lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Conservative politician raises alarm over Trudeau govt developing COVID-19 vaccine with Communist Ch

Conservative politician raises alarm over Trudeau govt developing COVID-19 vaccine with Communist China

OTTAWA , June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A rookie Conservative Member of Parliament who runs a multinational agricultural business with her husband is one of the latest voices to warn against Canada collaborating with Communist China to develop a COVID-19 vaccine .
“ If we want Canadians to take this vaccine , why are we working with a communist regime ?
” British Columbia MP Tamara Jansen asked during a virtual health committee meeting last week .
( Full transcript available here . )
A mother of five and grandmother of 12 who is rated pro-life by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the vaccine being developed using a cell line procured from an aborted baby .
Canada ’ s National Research Council ( NRC ) announced May 12 that it was collaborating with the Chinese firm CanSino Biologics Inc. ( CanSinoBIO ) to test its trial coronavirus vaccine , known as Ad5-nCoV .
LifeSite ’ s Anthony Murdoch confirmed in an earlier report that Ad5-nCoV uses the HEK293 cell line , developed by the NRC from fetal cells harvested from an aborted baby decades ago .
Jansen raised a number of red flags about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Montreal-based microbiologist and epidemiologist and member of the Trudeau-appointed COVID-19 Immunity Task Force , during the committee meeting .
“ As part of the government task force , can you tell me whether you see any ethical problems in working with CanSino Biologics on the vaccine that ’ s being developed jointly with People ’ s Liberation Army ?
” she asked .
“ I did not think about that particular aspect of things , ” responded Quach-Thanh , adding that Ad5-nCoV is being tested at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not under the federal task force .
Jansen pointed out that the Chinese firm seems to hold all the cards in the deal .
The NRC “ signed a non-exclusive agreement with CanSino to use the HEK293 cell line to produce this vaccine ” and “ as such , we don ’ t anticipate any revenue from CanSino 's use of this Canadian technology , ” she said .
“ The intellectual property for this vaccine belongs to CanSino , so they will be able to make their own decisions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is my understanding , ” Jansen added .
Would the Chinese firm have “ any obligation ” to supply the vaccine to its partner Canada , she asked .
“ Why are we working with a company that ’ s clearly in bed with a communist regime ?
Isn ’ t it a no-brainer that they will be supplying their own country with the vaccine first ?
” Jansen asked .
The MP also expressed concern about the rush to test Ad5-nCoV in humans , pointing out that it took 20 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SARS vaccine .
She also noted CanSino hadn ’ t published any of its findings for peer review aside from an article in the Lancet that appeared three days before the committee meeting .
Human clinical trials of Ad5-nCoV are set to begin in the next few weeks at Dalhousie , pending approval by the province ’ s research ethics board , the Halifax Chronicle-Herald reported May 21 .
“ If we want Canadians to take this vaccine , why are we working with a communist regime ?
We ’ ve seen the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure , and it keeps failing time and again .
I don ’ t get why we think we can trust that it will be a safe vaccine when we ’ re doing this all in such a hurry , ” Jansen said .
Health Canada would “ do its work in looking at the quality of the vaccine produced ” if it is approved after “ good clinical trials , ” Quach-Thanh responded .
The HEK293 cell line used to develop the vaccine “ was developed in 1973 from an aborted embryo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other way to develop a COVID-19 vaccine than with “ this type of cell line.
” There are other platforms , “ but this is the first vaccine that is actually ready for human trials , ” said Quach-Thanh .
Jansen is not the first to raise alarm over the China-Canada vaccine deal .
Leadership contender and MP Derek Sloan , who has called on Canada ’ s chief medical officer , Dr. Theresa Tam , to resign because of her ties to the Beijing-influenced World Health Organization , also slammed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the collaboration with China .
“ Why would Trudeau look to the same people who deliberately concealed the seriousness of the pandemic in its early stages by repressing doctors , falsifying data , and denying their knowledge of human-to-human transmission , to help in developing a vaccine for that same virus ?
” Sloan noted in an email to supporters .
He quoted Dr. Kulvinder Gill , the president and co-founder of Concerned Ontario Doctors , who likewise warned of the dangers of partnering with Beijing ’ s communist regime .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust and buy into a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine , partnering with the Chinese Communist Party ’ s military is ( … ) the most counterproductive and dangerous thing it could do , ” Gill said in an article published last month .
Contact your MP to express opposition to the China-Canada vaccine trial deal .
To find out who your MP is and contact information , go to the House of Commons website here , or Campaign Life Coalition here .

‘If we want Canadians to take this vaccine, why are we working with a communist regime,’ MP Tamara Jansen stated.
OTTAWA, June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A rookie Conservative Member of Parliament who runs a multinational agricultural business with her husband is one of the latest voices to warn against Canada collaborating with Communist China to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
“If we want Canadians to take this vaccine, why are we working with a communist regime?” British Columbia MP Tamara Jansen asked during a virtual health committee meeting last week. (Full transcript available here.)
A mother of five and grandmother of 12 who is rated pro-life by Campaign Life Coalition, Jansen also objected to the vaccine being developed using a cell line procured from an aborted baby.
Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) announced May 12 that it was collaborating with the Chinese firm CanSino Biologics Inc. (CanSinoBIO) to test its trial coronavirus vaccine, known as Ad5-nCoV.
LifeSite’s Anthony Murdoch confirmed in an earlier report that Ad5-nCoV uses the HEK293 cell line, developed by the NRC from fetal cells harvested from an aborted baby decades ago.
Jansen raised a number of red flags about the deal when questioning Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, a Montreal-based microbiologist and epidemiologist and member of the Trudeau-appointed COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, during the committee meeting.
“As part of the government task force, can you tell me whether you see any ethical problems in working with CanSino Biologics on the vaccine that’s being developed jointly with People’s Liberation Army?” she asked.
“I did not think about that particular aspect of things,” responded Quach-Thanh, adding that Ad5-nCoV is being tested at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, under the Canadian Immunization Research Network, and not under the federal task force.
Jansen pointed out that the Chinese firm seems to hold all the cards in the deal.
The NRC “signed a non-exclusive agreement with CanSino to use the HEK293 cell line to produce this vaccine” and “as such, we don’t anticipate any revenue from CanSino's use of this Canadian technology,” she said.
“The intellectual property for this vaccine belongs to CanSino, so they will be able to make their own decisions as to where they supply the vaccine. That is my understanding,” Jansen added.
Would the Chinese firm have “any obligation” to supply the vaccine to its partner Canada, she asked.
“Hopefully, but I don’t know,” Quach-Thanh replied.
“Why are we working with a company that’s clearly in bed with a communist regime? Isn’t it a no-brainer that they will be supplying their own country with the vaccine first?” Jansen asked.
The MP also expressed concern about the rush to test Ad5-nCoV in humans, pointing out that it took 20 months before human trials were approved for a SARS vaccine.
She also noted CanSino hadn’t published any of its findings for peer review aside from an article in the Lancet that appeared three days before the committee meeting.
Human clinical trials of Ad5-nCoV are set to begin in the next few weeks at Dalhousie, pending approval by the province’s research ethics board, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald reported May 21.
“If we want Canadians to take this vaccine, why are we working with a communist regime? We’ve seen the quality of the PPE they produced under pressure, and it keeps failing time and again. I don’t get why we think we can trust that it will be a safe vaccine when we’re doing this all in such a hurry,” Jansen said.
Health Canada would “do its work in looking at the quality of the vaccine produced” if it is approved after “good clinical trials,” Quach-Thanh responded.
The HEK293 cell line used to develop the vaccine “was developed in 1973 from an aborted embryo” and Jansen asked whether there was any other way to develop a COVID-19 vaccine than with “this type of cell line.”
There are other platforms, “but this is the first vaccine that is actually ready for human trials,” said Quach-Thanh.
Jansen is not the first to raise alarm over the China-Canada vaccine deal.
Leadership contender and MP Derek Sloan, who has called on Canada’s chief medical officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, to resign because of her ties to the Beijing-influenced World Health Organization, also slammed the Liberal government and asked it to call off the collaboration with China.
“Why would Trudeau look to the same people who deliberately concealed the seriousness of the pandemic in its early stages by repressing doctors, falsifying data, and denying their knowledge of human-to-human transmission, to help in developing a vaccine for that same virus?” Sloan noted in an email to supporters.
He quoted Dr. Kulvinder Gill, the president and co-founder of Concerned Ontario Doctors, who likewise warned of the dangers of partnering with Beijing’s communist regime.
“If the Trudeau government wants Canadians to trust and buy into a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, partnering with the Chinese Communist Party’s military is (…) the most counterproductive and dangerous thing it could do,” Gill said in an article published last month.
Contact your MP to express opposition to the China-Canada vaccine trial deal. To find out who your MP is and contact information, go to the House of Commons website here, or Campaign Life Coalition here.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Data fueling governments’ rejection of malaria drug to treat COVID-19 may be fraudulent: report

