callahan asked that Fr. Altman cease the livestreaming of his Masses, and asserted that “[c]anonical penalties are not far away if my attempts at fraternal correction do not work.”
LifeSiteNews launched a petition thereafter asking Bishop Callahan to support Fr. Altman and, further, to “not allow yourself to be deceived or bullied by the Democratic Party or by the mainstream media — neither of which have the best interests of the Church at heart.”
This petition to His Excellency was delivered to the chancery in La Crosse, Wis., today, Wednesday, September 23. It was delivered in conjunction with “Stand with Fr. Altman,” a lay-run Facebook group who started their own petition and accompanying letter. The letter pleads with the bishop to “please focus on the truth of his message” and then goes on to list the good fruit that Fr. Altman has born, for “by their fruits you will know them,” as Matthew 7:16 states.
Some of the inspiring quotes from viewers online include the following:
The letter concludes, “We respectfully submit to you that this is verification of all the good Fr. Altman has done to bring the faithful back to the fold with clarity and charity” and a strong appeal to Bishop Callahan not to impose penalties on a true shepherd who is laying down his life for his sheep.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--There is something very wrong with some in the top ranks of America’s military

This article originally appeared at the American Thinker on September 10 , 2020 .
It is published here with permission .
September 22 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — With Bob Woodward 's anti-Trump book published , the media are focusing entirely on the easily debunked claim that Trump mishandled the Wuhan virus by `` lying '' to the American people .
What the media are ignoring , however , is a much more serious claim , which is that former secretary of defense General James Mattis plotted to overthrow Trump and his administration .
This fact , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the damage Obama inflicted on the upper echelons of the Pentagon .
According to a pre-release excerpt from the Washington Post Bob Woodward writes about a discussion between General James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats about a plot to overthrow the elected government of the United States .
What do you call a conversation between the Defense Secretary and the head of the U.S. intelligence apparatus where they are talking about taking `` collective action '' to remove an elected President ?
That 's called sedition [ . ]
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clear last October that the Obama administration ( with some help from Bill Clinton 's presidency ) had seeded the Pentagon with leftist generals whose allegiance was to the Deep State , to cultural leftism , and to the infamous and profitable `` military industrial complex '' that Eisenhower warned about in 1961 .
In only five years , Obama had conducted a major Pentagon purge , firing almost 200 senior officers who held the old-fashioned belief that the military exists to protect America and should not be a social justice institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who remained were hardcore Democrats .
While still in the military , Admiral McRaven gave bin Laden a respectful , private burial .
Once out of the military , he wrote an editorial for the New York Times , strongly suggesting a military coup against Trump .
Barry McCaffrey , a Clinton White House officer , likened Trump to Mussolini because he canceled the White House 's newspaper subscriptions .
And Obama 's Joint Chiefs vice chair , James Winnefeld , was deeply offended on behalf of ISIS terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling al-Baghdadi 's followers that he died like a coward .
In November , Sundance , at The Conservative Treehouse , pointed out that , even though Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman used back channels to counteract his commander-in-chief 's foreign policy solely because Vindman disagreed with the policy , the Defense Department invited him right back to the NSC .
To Sundance , there was only one takeaway : `` The United States Military is collaborating with the CIA to remove a U.S. President from office . ''
All of the above says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon .
The implications are n't just in the past .
They 're also in the future .
Michael Anton has written the best article spelling out the fact that the Democrats are openly planning a coup if Biden does n't win .
One of the crucial points about this planned coup is that the Democrats have been explicit about military involvement .
Their plan in the event Trump wins in a given state is to send their Democrat electors to the Electoral College along with ( or even in lieu of ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that results , which will spill onto the streets , Democrats trust `` that the military would take care of the rest . ''
Anton also says retired military officers , such as the ones I discussed above ( and I 'm willing to bet that includes Mattis and McRaven ) , have already said that they will support a coup .
I 'll add that it 's likely that they have allies still within the Pentagon , people who benefit from the perpetual wars that Obama , a supposed anti-war president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also benefit from the pipeline flowing from the Pentagon to that profitable military industrial complex .
The laughable Atlantic article about Trump disrespecting the military was intended not just to get military votes on November 3 , but to get military coup participants after November 3 .
Critical Race Theory training and eight years of Obama 's social justice policies have shifted many of the enlisted ranks from strong conservatives to equally strong Democrats .
The only way to put the kibosh on all of this is for an overwhelming Trump turnout on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no matter where they are — the media , Hollywood , the military , the defense contractors , your neighborhood — that the people are behind Trump .
As I heard someone say , the Democrats have ensured that , after the election , unless a bizarre miracle happens and Biden wins overwhelmingly on ( not after ) November 3 , there will be upheaval .
However , we know from the street battles in Democrat-run cities that , if Biden does win , the disruptions will spread .
If Trump wins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the law ( and due process ) , and America can once again get down to the business of being the best , freest nation on Earth .

This article originally appeared at the American Thinker on September 10, 2020. It is published here with permission.
September 22, 2020 (American Thinker) — With Bob Woodward's anti-Trump book published, the media are focusing entirely on the easily debunked claim that Trump mishandled the Wuhan virus by “lying” to the American people. What the media are ignoring, however, is a much more serious claim, which is that former secretary of defense General James Mattis plotted to overthrow Trump and his administration. This fact, if true, supports my longtime fear about the damage Obama inflicted on the upper echelons of the Pentagon.
The Conservative Treehouse caught the Mattis item:
According to a pre-release excerpt from the Washington Post Bob Woodward writes about a discussion between General James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats about a plot to overthrow the elected government of the United States. [snip] What do you call a conversation between the Defense Secretary and the head of the U.S. intelligence apparatus where they are talking about taking “collective action” to remove an elected President? That's called sedition[.] … A seditious conspiracy.
It began to be clear last October that the Obama administration (with some help from Bill Clinton's presidency) had seeded the Pentagon with leftist generals whose allegiance was to the Deep State, to cultural leftism, and to the infamous and profitable “military industrial complex” that Eisenhower warned about in 1961. In only five years, Obama had conducted a major Pentagon purge, firing almost 200 senior officers who held the old-fashioned belief that the military exists to protect America and should not be a social justice institution with limited firepower.
The upper-level officers who remained were hardcore Democrats. While still in the military, Admiral McRaven gave bin Laden a respectful, private burial. Once out of the military, he wrote an editorial for the New York Times, strongly suggesting a military coup against Trump. Barry McCaffrey, a Clinton White House officer, likened Trump to Mussolini because he canceled the White House's newspaper subscriptions. And Obama's Joint Chiefs vice chair, James Winnefeld, was deeply offended on behalf of ISIS terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi because Trump did the psychologically smart thing of telling al-Baghdadi's followers that he died like a coward.
