lifesitenews--2020-08-01--UN orgs’ abortion advocacy renews Trump admin interest in defunding

NEW YORK , July 31 , 2020 ( C-Fam ) — Funding for foreign aid can not be used to lobby for or against abortion , according to U.S. law .
There is growing interest among U.S. lawmakers in enforcing that standard against the UN and its various agencies .
Last year , the U.S. Department of State cited the Siljander Amendment when it cut funding to two organs of the Organization of American States ( OAS ) due to their pressuring Latin American countries to liberalize their abortion laws .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the cuts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduction equals the estimated U.S. share of possible OAS expenditures on these abortion-related activities.
” This came about through a 2018 letter from a group of U.S .
Senators led by James Lankford to Secretary Pompeo outlining OAS abortion lobbying and asking him to enforce the Siljander Amendment .
However , the OAS and its human rights bodies are not alone in lobbying for abortion at the international level and that receive U.S. funding .
Multiple UN agencies that receive U.S. funding are engaged in similar activities , and the actions taken by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blueprint for how similar steps could be taken to reprimand pro-abortion overreach at the UN .
There is no internationally agreed human right to abortion , nor a right to abortion in international humanitarian law , and the consensus among UN member countries is that abortion laws are a national matter .
Nevertheless , the UN Secretariat , the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR ) , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , UN Women , the United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure countries to decriminalize abortion or legalize it under more circumstances .
The most aggressive pressure comes from the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights , which includes the independent expert bodies that monitor compliance with the nine core multilateral human rights treaties .
All but one of these treaty bodies have directly pressured countries to change their abortion laws , two of which did so for the first time in 2019 , despite none of the related treaties mentioning abortion at all .
The treaty body monitoring compliance with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEDAW ) pressured nations in 88 percent of the country reviews it conducted in 2018 .
The treaty bodies accounted for 14 percent of OHCHR ’ s budget in 2017 , and the U.S. is among the leading contributors to its operations , giving over $ 18 million in 2018 .
The Secretariat of the UN , led by the Secretary-General , has issued multiple reports characterizing abortion as a right in humanitarian settings , particularly in cases of conflict-related sexual violence .
Similarly , other UN agencies including UN Women , UNFPA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manuals promoting abortion .
While the WHO and UNFPA have been defunded by President Trump as an executive action , a future Democratic administration could reverse those cuts .
Nevertheless , as Secretary Pompeo pointed out , ensuring that U.S. contributions are not going to support abortion lobbying is a matter of federal law .
Applying that standard to the UN , just as it was applied to the OAS , would be the next logical step .

Funding for foreign aid cannot be used to lobby for or against abortion, according to U.S. law. Yet many organizations break the rules.
NEW YORK, July 31, 2020 (C-Fam) — Funding for foreign aid cannot be used to lobby for or against abortion, according to U.S. law. There is growing interest among U.S. lawmakers in enforcing that standard against the UN and its various agencies.
Last year, the U.S. Department of State cited the Siljander Amendment when it cut funding to two organs of the Organization of American States (OAS) due to their pressuring Latin American countries to liberalize their abortion laws. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the cuts in March 2019, saying, “our reduction equals the estimated U.S. share of possible OAS expenditures on these abortion-related activities.”
This came about through a 2018 letter from a group of U.S. Senators led by James Lankford to Secretary Pompeo outlining OAS abortion lobbying and asking him to enforce the Siljander Amendment.
However, the OAS and its human rights bodies are not alone in lobbying for abortion at the international level and that receive U.S. funding. Multiple UN agencies that receive U.S. funding are engaged in similar activities, and the actions taken by the State Department toward the OAS provide a blueprint for how similar steps could be taken to reprimand pro-abortion overreach at the UN.
There is no internationally agreed human right to abortion, nor a right to abortion in international humanitarian law, and the consensus among UN member countries is that abortion laws are a national matter. Nevertheless, the UN Secretariat, the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other agencies operating under the UN umbrella routinely pressure countries to decriminalize abortion or legalize it under more circumstances.
The most aggressive pressure comes from the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which includes the independent expert bodies that monitor compliance with the nine core multilateral human rights treaties. All but one of these treaty bodies have directly pressured countries to change their abortion laws, two of which did so for the first time in 2019, despite none of the related treaties mentioning abortion at all. The treaty body monitoring compliance with the treaty on women’s rights (CEDAW) pressured nations in 88 percent of the country reviews it conducted in 2018.
The treaty bodies accounted for 14 percent of OHCHR’s budget in 2017, and the U.S. is among the leading contributors to its operations, giving over $18 million in 2018.
The Secretariat of the UN, led by the Secretary-General, has issued multiple reports characterizing abortion as a right in humanitarian settings, particularly in cases of conflict-related sexual violence.
Similarly, other UN agencies including UN Women, UNFPA, and the WHO, have issued manuals promoting abortion.
While the WHO and UNFPA have been defunded by President Trump as an executive action, a future Democratic administration could reverse those cuts. Nevertheless, as Secretary Pompeo pointed out, ensuring that U.S. contributions are not going to support abortion lobbying is a matter of federal law. Applying that standard to the UN, just as it was applied to the OAS, would be the next logical step.
Published with permission from C-Fam.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-01--BREAKING: Pro-lifers arrested trying to chalk ‘Black Preborn Lives Matter’ at DC Planned Parenthood

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , August 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Two activists with Students for Life of America ( SFLA ) were arrested Saturday morning while peacefully attempting to chalk “ BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER ” outside of the Planned Parenthood megacenter in the nation ’ s capital .
SFLA had a permit and had communicated with the city about its plans to paint the street .
This came following the city ’ s decision to allow a private organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in support of defunding the police .
SFLA was asked to use tempera paint and had planned to do so .
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser famously renamed a street near the White House “ Black Lives Matter Plaza ” and had the slogan “ BLACK LIVES MATTER ” painted on the street there .
Early Saturday morning , police stopped the pro-lifers ’ attempts to express their own message in paint .
SFLA Strategic Partnerships Advisor Warner DePriest and SFLA student leader Erica Caporaletti from Towson University were then arrested on the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video ( see below ) that he was not read his Miranda Rights .
The activists appear to have been charged with defacing public and/or private property .
Video taken in the early hours Saturday shows D.C. police threatening to arrest Students for Life team members preparing to paint “ BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER ” outside Planned Parenthood on 4th Street NE .
“ After applying and receiving our permit for this event today , after being told by the Metropolitan police that the Mayor has… ‘ opened a Pandora ’ s box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived to find six police cars threatening to arrest our team and students if they painted , even using the [ tempera ] paint we bought that the Police Department specifically requested , ” explained SFLA President Kristan Hawkins .
“ When we asked if we could at least use sidewalk chalk to chalk our anti-violence message on the streets , the police threatened to arrest us.
” Bowser “ will be hearing from Students for Life ’ s attorneys about these unconstitutional efforts to limit speech to government-approved topics , ” continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Generation Sidewalk Day , meaning that thousands of pro-life students are in front of Planned Parenthood and other abortion vendor operation [ s ] praying and sharing the message that every child deserves hope and a future and that every mom deserves and will receive help.
” In a letter to the mayor about the planned event , Hawkins and other organizers noted : “ Having opened the streets of your city for public expression , Students for Life of America requests the opportunity to add our voices to those concerned about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Black [ l ] ives do matter , born and preborn , as too many people are lost in America today from causes that should be addressed and prevented for their disproportionate impact on minority communities … Your original decision to paint ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ on the street is government speech .
However , your decision to allow protestors to paint ‘ Defund the Police ’ opened the streets up as a public forum .
You are not permitted to discriminate on the basis of viewpoint in making determinations relating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .
The message of the pre-born will not be silenced.
” In a statement , Hawkins added , “ What you didn ’ t see today on the city ’ s streets will be coming to billboards across the country , because BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER , and we will not be silent .
Viewpoint discrimination is not Constitutional , and we will take this to court if necessary.
” SFLA said more information about their billboard campaign will be released in the coming weeks .
Though only 13 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 38 percent of all reported abortions .
Four out of five Planned Parenthood abortion vendors are within walking distance of minority-dense neighborhoods , as noted in a Supreme Court amicus brief .
The massive D.C .
Planned Parenthood is located next to Two Rivers Charter School in the district ’ s increasingly gentrifying NOMA neighborhood .