June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – New questions have been raised about the credibility of a recent study that drove several world governments to cancel trials on the potential COVID-19 treatment hydroxychloroquine ( HCQ ) , following a media investigation into the company behind it .
HCQ is an FDA-approved drug developed in the 1950s to treat malaria , and has been commonly used since as a treatment for autoimmune conditions and arthritis .
The FDA has not officially approved its use for the coronavirus , but has allowed it “ to be distributed and prescribed by doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , as appropriate , when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.
” ( At the same time , the FDA warns not to use it outside of trials or hospitals . )
In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak , scientists began researching its potential applications in treating the new virus – a development that was quickly promoted by President Donald Trump , turning it into a political lightning rod .
Several early studies showed promise , though another study published last month in The Lancet purported to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using HCQ , but instead finding “ decreased in-hospital survival and an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias.
” The news led the French High Council for Public Health ( HCSP ) to recommend against prescribing the drug outside of clinical trials .
Belgium and Italy banned the use of HCQ as a COVID-19 treatment as well , citing safety concerns .
Now , however , reporting by The Guardian has called that study into question .
The paper reveals that the study was based on data from an American company called Surgisphere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its credentials .
Surgisphere was established in 2008 as a medical textbook publisher , yet recently began claiming to possess one of the world ’ s most robust medical databases , with information on 96,000 patients in 1,200 hospitals worldwide – a claim critics say strains credulity .
“ Surgisphere came out of nowhere to conduct perhaps the most influential global study in this pandemic in the matter of a few weeks , ” said Dr James Todaro of the MedicineUncensored website .
“ It doesn ’ t make sense .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have for this expedient and [ size ] of multinational study to be possible.
” “ Several of Surgisphere ’ s employees have little or no data or scientific background , ” including a “ science editor ” who is actually a science-fiction author , The Guardian ’ s investigation found .
“ While Surgisphere claims to run one of the largest and fastest hospital databases in the world , it has almost no online presence , ” and until recently its online contact link “ redirected to a WordPress template for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how hospitals could easily contact the company to join its database.
” Further , Surgisphere chief executive Sapan Desai , who is listed as one of the Lancet study ’ s coauthors , is named in three medical malpractice lawsuits .
As for the study itself , The Guardian contacted several hospitals in Australia following discrepancies between data on COVID-19 deaths supposedly obtained from them and numbers reported by Johns Hopkins University , all of whom replied that “ they had never heard of Surgisphere ” and never provided information to its database @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2008 , Desai claims .
“ Our healthcare data analytics services started about the same time and have continued to grow since that time .
We use a great deal of artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate this process as much as possible , which is the only way a task like this is even possible.
” Peter Ellis , chief data scientist for the international management consulting firm Nous Group , says Surgisphere ’ s database is “ almost certainly a scam , ” because it ’ s “ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” and there is “ no evidence online of [ Surgisphere ] having any analytical software earlier than a year ago.
” “ De-identifying is not just a matter of knocking off the patients ’ names , it is a big and difficult process , ” he explained .
“ I doubt hospitals even have capability to do it appropriately .
It is the sort of thing national statistics agencies have whole teams working on , for years.
” Following these revelations , The Lancet issued an “ expression of concern ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the study ’ s data .
“ Although an independent audit of the provenance and validity of the data has been commissioned by the authors not affiliated with Surgisphere and is ongoing , with results expected very shortly , we are issuing an Expression of Concern to alert readers to the fact that serious scientific questions have been brought to our attention , ” the statement reads .
“ We will update this notice as soon as we have further information.
” On May 19 , President Trump revealed he had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a few weeks ” as a prophylactic ( though he has since stopped ) .
He has repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus .
As of June 3 , the world is estimated to have seen more than 6.5 million COVID-19 cases , with more than 384,000 deaths and 3.1 million recoveries .
An estimated 42 % of those deaths across the United States and more than a dozen other countries have come from nursing homes .
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact @ @ @ @ @

The hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) study was based on data from an American company called Surgisphere, which appears to have been grossly misrepresenting its credentials.
PETITION: Yes to reform. No to riots & revolution Sign the petition here.
June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – New questions have been raised about the credibility of a recent study that drove several world governments to cancel trials on the potential COVID-19 treatment hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), following a media investigation into the company behind it.
HCQ is an FDA-approved drug developed in the 1950s to treat malaria, and has been commonly used since as a treatment for autoimmune conditions and arthritis. The FDA has not officially approved its use for the coronavirus, but has allowed it “to be distributed and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized teen and adult patients with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.” (At the same time, the FDA warns not to use it outside of trials or hospitals.)
In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, scientists began researching its potential applications in treating the new virus – a development that was quickly promoted by President Donald Trump, turning it into a political lightning rod.
Several early studies showed promise, though another study published last month in The Lancet purported to not only find “no benefit” to using HCQ, but instead finding “decreased in-hospital survival and an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias.” The news led the French High Council for Public Health (HCSP) to recommend against prescribing the drug outside of clinical trials. Belgium and Italy banned the use of HCQ as a COVID-19 treatment as well, citing safety concerns.
Now, however, reporting by The Guardian has called that study into question. The paper reveals that the study was based on data from an American company called Surgisphere, which appears to have been grossly misrepresenting its credentials.
Surgisphere was established in 2008 as a medical textbook publisher, yet recently began claiming to possess one of the world’s most robust medical databases, with information on 96,000 patients in 1,200 hospitals worldwide – a claim critics say strains credulity.
“Surgisphere came out of nowhere to conduct perhaps the most influential global study in this pandemic in the matter of a few weeks,” said Dr James Todaro of the MedicineUncensored website. “It doesn’t make sense. It would require many more researchers than it claims to have for this expedient and [size] of multinational study to be possible.”
“Several of Surgisphere’s employees have little or no data or scientific background,” including a “science editor” who is actually a science-fiction author, The Guardian’s investigation found. “While Surgisphere claims to run one of the largest and fastest hospital databases in the world, it has almost no online presence,” and until recently its online contact link “redirected to a WordPress template for a cryptocurrency website, raising questions about how hospitals could easily contact the company to join its database.”
Further, Surgisphere chief executive Sapan Desai, who is listed as one of the Lancet study’s coauthors, is named in three medical malpractice lawsuits.
As for the study itself, The Guardian contacted several hospitals in Australia following discrepancies between data on COVID-19 deaths supposedly obtained from them and numbers reported by Johns Hopkins University, all of whom replied that “they had never heard of Surgisphere” and never provided information to its database.
“Surgisphere has been in business since 2008, Desai claims. “Our healthcare data analytics services started about the same time and have continued to grow since that time. We use a great deal of artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate this process as much as possible, which is the only way a task like this is even possible.”
Peter Ellis, chief data scientist for the international management consulting firm Nous Group, says Surgisphere’s database is “almost certainly a scam,” because it’s “not something that any hospital could realistically do,” and there is “no evidence online of [Surgisphere] having any analytical software earlier than a year ago.”
“De-identifying is not just a matter of knocking off the patients’ names, it is a big and difficult process,” he explained. “I doubt hospitals even have capability to do it appropriately. It is the sort of thing national statistics agencies have whole teams working on, for years.”
Following these revelations, The Lancet issued an “expression of concern” Wednesday regarding “important scientific questions” about the study’s data.
“Although an independent audit of the provenance and validity of the data has been commissioned by the authors not affiliated with Surgisphere and is ongoing, with results expected very shortly, we are issuing an Expression of Concern to alert readers to the fact that serious scientific questions have been brought to our attention,” the statement reads. “We will update this notice as soon as we have further information.”
On May 19, President Trump revealed he had been taking HCQ and a zinc supplement for “a few weeks” as a prophylactic (though he has since stopped). He has repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus.
As of June 3, the world is estimated to have seen more than 6.5 million COVID-19 cases, with more than 384,000 deaths and 3.1 million recoveries. An estimated 42% of those deaths across the United States and more than a dozen other countries have come from nursing homes.
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Ex-feminist reveals how abortion, porn are killing culture