In November, Sundance, at The Conservative Treehouse, pointed out that, even though Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman used back channels to counteract his commander-in-chief's foreign policy solely because Vindman disagreed with the policy, the Defense Department invited him right back to the NSC. To Sundance, there was only one takeaway: “The United States Military is collaborating with the CIA to remove a U.S. President from office.”
All of the above says there is something rotten happening in the Pentagon. The implications aren't just in the past. They're also in the future. Michael Anton has written the best article spelling out the fact that the Democrats are openly planning a coup if Biden doesn't win. One of the crucial points about this planned coup is that the Democrats have been explicit about military involvement.
Their plan in the event Trump wins in a given state is to send their Democrat electors to the Electoral College along with (or even in lieu of) the Republican electors. In the chaos that results, which will spill onto the streets, Democrats trust “that the military would take care of the rest.”
Anton also says retired military officers, such as the ones I discussed above (and I'm willing to bet that includes Mattis and McRaven), have already said that they will support a coup. I'll add that it's likely that they have allies still within the Pentagon, people who benefit from the perpetual wars that Obama, a supposed anti-war president, nevertheless fought and instigated, and who also benefit from the pipeline flowing from the Pentagon to that profitable military industrial complex.
The laughable Atlantic article about Trump disrespecting the military was intended not just to get military votes on November 3, but to get military coup participants after November 3. Critical Race Theory training and eight years of Obama's social justice policies have shifted many of the enlisted ranks from strong conservatives to equally strong Democrats.
The only way to put the kibosh on all of this is for an overwhelming Trump turnout on November 3, one that reminds Democrats no matter where they are — the media, Hollywood, the military, the defense contractors, your neighborhood — that the people are behind Trump.
As I heard someone say, the Democrats have ensured that, after the election, unless a bizarre miracle happens and Biden wins overwhelmingly on (not after) November 3, there will be upheaval. However, we know from the street battles in Democrat-run cities that, if Biden does win, the disruptions will spread. If Trump wins, the upheavals will meet the full force of the law (and due process), and America can once again get down to the business of being the best, freest nation on Earth.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-23--Barrett, Rushing, Lagoa: Whom will Trump put on the Supreme Court?

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
September 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – With President Donald Trump slated to announce his nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this weekend , all eyes are currently on three women widely believed to be finalists for the vacancy , searching for clues as to whether they would be true conservative originalists , or betray conservatives as so many Republican appointees have done in the past .
A left-wing jurist appointed by former President Bill Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 following a battle with pancreatic cancer .
Trump , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , and a narrow majority of Senate Republicans have confirmed they will move to fill her seat before the November election .
Trump has also confirmed that his choice for Ginsburg ’ s successor will be a woman , leading most to conclude the nominee will be either Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ( age 48 ) ; Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ( age 38 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ( age 52 ) .
Barrett is a former University of Notre Dame law professor and Catholic mother of seven who became famous when Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D-CA ) interrogated her about her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearing for the Seventh Circuit in 2017 .
She is believed by many to be the most likely pick , as Axios reported last year that Trump privately said he was “ saving her ” to replace Ginsburg .
A former clerk for the late conservative stalwart Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a pro-life originalist .
She was a member of Notre Dame ’ s Faculty for Life group , signed a 2015 letter expressing “ solidarity with our sisters in the developing world against what Pope Francis has described as ‘ forms of ideological colonization which are out to destroy the family ’ ” ; and is reported to have signed another letter published by Becket Law criticizing the Obama administration ’ s contraception mandate .
Revolver News further notes that Barrett has taken the conservative and/or originalist stance in written positions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual assault claims on college campuses , the right to bear arms , and immigration .
Perhaps most encouragingly , Barrett has also written multiple articles critical of the stare decisis doctrine , which grants weight to past rulings ’ status as precedent , regardless of whether they were rightly decided .
Despite her popularity among conservatives , some have also expressed doubts about her .
Last year , conservative Catholic writer John Zmirak wrote that she was “ not a safe pick ” because of an article she wrote in law school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Catholic judge would have to recuse herself when asked to impose the death penalty on someone .
While ( as noted above ) Barrett has presided over immigration cases without recusing herself ( and has voted to uphold executions more than once ) , Zmirak argued that Barrett might reverse course should Catholic authorities such as Pope Francis move to make their left-wing views official Catholic doctrine .
Barrett addressed the article in her confirmation hearings for the Seventh Circuit , explaining that “ I was very much the junior partner in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reflect “ how I think about these questions today with…the benefit of 20 years of experience and also the ability to speak solely in my own voice ...
I can not think of any cases or category of cases in which I would feel obliged to recuse on grounds of conscience.
” On Wednesday , Zmirak wrote that Barrett has “ proved better than her word ” on the Seventh Circuit , leading him to “ withdraw my previous questions about her fitness.
” Others have raised concerns over Barrett joining a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party ’ s request for an emergency stay of the governor ’ s 50-person limit on religious gatherings .
Attorney Robert Barnes takes this as evidence she ’ s an “ authoritarian ” ; Barrett defenders such as National Review ’ s Ed Whelan argue the decision merely applied the legal criteria necessary for a stay .
An evangelical attorney who could be on the court for as much as half a century given her relative youth , Rushing is a former intern of the socially conservative Alliance Defending Freedom ( ADF ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gorsuch and conservative stalwart Justice Clarence Thomas .
She defended ADF against claims it was a “ hate group ” when they were raised by Democrats in March .
Having only been a judge since March 2019 , Rushing ’ s paper trail on the issues is shorter than many contenders , though her policy views can be inferred to a degree from her association with ADF .
In 2012 she was a volunteer legal advisor for Republican Mitt Romney ’ s presidential campaign , while in 2009 she volunteered for the Maryland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arora .
In a 2005 article coauthored by ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence , Rushing criticized lawsuits challenging the Ten Commandments on public property , writing that “ granting anti-religious observers veto power to drive all religious references from the public square replaces a ‘ sense of proportion and fit with uncompromising rigidity at a costly price to the values of the First Amendment.
’ ” Rushing has also criticized United States v. Windsor , the 2013 Supreme Court decision that gutted the federal Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had prevailed throughout most of human history and , at the time of DOMA ’ s enactment , had been adopted by every State in the nation and every nation in the world , was evidence that the law did have a valid basis , or at least explained how lawmakers could enact such a law motivated by something other than hatred , ” she said in 2013 .
“ Most interestingly , the dissenters observed that the majority could have decided the case on legal principles that would have accused DOMA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error , which is an error that one could make in good faith .
But instead , the majority chose [ to ] write the opinion in a unique way that calls it bigotry to believe that homosexuality does not comport with Judeo-Christian morality.