The D.C. mayor 'will be hearing from Students for Life’s attorneys about these unconstitutional efforts to limit speech to government-approved topics,' warned SFLA's Kristan Hawkins.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Two activists with Students for Life of America (SFLA) were arrested Saturday morning while peacefully attempting to chalk “BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER” outside of the Planned Parenthood megacenter in the nation’s capital.
SFLA had a permit and had communicated with the city about its plans to paint the street. This came following the city’s decision to allow a private organization to paint on the street a message in support of defunding the police. SFLA was asked to use tempera paint and had planned to do so.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser famously renamed a street near the White House “Black Lives Matter Plaza” and had the slogan “BLACK LIVES MATTER” painted on the street there.
Early Saturday morning, police stopped the pro-lifers’ attempts to express their own message in paint. SFLA Strategic Partnerships Advisor Warner DePriest and SFLA student leader Erica Caporaletti from Towson University were then arrested on the scene. DePriest said in a Facebook live video (see below) that he was not read his Miranda Rights. The activists appear to have been charged with defacing public and/or private property.
Video taken in the early hours Saturday shows D.C. police threatening to arrest Students for Life team members preparing to paint “BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER” outside Planned Parenthood on 4th Street NE.
“After applying and receiving our permit for this event today, after being told by the Metropolitan police that the Mayor has… ‘opened a Pandora’s box’ by painting public streets, we arrived to find six police cars threatening to arrest our team and students if they painted, even using the [tempera] paint we bought that the Police Department specifically requested,” explained SFLA President Kristan Hawkins. “When we asked if we could at least use sidewalk chalk to chalk our anti-violence message on the streets, the police threatened to arrest us.”
Bowser “will be hearing from Students for Life’s attorneys about these unconstitutional efforts to limit speech to government-approved topics,” continued Hawins. “Today is National Pro-Life Generation Sidewalk Day, meaning that thousands of pro-life students are in front of Planned Parenthood and other abortion vendor operation[s] praying and sharing the message that every child deserves hope and a future and that every mom deserves and will receive help.”
In a letter to the mayor about the planned event, Hawkins and other organizers noted: “Having opened the streets of your city for public expression, Students for Life of America requests the opportunity to add our voices to those concerned about how people of color are treated in America. Black [l]ives do matter, born and preborn, as too many people are lost in America today from causes that should be addressed and prevented for their disproportionate impact on minority communities … Your original decision to paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the street is government speech. However, your decision to allow protestors to paint ‘Defund the Police’ opened the streets up as a public forum. You are not permitted to discriminate on the basis of viewpoint in making determinations relating to public assemblies in public [forums]. The message of the pre-born will not be silenced.”
In a statement, Hawkins added, “What you didn’t see today on the city’s streets will be coming to billboards across the country, because BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER, and we will not be silent. Viewpoint discrimination is not Constitutional, and we will take this to court if necessary.”
SFLA said more information about their billboard campaign will be released in the coming weeks.
Though only 13 percent of the female population, African American women make up 38 percent of all reported abortions. Four out of five Planned Parenthood abortion vendors are within walking distance of minority-dense neighborhoods, as noted in a Supreme Court amicus brief.
The massive D.C. Planned Parenthood is located next to Two Rivers Charter School in the district’s increasingly gentrifying NOMA neighborhood.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Pope Francis pens preface to COVID book edited by modernist Cardinal Kasper

VATICAN CITY , July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Pope Francis has contributed a preface to a book of personal reflections by Cardinal Walter Kasper , among others , about the COVID-19 pandemic .
The book , published in Italy by Libreria Editrice Vaticana , is entitled Communion and Hope : Witnessing Faith in the Times of Coronavirus in Italy .
For the Spanish-speaking market , it is called “ God in the Pandemic.
” A collection of essays , the volume was edited by Cardinal Kasper , 87 , and the Indo-German founder of the Walter Kasper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64 .
Contributors include Archbishop Bruno Forte , the pro-LGBT theologian who introduced the issue of homosexuality at the Synod for the Family .
According to the Holy See ’ s own Vatican News , Pope Francis likened the coronavirus pandemic to a sudden “ storm.
” “ Like a sudden breaking storm , the coronavirus crisis has caught us all by surprise , abruptly changing on a global level our personal , public , family and working lives , ” the pontiff wrote .
Francis noted that people had lost loved ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflected also that Christians were unable to celebrate Easter in church and that many had not had recourse to the sacraments .
“ This dramatic situation highlights the vulnerable nature of our human condition , limited as it is by time and contingency , ” he wrote .
The pontiff saw a bright side to the pandemic in that it has helped people to contemplate what is truly important in life .
“ It reminds us that we have forgotten or simply delayed attending to some of the key issues in life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making us evaluate what is really important and necessary , and what is of secondary or only superficial importance.
” This “ time of trial ” is reorienting us toward God , Francis said .
He also reflected that it has made us aware of our dependence on others and our call to serve others and our “ gravely diseased planet.
” Vatican News reported that this year ’ s Easter , which most Catholics and other Christians spent at home , locked out of churches , led Pope Francis to reflect that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s victory over death ... showed Christians that we can not remain paralyzed in the face of the pandemic.
” “ Easter brings us hope , trust and encouragement , ” he wrote .
“ It strengthens our sense of solidarity .
It speaks to us of overcoming past rivalries so that we may see each other , above and beyond any differences , as members of one large family , where we bear each others ’ burdens . ''
Francis then compared the contagion of the disease to the “ contagion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good deeds of medical professionals and priests during the pandemic .
Pope Francis asserted that public Masses were not `` possible '' during the beginning of the pandemic . ''
`` The first phase of the corona virus , in which public celebrations of the Eucharist were not possible , represented for many Christians a time of a sorrowful Eucharistic fast . ''
Pope Francis also acknowledged that livestreamed Masses were “ no substitute for the living presence of the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist ” and expressed his satisfaction that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to return to Mass in person .
“ The presence of the Risen Lord in His Word and through the celebration of the Eucharist will give us the strength we need to resolve the difficulties and challenges that we will face after the coronavirus crisis , ” he wrote .

The pontiff supported governments’ decision to ban Masses during the first months of the crisis while acknowledging that many Catholics had suffered a 'painful Eucharistic fast.'
VATICAN CITY, July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Pope Francis has contributed a preface to a book of personal reflections by Cardinal Walter Kasper, among others, about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The book, published in Italy by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, is entitled Communion and Hope: Witnessing Faith in the Times of Coronavirus in Italy. For the Spanish-speaking market, it is called “God in the Pandemic.” A collection of essays, the volume was edited by Cardinal Kasper, 87, and the Indo-German founder of the Walter Kasper Institute, Fr. George Augustin, 64.
Cardinal Walter Kasper is one of the cardinals believed to have backed the election of Jorge Bergoglio as pope in 2005 and then, successfully, in 2013. The German theologian, a former bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, is known for his early advocacy of the admission of divorced and “remarried” Catholics to Holy Communion. He has more recently suggested that homosexual relationships are “analogous” to marriage.
Kasper is believed to exert a strong theological influence on Pope Francis. However, his strong opinions have led him into occasional embarrassments, such as his dismissal of the traditional views of the African bishops in 2014, and his declaration in 2010 that someone landing at London’s Heathrow airport might think they were in a “Third World country.”
Contributors to the new book include Archbishop Bruno Forte, the pro-LGBT theologian who introduced the issue of homosexuality at the Synod for the Family.
According to the Holy See’s own Vatican News, Pope Francis likened the coronavirus pandemic to a sudden “storm.”
“Like a sudden breaking storm, the coronavirus crisis has caught us all by surprise, abruptly changing on a global level our personal, public, family and working lives,” the pontiff wrote.
Francis noted that people had lost loved ones, jobs and financial stability. He reflected also that Christians were unable to celebrate Easter in church and that many had not had recourse to the sacraments.
“This dramatic situation highlights the vulnerable nature of our human condition, limited as it is by time and contingency,” he wrote.
The pontiff saw a bright side to the pandemic in that it has helped people to contemplate what is truly important in life.
“It reminds us that we have forgotten or simply delayed attending to some of the key issues in life,” he wrote.
“It is making us evaluate what is really important and necessary, and what is of secondary or only superficial importance.”
This “time of trial” is reorienting us toward God, Francis said. He also reflected that it has made us aware of our dependence on others and our call to serve others and our “gravely diseased planet.”
Previously Pope Francis has astonished Catholics by blaming the Covid 19 novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, on human mistreatment of the environment. In March, the Argentinian pontiff told a Spanish journalist that he believes the pandemic is nature “having a fit” in response to pollution.
During his dramatic Ubi et Orbi service on April 1, Pope Francis again connected the virus to environmental decline. He prayed aloud to God, “We did not stop at your reproach to us, we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world, nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet. We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick.”
Vatican News reported that this year’s Easter, which most Catholics and other Christians spent at home, locked out of churches, led Pope Francis to reflect that the “Easter message of Christ’s victory over death … showed Christians that we cannot remain paralyzed in the face of the pandemic.”
“Easter brings us hope, trust and encouragement,” he wrote.
“It strengthens our sense of solidarity. It speaks to us of overcoming past rivalries so that we may see each other, above and beyond any differences, as members of one large family, where we bear each others’ burdens.”
Francis then compared the contagion of the disease to the “contagion of love” and expressed gratitude for the good deeds of medical professionals and priests during the pandemic.
Pope Francis asserted that public Masses were not “possible” during the beginning of the pandemic.”
“The first phase of the corona virus, in which public celebrations of the Eucharist were not possible, represented for many Christians a time of a sorrowful Eucharistic fast.” Pope Francis also acknowledged that livestreamed Masses were “no substitute for the living presence of the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist” and expressed his satisfaction that in many places, Catholics have been allowed to return to Mass in person.
“The presence of the Risen Lord in His Word and through the celebration of the Eucharist will give us the strength we need to resolve the difficulties and challenges that we will face after the coronavirus crisis,” he wrote.
Aug. 5, 2020 update: This report now includes additional information about Cardinal Kasper and the Pope’s previous statements about the pandemic.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-30--China hacks Vatican ahead of negotiations to extend secret Vatican/China deal: report