June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The abortion wars in America have come to dominate the political landscape .
Today ’ s episode of The Van Maren Show features pro-life author and speaker Frederica Mathews-Green .
Mathews-Green was a feminist who recalls driving a friend to New York from South Carolina to get an abortion .
After college , Mathewes-Green had a profound conversion to Christianity and , with time , to the pro-life movement .
It was an article in Esquire magazine that opened Mathews-Green 's heart to the pro-life cause .
After reading the account of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she realized the humanity of the unborn child in the womb .
She then became a prolific pro-life author and speaker .
Van Maren and Mathews-Green discuss the impact the abortion wars have had on American politics and how the sexual revolution has transformed the relationships between men and women .
Van Maren points to a Trump rally he attended in which the President said people might not agree with him , but they would vote for him because he would be a defender of life .
Mathews-Green and Van Maren point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election of leaders people might not agree with , but who support life .
Mathews-Green also speaks about the importance of family for the pro-life movement .
Children need a mother and a father , biological or adopted .
In some cases , women feel pressured into having an abortion because their partner doesn ’ t support them .
Mathews-Green recalls a woman once relating how she went for an abortion , praying the father of the child would rush in and tell her not to kill their child .
Mathews-Green also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver of abortions .
Women carry around the fantasy that they can continue to have sex outside of marriage while waiting for the right guy to come along .
Men and women don ’ t realize the importance of chastity in finding a future spouse .
Mathews-Green encourages listeners to be examples in the culture by living chaste lives as singles , individuals , married couples , and families .
Mathews-Green also encourages people to tell their conversion story or stories of encountering Christ .
We don ’ t know when God will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it is stories like these that will change the culture from the bottom up .
We need to practice telling our stories and not be afraid to share them .
Finally , Van Maren and Mathews-Green discuss the difficulties faced by both men and women thanks to the sexual revolution .
Specifically , they discuss how toxic masculinity is ruining culture and families .
Both Van Maren and Mathews-Green agree that the prevalence of pornography is only making it more difficult for men to truly be men .
The Van Maren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Spotify , SoundCloud , YouTube , iTunes , and Google Play .
For a full listing of episodes , and to subscribe to various channels , visit our Acast webpage here .
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded , subscribe below :

Frederica Mathews-Green speaks about her time as a feminist, her conversion to the pro-life movement, and how abortion and porn are killing culture.
June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The abortion wars in America have come to dominate the political landscape. Today’s episode of The Van Maren Show features pro-life author and speaker Frederica Mathews-Green. Mathews-Green was a feminist who recalls driving a friend to New York from South Carolina to get an abortion. After college, Mathewes-Green had a profound conversion to Christianity and, with time, to the pro-life movement.
It was an article in Esquire magazine that opened Mathews-Green's heart to the pro-life cause. After reading the account of an abortion written by an abortion provider, she realized the humanity of the unborn child in the womb. She then became a prolific pro-life author and speaker.
Van Maren and Mathews-Green discuss the impact the abortion wars have had on American politics and how the sexual revolution has transformed the relationships between men and women.
Van Maren points to a Trump rally he attended in which the President said people might not agree with him, but they would vote for him because he would be a defender of life. Mathews-Green and Van Maren point out how the abortion divide has influenced the election of leaders people might not agree with, but who support life.
Mathews-Green also speaks about the importance of family for the pro-life movement. Children need a mother and a father, biological or adopted. In some cases, women feel pressured into having an abortion because their partner doesn’t support them. Mathews-Green recalls a woman once relating how she went for an abortion, praying the father of the child would rush in and tell her not to kill their child.
Mathews-Green also points to the sexual revolution as a driver of abortions. Women carry around the fantasy that they can continue to have sex outside of marriage while waiting for the right guy to come along. Men and women don’t realize the importance of chastity in finding a future spouse.
Mathews-Green encourages listeners to be examples in the culture by living chaste lives as singles, individuals, married couples, and families.
Listen to the full interview:
Mathews-Green also encourages people to tell their conversion story or stories of encountering Christ. We don’t know when God will call upon us to share these stories, but it is stories like these that will change the culture from the bottom up. We need to practice telling our stories and not be afraid to share them.
Finally, Van Maren and Mathews-Green discuss the difficulties faced by both men and women thanks to the sexual revolution. Specifically, they discuss how toxic masculinity is ruining culture and families.
Both Van Maren and Mathews-Green agree that the prevalence of pornography is only making it more difficult for men to truly be men.
The Van Maren Show is hosted on numerous platforms, including Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play.
For a full listing of episodes, and to subscribe to various channels, visit our Acast webpage here.
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded, subscribe below:
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lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Want to go to a church service? Nope! Want to riot, loot, and tear up city? Have at it!

PETITION : Yes to reform .
No to riots & revolution Sign petition here .
June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – I am not minimizing the seriousness of COVID-19 .
I lost a friend to the virus .
Another friend tested positive for 45 days and lost two of her friends .
Other friends have lost friends and loved ones .
As I write , a friend in his 40s has been hospitalized again .
These losses are tragic and undeniable .
I ’ m simply questioning our response to the virus in light of the mass national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our fears ?
I ’ m not a scientist , and I have zero expertise in the field of epidemiology .
But it seems to me that only one of these two propositions can be true .
Either our national shutdown was an overreaction , or we are about to see a massive spike in virus infections across the country .
Of course , there is the issue of apparent double standards when it comes to what is allowed and what is not .
As I tweeted on May 31 , “ Want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nope !
You must stay home .
Want to reopen your business so you can pay your bills and care for your family ?
Nope !
You must stay home .
Want to riot and loot and tear up the city ?
Have at it !
” You might say , “ But no one is giving permission to the looters and rioters .
They ’ re breaking the law and defying authorities.
” But what about the peaceful protesters ?
According to an NPR report , “ Mass protests that have erupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America are raising concerns about the risk of spreading the coronavirus .
But some health experts , even as they urge caution , said they support the demonstrations — because racism also poses a dire health threat.
” In point of fact , others have been arguing for at least two months that an economic collapse poses a dire health threat .
And some have pointed out that an extended lockdown also poses a dire health threat , simply in terms of suicide and depression .
One report even predicted that , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up surpassing deaths by COVID-19 .
So there is a lot to debate when it comes to policy decisions , and it appears that not even hindsight is 20/20 at this point .
But here ’ s the big question for me ( and many others ) .
Is this virus as dangerous as we thought or not ?
Is it as contagious ?
As deadly ?
We are now hearing from the CDC that the fatality rate is much lower than was feared .
In light of that , conservative commentator Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Anthony Fauci .
Now , with mass protests around the nation and with mixed signals from health experts about those protests , we are about to find out how dangerous COVID-19 actually is .
The state of California is still restricting church gatherings to no more than 100 people , even if you have a building that seats 5,000 and a congregation of 20,000 .
No more than 100 people in a service !
( Unfortunately , the Supreme Court upheld this ruling , thanks to Chief Justice John Roberts siding with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained shuttered .
Restaurants are opening to limited capacity seating .
Sports events are being held without live audiences .
Schools remain closed – all because of fear of spreading the virus en masse , thereby crippling the health system .
Yet thousands of people are gathering on the streets , standing in close proximity to each other , marching side by side , many of them not wearing masks .
So , again , common sense tells me that we are either about to see a massive spike in infections ( which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might well be ) or we will soon feel foolish for over-quarantining .
( To be clear , I am not criticizing the peaceful protesters and recognize their right to take a public stand . )
My personal tendency is to be full of faith , totally confident , and overly optimistic , jumping first and calculating later .
But , as I wrote in my new book When the World Stops : Words of Hope , Faith , and Wisdom in the Midst of the Crisis , a little wisdom goes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years , I have learned to walk in both wisdom and faith , which are really two sides of the same coin .
I have also documented a number of cases where pastors boasted about their faith and flaunted government guidelines , only to die of the virus themselves .
And so , because I did not want to be presumptuous , as if I was an invincible 65-year-old , I followed a number of guidelines as well .
I had sanitizing wipes in my car to disinfect my hands after shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short time , Nancy and I also desanitized the grocery items once I brought them inside .
After all , that ’ s what the experts recommended .
But then we were told that the virus could not be spread through inanimate objects after all .
Or could it ?
Either way , here we stand today , with some of the same voices that were screaming for extreme caution just a few weeks ago now modifying their tone .
We are about to find out whether the extreme caution was justified or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if sincerely ) on a scale never seen before in our history .
What will it be ?