” A Cuban and former member of the Florida Supreme Court , Lagoa ’ s appeal is rooted in large part on the theory that selecting her could help Trump win Florida .
But several conservatives are wary that she may be unreliable , due at least in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found her acceptable enough to confirm for her current position .
That said , she does have some conservative credentials .
“ Just last week , for example , she was one of the deciding votes that limited Florida Republicans ’ incredibly ill-advised decision to allow a referendum on permitting felons to vote , ” Revolver notes .
“ Thanks to her , thousands of Florida felons that haven ’ t even paid the fines they were ordered to as part of their sentences will not be voting against President Trump on November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opinion limiting illegal aliens ’ ability to tie up the courts with appeals after they are given an order of removal.
” Notably , in 2000 Lagoa also worked pro bono on the legal team that fought the Clinton administration ’ s ultimately-successful efforts to deport then-child Elián González to Communist Cuba , a case widely believed to have spurred Floridians to choose President George W. Bush over Clinton ’ s vice president , Al Gore .
“ Judge Lagoa is a committed originalist and textualist , as demonstrated by her 14-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written opinions , ” Jesse Panuccio of the U.S. Justice Department told the Washington Free Beacon .
Other women Trump may nominate include Kate Todd and Martha Pacold , who both clerked for Justice Thomas .

All eyes are currently on three women widely believed to be finalists for the vacancy.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
September 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – With President Donald Trump slated to announce his nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this weekend, all eyes are currently on three women widely believed to be finalists for the vacancy, searching for clues as to whether they would be true conservative originalists, or betray conservatives as so many Republican appointees have done in the past.
A left-wing jurist appointed by former President Bill Clinton, Ginsburg passed away Friday at age 87 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and a narrow majority of Senate Republicans have confirmed they will move to fill her seat before the November election.
Trump has also confirmed that his choice for Ginsburg’s successor will be a woman, leading most to conclude the nominee will be either Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (age 48); Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (age 38); or Judge Barbara Lagoa of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (age 52).
Amy Coney Barrett
Barrett is a former University of Notre Dame law professor and Catholic mother of seven who became famous when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) interrogated her about her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearing for the Seventh Circuit in 2017. She is believed by many to be the most likely pick, as Axios reported last year that Trump privately said he was “saving her” to replace Ginsburg.
A former clerk for the late conservative stalwart Justice Antonin Scalia, Barrett is widely regarded as a pro-life originalist. She was a member of Notre Dame’s Faculty for Life group, signed a 2015 letter expressing “solidarity with our sisters in the developing world against what Pope Francis has described as ‘forms of ideological colonization which are out to destroy the family’”; and is reported to have signed another letter published by Becket Law criticizing the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.
Revolver News further notes that Barrett has taken the conservative and/or originalist stance in written positions on hot-button issues such as due process for sexual assault claims on college campuses, the right to bear arms, and immigration. Perhaps most encouragingly, Barrett has also written multiple articles critical of the stare decisis doctrine, which grants weight to past rulings’ status as precedent, regardless of whether they were rightly decided.
Despite her popularity among conservatives, some have also expressed doubts about her. Last year, conservative Catholic writer John Zmirak wrote that she was “not a safe pick” because of an article she wrote in law school with her then-professor John Garvey arguing that a Catholic judge would have to recuse herself when asked to impose the death penalty on someone.
While (as noted above) Barrett has presided over immigration cases without recusing herself (and has voted to uphold executions more than once), Zmirak argued that Barrett might reverse course should Catholic authorities such as Pope Francis move to make their left-wing views official Catholic doctrine.
Barrett addressed the article in her confirmation hearings for the Seventh Circuit, explaining that “I was very much the junior partner in our collaboration” and that it does not reflect “how I think about these questions today with…the benefit of 20 years of experience and also the ability to speak solely in my own voice…I cannot think of any cases or category of cases in which I would feel obliged to recuse on grounds of conscience.”
On Wednesday, Zmirak wrote that Barrett has “proved better than her word” on the Seventh Circuit, leading him to “withdraw my previous questions about her fitness.”
Others have raised concerns over Barrett joining a panel ruling that denied the Illinois Republican Party’s request for an emergency stay of the governor’s 50-person limit on religious gatherings. Attorney Robert Barnes takes this as evidence she’s an “authoritarian”; Barrett defenders such as National Review’s Ed Whelan argue the decision merely applied the legal criteria necessary for a stay.
Allison Jones Rushing
An evangelical attorney who could be on the court for as much as half a century given her relative youth, Rushing is a former intern of the socially conservative Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and has clerked for both then-Judge Neil Gorsuch and conservative stalwart Justice Clarence Thomas. She defended ADF against claims it was a “hate group” when they were raised by Democrats in March.
Having only been a judge since March 2019, Rushing’s paper trail on the issues is shorter than many contenders, though her policy views can be inferred to a degree from her association with ADF. In 2012 she was a volunteer legal advisor for Republican Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, while in 2009 she volunteered for the Maryland House of Delegates campaign for Democrat Sam Arora.
In a 2005 article coauthored by ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence, Rushing criticized lawsuits challenging the Ten Commandments on public property, writing that “granting anti-religious observers veto power to drive all religious references from the public square replaces a ‘sense of proportion and fit with uncompromising rigidity at a costly price to the values of the First Amendment.’”
Rushing has also criticized United States v. Windsor, the 2013 Supreme Court decision that gutted the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). “DOMA codified the definition of marriage that had prevailed throughout most of human history and, at the time of DOMA’s enactment, had been adopted by every State in the nation and every nation in the world, was evidence that the law did have a valid basis, or at least explained how lawmakers could enact such a law motivated by something other than hatred,” she said in 2013.
“Most interestingly, the dissenters observed that the majority could have decided the case on legal principles that would have accused DOMA’s supporters simply of making a legal error, which is an error that one could make in good faith. But instead, the majority chose [to] write the opinion in a unique way that calls it bigotry to believe that homosexuality does not comport with Judeo-Christian morality.”
Barbara Lagoa
A Cuban and former member of the Florida Supreme Court, Lagoa’s appeal is rooted in large part on the theory that selecting her could help Trump win Florida. But several conservatives are wary that she may be unreliable, due at least in part to the fact that 26 Senate Democrats found her acceptable enough to confirm for her current position.
That said, she does have some conservative credentials. “Just last week, for example, she was one of the deciding votes that limited Florida Republicans’ incredibly ill-advised decision to allow a referendum on permitting felons to vote,” Revolver notes. “Thanks to her, thousands of Florida felons that haven’t even paid the fines they were ordered to as part of their sentences will not be voting against President Trump on November 3rd. She also recently joined in an opinion limiting illegal aliens’ ability to tie up the courts with appeals after they are given an order of removal.”