ROME , Italy , July 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A group of cybersecurity experts has found out that Chinese hackers , likely on behalf of the communist Chinese government , have spied on the Vatican for months .
The breach in security was discovered ahead of negotiations to extend the controversial secret deal between the Vatican and China on the nomination of bishops .
“ From early May 2020 , [ t ] he Vatican and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong were among several Catholic Church-related organizations that were targeted by RedDelta , a Chinese-state sponsored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Future , a U.S.-based cybersecurity company .
Recorded Future was founded in 2009 , aiming to predict future events by looking at data found online .
The company “ monitors tens of thousands of websites , blogs and Twitter accounts in real time in order to find patterns , events and relationships that may predict the future , ” explained Juan Gonzalez for Democracy Now !
in 2010 .
According to the 21-page report on China and the Vatican released on Tuesday , “ This series of suspected network intrusions also targeted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions ( PIME ) , Italy .
These organizations have not been publicly reported as targets of Chinese threat activity groups prior to this campaign.
” “ These network intrusions occured [ sic ] ahead of the anticipated September 2020 renewal of the landmark 2018 China-Vatican provisional agreement , a deal which reportedly resulted in the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) gaining more control and oversight over the country ’ s historically persecuted ‘ underground ’ Catholic community , ” Recorded Future stated .
“ In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely target of the campaign includes the current head of the Hong Kong Study Mission to China [ Javier Herrera Corona ] , whose predecessor [ Ante Jozić ] was considered to have played a vital role in the 2018 agreement.
” The cybersecurity experts also speculated on what China could have gained by hacking the Vatican and various other Catholic institutions .
“ The suspected intrusion into the Vatican would offer RedDelta insight into the negotiating position of the Holy See ahead of the deal ’ s September 2020 renewal , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeting of the Hong Kong Study Mission and its Catholic Diocese could also provide a valuable intelligence source for both monitoring the diocese ’ s relations with the Vatican and its position on Hong Kong ’ s pro-democracy movement amidst widespread protests and the recent sweeping Hong Kong national security law.
” Recorded Future ’ s detailed and very technical report came away with the judgment that targeting Catholic institutions “ is likely indicative of CCP objectives in consolidating control over the ‘ underground ’ Catholic church , ‘ sinicizing religions ’ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Vatican within China ’ s Catholic community.
” Additionally , although not able to say this with absolute certainty , Recorded Future believes that the group of hackers “ likely operates on behalf of the People ’ s Republic of China ( PRC ) government.
” The Chinese government is using the internet not only for hacking attacks on Catholic institutions .
It is also known to use digital technology – partly made by American companies – to target and repress religious groups more than ever before , as explained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom last Wednesday .
While religious persecution has always been a part of communist China , new technologies have made “ that repression far more effective , ” said Meserole , who works with the Brookings Institution and teaches at Georgetown University .
He explained that formerly , the government was generally only able to “ to repress public forms of religious organizations , practices , identities , and beliefs , particularly in urban areas.
” Religion practiced privately at home , on the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Digital technologies have changed that , ” argued Meserole .
“ As processors , sensors , and cameras have proliferated , the extent of religious life that the CCP can surveil has expanded dramatically.
” “ Video and audio surveillance of public mosques , churches , and temples has exploded , ” he pointed out .
“ Rather than simply shut down a religious school or house of worship , authorities can monitor all activity and individuals within those facilities and sanction undesired behavior or individuals with greater specificity.
” In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down a church in Beijing for refusing to install video surveillance equipment in the building .
Digital technologies also help the government to target underground religious organizations and networks , he continued .
“ From video feeds to GPS tracking , authorities have greater ability to detect religious groups that meet and operate covertly.
” “ In Xinjiang , for instance , smartphone location data , vehicle location data , checkpoint logs , facial recognition technology , and video feeds from buses , streets , and drones , can be used to identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet together covertly , potentially even in real-time.
” A report by the U.S. government released in January 2020 found that the “ intensity ” of religious persecution , which has not been seen “ since the Cultural Revolution , ” was linked to the Vatican signing a secret deal with the Chinese communist government to give the government more power over the Church in the country .
Cardinal Joseph Zen , the former bishop of Hong Kong , is the most outspoken critic of the Vatican ’ s China deal .
Already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s obvious .
They are delivering the whole administration of the Church into the hands of the so-called ‘ Patriotic Association , ’ which is just a puppet in the hands of the government .
And so it ’ s a complete surrender .
It ’ s incredible .
”

Chinese hackers, likely on behalf of the communist Chinese government, have spied on the Vatican for months, says the report.
ROME, Italy, July 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A group of cybersecurity experts has found out that Chinese hackers, likely on behalf of the communist Chinese government, have spied on the Vatican for months. The breach in security was discovered ahead of negotiations to extend the controversial secret deal between the Vatican and China on the nomination of bishops.
“From early May 2020, [t]he Vatican and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong were among several Catholic Church-related organizations that were targeted by RedDelta, a Chinese-state sponsored threat activity group,” reported Recorded Future, a U.S.-based cybersecurity company.
Recorded Future was founded in 2009, aiming to predict future events by looking at data found online. The company “monitors tens of thousands of websites, blogs and Twitter accounts in real time in order to find patterns, events and relationships that may predict the future,” explained Juan Gonzalez for Democracy Now! in 2010.
According to the 21-page report on China and the Vatican released on Tuesday, “This series of suspected network intrusions also targeted the Hong Kong Study Mission to China and the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), Italy. These organizations have not been publicly reported as targets of Chinese threat activity groups prior to this campaign.”
“These network intrusions occured [sic] ahead of the anticipated September 2020 renewal of the landmark 2018 China-Vatican provisional agreement, a deal which reportedly resulted in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) gaining more control and oversight over the country’s historically persecuted ‘underground’ Catholic community,” Recorded Future stated.
“In addition to the Holy See itself, another likely target of the campaign includes the current head of the Hong Kong Study Mission to China [Javier Herrera Corona], whose predecessor [Ante Jozić] was considered to have played a vital role in the 2018 agreement.”
The cybersecurity experts also speculated on what China could have gained by hacking the Vatican and various other Catholic institutions.
“The suspected intrusion into the Vatican would offer RedDelta insight into the negotiating position of the Holy See ahead of the deal’s September 2020 renewal,” according to Recorded Future. “The targeting of the Hong Kong Study Mission and its Catholic Diocese could also provide a valuable intelligence source for both monitoring the diocese’s relations with the Vatican and its position on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement amidst widespread protests and the recent sweeping Hong Kong national security law.”
Recorded Future’s detailed and very technical report came away with the judgment that targeting Catholic institutions “is likely indicative of CCP objectives in consolidating control over the ‘underground’ Catholic church, ‘sinicizing religions’ in China, and diminishing the perceived influence of the Vatican within China’s Catholic community.”
Additionally, although not able to say this with absolute certainty, Recorded Future believes that the group of hackers “likely operates on behalf of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) government.”
The Chinese government is using the internet not only for hacking attacks on Catholic institutions. It is also known to use digital technology – partly made by American companies – to target and repress religious groups more than ever before, as explained by foreign policy expert Chris Meserole during a hearing of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom last Wednesday.
While religious persecution has always been a part of communist China, new technologies have made “that repression far more effective,” said Meserole, who works with the Brookings Institution and teaches at Georgetown University.
He explained that formerly, the government was generally only able to “to repress public forms of religious organizations, practices, identities, and beliefs, particularly in urban areas.” Religion practiced privately at home, on the other hand, was relatively safe.
“Digital technologies have changed that,” argued Meserole. “As processors, sensors, and cameras have proliferated, the extent of religious life that the CCP can surveil has expanded dramatically.”
“Video and audio surveillance of public mosques, churches, and temples has exploded,” he pointed out. “Rather than simply shut down a religious school or house of worship, authorities can monitor all activity and individuals within those facilities and sanction undesired behavior or individuals with greater specificity.”
In fact, Meserole said, the government recently shut down a church in Beijing for refusing to install video surveillance equipment in the building.
Digital technologies also help the government to target underground religious organizations and networks, he continued. “From video feeds to GPS tracking, authorities have greater ability to detect religious groups that meet and operate covertly.”
“In Xinjiang, for instance, smartphone location data, vehicle location data, checkpoint logs, facial recognition technology, and video feeds from buses, streets, and drones, can be used to identify when individuals in the same religious network meet together covertly, potentially even in real-time.”
A report by the U.S. government released in January 2020 found that the “intensity” of religious persecution, which has not been seen “since the Cultural Revolution,” was linked to the Vatican signing a secret deal with the Chinese communist government to give the government more power over the Church in the country.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, is the most outspoken critic of the Vatican’s China deal. Already in early 2018, he said, “It’s obvious. They are delivering the whole administration of the Church into the hands of the so-called ‘Patriotic Association,’ which is just a puppet in the hands of the government. And so it’s a complete surrender. It’s incredible.”
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lifesitenews--2020-08-02--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