PETITION: Yes to reform. No to riots & revolution Sign petition here.
June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – I am not minimizing the seriousness of COVID-19. I lost a friend to the virus. Another friend tested positive for 45 days and lost two of her friends. Other friends have lost friends and loved ones. As I write, a friend in his 40s has been hospitalized again. These losses are tragic and undeniable. I’m simply questioning our response to the virus in light of the mass national protests. What happened to all of our fears?
I’m not a scientist, and I have zero expertise in the field of epidemiology. But it seems to me that only one of these two propositions can be true. Either our national shutdown was an overreaction, or we are about to see a massive spike in virus infections across the country.
Of course, there is the issue of apparent double standards when it comes to what is allowed and what is not. As I tweeted on May 31, “Want to go to a church service? Nope! You must stay home. Want to reopen your business so you can pay your bills and care for your family? Nope! You must stay home. Want to riot and loot and tear up the city? Have at it!”
You might say, “But no one is giving permission to the looters and rioters. They’re breaking the law and defying authorities.”
True enough.
But what about the peaceful protesters?
According to an NPR report, “Mass protests that have erupted over police brutality toward black people in America are raising concerns about the risk of spreading the coronavirus. But some health experts, even as they urge caution, said they support the demonstrations — because racism also poses a dire health threat.”
In point of fact, others have been arguing for at least two months that an economic collapse poses a dire health threat. And some have pointed out that an extended lockdown also poses a dire health threat, simply in terms of suicide and depression. One report even predicted that, in Australia, deaths by suicide could end up surpassing deaths by COVID-19.
So there is a lot to debate when it comes to policy decisions, and it appears that not even hindsight is 20/20 at this point.
But here’s the big question for me (and many others). Is this virus as dangerous as we thought or not? Is it as contagious? As deadly?
We are now hearing from the CDC that the fatality rate is much lower than was feared. In light of that, conservative commentator Steve Deace has raised some important questions for Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Now, with mass protests around the nation and with mixed signals from health experts about those protests, we are about to find out how dangerous COVID-19 actually is.
The state of California is still restricting church gatherings to no more than 100 people, even if you have a building that seats 5,000 and a congregation of 20,000. No more than 100 people in a service! (Unfortunately, the Supreme Court upheld this ruling, thanks to Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the liberal justices.)
Small businesses remained shuttered. Restaurants are opening to limited capacity seating. Sports events are being held without live audiences. Schools remain closed – all because of fear of spreading the virus en masse, thereby crippling the health system.
Yet thousands of people are gathering on the streets, standing in close proximity to each other, marching side by side, many of them not wearing masks.
So, again, common sense tells me that we are either about to see a massive spike in infections (which I hope is not the case but might well be) or we will soon feel foolish for over-quarantining. (To be clear, I am not criticizing the peaceful protesters and recognize their right to take a public stand.)
My personal tendency is to be full of faith, totally confident, and overly optimistic, jumping first and calculating later. But, as I wrote in my new book When the World Stops: Words of Hope, Faith, and Wisdom in the Midst of the Crisis, a little wisdom goes a long way. And so, over the years, I have learned to walk in both wisdom and faith, which are really two sides of the same coin.
I have also documented a number of cases where pastors boasted about their faith and flaunted government guidelines, only to die of the virus themselves.
And so, because I did not want to be presumptuous, as if I was an invincible 65-year-old, I followed a number of guidelines as well. I had sanitizing wipes in my car to disinfect my hands after shopping at the grocery. And for a short time, Nancy and I also desanitized the grocery items once I brought them inside. After all, that’s what the experts recommended.
But then we were told that the virus could not be spread through inanimate objects after all. Or could it?
Either way, here we stand today, with some of the same voices that were screaming for extreme caution just a few weeks ago now modifying their tone.
We are about to find out whether the extreme caution was justified or whether we have been massively misled (even if sincerely) on a scale never seen before in our history.
What will it be?
Follow Michael Dr. Brown is the author of more than 35 books, including Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, which has been translated into more than twelve languages, the highly acclaimed five-volume series, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, a commentary on Jeremiah (part of the revised edition of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary), and several books on revival and the Jesus revolution. His most recent book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?
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lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Kentucky law banning gruesome dismemberment abortions can’t be enforced, court reaffirms

PETITION : Demand Planned Parenthood return $ 80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund !
Sign the petition here .
June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Kentucky can not enforce its 2018 law banning a second-trimester abortion procedure infamous for dismembering babies in the womb , upholding a ruling by a U.S. district judge last year .
In 2018 , former Kentucky Republican Gov .
Matt Bevin signed HB 454 into law , which bans the dilation and evacuation ( D & E ) abortion procedure .
D & Es are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” because they function by tearing a preborn baby apart limb by limb .
The left-wing American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) quickly sued , and U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley sided with them last May .
McKinley , a Bill Clinton appointee , based his ruling on the fact that the ban limits abortion options starting at around 14 weeks , which is well before the U.S. Supreme Court ’ s “ viability ” threshold , despite the fact that it still allows second-trimester abortions via other methods .
The U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sixth Circuit agreed this week that HB 454 “ imposes an undue burden ” on “ all of the individuals it restricts , ” the Lexington Herald-Leader reported .
Pro-abortion activists have objected to the “ dismemberment ” label as inflammatory and misleading , but the abortion industry itself has effectively admitted its accuracy .
The National Abortion Federation ’ s own instructional materials describe “ grasping a fetal part , ” then “ withdraw ( ing ) the forceps while gently rotating it ” to achieve “ separation , ” and notorious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ there is no possibility of denial of an act of destruction by the operator ( of D & E procedures ) .
It is before one ’ s eyes .
The sensations of dismemberment flow through the forceps like an electric current.
” Defenders also claim dismemberment abortions are the safest second-trimester procedure available ( for the mother ) , but pro-lifers suspect abortionists actually prefer D & E abortions because they can fit more into their schedule , and therefore make more money .
“ Dismemberment abortion facilitates fetal harvesting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Culp told LifeSiteNews last year .
“ Clinicians experimenting on aborted baby parts don ’ t want their research tainted by drugs , and , they want fresh organs – packed for shipping within minutes of death.
” As to the merits of the rulings against the law , supporters note that in 2000 ’ s Stenberg v. Carhart , the pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens admitted that partial-birth abortion and dismemberment abortion were “ equally gruesome , ” and that it was “ simply irrational ” to conclude that one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other.
” Stenberg struck down the federal partial-birth abortion ban , but Gonzales v. Carhart ultimately upheld it in 2007 .
“ We ’ re disappointed with the court ’ s ruling and will take any steps necessary to continue defending the law , which protects the unborn from a gruesome procedure , ” Kentucky ’ s Republican , pro-life Attorney General Daniel Cameron said in response to the Sixth Circuit ’ s decision .