Notably, in 2000 Lagoa also worked pro bono on the legal team that fought the Clinton administration’s ultimately-successful efforts to deport then-child Elián González to Communist Cuba, a case widely believed to have spurred Floridians to choose President George W. Bush over Clinton’s vice president, Al Gore.
“Judge Lagoa is a committed originalist and textualist, as demonstrated by her 14-year record as an appellate judge and 400 written opinions,” Jesse Panuccio of the U.S. Justice Department told the Washington Free Beacon.
Other women Trump may nominate include Kate Todd and Martha Pacold, who both clerked for Justice Thomas.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-24--BREAKING: Top Vatican cardinal resigns, relinquishes rights as cardinal

VATICAN CITY , September 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A cardinal closely associated with the Theodore McCarrick scandal has resigned from his post and given up his rights as a cardinal .
According to a tersely worded note from the Vatican released minutes ago , “ the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu from his role as the Prefect of the Congregation of the Cause of the Saints and from the rights connected with the Cardinalate.
” In August 2018 , Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò stated that Becciu “ knew in every detail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his reputation for homosexual misconduct .
In 2019 , London 's Financial Times reported that investments made by Becciu were at the heart of a Vatican investigation which ultimately led to an October 1 , 2019 raid by Vatican police on the Vatican ’ s own Secretariat of State , after which five Vatican employees were suspended .
An internal memo about these individuals was leaked to the press , leading to the resignation of its signatory , the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps ’ chief , Inspector General Domenico Giani .
“ $ 200m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Secretariat of State was transferred to a Luxembourg investment fund called Athena Capital , ” the Financial Times reported at the time .
“ Athena is owned by the Italian London-based financier Raffaele Mincione through his company WRM , ” it continued .
“ Athena had bought the Chelsea building for £129m in 2012 and then sold a minority stake in the project in 2014 to a fund it managed on behalf of the Vatican as a sole client .
In 2018 , the Vatican bought out the remaining equity in 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vehicle earned around £130m from the project overall.
” The London financial newspaper said that the Vatican had “ declined to comment ” about its ownership of the apartment building or the reasons for the raid upon the Secretary of State .
However , Financial Times asserted that Becciu , the Substitute ( deputy ) of the Secretariat of State between 2011 and 2018 , had “ personally authorized ” the investment .
Becciu has also recently fallen afoul of the powerful German contingent of the Knights of Malta , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delegate of the Vatican .

VATICAN CITY, September 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A cardinal closely associated with the Theodore McCarrick scandal has resigned from his post and given up his rights as a cardinal.
According to a tersely worded note from the Vatican released minutes ago, “the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu from his role as the Prefect of the Congregation of the Cause of the Saints and from the rights connected with the Cardinalate.”
In August 2018, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò stated that Becciu “knew in every detail the situation regarding Cardinal McCarrick” and his reputation for homosexual misconduct.
In 2019, London's Financial Times reported that investments made by Becciu were at the heart of a Vatican investigation which ultimately led to an October 1, 2019 raid by Vatican police on the Vatican’s own Secretariat of State, after which five Vatican employees were suspended. An internal memo about these individuals was leaked to the press, leading to the resignation of its signatory, the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps’ chief, Inspector General Domenico Giani.
Reliably informed sources say recent financial scandals are “clearly connected” with news this evening of #PopeFrancis' decision to accept resignation of Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciù as prefect of Congregation for Causes of Saints and rights connected with the Cardinalate. pic.twitter.com/7k0eDWJ6B7 — Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) September 24, 2020
“$200m held in Swiss bank accounts controlled by the Secretariat of State was transferred to a Luxembourg investment fund called Athena Capital, ” the Financial Times reported at the time.
“Athena is owned by the Italian London-based financier Raffaele Mincione through his company WRM,” it continued.
“Athena had bought the Chelsea building for £129m in 2012 and then sold a minority stake in the project in 2014 to a fund it managed on behalf of the Vatican as a sole client. In 2018, the Vatican bought out the remaining equity in 60 Sloane Avenue from Athena. Mr Mincione’s vehicle earned around £130m from the project overall.”
The London financial newspaper said that the Vatican had “declined to comment” about its ownership of the apartment building or the reasons for the raid upon the Secretary of State. However, Financial Times asserted that Becciu, the Substitute (deputy) of the Secretariat of State between 2011 and 2018, had “personally authorized” the investment.
Becciu has also recently fallen afoul of the powerful German contingent of the Knights of Malta, to which order the cardinal was a Special Delegate of the Vatican.
Developing…
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lifesitenews--2020-09-26--Bishops must stop following unjust COVID orders to restrict Masses

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world : Feed your flock !
Sign the petition here .
September 25 , 2020 ( CatholicCulture.org ) — As much as I admire Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone for challenging restrictions on the Church in San Francisco… As much as I applaud him for bringing our Eucharistic Lord out onto the streets of the city… As much as I thank him for taking the lead ( when so many other prelates remain silent ) in insisting that religious worship is “ essential activity ” … As fully as I agree with him that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their failure to make any response — is an insult to Catholics… Still I wonder : If the archbishop thinks that the city ’ s restrictions are unreasonable — if he thinks that it would be safe to celebrate Mass for a larger congregation in the city ’ s cathedral — why doesn ’ t he take the obvious action ?
Why doesn ’ t he go into his own cathedral , invite the public , and celebrate Mass ?
Before I go any further let me emphasize that I do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism here .
On the contrary , I mean to praise him .
The question that I ask of him could apply , far more pointedly , to all the other bishops and priests who have meekly accepted unreasonable restrictions on the administration of the sacraments — to the bishops and priests who have not raised public objections , have not mobilized the faithful , have not organized Eucharistic processions .
Give Archbishop Cordileone full credit for speaking truth to power : for telling the faithful who joined him last Sunday outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , and even worse , they are mocking God.
” Credit him , too , for the public campaign that has urged faithful Catholics to call San Francisco ’ s Mayor London Breed , and has already raised 17,000 signatures on a petition “ asking the City of San Francisco to free the Mass.
” But again : Why ask city officials to “ free ” the Mass ?
There is only one man who has the rightful authority to restrict and regulate the liturgy of the Catholic Church in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he wants to celebrate Mass for the public in his cathedral , he can do it .
But wait , you say .
He can ’ t celebrate Mass for the public in his cathedral .
It would be against the law .
To which I respond : what law ?
Argument # 1 : Is there an actual piece of legislation , duly enacted by the people ’ s elected representatives , that prohibits the public celebration of the Eucharist ?