August 2 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united daily in prayer , in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade .
Catholics from all over the world—from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , Pakistan , Singapore , the Philippines , India , Indonesia , Australia , New Zealand , Thailand , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Brazil , and other countries—are gathering daily to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our goal is , by means of this daily rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima , the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
To help obtain that goal , Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide rosary crusade : O Immaculate Heart of Mary , you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother .
Look upon the distress in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church .
In Fatima you warned against these errors , as you spoke about the errors of Russia .
You are the Mediatrix of all graces .
Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope : that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart , so that Russia will be converted , a period of peace will be granted to the world , and your Immaculate Heart will triumph , through an authentic renewal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purity of the Catholic Faith , of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life .
O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother , turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer .
Amen .
+ Athanasius Schneider , Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady ’ s message at Fatima , and about what you can do , please read Cardinal Burke ’ s 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
As St. Padre Pio once said , “ The rosary is the weapon for these times.
” Through prayer , God can shape history , change the world , and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world , through the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
Join us today !
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this rosary , you can access them via this PDF .
This document also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily rosary on LifeSite led by Fr .
Pillari .
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-08-03--US bishop: We must ‘reject any vaccine that is developed using aborted children’

PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
TYLER , Texas , August 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler , Texas , has reiterated his opposition to vaccines created using cell lines from aborted babies in the face of UK bishops claiming that Catholics have a “ duty to be vaccinated , ” even if the making of the vaccine is morally problematic .
“ I renew my call that we reject any vaccine that is developed using aborted children , ” Strickland tweeted Aug. 1 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it still means a child ’ s life was ended before it was born & then their body was used as spare parts .
We will never end abortion if we do not END THIS EVIL !
” Strickland posted his latest comments on vaccines Saturday after the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales ( CBCEW ) stated last week that Catholics have a “ prima facie duty to be vaccinated.
” The CBCEW document first noted a 2005 Vatican statement focused on the moral question of vaccines that have been prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before stating their support for the idea expressed in a 2017 Pontifical Academy for Life statement that “ all clinically recommended vaccinations can be used with a clear conscience.
” In April , Strickland released a pastoral letter asking faithful Catholics to join him in helping to bring to a “ halt ” any development of a coronavirus vaccine derived from aborted babies .
“ Tragically , people are not aware of or have chosen to turn a blind eye to the advances in medical science which allow vaccines to be developed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s bodies , ” he wrote April 23 .
Strickland stressed that just because “ the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use the dead bodies of these children to cure a global pandemic .
Emphatically , this practice is evil.
” “ As your Shepherd , ” the bishop wrote , “ I urge you to join me , NOW , in passionately but prayerfully speaking out against this practice .
As I said in the beginning of this letter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as best as I can.
” Many of the leading coronavirus vaccine candidates in both the UK and the United States are being developed using fetal cell lines that were originally derived from the tissues of aborted babies in the 1970s and 80s .
In an open letter published in May , Catholic clergy and laity led by former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Cardinals Gerhard Ludwig Mueller , Joseph Zen , and Janis Pujats said that “ for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from @ @ @ @ @ @

Bishop Strickland reiterated moral opposition to vaccines made from aborted babies in the face of UK bishops declaring that Catholics have a ‘duty to be vaccinated.’
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
TYLER, Texas, August 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, has reiterated his opposition to vaccines created using cell lines from aborted babies in the face of UK bishops claiming that Catholics have a “duty to be vaccinated,” even if the making of the vaccine is morally problematic.
“I renew my call that we reject any vaccine that is developed using aborted children,” Strickland tweeted Aug. 1.
“Even if it originated decades ago it still means a child’s life was ended before it was born & then their body was used as spare parts. We will never end abortion if we do not END THIS EVIL!”
I renew my call that we reject any vaccine that is developed using aborted children. Even if it originated decades ago it still means a child’s life was ended before it was born & then their body was used as spare parts. We will never end abortion if we do not END THIS EVIL! — Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) August 1, 2020
Strickland posted his latest comments on vaccines Saturday after the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales (CBCEW) stated last week that Catholics have a “prima facie duty to be vaccinated.” The CBCEW document first noted a 2005 Vatican statement focused on the moral question of vaccines that have been prepared from cells derived from aborted human fetuses before stating their support for the idea expressed in a 2017 Pontifical Academy for Life statement that “all clinically recommended vaccinations can be used with a clear conscience.”
In April, Strickland released a pastoral letter asking faithful Catholics to join him in helping to bring to a “halt” any development of a coronavirus vaccine derived from aborted babies.
“Tragically, people are not aware of or have chosen to turn a blind eye to the advances in medical science which allow vaccines to be developed with the wholesale use of aborted children’s bodies,” he wrote April 23.
Strickland stressed that just because “the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use the dead bodies of these children to cure a global pandemic. Emphatically, this practice is evil.”
“As your Shepherd,” the bishop wrote, “I urge you to join me, NOW, in passionately but prayerfully speaking out against this practice. As I said in the beginning of this letter, I will help you navigate this storm as best as I can.”
Many of the leading coronavirus vaccine candidates in both the UK and the United States are being developed using fetal cell lines that were originally derived from the tissues of aborted babies in the 1970s and 80s.
In an open letter published in May, Catholic clergy and laity led by former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Cardinals Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, Joseph Zen, and Janis Pujats said that “for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses.”
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lifesitenews--2020-08-03--Leftist ‘wokeness’ is a new religion, and it’s coming to convert you

August 3 , 2020 ( Turning Point Project ) — In case you hadn ’ t noticed , a new fundamentalist religion has been born in the streets of America .
It ’ s the religion of Woke — the religion of people who believe they have been given a special revelation about the nature of society .
They have discovered that American society is irredeemably racist and heteronormative and , therefore , must be torn down .
They were blind but now they see .
They were asleep but now they ’ re woke .
And they think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it takes the violent occupation of city streets and squares to wake you up to the truth of their religion .
As I said , it ’ s a fundamentalist religion .
The religion of the woke people is narrow , puritanical , and righteous .
Those who don ’ t conform to its catechism — the heretics — are quickly expelled or “ cancelled.
” As with other fundamentalist faiths , the new religion appeals not to reason , but to emotions .
The proof of one ’ s faith is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and by passionate demonstrations of commitment .
Strangely — or perhaps not so strangely — the woke people do not worship a Supreme Being .
They look not to God , but to the State for the answers to life ’ s problems .
The promised land is not in heaven , but here on earth .
And it can be achieved once the woke people take the reins of government .
Sounds familiar ?
It should .
The religion of Woke is not really a new religion .
It ’ s simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the religion of humanism .
The basic assumption of this religion is that there is nothing higher than man and the institutions he has created .
Despite the pleasant-sounding name , “ humanistic ” religions regularly end up committing human sacrifice of one kind or another .
The good of the individual is sacrificed to the needs of the state .
Pre-born babies are sacrificed to “ quality of life.
” And dissenters from the official creed are simply exterminated .
It ’ s well-known that idealists and humanitarians were initially attracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of their humanistic promises .
Indeed , the Nazi Party platform of 1934 was in many respects a “ progressive ” document which promised cradle-to-grave welfare for all German citizens .
What is less well-known is that both Nazism and communism were , in effect , religious movements which attempted to replace worship of God with devotion to the leader — Hitler , in the case of Nazi Germany , and Lenin and Stalin in the case of Soviet communism .
Even today , North Koreans are expected to treat their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in some Chinese towns , Christians are being forced to replace Christian symbols with portraits of Chairman Mao Zedong and President Xi Jinping .
The religious impulse is built into human nature , and if it is not directed toward God , it will be directed toward some unworthy substitute for God .
In the process , God Himself becomes the enemy .
It ’ s not surprising then that the woke faithful , like their communist compatriots , tend to be anti-Christian , anti-Semitic , and anti-God .
They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues of saints , and vandalized dozens of churches and synagogues .
Hostility to religion is a hallmark of leftist movements and the Woke religion is nothing if not a leftist movement .
The Red Guard of the movement are Black Lives Matter and Antifa , both of which are avowedly Marxist groups .
The most visible manifestation of the Woke religion are the black-clad rioters who tear down statues and set fire to public buildings .
But the Church of Woke is much larger than that .
Its number includes politicians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unions , professors , television anchors , celebrities , young professionals and middle-aged CEOs .
Moreover , the Church of Woke is engaged in ceaseless evangelization .
As Robby Starbuck observed in a recent Federalist piece : Whatever one wants to call it — the Church of Woke or the Church of Leftism — the new faith appears to be growing rapidly .
Wokeism is now the established faith of the establishment culture .
As the number of those who identify as Christians continues to decline , the number of the woke continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How is the Catholic leadership responding to the rise of this new religion ?
Not only is the religion of Woke drawing souls away from Christianity , it is , in many respects , diametrically opposed to the Christian faith .
For example , Black Lives Matter , which is a member in good standing of the Woke alliance , strongly supports abortion and the LGBT agenda while simultaneously seeking to dismantle the traditional family .
Like other leftist “ religions , ” the religion of Woke is a religion of rebellion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimate complaint of the woke people is against God and the order He created .
In the case of the LGBT-supporting Black Lives Matter , the rebellion is against the God-ordained institution of marriage as between one man and one wife — the institution that God established “ from the beginning of creation ” ( Mk .
10:6 ) .
One would think that the USCCB should issue a statement to the effect that a Catholic can not in good conscience join BLM or support them .
Some bishops and priests have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sit on their hands , waiting to see how The New York Times handles the issue .
Meanwhile , several U.S. priests have been reprimanded or suspended by their bishops for having dared to criticize the BLM organization .
Besides , the hierarchy have more pressing issues to worry about .
They can ’ t be expected to bother their heads about the possible destruction of American society by true believing communists when the fate of our relationship with “ Mother Earth ” is at stake .
Under the leadership of Archbishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earthiness ) , the Pontifical Academy for Life has issued a document which claims that the Covid-19 pandemic is a punishment for “ depredation of the earth.
” In other words , for sins against the environment .
It seems strange to be focusing on the environment of the rainforests and grasslands when the environments of Chicago , Minneapolis , Portland , and Seattle are going up in smoke .
But there is good precedent for the Academy ’ s concern for “ Mother Nature , ” because Pope Francis made the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speculated that the coronavirus pandemic was “ nature throwing a tantrum ” in response to ecological sins .
More recently , the Catholic Campaign for Human Development ( CCHD ) , the anti-poverty arm of the USCCB , announced a $ 500,000 grant to Direct Action & Research Training Center ( DART ) to fight climate change .
According to Bishop David O ’ Connell of Los Angeles , the “ effects of climate change devastate poor communities around the country.
” Yes , once the sea level eventually rises to inundate Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seaboard , it will undoubtedly have a devastating effect on the poor , the rich and everyone in between .
But in the meantime , there is a different type of climate change that is already devastating poor communities in hundreds of cities , and neither the bishops nor the Vatican has had much to say about it .
In cities across the country , temperatures are soaring as the advance troops of the militant Church of Woke set fire to buildings and blocks full of businesses .
And as the businesses go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances of the poor for rising out of poverty .
Moreover , when times get tough in the cities , the middle and upper-middle classes tend to move out , leaving the poor stranded in urban areas with shrinking income bases .
So , maybe it ’ s time for the bishops to get their heads out of the clouds of climate change and look around at the damage that the Social Justice Warriors ( many of whom the bishops indirectly support ) have done to the poor .
There ’ s one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the beginning of his papacy , Francis has reserved his harshest criticism for religious fundamentalists .
He has never ceased to scold them for their “ rigidness , ” “ narrowness , ” and “ intolerance.
” The “ fundamentalists ” he mainly has in mind are traditional Catholics , but he admits that the type can be found in every religion .
Shouldn ’ t he , then , take issue with the religion of Woke ?
It is , after all , the most fundamentalist faith on the planet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam , but the edge has to be given to the Woke .
There is such a thing as a moderate Muslim , but you can ’ t remain moderately woke for long .
If you don ’ t quickly convert to full wokeness , you will be subject to an inquisition , and , if found guilty , the righteous members of the congregation will attempt to destroy your life , and , if possible , the lives of your spouse and children .
But the Woke should not be compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a grave injustice .
Fundamentalist Christians are Christians , after all , and that puts a check on the temptation to be overly rigid .
However , because they don ’ t believe in a Supreme Judge , there is no such check on the Woke .
They can properly be compared not to fundamentalist Christians , but to the Jacobins during the Reign of Terror or the Red Guard during Mao ’ s Cultural Revolution .
If Francis really wants to make the world safe from fundamentalists , he should take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Woke .
He will find many things that should disturb him .
He is , for example , a great fan of dialogue .
He sees it as the solution to every problem .
But , as you will have noticed , the Woke people don ’ t want to dialogue .
They want to do all the talking , and they want you to shut up .
Just as the Nazis in Hollywood movies “ have ways of making you talk , ” the Woke have ways of silencing you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve been hugely successful .
The survey , which was release by YouGov and the Cato Institute revealed that sixty-two percent of respondents find that the “ political climate these days prevents them from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive.
” Almost a third feared that saying the “ wrong ” thing could get them fired .
The only category of persons in which a majority felt free to express themselves were “ strong liberals , ” i.e .
the Woke .
If Pope Francis is true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the Church of Woke to task for its un-nuanced view of the world .
Perhaps at this very moment he is penning an Encyclical to help Catholics better understand the dangers of this new religion .
But don ’ t count on it .
Published with permission from the Turning Point Project .