PETITION: Demand Planned Parenthood return $80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund! Sign the petition here.
June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Kentucky cannot enforce its 2018 law banning a second-trimester abortion procedure infamous for dismembering babies in the womb, upholding a ruling by a U.S. district judge last year.
In 2018, former Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin signed HB 454 into law, which bans the dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion procedure. D&Es are more commonly known as “dismemberment abortions” because they function by tearing a preborn baby apart limb by limb. The left-wing American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) quickly sued, and U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley sided with them last May.
McKinley, a Bill Clinton appointee, based his ruling on the fact that the ban limits abortion options starting at around 14 weeks, which is well before the U.S. Supreme Court’s “viability” threshold, despite the fact that it still allows second-trimester abortions via other methods. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit agreed this week that HB 454 “imposes an undue burden” on “all of the individuals it restricts,” the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Pro-abortion activists have objected to the “dismemberment” label as inflammatory and misleading, but the abortion industry itself has effectively admitted its accuracy. The National Abortion Federation’s own instructional materials describe “grasping a fetal part,” then “withdraw(ing) the forceps while gently rotating it” to achieve “separation,” and notorious late-term abortionist Warren Hern has written, “there is no possibility of denial of an act of destruction by the operator (of D&E procedures). It is before one’s eyes. The sensations of dismemberment flow through the forceps like an electric current.”
Defenders also claim dismemberment abortions are the safest second-trimester procedure available (for the mother), but pro-lifers suspect abortionists actually prefer D&E abortions because they can fit more into their schedule, and therefore make more money. “Dismemberment abortion facilitates fetal harvesting,” Kansans for Life executive director Kay Culp told LifeSiteNews last year. “Clinicians experimenting on aborted baby parts don’t want their research tainted by drugs, and, they want fresh organs – packed for shipping within minutes of death.”
As to the merits of the rulings against the law, supporters note that in 2000’s Stenberg v. Carhart, the pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens admitted that partial-birth abortion and dismemberment abortion were “equally gruesome,” and that it was “simply irrational” to conclude that one was “more akin to infanticide than the other.” Stenberg struck down the federal partial-birth abortion ban, but Gonzales v. Carhart ultimately upheld it in 2007.
“We’re disappointed with the court’s ruling and will take any steps necessary to continue defending the law, which protects the unborn from a gruesome procedure,” Kentucky’s Republican, pro-life Attorney General Daniel Cameron said in response to the Sixth Circuit’s decision.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Rioters and vandals are a bunch of fatherless kids who desperately need God our heavenly Father

PETITION : Yes to reform .
No to riots & revolution Sign petition here .
June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Many observers are comparing the year 2020 with 1968 , the year that Martin Luther King , Jr. , was assassinated , leading to riots all over America .
Not long after that , Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated .
1968 was also the year of the May Revolution in France , the Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico ( along with the Black Panther salute during the Mexico City Olympics ) , and the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Stonewall riots and more .
This was a snapshot of the tumultuous 60s in America and the world .
Yet behind the scenes , under the surface , something else was going on .
The rebellion was certainly real and the generation gap undeniable .
And the obsession with sex , drugs , and rock and roll was anything but a myth .
( I was born in New York City in 1955 and saw Jimi Hendrix in concert for the first time in 1968 .
I started playing drums in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high in 1969 and was shooting heroin by 1970 . )
But underneath it all , often in plain sight , there was a deep spiritual search .
Young people were looking for the meaning of life .
They were asking deep questions , and the simple answers of the American dream no longer satisfied .
( Why work hard in school , to get into the best college , to get the best job , so your kids could simply repeat the cycle ? )
Traditional religion didn ’ t seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people sought after Eastern religions and new philosophies .
Still , Jesus seemed pretty cool , and many were open to finding out more about Him .
And so , right there in the middle of these rebellious , fleshly times , the Jesus Revolution began .
( The starting date is normally put at 1967 . )
The results were dramatic , illustrated by these two headlines from Time Magazine , one from April 1966 , the other from June 1971 .
The first asked in stark , bold letters : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second , just five years later , announced , “ The Jesus Revolution.
” And just as I was part of the counterculture revolution of the 1960s , I became part of the Jesus Revolution of the early 1970s , getting “ born again ” in late 1971 and instantly delivered from drugs .
The real tragedy is that most pastors and churches did not understand what was happening .
They didn ’ t see the spiritual search going on in the midst of the counterculture revolution .
Instead , they saw the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rebellion .
The lawlessness .
The drug abuse .
The promiscuity .
They heard the loud , blaring rock music .
They saw the outlandish costumes and heard the scandalous lyrics .
But they missed the spiritual pain .
The longing .
The searching .
Then , when tens of thousands of hippies and radicals and rebels began showing up in large numbers at many small , traditional churches , in many cases , the churches didn ’ t know what to do with them .
Consequently , what could have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell far short of its potential .
Now , when it comes to 2020 , we have never had another year like it .
Of course , the 1960s also witnessed the assassination of JFK in 1963 and wrestled with the ongoing Vietnam War , among other things .
But never have we seen , in just one year , all of these events together .
First , the impeachment and acquittal of the president .
Second , a pandemic resulting in a massive and unprecedented shutdown .
Third , a wide-scale economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans unemployed .
Fourth , video evidence of two horrific killings of black Americans ( Ahmaud Arberry and then George Floyd ) , followed by nationwide peaceful protests marred by violent riots and looting .
Nothing really comes close to this in our history in terms of a perfect storm .
And we have just started June !
Even if all becomes peaceful soon and the economy starts to swing back , we are facing perhaps the most volatile elections in our history .
The shaking will continue .
How , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of affairs in America ?
What is the divine perspective ?
On my Tuesday broadcast , I spoke with Steve Uggen , who leads the Firebase Movement , taking prayer and gospel love to the streets of America ’ s cities .
Steve is based in Minneapolis and has been on the frontlines of the protests and riots , reaching out one by one as best as possible , as well as praying and worshiping with teams on the streets .
They believe only the presence of God can ultimately change the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear , in no way was he minimizing the violence or justifying the looting .
Not at all .
But he also said this : He saw lots of young people on the streets and was reminded that they represented several generations of fatherless kids .
He saw their aimlessness , their lostness , like sheep without a shepherd , and he knew that only God was the answer for their lives .
They need a heavenly Father !
This does not mean that we do not take concrete steps to stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we seek spiritual solutions alone while ignoring a host of practical issues that must be addressed .
But it means that we look beyond the sin , the anger , the violence .
It means that we get God ’ s heart for the looters and the vandals , along with His heart for the peaceful , aggrieved protesters .
And while we recognize that force must be used to stop the lawbreakers , we know that this will not address the boiling anger and lawlessness .
Only the gospel can transform lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can do is point people to the cross .
There , the ultimate act of injustice was carried out , as the perfect Son died for the sins of the world .
And from that bloodied place , redemption flows for the entire human race .
Let ’ s step back from the news for a moment and lift our hearts in prayer , asking God to give us His perspective on the protests and riots and to enable us to be part of a lasting , transformative solution .
Isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @

PETITION: Yes to reform. No to riots & revolution Sign petition here.
June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Many observers are comparing the year 2020 with 1968, the year that Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, leading to riots all over America. Not long after that, Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.
1968 was also the year of the May Revolution in France, the Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico (along with the Black Panther salute during the Mexico City Olympics), and the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia.
By 1969, there was Woodstock, the Stonewall riots and more.
This was a snapshot of the tumultuous 60s in America and the world.
Yet behind the scenes, under the surface, something else was going on.
The rebellion was certainly real and the generation gap undeniable. And the obsession with sex, drugs, and rock and roll was anything but a myth. (I was born in New York City in 1955 and saw Jimi Hendrix in concert for the first time in 1968. I started playing drums in a rock band, then began getting high in 1969 and was shooting heroin by 1970.)
But underneath it all, often in plain sight, there was a deep spiritual search.
Young people were looking for the meaning of life. They were asking deep questions, and the simple answers of the American dream no longer satisfied. (Why work hard in school, to get into the best college, to get the best job, so your kids could simply repeat the cycle?)
Traditional religion didn’t seem to have the answers either, and so young people sought after Eastern religions and new philosophies. Still, Jesus seemed pretty cool, and many were open to finding out more about Him.
And so, right there in the middle of these rebellious, fleshly times, the Jesus Revolution began. (The starting date is normally put at 1967.)
The results were dramatic, illustrated by these two headlines from Time Magazine, one from April 1966, the other from June 1971.
The first asked in stark, bold letters: “Is God Dead?”
The second, just five years later, announced, “The Jesus Revolution.”
And just as I was part of the counterculture revolution of the 1960s, I became part of the Jesus Revolution of the early 1970s, getting “born again” in late 1971 and instantly delivered from drugs.
The real tragedy is that most pastors and churches did not understand what was happening. They didn’t see the spiritual search going on in the midst of the counterculture revolution. Instead, they saw the outward, the obvious. They saw the rebellion. The lawlessness. The drug abuse. The promiscuity.
They heard the loud, blaring rock music. They saw the outlandish costumes and heard the scandalous lyrics.
But they missed the spiritual pain. The longing. The searching.
Then, when tens of thousands of hippies and radicals and rebels began showing up in large numbers at many small, traditional churches, in many cases, the churches didn’t know what to do with them.
Consequently, what could have been a much greater, long-lasting spiritual harvest fell far short of its potential.
Now, when it comes to 2020, we have never had another year like it.
Of course, the 1960s also witnessed the assassination of JFK in 1963 and wrestled with the ongoing Vietnam War, among other things.
But never have we seen, in just one year, all of these events together.
First, the impeachment and acquittal of the president. Second, a pandemic resulting in a massive and unprecedented shutdown. Third, a wide-scale economic downturn, resulting in tens of millions of Americans unemployed. Fourth, video evidence of two horrific killings of black Americans (Ahmaud Arberry and then George Floyd), followed by nationwide peaceful protests marred by violent riots and looting.
Nothing really comes close to this in our history in terms of a perfect storm. And we have just started June! Even if all becomes peaceful soon and the economy starts to swing back, we are facing perhaps the most volatile elections in our history. The shaking will continue.
How, then, should we look at the current state of affairs in America? What is the divine perspective?
On my Tuesday broadcast, I spoke with Steve Uggen, who leads the Firebase Movement, taking prayer and gospel love to the streets of America’s cities.
Steve is based in Minneapolis and has been on the frontlines of the protests and riots, reaching out one by one as best as possible, as well as praying and worshiping with teams on the streets. They believe only the presence of God can ultimately change the spiritual and moral climate.
To be clear, in no way was he minimizing the violence or justifying the looting. Not at all. But he also said this: He saw lots of young people on the streets and was reminded that they represented several generations of fatherless kids.
He saw their aimlessness, their lostness, like sheep without a shepherd, and he knew that only God was the answer for their lives. They need a heavenly Father!
This does not mean that we do not take concrete steps to stop the anarchy. It does not mean that we seek spiritual solutions alone while ignoring a host of practical issues that must be addressed.
But it means that we look beyond the sin, the anger, the violence. It means that we get God’s heart for the looters and the vandals, along with His heart for the peaceful, aggrieved protesters.
And while we recognize that force must be used to stop the lawbreakers, we know that this will not address the boiling anger and lawlessness. Only the gospel can transform lives.
In short, the greatest thing we can do is point people to the cross. There, the ultimate act of injustice was carried out, as the perfect Son died for the sins of the world. And from that bloodied place, redemption flows for the entire human race.
Let’s step back from the news for a moment and lift our hearts in prayer, asking God to give us His perspective on the protests and riots and to enable us to be part of a lasting, transformative solution. Isn’t that what He desires?
Follow Michael Dr. Brown is the author of more than 35 books, including Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, which has been translated into more than twelve languages, the highly acclaimed five-volume series, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, a commentary on Jeremiah (part of the revised edition of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary), and several books on revival and the Jesus revolution. His most recent book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?
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lifesitenews--2020-06-03--3 things DC Archbishop Gregory should’ve said instead of criticizing President Trump

June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory lashed out against President Trump and the First Lady ’ s visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in the nation ’ s capital on June 2 .
The long-planned event caused an uproar because it happened the day after the President walked to St. John ’ s Episcopal Church near the White House .
He visited the historic church , the day after protesters had set it afire on May 31 .
When protesters were cleared from the area to facilitate his walk , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident , which they labeled a photo-op held at the expense of poor protesters .
They are joined by progressive clergy who have turned their criticism into their own media event and photo-ops .
Even bridge-building Jesuit Fr .
James Martin tweeted his indignation at the President ’ s religious gesture .
When the President visited the Catholic Shrine on Tuesday , the Archbishop ’ s official statement insinuated that the directors of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine were being manipulated by the administration to serve as a presidential campaign backdrop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles , which call us to defend the rights of all people , even those with whom we might disagree , ” Archbishop Gregory said in a statement referring to someone with whom he disagrees .
The statement carried much weight , as Archbishop Gregory is the former President of the U.S. Bishop ’ s Conference .
The prelate abandoned the vague style normally used by bishops in dealing with American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President ’ s actions and claimed to know his interior motives—which God alone knows .
What Catholics Need to Hear This message engaging in petty politics is not the one Catholics and Americans need at this time .
The key issues that need to be addressed go far beyond whether one likes the President or not .
Indeed , it is “ baffling ” that Catholics hear only this posturing when they crave spiritual leadership and direction .
The vague progressive platitudes invoking social justice and human dignity do nothing to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover .
Catholics need to hear three things from Archbishop Gregory in this time of crisis .
The first thing Catholics need to hear from Archbishop Gregory is a loud and unequivocal condemnation of what is happening in the riots .
The brutal incidents that sparked the protest must not be the pretext for far worse violence .
Since when do two wrongs make one right ?
The Church ’ s role is to speak out against injustice , violence and attacks on the most vulnerable .
It is time to speak out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics to destroy the remnants of order in our society .
There should be prayers for the helpless women , old men and children who are ruthlessly attacked in the streets—or even trapped in burning buildings , while rioters blocked the access of fire engines .
Something must be said to console poor owners whose small businesses and lives are ruined .
There should be special prayers for the safety of the policemen who nightly risk ( and give ) their lives to protect their neighbors from harm .
Indeed , “ greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a man lay down his life for his friends ( John 15:13 ) .
The Archbishop should censure the senseless destruction of property and the defacement of monuments .
The Church ’ s places of worship are set on fire and covered with graffiti .
Vague calls for “ solidarity ” with protests , which turn violent , only inflames the situation and supports the class struggle narratives that are so contrary to the Gospels that promote social harmony .
An Appeal to Return to Church A second message Catholics need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening of the churches and the sacraments .
Whole regions of the nation still do not have access to the sacraments .
People are dying without confession and last rites .
At a time when protesters crowd the streets , churches that can hold hundreds are often limited to 10 or 25 people .
There seems to be no ecclesiastical hurry to reopen .
Catholics want to hear a consistent message from the bishops , assuring them that they feel the urgency of their plight .
Leaders need to be vocal in pointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department stores and near-empty churches .
Have pity on the faithful who lack the spiritual nourishment of the sacraments lest they perish .
Where are the Pleas for Pardon and Amendment ?
A final message for Catholics from the Archbishop would be the recognition that the violence and social strife are a consequence of the sins of the nation .
This is a time to talk about sin .
The sins of public blasphemy , procured abortion , same-sex “ marriage , ” Drag Queen Story Hours for children , drug use , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country apart .
Catholic bishops should be leading the faithful in prayer , asking for pardon .
There should be acts of reparation in reopened churches and special pleas to the Mother of God to have pity on the nation and bring the violence to an end .
A final element would be a call upon the faithful to amend their lives and sin no more .
In short , the message that needs to be heard is the same one given by Our Lady at Fatima in 1917 .
Today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignoring her warnings .
There is little chance Archbishop Gregory will deliver these messages .
Most of our Catholic bishops prefer the empty pronouncements that conform to the latest social gospel fads or errant theologians .
They proceed down the path of self-destruction .
The faithful who insist upon following Church tradition receive little encouragement .
Meanwhile , America burns .
It is most baffling .
.
.