( Here I am deliberately painting the situation with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applies not just to San Francisco but to the many other jurisdictions where the Mass has been restricted . )
Or is this a regulatory order , issued by a bureaucrat whose authority is at best uncertain ?
Is it an executive order , issued by a mayor or governor ?
And if so , are ordinary citizens — who are not employees of the executive — legally bound ?
Diocesan lawyers should be exploring those questions aggressively .
Argument # 2 : Even if there is a law , and it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a clear violation of our First Amendment guarantee that prohibits not only the establishment of religion , but also “ prohibiting the free exercise thereof ” ?
Christians should not be “ asking ” the government to lift discriminatory restrictions on public worship but demanding our rights , and enlisting legal help to challenge every such restriction .
Argument # 3 : Even if a legitimate act of legislation is in place , and even if that law survives a Constitutional challenge , it is an unjust law , and the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our obedience .
Indeed the Catechism of the Catholic Church goes further , saying : “ The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order , to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel.
” [ emphasis added ] What could be more directly contrary to the demands of the moral order than a draconian restriction on the celebration of the Eucharist , the “ source and summit ” of our spiritual life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the teachings of the Gospel than a regulation that is a “ mockery of God ” ?
Last Sunday , speaking to the crowd outside the cathedral , Archbishop Cordileone acknowledged that on at least one past occasion he had knowingly violated the law .
He explained : Right .
And today — and every day — there is nothing our neighbors need more than the celebration of the Eucharist .
If it is justifiable to defy the law to give a bus ticket to a stranger , how much more justifiable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people the Eucharistic food that promises eternal life ?
Archbishop Cordileone has protested repeatedly that city officials have ignored requests and complaints and pleas and demands from the Catholic Church .
Let ’ s hope , then , that if the archbishop leads the faithful back into the cathedral next Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist , city officials will ignore them once again .
The alternative is , I admit , distressing : hundreds of Catholics , including the archbishop , could be jailed .
Distressing , but not unprecedented .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent time behind bars .
Again , I do not mean to single out Archbishop Cordileone for criticism .
He has done far more than his episcopal colleagues to rally the faithful and to vindicate the rights of the Church .
What I have said above applies far more forcefully to those bishops who have not challenged unreasonable restrictions on the practice of the faith .
Last week Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington , Virginia , issued a letter suggesting that the Covid lockdown had produced a “ Pentecost moment ” for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creative evangelization .
Bishop Burbidge , too , obviously intended to encourage these initiatives , to promote the active practice of the faith in a difficult time .
In praising new ways of communicating the faith , Bishop Burbidge pointed to St. Paul as “ the model of the early Christian communicator.
” Of course St. Paul spent time in prison , and eventually was executed by civil authorities .
But Bishop Burbidge notes : “ The Church grew even when facing the harshest of persecutions.
” Just before citing the example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important point about the early Church : The apostles didn ’ t stop celebrating the faith , despite threats of legal punishment .
Insofar as they are our models , neither should we .

Give Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone full credit for speaking truth to power. Now, if he wants to celebrate Mass for the public in his cathedral, he can do it.
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock! Sign the petition here.
September 25, 2020 (CatholicCulture.org) — As much as I admire Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone for challenging restrictions on the Church in San Francisco…
As much as I applaud him for bringing our Eucharistic Lord out onto the streets of the city…
As much as I thank him for taking the lead (when so many other prelates remain silent) in insisting that religious worship is “essential activity”…
As fully as I agree with him that the response from city officials — or rather, their failure to make any response — is an insult to Catholics…
Still I wonder: If the archbishop thinks that the city’s restrictions are unreasonable — if he thinks that it would be safe to celebrate Mass for a larger congregation in the city’s cathedral — why doesn’t he take the obvious action? Why doesn’t he go into his own cathedral, invite the public, and celebrate Mass?
Before I go any further let me emphasize that I do not mean to single out Archbishop Cordileone for criticism here. On the contrary, I mean to praise him. The question that I ask of him could apply, far more pointedly, to all the other bishops and priests who have meekly accepted unreasonable restrictions on the administration of the sacraments — to the bishops and priests who have not raised public objections, have not mobilized the faithful, have not organized Eucharistic processions.
Give Archbishop Cordileone full credit for speaking truth to power: for telling the faithful who joined him last Sunday outside the cathedral that city officials “are mocking you, and even worse, they are mocking God.” Credit him, too, for the public campaign that has urged faithful Catholics to call San Francisco’s Mayor London Breed, and has already raised 17,000 signatures on a petition “asking the City of San Francisco to free the Mass.”
But again: Why ask city officials to “free” the Mass? There is only one man who has the rightful authority to restrict and regulate the liturgy of the Catholic Church in San Francisco, and his name is Cordileone. If he wants to celebrate Mass for the public in his cathedral, he can do it.
But wait, you say. He can’t celebrate Mass for the public in his cathedral. It would be against the law.
To which I respond: what law?
Argument #1: Is there an actual piece of legislation, duly enacted by the people’s elected representatives, that prohibits the public celebration of the Eucharist? (Here I am deliberately painting the situation with a broad brush, so that my argument applies not just to San Francisco but to the many other jurisdictions where the Mass has been restricted.) Or is this a regulatory order, issued by a bureaucrat whose authority is at best uncertain? Is it an executive order, issued by a mayor or governor? And if so, are ordinary citizens — who are not employees of the executive — legally bound? Diocesan lawyers should be exploring those questions aggressively.
Argument #2: Even if there is a law, and it does have prima facie validity, is it not a clear violation of our First Amendment guarantee that prohibits not only the establishment of religion, but also “prohibiting the free exercise thereof”? Christians should not be “asking” the government to lift discriminatory restrictions on public worship but demanding our rights, and enlisting legal help to challenge every such restriction.
Argument #3: Even if a legitimate act of legislation is in place, and even if that law survives a Constitutional challenge, it is an unjust law, and the Church teaches that unjust laws do not command our obedience. Indeed the Catechism of the Catholic Church goes further, saying: “The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel.” [emphasis added]
What could be more directly contrary to the demands of the moral order than a draconian restriction on the celebration of the Eucharist, the “source and summit” of our spiritual life? What could be more clearly contrary to the teachings of the Gospel than a regulation that is a “mockery of God”?
Last Sunday, speaking to the crowd outside the cathedral, Archbishop Cordileone acknowledged that on at least one past occasion he had knowingly violated the law. He explained:
I was aware that I was breaking the law, since it is against the law to provide transportation to an undocumented immigrant. But the highest law is love of God and love of neighbor, and that law has to take precedence over the human-made law of the state when government would ask us to turn our backs on God or our neighbor in need.