In case you hadn’t noticed, a new fundamentalist religion has been born in the streets of America. It’s the religion of Woke.
August 3, 2020 (Turning Point Project) — In case you hadn’t noticed, a new fundamentalist religion has been born in the streets of America. It’s the religion of Woke — the religion of people who believe they have been given a special revelation about the nature of society. They have discovered that American society is irredeemably racist and heteronormative and, therefore, must be torn down.
They were blind but now they see. They were asleep but now they’re woke. And they think you ought to be woke too — even if it takes the violent occupation of city streets and squares to wake you up to the truth of their religion.
As I said, it’s a fundamentalist religion. The religion of the woke people is narrow, puritanical, and righteous. Those who don’t conform to its catechism — the heretics — are quickly expelled or “cancelled.” As with other fundamentalist faiths, the new religion appeals not to reason, but to emotions. The proof of one’s faith is shown by the repetition of mindless slogans and by passionate demonstrations of commitment.
Strangely — or perhaps not so strangely — the woke people do not worship a Supreme Being. They look not to God, but to the State for the answers to life’s problems. The promised land is not in heaven, but here on earth. And it can be achieved once the woke people take the reins of government.
Sounds familiar? It should. The religion of Woke is not really a new religion. It’s simply one more iteration of an old religion — the religion of humanism. The basic assumption of this religion is that there is nothing higher than man and the institutions he has created. Despite the pleasant-sounding name, “humanistic” religions regularly end up committing human sacrifice of one kind or another. The good of the individual is sacrificed to the needs of the state. Pre-born babies are sacrificed to “quality of life.” And dissenters from the official creed are simply exterminated.
It’s well-known that idealists and humanitarians were initially attracted to movements such as Nazism and communism because of their humanistic promises. Indeed, the Nazi Party platform of 1934 was in many respects a “progressive” document which promised cradle-to-grave welfare for all German citizens.
What is less well-known is that both Nazism and communism were, in effect, religious movements which attempted to replace worship of God with devotion to the leader — Hitler, in the case of Nazi Germany, and Lenin and Stalin in the case of Soviet communism. Even today, North Koreans are expected to treat their own “Dear Leader” as a divinity, and in some Chinese towns, Christians are being forced to replace Christian symbols with portraits of Chairman Mao Zedong and President Xi Jinping.
The religious impulse is built into human nature, and if it is not directed toward God, it will be directed toward some unworthy substitute for God. In the process, God Himself becomes the enemy.
It’s not surprising then that the woke faithful, like their communist compatriots, tend to be anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and anti-God. They have broken stained glass windows, torn down statues of saints, and vandalized dozens of churches and synagogues. Hostility to religion is a hallmark of leftist movements and the Woke religion is nothing if not a leftist movement. The Red Guard of the movement are Black Lives Matter and Antifa, both of which are avowedly Marxist groups.
The most visible manifestation of the Woke religion are the black-clad rioters who tear down statues and set fire to public buildings. But the Church of Woke is much larger than that. Its number includes politicians, local and federal office holders, teachers unions, professors, television anchors, celebrities, young professionals and middle-aged CEOs. Moreover, the Church of Woke is engaged in ceaseless evangelization. As Robby Starbuck observed in a recent Federalist piece:
[The Church of Leftism’s] evangelists are everywhere, their efforts permeating all aspects of life: television shows, websites, social media, consumer bank landing pages, corporate advertising. Barely a single product, app, or promotion these days comes without a free leftist sermon.
What’s more:
The Church of Leftism … has established a veritable army of missionary- teachers to convert children to its radical faith.
Whatever one wants to call it — the Church of Woke or the Church of Leftism — the new faith appears to be growing rapidly. Wokeism is now the established faith of the establishment culture. As the number of those who identify as Christians continues to decline, the number of the woke continues to increase.
Which raises a question. How is the Catholic leadership responding to the rise of this new religion? Not only is the religion of Woke drawing souls away from Christianity, it is, in many respects, diametrically opposed to the Christian faith. For example, Black Lives Matter, which is a member in good standing of the Woke alliance, strongly supports abortion and the LGBT agenda while simultaneously seeking to dismantle the traditional family.
Like other leftist “religions,” the religion of Woke is a religion of rebellion. Whatever their immediate complaint, the ultimate complaint of the woke people is against God and the order He created. In the case of the LGBT-supporting Black Lives Matter, the rebellion is against the God-ordained institution of marriage as between one man and one wife — the institution that God established “from the beginning of creation” (Mk. 10:6).
One would think that the USCCB should issue a statement to the effect that a Catholic cannot in good conscience join BLM or support them. Some bishops and priests have made that point, but most seem content to sit on their hands, waiting to see how The New York Times handles the issue. Meanwhile, several U.S. priests have been reprimanded or suspended by their bishops for having dared to criticize the BLM organization.
Besides, the hierarchy have more pressing issues to worry about. They can’t be expected to bother their heads about the possible destruction of American society by true believing communists when the fate of our relationship with “Mother Earth” is at stake.
Under the leadership of Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia (a well-known patron of earthiness), the Pontifical Academy for Life has issued a document which claims that the Covid-19 pandemic is a punishment for “depredation of the earth.” In other words, for sins against the environment.
It seems strange to be focusing on the environment of the rainforests and grasslands when the environments of Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, and Seattle are going up in smoke. But there is good precedent for the Academy’s concern for “Mother Nature,” because Pope Francis made the same point a few months ago. He speculated that the coronavirus pandemic was “nature throwing a tantrum” in response to ecological sins.
More recently, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the anti-poverty arm of the USCCB, announced a $500,000 grant to Direct Action & Research Training Center (DART) to fight climate change. According to Bishop David O’Connell of Los Angeles, the “effects of climate change devastate poor communities around the country.”
Yes, once the sea level eventually rises to inundate Miami Beach and the rest of the Atlantic seaboard, it will undoubtedly have a devastating effect on the poor, the rich and everyone in between.
But in the meantime, there is a different type of climate change that is already devastating poor communities in hundreds of cities, and neither the bishops nor the Vatican has had much to say about it.
In cities across the country, temperatures are soaring as the advance troops of the militant Church of Woke set fire to buildings and blocks full of businesses. And as the businesses go up in smoke, so do the chances of the poor for rising out of poverty. Moreover, when times get tough in the cities, the middle and upper-middle classes tend to move out, leaving the poor stranded in urban areas with shrinking income bases. So, maybe it’s time for the bishops to get their heads out of the clouds of climate change and look around at the damage that the Social Justice Warriors (many of whom the bishops indirectly support) have done to the poor.
There’s one final irony to be noted. Ever since the beginning of his papacy, Francis has reserved his harshest criticism for religious fundamentalists. He has never ceased to scold them for their “rigidness,” “narrowness,” and “intolerance.” The “fundamentalists” he mainly has in mind are traditional Catholics, but he admits that the type can be found in every religion.
Shouldn’t he, then, take issue with the religion of Woke? It is, after all, the most fundamentalist faith on the planet. Its closest competitor in this regard is Islam, but the edge has to be given to the Woke. There is such a thing as a moderate Muslim, but you can’t remain moderately woke for long. If you don’t quickly convert to full wokeness, you will be subject to an inquisition, and, if found guilty, the righteous members of the congregation will attempt to destroy your life, and, if possible, the lives of your spouse and children.
But the Woke should not be compared to fundamentalist Christians. To do so would be a grave injustice. Fundamentalist Christians are Christians, after all, and that puts a check on the temptation to be overly rigid. However, because they don’t believe in a Supreme Judge, there is no such check on the Woke. They can properly be compared not to fundamentalist Christians, but to the Jacobins during the Reign of Terror or the Red Guard during Mao’s Cultural Revolution.
If Francis really wants to make the world safe from fundamentalists, he should take a closer look at the religion of the Woke. He will find many things that should disturb him.
He is, for example, a great fan of dialogue. He sees it as the solution to every problem. But, as you will have noticed, the Woke people don’t want to dialogue. They want to do all the talking, and they want you to shut up. Just as the Nazis in Hollywood movies “have ways of making you talk,” the Woke have ways of silencing you. And, as a recent survey shows they’ve been hugely successful.
The survey, which was release by YouGov and the Cato Institute revealed that sixty-two percent of respondents find that the “political climate these days prevents them from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive.” Almost a third feared that saying the “wrong” thing could get them fired. The only category of persons in which a majority felt free to express themselves were “strong liberals,” i.e. the Woke.
If Pope Francis is true to his principles, he ought to take the Church of Woke to task for its un-nuanced view of the world. Perhaps at this very moment he is penning an Encyclical to help Catholics better understand the dangers of this new religion. But don’t count on it.
Published with permission from the Turning Point Project.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-03--ISIS’s horrific genocide against Yazidi people began 6 years ago today