PETITION: Ask Archbishop Gregory to apologize to President Trump and the Knights of Columbus! Sign the petition here.
June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory lashed out against President Trump and the First Lady’s visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in the nation’s capital on June 2. The long-planned event caused an uproar because it happened the day after the President walked to St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House. He visited the historic church, the day after protesters had set it afire on May 31.
When protesters were cleared from the area to facilitate his walk, the media and the left jumped on the incident, which they labeled a photo-op held at the expense of poor protesters. They are joined by progressive clergy who have turned their criticism into their own media event and photo-ops. Even bridge-building Jesuit Fr. James Martin tweeted his indignation at the President’s religious gesture.
The Archbishop Judges
When the President visited the Catholic Shrine on Tuesday, the Archbishop’s official statement insinuated that the directors of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine were being manipulated by the administration to serve as a presidential campaign backdrop.
“I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people, even those with whom we might disagree,” Archbishop Gregory said in a statement referring to someone with whom he disagrees.
The statement carried much weight, as Archbishop Gregory is the former President of the U.S. Bishop’s Conference. The prelate abandoned the vague style normally used by bishops in dealing with American politics and leaders. He severely judged the President’s actions and claimed to know his interior motives—which God alone knows.
What Catholics Need to Hear
This message engaging in petty politics is not the one Catholics and Americans need at this time. The key issues that need to be addressed go far beyond whether one likes the President or not.
Indeed, it is “baffling” that Catholics hear only this posturing when they crave spiritual leadership and direction. The vague progressive platitudes invoking social justice and human dignity do nothing to stop the violence and everything to provide it cover.
Catholics need to hear three things from Archbishop Gregory in this time of crisis.
A Clear Condemnation
The first thing Catholics need to hear from Archbishop Gregory is a loud and unequivocal condemnation of what is happening in the riots. The brutal incidents that sparked the protest must not be the pretext for far worse violence. Since when do two wrongs make one right?
The Church’s role is to speak out against injustice, violence and attacks on the most vulnerable. It is time to speak out against the agitators who are employing terror tactics to destroy the remnants of order in our society. There should be prayers for the helpless women, old men and children who are ruthlessly attacked in the streets—or even trapped in burning buildings, while rioters blocked the access of fire engines.
Something must be said to console poor owners whose small businesses and lives are ruined. There should be special prayers for the safety of the policemen who nightly risk (and give) their lives to protect their neighbors from harm. Indeed, “greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
The Archbishop should censure the senseless destruction of property and the defacement of monuments. The Church’s places of worship are set on fire and covered with graffiti.
Vague calls for “solidarity” with protests, which turn violent, only inflames the situation and supports the class struggle narratives that are so contrary to the Gospels that promote social harmony.
An Appeal to Return to Church
A second message Catholics need to hear from the Archbishop is about the reopening of the churches and the sacraments. Whole regions of the nation still do not have access to the sacraments. People are dying without confession and last rites. At a time when protesters crowd the streets, churches that can hold hundreds are often limited to 10 or 25 people. There seems to be no ecclesiastical hurry to reopen.
Catholics want to hear a consistent message from the bishops, assuring them that they feel the urgency of their plight. Leaders need to be vocal in pointing out the contradiction between semi-full restaurants and department stores and near-empty churches. Have pity on the faithful who lack the spiritual nourishment of the sacraments lest they perish.
Where are the Pleas for Pardon and Amendment?
A final message for Catholics from the Archbishop would be the recognition that the violence and social strife are a consequence of the sins of the nation. This is a time to talk about sin. The sins of public blasphemy, procured abortion, same-sex “marriage,” Drag Queen Story Hours for children, drug use, and other such evils that are tearing the country apart.
Catholic bishops should be leading the faithful in prayer, asking for pardon. There should be acts of reparation in reopened churches and special pleas to the Mother of God to have pity on the nation and bring the violence to an end. A final element would be a call upon the faithful to amend their lives and sin no more. In short, the message that needs to be heard is the same one given by Our Lady at Fatima in 1917. Today, the world is witnessing the consequences of ignoring her warnings.
There is little chance Archbishop Gregory will deliver these messages. Most of our Catholic bishops prefer the empty pronouncements that conform to the latest social gospel fads or errant theologians. They proceed down the path of self-destruction. The faithful who insist upon following Church tradition receive little encouragement.
Meanwhile, America burns. It is most baffling. . .
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lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Facebook might change policies to censor Trump after all, Zuckerberg hints

PETITION : Yes to reform .
No to riots & revolution Sign the petition here .
June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Under pressure from his own employees , Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg hinted the social network may change its policies in a way that opens the door to censoring the President of the United States , just days after he publicly criticized Twitter ’ s decision to do so .
Twitter set off a firestorm last week when it placed a “ fact-check ” on a Trump tweet pertaining to the fraud potential of mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” pertaining to the Minneapolis riots .
The company claimed that tweet was “ glorifying violence.
” “ Our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies , ” Zuckerberg said Friday .
“ We looked very closely at the post that discussed the protests in Minnesota to evaluate whether it violated our policies .
Although the post had a troubling historical reference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the National Guard references meant we read it as a warning about state action , and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force.
” Many left-wingers within the company did not take kindly to their boss ’ stance .
Several took to social media to publicly declare that “ doing nothing ( about Trump ’ s tweets ) is not acceptable , ” and that Zuckerberg ’ s mind needs to be changed .
Several hundred employees also staged a “ virtual walkout , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s stance .
Some of the pressure may already be getting to Zuckerberg .
The Verge reported that the Facebook chief addressed the matter again during a Friday video conference , during which he suggested that the company ’ s policy may “ evolve ” yet again in response .
“ There is a real question coming out of this , which is whether we want to evolve our policy around the discussion of state use of force , ” Zuckerberg said .
“ Over the coming days , as the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest one that I would worry about would be excessive use of police or military force .
I think there ’ s a good argument that there should be more bounds around the discussion around that.
” Few conservatives would be surprised by such a turnaround , given Facebook ’ s history of suppressing conservative content under vague or false pretenses .
Multiple analyses have found that algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites .
Last year , an insider revealed that Facebook “ deboosts ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most recently , Facebook has made itself an arbiter of “ misinformation ” and “ harmful ” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak , with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the interests of the World Health Organization , which has been accused of covering for the Chinese government ’ s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world .
Last Thursday , after Twitter placed a “ fact-check ” on a Trump tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , the president signed an executive order aimed at tweaking how federal agencies interpret and enforce Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act , which immunizes websites from potentially being held liable for the third-party content they host .
The order essentially directs the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) to propose an administrative rule that would “ spell out what it means for the tech giants to carry out their takedown policies ‘ in good faith , ’ ” national security attorney Stewart Baker explained .

The company's CEO might bow to internal pressure from employees to change his stance on censoring the President.
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June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Under pressure from his own employees, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg hinted the social network may change its policies in a way that opens the door to censoring the President of the United States, just days after he publicly criticized Twitter’s decision to do so.
Twitter set off a firestorm last week when it placed a “fact-check” on a Trump tweet pertaining to the fraud potential of mail-in voting, then censoring another tweet stating that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” pertaining to the Minneapolis riots. The company claimed that tweet was “glorifying violence.”
“Our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies,” Zuckerberg said Friday. “We looked very closely at the post that discussed the protests in Minnesota to evaluate whether it violated our policies. Although the post had a troubling historical reference, we decided to leave it up because the National Guard references meant we read it as a warning about state action, and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force.”
Many left-wingers within the company did not take kindly to their boss’ stance. Several took to social media to publicly declare that “doing nothing (about Trump’s tweets) is not acceptable,” and that Zuckerberg’s mind needs to be changed. Several hundred employees also staged a “virtual walkout,” refusing to work in protest of Zuckerberg’s stance.
Some of the pressure may already be getting to Zuckerberg. The Verge reported that the Facebook chief addressed the matter again during a Friday video conference, during which he suggested that the company’s policy may “evolve” yet again in response.
“There is a real question coming out of this, which is whether we want to evolve our policy around the discussion of state use of force,” Zuckerberg said. “Over the coming days, as the National Guard is now deployed, probably the largest one that I would worry about would be excessive use of police or military force. I think there’s a good argument that there should be more bounds around the discussion around that.”
Few conservatives would be surprised by such a turnaround, given Facebook’s history of suppressing conservative content under vague or false pretenses. Multiple analyses have found that algorithm changes instituted at the beginning of 2018 disproportionately impacted conservative politicians and websites. Last year, an insider revealed that Facebook “deboosts” traffic to several mainstream conservative sites.
Most recently, Facebook has made itself an arbiter of “misinformation” and “harmful” speech related to the COVID-19 outbreak, with critics objecting that Facebook has crossed the line from merely quashing objectively false claims to censoring legitimate protest organizing and factual information that conflicts with the interests of the World Health Organization, which has been accused of covering for the Chinese government’s complicity in letting COVID-19 spread across the world.
Last Thursday, after Twitter placed a “fact-check” on a Trump tweet pertaining to the fraud potential of mail-in voting, the president signed an executive order aimed at tweaking how federal agencies interpret and enforce Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which immunizes websites from potentially being held liable for the third-party content they host.
The order essentially directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to propose an administrative rule that would “spell out what it means for the tech giants to carry out their takedown policies ‘in good faith,’” national security attorney Stewart Baker explained.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-03--Catholics criticize Vatican’s long delay in releasing McCarrick report