Right. And today — and every day — there is nothing our neighbors need more than the celebration of the Eucharist. If it is justifiable to defy the law to give a bus ticket to a stranger, how much more justifiable to defy a questionable law to give the people the Eucharistic food that promises eternal life?
Archbishop Cordileone has protested repeatedly that city officials have ignored requests and complaints and pleas and demands from the Catholic Church. Let’s hope, then, that if the archbishop leads the faithful back into the cathedral next Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist, city officials will ignore them once again. The alternative is, I admit, distressing: hundreds of Catholics, including the archbishop, could be jailed. Distressing, but not unprecedented. Over the years countless thousands of Christians have spent time behind bars.
Again, I do not mean to single out Archbishop Cordileone for criticism. He has done far more than his episcopal colleagues to rally the faithful and to vindicate the rights of the Church. What I have said above applies far more forcefully to those bishops who have not challenged unreasonable restrictions on the practice of the faith.
Last week Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, issued a letter suggesting that the Covid lockdown had produced a “Pentecost moment” for the faith, encouraging many new initiatives of creative evangelization. Bishop Burbidge, too, obviously intended to encourage these initiatives, to promote the active practice of the faith in a difficult time. In praising new ways of communicating the faith, Bishop Burbidge pointed to St. Paul as “the model of the early Christian communicator.” Of course St. Paul spent time in prison, and eventually was executed by civil authorities. But Bishop Burbidge notes: “The Church grew even when facing the harshest of persecutions.”
Just before citing the example of St. Paul, Bishop Burbidge made another important point about the early Church:
When threatened by authorities to cease preaching in public about the Good News of the Lord, the response of St. Peter and St. John was that to stop communicating was not an option. “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” [Acts 4:20]
The apostles didn’t stop celebrating the faith, despite threats of legal punishment. Insofar as they are our models, neither should we.
Published with permission from CatholicCulture.org.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-26--49 congressmen ask Justice Dept to see if Planned Parenthood violated partial-birth abortion ban

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
September 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Led by Congressman Roger Marshall , M.D.
, 49 members of Congress have sent a letter to U.S. attorney general William Barr calling for an investigation of abortionists who violated the Partial Birth Abortion Ban passed in 2003 .
This information has been corroborated in testimonial videos published by the Center for Medical Progress .
Marshall , who represents the 1st District of Kansas , stated that “ as a pro-life American and OB/GYN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save the lives of both mothers and babies , it is beyond sickening to see and hear confessions of such heinous acts being committed in our country.
” The members of Congress have asked for an investigation of specific actions taken by the vice president of abortion access at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast , Tram Nguyen , who admitted under oath to murdering babies “ intact ” so as to harvest their body parts .
As the congressional press release reads , the abortionists were “ deliberately killing a partially delivered baby.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video testimony from the April 2019 court hearing .
This latest development comes after another letter from 28 Republican lawmakers was sent to Barr and FBI director Chris Wray in August , requesting information on “ any federal investigation of Planned Parenthood over the notorious baby-parts scandal first exposed in 2015 ” by CMP and lead investigative journalist David Daleiden .
Marshall states in the letter his commitment to stand “ up for the life of all babies , born and unborn , ” and that those in power “ must hold these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them accountable for their actions.
” The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban legislation states that any abortionist who breaks the law will face fines or imprisonment for the violation .
On Wednesday , President Donald Trump announced the signing of a separate executive order “ to ensure that all precious babies born alive , no matter their circumstances , ” including after an attempted abortion , “ receive the medical care that they deserve.
” Inquiries similar to the one in Marshall ’ s letter have been sent in recent years from members of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
The full letter from the 49 congressmen can be read here .

URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
September 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Led by Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., 49 members of Congress have sent a letter to U.S. attorney general William Barr calling for an investigation of abortionists who violated the Partial Birth Abortion Ban passed in 2003. This information has been corroborated in testimonial videos published by the Center for Medical Progress.
Marshall, who represents the 1st District of Kansas, stated that “as a pro-life American and OB/GYN who worked for over 25 years to save the lives of both mothers and babies, it is beyond sickening to see and hear confessions of such heinous acts being committed in our country.” The members of Congress have asked for an investigation of specific actions taken by the vice president of abortion access at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Tram Nguyen, who admitted under oath to murdering babies “intact” so as to harvest their body parts. As the congressional press release reads, the abortionists were “deliberately killing a partially delivered baby.” Late last month, CMP released this video testimony from the April 2019 court hearing.
This latest development comes after another letter from 28 Republican lawmakers was sent to Barr and FBI director Chris Wray in August, requesting information on “any federal investigation of Planned Parenthood over the notorious baby-parts scandal first exposed in 2015” by CMP and lead investigative journalist David Daleiden.
Marshall states in the letter his commitment to stand “up for the life of all babies, born and unborn,” and that those in power “must hold these physicians and the organizations backing and supporting them accountable for their actions.” The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban legislation states that any abortionist who breaks the law will face fines or imprisonment for the violation.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced the signing of a separate executive order “to ensure that all precious babies born alive, no matter their circumstances,” including after an attempted abortion, “receive the medical care that they deserve.”
Inquiries similar to the one in Marshall’s letter have been sent in recent years from members of Congress to Trump administration officials without any response back.
The full letter from the 49 congressmen can be read here.
Congressman Marshall holding two babies he delivered / KANSASFORMARSHALL.COM.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-25--Over 300 rioters charged with crimes committed during BLM protests

PETITION : Urge the U.S. Attorney General to investigate the Black Lives Matter organization !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , September 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – More than 300 rioters in 29 states and Washington , D.C. have been charged for committing crimes “ under the guise of peaceful demonstrations ” since late May , the U.S. Department of Justice ( DOJ ) announced Thursday .
“ Violent opportunists have exploited these demonstrations in various ways , ” the DOJ said in a press release regarding the charges .
The DOJ stated that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorneys ’ Offices , more than 40 have filed “ federal charges alleging crimes.
” The charges incurred by rioters are vast and include attempted murder , assaulting a law enforcement officer , burglary of a federally-licensed firearms dealer , arson , damaging federal property , malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives , felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition , unlawful possession of a destructive device , inciting a riot , and felony civil disorder , along with others .
The DOJ said that many federal , state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , including the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms , and Explosives ( ATF ) , the FBI , and various U.S. Attorney ’ s offices , have investigated the cases .
The charges stem from violent protests mostly aligned with the group Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) that have rocked the United States in various cities since late May after a Minnesota man , George Floyd , was killed by a white police officer .
The DOJ said that around 30 people have been charged with “ offenses related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arson and explosive related offenses , 35 with charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer , and others for “ burglary and carjacking.
” “ Several of these charges carry significant maximum prison sentences .
For example , felony assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon is punishable by up to 20 years in prison .