August 3 , 2020 ( Family Research Council ) — Six years ago today , ISIS invaded the Sinjar region in northern Iraq , the quiet homeland of the Yazidi people .
It only took a few hours for ISIS to seize Sinjar City and kidnap or kill all who were unable to flee in time .
Those who did manage to escape ran to Mount Sinjar without food , water , or medical care , with ISIS hot on their heels .
An ancient religious group familiar with being persecuted by their neighbors , Yazidis had lived simple lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks by ISIS would have long-lasting consequences .
It took U.S. airstrikes to push the ISIS militants back as Kurdish forces made a safe passageway for Yazidis to descend Mount Sinjar later that month .
But in the heat well over 100 degrees , hundreds of Yazidis — many of them children and infants — had already died on the mountain despite airdrops with aid from the U.S. and other military forces .
Meanwhile , ISIS attacked Yazidi villages in the surrounding area .
Upon capture , the men and women were separated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Islam were rounded up to be shot and killed .
Captured women and children often heard the gunfire that killed the men of the village and saw the evidence of mass murder as ISIS fighters returned with their clothes stained by the blood of their husbands , sons , and brothers .
Militants took many of the younger women to be bought and sold as sex slaves .
Women too old to enter the slave trade were shot .
The region was soon littered with mass graves .
Yazidi children were forcibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were forced to become ISIS fighters , tortured and starved in the process .
Today , many of these former child soldiers are missing arms or legs lost while fighting for their abductors .
ISIS made no secret of its desire to destroy the religious minority group it called `` pagan '' through the use of forced conversion , enslavement , and mass killings .
The overwhelming evidence of ISIS ' intent to eradicate religious minorities prompted the United States to officially declare the Islamic State attacks on Iraq 's Christians , Yazidis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
Thankfully , the terrorists ' genocidal efforts were unsuccessful , and many Yazidis remain to tell the story of their people .
Yet , the painful legacy of genocide lingers , and ISIS ' brutal campaign still haunts the survivors .
Today , an estimated 2,800 women and children who were kidnapped by ISIS remain missing .
Hundreds of thousands of Yazidis are still displaced , living in camps with minimal resources .
As U.S. officials look to develop policy and foreign aid priorities in the Middle East , every feasible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survivors of genocide .
August 3 , 2014 is now remembered as the day ISIS began its genocide against the Yazidi people .
Most days dedicated to commemorating genocides remember atrocities that happened decades or centuries ago .
This remembrance day is different because the Yazidi genocide happened a mere six years ago .
The horror is still within our recent memory , and the survivors are still in need of help .
ISIS is no longer the focus of the American news cycle , but we would be remiss to forget the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who are still in need of our help .
The effects of ISIS linger .
As the international community looks to maintain stability in the Middle East , consideration should be given as to how best to aid and restore the religious communities ISIS worked to destroy .
Published with permission from the Family Research Council .

ISIS made no secret of its desire to destroy the religious minority group it called 'pagan.' The effects of that genocide remain today.
August 3, 2020 (Family Research Council) — Six years ago today, ISIS invaded the Sinjar region in northern Iraq, the quiet homeland of the Yazidi people. It only took a few hours for ISIS to seize Sinjar City and kidnap or kill all who were unable to flee in time. Those who did manage to escape ran to Mount Sinjar without food, water, or medical care, with ISIS hot on their heels.
An ancient religious group familiar with being persecuted by their neighbors, Yazidis had lived simple lives in the rural region. But the attacks by ISIS would have long-lasting consequences.
It took U.S. airstrikes to push the ISIS militants back as Kurdish forces made a safe passageway for Yazidis to descend Mount Sinjar later that month. But in the heat well over 100 degrees, hundreds of Yazidis — many of them children and infants — had already died on the mountain despite airdrops with aid from the U.S. and other military forces.
Meanwhile, ISIS attacked Yazidi villages in the surrounding area. Upon capture, the men and women were separated. The men who refused to convert to Islam were rounded up to be shot and killed. Captured women and children often heard the gunfire that killed the men of the village and saw the evidence of mass murder as ISIS fighters returned with their clothes stained by the blood of their husbands, sons, and brothers.
Militants took many of the younger women to be bought and sold as sex slaves. Women too old to enter the slave trade were shot. The region was soon littered with mass graves.
Yazidi children were forcibly converted to Islam. Thousands of boys were forced to become ISIS fighters, tortured and starved in the process. Today, many of these former child soldiers are missing arms or legs lost while fighting for their abductors.
ISIS made no secret of its desire to destroy the religious minority group it called “pagan” through the use of forced conversion, enslavement, and mass killings. The overwhelming evidence of ISIS' intent to eradicate religious minorities prompted the United States to officially declare the Islamic State attacks on Iraq's Christians, Yazidis, and other minorities a genocide in 2016.
Thankfully, the terrorists' genocidal efforts were unsuccessful, and many Yazidis remain to tell the story of their people. Yet, the painful legacy of genocide lingers, and ISIS' brutal campaign still haunts the survivors.
Today, an estimated 2,800 women and children who were kidnapped by ISIS remain missing. Hundreds of thousands of Yazidis are still displaced, living in camps with minimal resources. As U.S. officials look to develop policy and foreign aid priorities in the Middle East, every feasible effort should be made to help the survivors of genocide.
August 3, 2014 is now remembered as the day ISIS began its genocide against the Yazidi people. Most days dedicated to commemorating genocides remember atrocities that happened decades or centuries ago. This remembrance day is different because the Yazidi genocide happened a mere six years ago. The horror is still within our recent memory, and the survivors are still in need of help.
ISIS is no longer the focus of the American news cycle, but we would be remiss to forget the victims of genocide so quickly, especially those who are still in need of our help. The effects of ISIS linger. As the international community looks to maintain stability in the Middle East, consideration should be given as to how best to aid and restore the religious communities ISIS worked to destroy.
Published with permission from the Family Research Council.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-03--Black Christian basketball pro defends decision not to kneel, wear shirt supporting BLM