Arson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison , ” the DOJ press release stated .
Many of the crimes committed by rioters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and both private and public property .
In July , President Donald Trump called the protesters “ sick and deranged Anarchists & Agitators.
” Trump then said that law enforcement could easily control the protestors , but they “ would destroy our American cities , and worse , if Sleepy Joe Biden , the puppet of the Left , ever won.
” The DOJ gave an example of one crime that took place outside the Supreme Court in Washington , D.C. involving a man who “ suffered severe burns ” after being “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poured a liquid from a gas can on to three U.S. Supreme Court Police vehicles.
” On Monday , the DOJ called out the Democrat-run cities of New York , Portland , and Seattle for allowing anarchy to reign , having permitted “ violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities.
” In early September , Trump issued a memorandum that asked the DOJ to review “ Funding to State and Local Government Recipients That Are Permitting Anarchy , Violence , and Destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging people to report suspected arson or explosive crimes committed that are “ associated with the recent unrest.
” Individuals can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS ( 1-888-283-8477 ) , email [ email protected ] , or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com .
Additionally , the FBI is asking that if you know a person “ who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind ” to call the tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI ( 800-225-5324 ) or submit images or videos at FBI.gov/violence .

The Department of Justice announced that the charges include attempted murder, assaulting a police officer, burglary, and damaging federal property.
PETITION: Urge the U.S. Attorney General to investigate the Black Lives Matter organization! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – More than 300 rioters in 29 states and Washington, D.C. have been charged for committing crimes “under the guise of peaceful demonstrations” since late May, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday.
“Violent opportunists have exploited these demonstrations in various ways,” the DOJ said in a press release regarding the charges.
The DOJ stated that as of Thursday, of the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, more than 40 have filed “federal charges alleging crimes.”The charges incurred by rioters are vast and include attempted murder, assaulting a law enforcement officer, burglary of a federally-licensed firearms dealer, arson, damaging federal property, malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, unlawful possession of a destructive device, inciting a riot, and felony civil disorder, along with others.
The DOJ said that many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the nation, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, and various U.S. Attorney’s offices, have investigated the cases.
The charges stem from violent protests mostly aligned with the group Black Lives Matter (BLM) that have rocked the United States in various cities since late May after a Minnesota man, George Floyd, was killed by a white police officer.
The DOJ said that around 30 people have been charged with “offenses related to civil disorder,” 80 regarding arson and explosive related offenses, 35 with charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer, and others for “burglary and carjacking.”
“Several of these charges carry significant maximum prison sentences. For example, felony assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Arson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison,” the DOJ press release stated.
Many of the crimes committed by rioters are related to damage to private businesses and both private and public property.
In July, President Donald Trump called the protesters “sick and deranged Anarchists & Agitators.” Trump then said that law enforcement could easily control the protestors, but they “would destroy our American cities, and worse, if Sleepy Joe Biden, the puppet of the Left, ever won.”
The DOJ gave an example of one crime that took place outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. involving a man who “suffered severe burns” after being “engulfed in flames” when he “poured a liquid from a gas can on to three U.S. Supreme Court Police vehicles.”
On Monday, the DOJ called out the Democrat-run cities of New York, Portland, and Seattle for allowing anarchy to reign, having permitted “violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities.”
In early September, Trump issued a memorandum that asked the DOJ to review “Funding to State and Local Government Recipients That Are Permitting Anarchy, Violence, and Destruction in American Cities.”
The ATF is urging people to report suspected arson or explosive crimes committed that are “associated with the recent unrest.”
Individuals can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected], or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
Additionally, the FBI is asking that if you know a person “who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind” to call the tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at FBI.gov/violence.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-25--FBI investigates discarded mail-in ballots, majority were Trump votes

PETITION : Urge state legislatures to scrap universal mail-in ballots and help protect the vote !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , September 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The federal government , including the FBI , launched an investigation into several mail-in ballots that were found discarded in Luzerne County , Pennsylvania .
At least seven of the nine votes were intended to be cast for President Donald Trump .
“ At this point , we can confirm that a small number of military ballots were discarded , ” the United States Attorney 's Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice , stated in a press release on Thursday .
“ Investigators have recovered nine ballots at this time .
Some of those ballots can be attributed to specific voters and some can not .
” “ Since Monday , FBI personnel working together with the Pennsylvania State Police have conducted numerous interviews and recovered and reviewed certain physical evidence , ” the statement continued .
“ Election officials in Luzerne County have been cooperative.
” While seven of the nine discarded ballots were confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining ones “ had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown.
” Also on Monday , in Outagamie County , Wisconsin , three trays with mail , including mail-in ballots , were found in a ditch .
“ The United States Postal Inspection Service immediately began investigating and we reserve further comment on this matter until that is complete , ” U.S .
Postal Service spokesman Bob Sheehan said .
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get rid of mass mail-out voting … He ’ s said clearly that could go either way , it could damage either candidate 's chances because it is a system that is subject to fraud.
” Recently , judges in both the state of New York and the state of Washington said the U.S .
Postal Service has to prioritize election mail .
On Monday , Judge Victor Marrero of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that “ USPS will be required to treat all election mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that USPS will need to ‘ pre-approve ’ all overtime requests for the two weeks surrounding Election Day , to make sure absentee ballots are processed properly , ” according to CNN .
“ The right to vote is too vital a value in our democracy to be left in a state of suspense in the minds of voters weeks before a presidential election , raising doubts as to whether their votes will ultimately be counted , ” the Judge pointed out .
Judge Stanley Allen Bastian of the U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commented in a decision issued last week that “ voter disenfranchisement ” was at the heart of a U.S .
Postal Service ’ s recent change in policies .
“ This is evident in President Trump 's highly partisan words and tweets , the actual impact of the changes on primary elections that resulted in uncounted ballots , and recent attempts and lawsuits by the Republican National Committee and President Trump ’ s campaign to stop the States ’ efforts to bypass the Postal Service by utilizing ballot drop boxes , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Bastian wrote .
Both Marrero and Bastian were appointed to their positions by Democratic Presidents .
Meanwhile , the Associated Press ( AP ) reported on data it has obtained , showing “ postal districts across the country are missing by wide margins the agency ’ s own goals for on-time delivery , raising the possibility that scores of mailed ballots could miss deadlines for reaching local election offices if voters wait too long .
Missing a deadline is a key reason mail-in ballots get rejected.
” Voter rolls across the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other civilized countries in the Western world .
The AP reported that in July an Atlanta resident received “ a voter registration application addressed to Cody Tims — his cat , who died 12 years ago.
” The Secretary of State ’ s office explained that external groups “ all over the country are targeting Georgia to help register qualified individuals .
This group makes you wonder what these out-of-town activists are really doing .
Make no mistake about it , this office is dedicated to investigating all types of fraud.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a photo of three mail-in ballots “ allegedly to the same person at the same address ” was fake news .
The ballots were , in fact , addressed to different people at the same address .
“ In the U.S. , households do not vote but rather registered individuals do , including those living with other registered voters , ” Reuters explained .
“ This same logic applies to those voting by mail.
” “ Rochelle Rayray , one of the residents listed on these ballots , confirmed these letters were for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she has been trying to stop this mislabeled photograph ’ s circulation .
She told Reuters her family doesn ’ t live at that address anymore , as the family sold the house , and she did not expect the new residents to share her personal details on social media.
” Reuters did not acknowledge that at least one of the recipients of the mail-in ballots was no longer living at the address , thus showing how unreliable voter rolls are .
The news organization also failed to acknowledge that a dishonest person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the other person no longer living at the address to simply cast a vote .
President Donald Trump tweeted in June , “ Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS , 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history - unless this stupidity is ended .
We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem , but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins !
” Donald Trump Jr. , the President ’ s son , in August ridiculed the Democrats for arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis while at the same time not cracking down on Black Lives Matter and Antifa protests and riots across the country .
Trump said that if “ you can loot in person , you can vote in person , ” adding , “ I know someone who got four ballots to the same address , to their house , for people who no longer live there.
” He emphasized the distinction between absentee voting and universal mail-in voting .
“ This is a system that ’ s worked well in Florida and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tied to an individual with an actual form of identification to eliminate that fraud , and if you go through that process , we ’ re 100 percent fine with that for those that don ’ t necessarily want to go to the polling booth that day , ” he explained .
“ It ’ s not that we ’ re trying to say you can ’ t do any of it .
”

PETITION: Urge state legislatures to scrap universal mail-in ballots and help protect the vote! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The federal government, including the FBI, launched an investigation into several mail-in ballots that were found discarded in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. At least seven of the nine votes were intended to be cast for President Donald Trump.
“At this point, we can confirm that a small number of military ballots were discarded,” the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice, stated in a press release on Thursday. “Investigators have recovered nine ballots at this time. Some of those ballots can be attributed to specific voters and some cannot.”
“Since Monday, FBI personnel working together with the Pennsylvania State Police have conducted numerous interviews and recovered and reviewed certain physical evidence,” the statement continued. “Election officials in Luzerne County have been cooperative.”
While seven of the nine discarded ballots were confirmed to be Trump votes, the two remaining ones “had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown.”
Also on Monday, in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, three trays with mail, including mail-in ballots, were found in a ditch. “The United States Postal Inspection Service immediately began investigating and we reserve further comment on this matter until that is complete,” U.S. Postal Service spokesman Bob Sheehan said.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany commented, “The president wants to get rid of mass mail-out voting … He’s said clearly that could go either way, it could damage either candidate's chances because it is a system that is subject to fraud.”
White House Press Secretary @KayleighMcEnany on mail-in ballots discarded in Pennsylvania, where 100% of them were cast for President @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/TN8kA7mhha — Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@TeamTrump) September 24, 2020
Recently, judges in both the state of New York and the state of Washington said the U.S. Postal Service has to prioritize election mail.
On Monday, Judge Victor Marrero of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that “USPS will be required to treat all election mail as first-class mail or priority mail express, and that USPS will need to ‘pre-approve’ all overtime requests for the two weeks surrounding Election Day, to make sure absentee ballots are processed properly,” according to CNN.
“The right to vote is too vital a value in our democracy to be left in a state of suspense in the minds of voters weeks before a presidential election, raising doubts as to whether their votes will ultimately be counted,” the Judge pointed out.
Judge Stanley Allen Bastian of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington commented in a decision issued last week that “voter disenfranchisement” was at the heart of a U.S. Postal Service’s recent change in policies.
“This is evident in President Trump's highly partisan words and tweets, the actual impact of the changes on primary elections that resulted in uncounted ballots, and recent attempts and lawsuits by the Republican National Committee and President Trump’s campaign to stop the States’ efforts to bypass the Postal Service by utilizing ballot drop boxes, as well as the timing of the changes,” Bastian wrote.
Both Marrero and Bastian were appointed to their positions by Democratic Presidents.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press (AP) reported on data it has obtained, showing “postal districts across the country are missing by wide margins the agency’s own goals for on-time delivery, raising the possibility that scores of mailed ballots could miss deadlines for reaching local election offices if voters wait too long. Missing a deadline is a key reason mail-in ballots get rejected.”
Voter rolls across the United States are notoriously unreliable, compared with other civilized countries in the Western world. The AP reported that in July an Atlanta resident received “a voter registration application addressed to Cody Tims — his cat, who died 12 years ago.”
The Secretary of State’s office explained that external groups “all over the country are targeting Georgia to help register qualified individuals. This group makes you wonder what these out-of-town activists are really doing. Make no mistake about it, this office is dedicated to investigating all types of fraud.”
A Reuters fact check found in July that a photo of three mail-in ballots “allegedly to the same person at the same address” was fake news. The ballots were, in fact, addressed to different people at the same address.
“In the U.S., households do not vote but rather registered individuals do, including those living with other registered voters,” Reuters explained. “This same logic applies to those voting by mail.”
“Rochelle Rayray, one of the residents listed on these ballots, confirmed these letters were for her and her family, and that she has been trying to stop this mislabeled photograph’s circulation. She told Reuters her family doesn’t live at that address anymore, as the family sold the house, and she did not expect the new residents to share her personal details on social media.”
Reuters did not acknowledge that at least one of the recipients of the mail-in ballots was no longer living at the address, thus showing how unreliable voter rolls are. The news organization also failed to acknowledge that a dishonest person could have used the mail-in ballot mailed to the other person no longer living at the address to simply cast a vote.
President Donald Trump tweeted in June, “Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history – unless this stupidity is ended. We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem, but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins!”
Donald Trump Jr., the President’s son, in August ridiculed the Democrats for arguing in-person voting is unsafe amid the coronavirus crisis while at the same time not cracking down on Black Lives Matter and Antifa protests and riots across the country.
Trump said that if “you can loot in person, you can vote in person,” adding, “I know someone who got four ballots to the same address, to their house, for people who no longer live there.”
He emphasized the distinction between absentee voting and universal mail-in voting.
“This is a system that’s worked well in Florida and many other states, but it’s tied to an individual with an actual form of identification to eliminate that fraud, and if you go through that process, we’re 100 percent fine with that for those that don’t necessarily want to go to the polling booth that day,” he explained. “It’s not that we’re trying to say you can’t do any of it.”
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