ORLANDO , Florida , August 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Black professional basketball player Jonathan Isaac has defended his decision not to kneel during the National Anthem and not to wear a Black Lives Matter shirt , saying such actions don ’ t necessarily go “ hand in hand with supporting black lives.
” “ All lives are supported through the Gospel , ” the Orlando Magic forward , who is a Christian , said .
On Friday , Isaac was the only player of his team refusing to embrace Black Lives Matter messaging , as the NBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The NBA has offered its support to players in providing them with a platform for social issues , ” wrote sports website Bleacher Report .
“ The NBA has also placed a Black Lives Matter decal on its courts in Orlando during the NBA restart and has also allowed players to wear social justice phrases on the back of their jerseys in lieu of their names.
” Isaac pointed out how pointless wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt and kneeling during the National Anthem actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter t-shirt don ’ t go hand in hand with supporting black lives , ” he emphasized during a press conference following Friday ’ s game .
“ I believe that for myself , my life has been supported through the Gospel , Jesus Christ , and that everyone is made in the image of god , and that we all foreshadow God ’ s glory , ” Isaac continued .
PETITION : Support priest who was suspended for calling out the Black Lives Matter organization !
Sign the petition here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the root problem of society ’ s ills .
“ Each and every one of us , each and every day , do things that we shouldn ’ t do .
We say things that we shouldn ’ t say , and we hate and we dislike people that we shouldn ’ t hate and dislike.
” “ I feel like we all make mistakes , but I think that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that there ’ s grace for us and that Jesus came and died for our sins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to an understanding of that and understand that God wants to have a relationship with us ... we can get past all the things in our world that are messed up , jacked up , ” he said .
According to Isaac , racism “ isn ’ t the only thing that plagues our society , that plagues our nation , that plagues our world.
” “ We want to get past not only racism , ” he added , “ but everything that plagues our society .
I feel like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the end of July , a professional baseball player also refused to kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as the 2020 Major League Baseball season got underway .
Sam Coonrod , pitcher for the San Francisco Giants , said he meant “ no ill will ” for refusing to take a knee in the league-approved moment of silence , saying that as a Christian , he believes he should kneel only to God .
“ I don ’ t think I ’ m better than anybody .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t kneel before anything but God , Jesus Christ .
I chose not to kneel .
I feel if I did kneel I ’ d be a hypocrite .
I don ’ t want to be a hypocrite , ” Coonrod told reporters .
“ I can ’ t get on board on a couple of things I ’ ve read about Black Lives Matter , how they lean toward Marxism and said some negative things about the nuclear family , ” Coonrod added .
The Black Lives Matter organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Network Foundation , ” is advocating for positions contrary to what Christians believe .
The organization supports abortion , writing , “ We deserve and thus we demand reproductive justice that gives us autonomy over our bodies and our identities while ensuring that our children and families are supported , safe , and able to thrive.
” The term “ reproductive , ” usually used in combination with “ health ” or “ rights , ” is a euphemism for abortion and contraception .
Additionally , the organization wants to abolish the traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and ‘ villages ’ that collectively care for one another , especially our children , to the degree that mothers , parents , and children are comfortable , ” the group wrote in its mission statement .
Black Lives Matter is also in favor of homosexuality and gender ideology .
“ We foster a queer‐affirming network .
When we gather , we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking , or rather , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heterosexual ( unless s/he or they disclose otherwise ) .
”

On Friday, Jonathan Isaac was the only player of his team refusing to embrace Black Lives Matter messaging.
ORLANDO, Florida, August 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Black professional basketball player Jonathan Isaac has defended his decision not to kneel during the National Anthem and not to wear a Black Lives Matter shirt, saying such actions don’t necessarily go “hand in hand with supporting black lives.”
“All lives are supported through the Gospel,” the Orlando Magic forward, who is a Christian, said.
On Friday, Isaac was the only player of his team refusing to embrace Black Lives Matter messaging, as the NBA season started up again after a long interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The NBA has offered its support to players in providing them with a platform for social issues,” wrote sports website Bleacher Report. “The NBA has also placed a Black Lives Matter decal on its courts in Orlando during the NBA restart and has also allowed players to wear social justice phrases on the back of their jerseys in lieu of their names.”
Isaac pointed out how pointless wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt and kneeling during the National Anthem actually are.
“Kneeling or wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt don’t go hand in hand with supporting black lives,” he emphasized during a press conference following Friday’s game.
“I believe that for myself, my life has been supported through the Gospel, Jesus Christ, and that everyone is made in the image of god, and that we all foreshadow God’s glory,” Isaac continued.
PETITION: Support priest who was suspended for calling out the Black Lives Matter organization! Sign the petition here.
He also pointed out that sin is the root problem of society’s ills. “Each and every one of us, each and every day, do things that we shouldn’t do. We say things that we shouldn’t say, and we hate and we dislike people that we shouldn’t hate and dislike.”
“I feel like we all make mistakes, but I think that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that there’s grace for us and that Jesus came and died for our sins, and that if we all will come to an understanding of that and understand that God wants to have a relationship with us … we can get past all the things in our world that are messed up, jacked up,” he said.
According to Isaac, racism “isn’t the only thing that plagues our society, that plagues our nation, that plagues our world.”
“We want to get past not only racism,” he added, “but everything that plagues our society. I feel like the answer to it is the Gospel.”
At the end of July, a professional baseball player also refused to kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as the 2020 Major League Baseball season got underway.
Sam Coonrod, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, said he meant “no ill will” for refusing to take a knee in the league-approved moment of silence, saying that as a Christian, he believes he should kneel only to God.
“I don’t think I’m better than anybody. I’m just a Christian. I believe I can’t kneel before anything but God, Jesus Christ. I chose not to kneel. I feel if I did kneel I’d be a hypocrite. I don’t want to be a hypocrite,” Coonrod told reporters.
“I can’t get on board on a couple of things I’ve read about Black Lives Matter, how they lean toward Marxism and said some negative things about the nuclear family,” Coonrod added.
The Black Lives Matter organization, officially known as “BLM Global Network Foundation,” is advocating for positions contrary to what Christians believe. The organization supports abortion, writing, “We deserve and thus we demand reproductive justice that gives us autonomy over our bodies and our identities while ensuring that our children and families are supported, safe, and able to thrive.”
The term “reproductive,” usually used in combination with “health” or “rights,” is a euphemism for abortion and contraception.
Additionally, the organization wants to abolish the traditional family.
“We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and ‘villages’ that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable,” the group wrote in its mission statement.
Black Lives Matter is also in favor of homosexuality and gender ideology. “We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).”
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lifesitenews--2020-08-03--US bishop: AOC calling St. Damien white supremacist ‘crazy, outrageous, insulting’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , August 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — After U.S. House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — popularly known as AOC — criticized Saint Damien of Molokai as an example of colonialism and white supremacy , a U.S. bishop said her claim is “ crazy and outrageous , ” “ ridiculous and insulting.
” In an Instagram video posting , AOC incorrectly claimed that St. Damien was a “ colonizer , ” and his statue ’ s inclusion in the U.S. Capitol ’ s Statuary Hall is “ what patriarchy and white supremacist culture looks like !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backlash from Catholics .
“ AOC calls the statue in the US capitol building of Father Damien , a canonized saint in the Catholic Church , a part of ‘ white supremacist culture , ’ ” said John Robert Gage in a tweet that displayed AOC ’ s words over a video of St. Damien ’ s statue .
“ Father Damien died of leprosy after spending his life serving others who had the disease , ” noted Gage .
Los Angeles bishop Robert Barron said he felt the need to respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just so outrageous.
” “ Did she have any idea who Damien of Molokai was ?
” wondered Bishop Barron in a pair of video tweets .
“ This Belgian man who becomes a priest — a member of a missionary order — he goes mid-nineteenth century to Hawaii , works there for several years , and then volunteers to go to the island of Molokai , which at the time was a place where lepers were sent .
And at the time there was no treatment , no cure , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease were simply sent there to spend the rest of their lives , and they would die there.
” “ Damien went knowing full well that he would most likely never return from this ministry , and in fact , he never did , ” added Barron .
The saint “ is reverenced by the people of Hawaii .
He was in his own lifetime and after his death reverenced as a saint by the people of Hawaii.
” “ To associate this man in any way with colonialism or white supremacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it shows the superficiality and the simplistic quality of these sort of woke categories , ” said the bishop .
PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
Does Saint Damien look like a white supremacist ?
Delivering a knockout punch to AOC , American Thinker ’ s Monica Showalter showed a picture of Damien after the saint had contracted leprosy and asked , “ Here he is — look like a white supremacist to you ?
Photo of Fr .
Damien @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his death .
Hawai ’ i State Archives in Honolulu , Hawaii .
“ The statue AOC objects to as a totem of white supremacy is a statue of a poor , sick immigrant social worker to the poor , whose work was honored by Hawaii 's native queen , ” wrote the Washington Examiner ’ s Timothy Carney .
“ The statue was created by an immigrant woman feminist artist of color , and chosen by the people of the least white state of the union.
” Carney called AOC ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ [ a ] s far as St. Damien being a “ colonizer ” — well , Hawaii was never a Belgian colony .
He wasn ’ t there representing Belgium , either .
He was there representing the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
” “ Any Hawaiian here who is aware of their history — which most Hawaiians are — would absolutely , Catholic or not , defend the legacy of Damien as a man who was embraced by the people , and who is a hero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hawaiian people , ” Dallas Carter , a native Hawaiian and a catechist for the Diocese of Honolulu , told CNA .
“ We did not judge him by the color of his skin .
We judged him by the love that he had for our people , ” said catechist Carter .
“ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez picked the wrong statue to criticize , ” declared the headline for Matthew Walther ’ s article at The Week .
“ Ocasio-Cortez is probably not aware of the fact that the statue of the saint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu , that he spoke and preached in the Hawaiian language , that his feast day is a holiday in Hawaii , or that he is routinely named in lists of the most admired figures in modern Hawaiian history , ” wrote Walther .
American Thinker ’ s Showalter referred to AOC as a “ far-left wokester congresswoman ” who had aimed an “ amazing insult ” at “ Hawaii ’ s patron saint and most beloved figure of honor.
” “ What she was trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Confederate statues being unworthy to stand based on the legacy of slavery , onto Hawaii ’ s beloved chosen saint , ” observed Showalter .
“ And she was also trying to erase Hawaii ’ s history , a truly disgusting thing given the special state ’ s many worthy figures , and given how little people know of it.
” “ Now that it didn ’ t go over well , she ’ s saying nothing , expecting it will blow over .
But it shouldn ’ t blow over , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hawaiians an apology and she ’ s not giving it .
Let this be one more reason for Hawaiians to reconsider voting for Democrats .
Ocasio-Cortez is exactly what ’ s wrong with them.
” Fr .
Damien bandaged wounds , made coffins , dug graves , heard confessions , and said Mass every morning The official website of the office of The Architect of the Capitol praises St. Damien of Molokai ’ s selfless service : “ The bronze statue is based on photographs taken of Father Damien near the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his disease visible on his face and his right arm in a sling beneath his cloak , ” explains The Architect of the Capitol ’ s description .
“ His broad-brimmed hat was traditionally worn by missionaries .
His right hand holds a cane.
” Why the ongoing attack on Catholic saints ?
“ What is it with this attack on Catholic saints ?
” asked Bishop Barron in his second video tweet , drawing attention to the attacks on statues of Junípero Serra up and down the California coastline , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just wanted to say something , everybody , to counteract what I think is just a colossally misguided attack on this enormously important figure , who I hope would be reverenced by anybody , of any race , of any background and any creed , would see in Damien of Molokai nothing but a great hero , ” said Barron .
“ I think it ’ s time to get beyond these simplistic categories and start seeing people in their moral heroism .
”

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — After U.S. House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — popularly known as AOC — criticized Saint Damien of Molokai as an example of colonialism and white supremacy, a U.S. bishop said her claim is “crazy and outrageous,” “ridiculous and insulting.”
In an Instagram video posting, AOC incorrectly claimed that St. Damien was a “colonizer,” and his statue’s inclusion in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall is “what patriarchy and white supremacist culture looks like!”
The New York congresswoman experienced a swift backlash from Catholics.
“AOC calls the statue in the US capitol building of Father Damien, a canonized saint in the Catholic Church, a part of ‘white supremacist culture,’” said John Robert Gage in a tweet that displayed AOC’s words over a video of St. Damien’s statue.
“Father Damien died of leprosy after spending his life serving others who had the disease,” noted Gage.
. @AOC calls the statue in the US capitol building of Father Damien, a canonized saint in the Catholic Church, a part of “white supremacist culture.” Father Damien died of leprosy after spending his life serving others who had the disease. pic.twitter.com/NVnfCN7EVK — John Gage (@johnrobertgage) July 31, 2020
Los Angeles bishop Robert Barron said he felt the need to respond to AOC’s claim because it “was just so outrageous.”
“Did she have any idea who Damien of Molokai was?” wondered Bishop Barron in a pair of video tweets.
Friends, I made this quick video in response to @AOC. In defense of St. Damien of Molokai: Part 1 pic.twitter.com/Wj92fPBxbs — Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) July 31, 2020
“This Belgian man who becomes a priest — a member of a missionary order — he goes mid-nineteenth century to Hawaii, works there for several years, and then volunteers to go to the island of Molokai, which at the time was a place where lepers were sent. And at the time there was no treatment, no cure,” explained Barron. “Those who had the disease were simply sent there to spend the rest of their lives, and they would die there.”
“Damien went knowing full well that he would most likely never return from this ministry, and in fact, he never did,” added Barron. The saint “is reverenced by the people of Hawaii. He was in his own lifetime and after his death reverenced as a saint by the people of Hawaii.”
“To associate this man in any way with colonialism or white supremacy is so ridiculous and insulting, and it shows the superficiality and the simplistic quality of these sort of woke categories,” said the bishop.
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
Does Saint Damien look like a white supremacist?
Delivering a knockout punch to AOC, American Thinker’s Monica Showalter showed a picture of Damien after the saint had contracted leprosy and asked, “Here he is — look like a white supremacist to you?
Photo of Fr. Damien taken in 1888, not long before his death.
Hawai’i State Archives in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Fr. Damien: A poor, sick immigrant, not a white supremacist
“The statue AOC objects to as a totem of white supremacy is a statue of a poor, sick immigrant social worker to the poor, whose work was honored by Hawaii's native queen,” wrote the Washington Examiner’s Timothy Carney. “The statue was created by an immigrant woman feminist artist of color, and chosen by the people of the least white state of the union.”
Carney called AOC’s words a “tirade,” noting that “[a]s far as St. Damien being a “colonizer” — well, Hawaii was never a Belgian colony. He wasn’t there representing Belgium, either. He was there representing the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.”
Hawaiians would absolutely defend Damien’s legacy of love
“Any Hawaiian here who is aware of their history — which most Hawaiians are — would absolutely, Catholic or not, defend the legacy of Damien as a man who was embraced by the people, and who is a hero to us because of his love for the Hawaiian people,” Dallas Carter, a native Hawaiian and a catechist for the Diocese of Honolulu, told CNA.
“We did not judge him by the color of his skin. We judged him by the love that he had for our people,” said catechist Carter.
AOC picked the wrong statue to criticize
“Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez picked the wrong statue to criticize,” declared the headline for Matthew Walther’s article at The Week.
“Ocasio-Cortez is probably not aware of the fact that the statue of the saint is a replica of one that stands outside the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu, that he spoke and preached in the Hawaiian language, that his feast day is a holiday in Hawaii, or that he is routinely named in lists of the most admired figures in modern Hawaiian history,” wrote Walther.
American Thinker’s Showalter referred to AOC as a “far-left wokester congresswoman” who had aimed an “amazing insult” at “Hawaii’s patron saint and most beloved figure of honor.”
“AOC owes Hawaiians an apology”
“What she was trying to do was pigeonhole the same flawed narrative of Confederate statues being unworthy to stand based on the legacy of slavery, onto Hawaii’s beloved chosen saint,” observed Showalter. “And she was also trying to erase Hawaii’s history, a truly disgusting thing given the special state’s many worthy figures, and given how little people know of it.”
“Now that it didn’t go over well, she’s saying nothing, expecting it will blow over. But it shouldn’t blow over,” said Showalter. “She owes the Hawaiians an apology and she’s not giving it. Let this be one more reason for Hawaiians to reconsider voting for Democrats. Ocasio-Cortez is exactly what’s wrong with them.”
Fr. Damien bandaged wounds, made coffins, dug graves, heard confessions, and said Mass every morning
The official website of the office of The Architect of the Capitol praises St. Damien of Molokai’s selfless service:
On May 10, 1873, Father Damien traveled with Bishop Maigret and a shipload of lepers to Molokai. After two days Damien was willing to devote the rest of his life to the leper settlement. The bishop replied that he could stay as long as his devotion dictated. Father Damien accomplished amazing feats while residing on Molokai. Six chapels were built by 1875. He constructed a home for boys and later a home for girls. He bandaged wounds, made coffins, dug graves, heard confessions, and said Mass every morning. In December 1884, Father Damien noticed severe blisters on his feet without the presence of pain. As he suspected, the disease was leprosy. Father Damien died peacefully on April 15, 1889, on Molokai after 16 years of undaunted dedication. On October 11, 2009, Father Damien was canonized (i.e., elevated to sainthood) by Pope Benedict XVI in a ceremony at the Vatican, thus becoming Saint Damien.
“The bronze statue is based on photographs taken of Father Damien near the end of his life, with the scars of his disease visible on his face and his right arm in a sling beneath his cloak,” explains The Architect of the Capitol’s description. “His broad-brimmed hat was traditionally worn by missionaries. His right hand holds a cane.”
Why the ongoing attack on Catholic saints?
“What is it with this attack on Catholic saints?” asked Bishop Barron in his second video tweet, drawing attention to the attacks on statues of Junípero Serra up and down the California coastline, where the saint had preached.
“I just wanted to say something, everybody, to counteract what I think is just a colossally misguided attack on this enormously important figure, who I hope would be reverenced by anybody, of any race, of any background and any creed, would see in Damien of Molokai nothing but a great hero,” said Barron. “I think it’s time to get beyond these simplistic categories and start seeing people in their moral heroism.”
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