VATICAN CITY , June 3 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― In the wake of Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington harshly criticizing the John Paul II National Shrine for allowing President Donald Trump to make a long-planned visit there , Catholics are wondering when the long-expected report about his disgraced predecessor will be released .
“ Regular requests made to the # Vatican asking when the # McCarrickReport will be released have gone unanswered , ” Rome-based journalist Edward Pentin tweeted this morning .
“ June 20th will be the 2nd anniversary of his removal from public ministry .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today is the Feast of Sts Charles Lwanga & Companions.
” St. Charles Lwanga and his male companions were Ugandan martyrs put to death on June 3 , 1886 after refusing to give up their Christian faith or to submit to the sexual demands of their homosexual king .
The former cardinal Theodore McCarrick , Archbishop of Washington from 2000 until his retirement in 2006 , was revealed in 2018 to have been a serial sexual predator .
McCarrick , now returned to the lay state , had used his status , first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bishop , to demand carnal gratification from young men and boys , the youngest being only 11 .
After revelations that McCarrick had been notorious within clerical circles for his misconduct for decades , American Catholics were promised a full investigation into his case .
Of special concern is why McCarrick became both the Archbishop of Washington , a position that carries significant political influence , and a cardinal despite his reputation .
Catholics also question why Pope Francis , who had been informed of the cardinal ’ s character , permitted McCarrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vatican .
Fr .
Dwight Longenecker declared on Twitter today that he finds it “ baffling and reprehensible that we still have n't had the report on Mr McCarrick 's crimes.
” Gregory had said of Trump ’ s visit to the John Paul II National Shrine that he found it “ baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles , which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , the Vatican signalled that the McCarrick report would soon be released .
The Secretary of State for the Holy See , Cardinal Pietro Parolin , said then that it merely waited for the approval of Pope Francis .
“ I think it will come out .
I can ’ t tell you exactly when , ” Parolin said .
“ But the publication depends on the pope , he added .
“ The work has been done , but the pope has the last word.
” Catholic author John Zmirak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t believe the report will be released any time soon .
“ If that report indeed exists , it will never be released―or not for 500 years , ” Zmirak said via social media .
“ Its findings will be a lost Vatican secret , like the identity of the forger of the Donation of Constantine .
It sits in a vault somewhere , and serves perhaps as leverage in the crabbed , catty power struggles within this Vatican― which likely resemble those depicted in the black comedy ‘ The Death of Stalin.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only a “ monster ” but “ the spider who wove today 's U.S. church , picking its bishops.
” He noted that Gregory was one of his proteges , and accused Gregory of collusion with McCarrick in 2002 to protect bishops from sanctions .
The fiery author of the Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism suggested that McCarrick was involved in the Vatican ’ s concordat with the People ’ s Republic of China and recalled that the former cardinal had once controlled the Papal Foundation .
`` All of that should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] journalists , ” Zmirak said .
“ But McCarrick is locked away safely in a monastery , gliding down to Sheol on the golden parachute his silence has bought him , ” he continued and suggested that the former cardinal ’ s life could be in danger .
“ If a real investigative reporter were to get anywhere near McCarrick , the old man would suddenly end up like Jeffrey Epstein , '' Zmirak concluded .
It is unknown where McCarrick , now in his 90th year , is currently residing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he lived in the St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria , Kansas .
LifeSiteNews reached out to the Archdiocese of Washington for comment today , but has not yet received an answer .

Catholic author John Zmirak declared that McCarrick was not only a 'monster' but 'the spider who wove today's U.S. church, picking its bishops.'
VATICAN CITY, June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― In the wake of Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington harshly criticizing the John Paul II National Shrine for allowing President Donald Trump to make a long-planned visit there, Catholics are wondering when the long-expected report about his disgraced predecessor will be released.
“Regular requests made to the #Vatican asking when the #McCarrickReport will be released have gone unanswered,” Rome-based journalist Edward Pentin tweeted this morning.
“June 20th will be the 2nd anniversary of his removal from public ministry. The investigation was announced in Oct. 2018. Today is the Feast of Sts Charles Lwanga & Companions.”
St. Charles Lwanga and his male companions were Ugandan martyrs put to death on June 3, 1886 after refusing to give up their Christian faith or to submit to the sexual demands of their homosexual king.
The former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington from 2000 until his retirement in 2006, was revealed in 2018 to have been a serial sexual predator. McCarrick, now returned to the lay state, had used his status, first as a priest and then as a bishop, to demand carnal gratification from young men and boys, the youngest being only 11.
After revelations that McCarrick had been notorious within clerical circles for his misconduct for decades, American Catholics were promised a full investigation into his case. Of special concern is why McCarrick became both the Archbishop of Washington, a position that carries significant political influence, and a cardinal despite his reputation. Catholics also question why Pope Francis, who had been informed of the cardinal’s character, permitted McCarrick to act as a roving ambassador for the Vatican.
Fr. Dwight Longenecker declared on Twitter today that he finds it “baffling and reprehensible that we still haven't had the report on Mr McCarrick's crimes.” Gregory had said of Trump’s visit to the John Paul II National Shrine that he found it “baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree.”
I think they’re arguing about which facts to suppress, Father. Seriously. What can they get away with keeping secret? Can they conceal Francis’s lifting of restrictions on McCarrick, knowing what he’d been up to? https://t.co/LUnve4IR79 — Damian Thompson (@holysmoke) June 3, 2020
Speaking of plans where's your plan to a) reopen the Arch of DC so DC Catholics can again receive the sacraments b) and what happened to investigating your successors McCarrick and Wuerl? What have you been doing during two+ months of lockdown? https://t.co/l4H3bAF8Hr — Thomas Peters @ �� (@AmericanPapist) June 2, 2020
In February of this year, the Vatican signalled that the McCarrick report would soon be released. The Secretary of State for the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said then that it merely waited for the approval of Pope Francis.
“I think it will come out. I can’t tell you exactly when,” Parolin said.
“But the publication depends on the pope, he added.
“The work has been done, but the pope has the last word.”
Catholic author John Zmirak told LifeSiteNews today that he doesn’t believe the report will be released any time soon.
“If that report indeed exists, it will never be released―or not for 500 years,” Zmirak said via social media.
“Its findings will be a lost Vatican secret, like the identity of the forger of the Donation of Constantine. It sits in a vault somewhere, and serves perhaps as leverage in the crabbed, catty power struggles within this Vatican― which likely resemble those depicted in the black comedy ‘The Death of Stalin.’”
Zmirak declared that McCarrick was not only a “monster” but “the spider who wove today's U.S. church, picking its bishops.” He noted that Gregory was one of his proteges, and accused Gregory of collusion with McCarrick in 2002 to protect bishops from sanctions.
The fiery author of the Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism suggested that McCarrick was involved in the Vatican’s concordat with the People’s Republic of China and recalled that the former cardinal had once controlled the Papal Foundation.
“All of that should be of great interest to [U.S.] journalists,” Zmirak said.
“But McCarrick is locked away safely in a monastery, gliding down to Sheol on the golden parachute his silence has bought him,” he continued and suggested that the former cardinal’s life could be in danger.
“If a real investigative reporter were to get anywhere near McCarrick, the old man would suddenly end up like Jeffrey Epstein,” Zmirak concluded.
It is unknown where McCarrick, now in his 90th year, is currently residing. From September 2018 until January 2020, he lived in the St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kansas.
LifeSiteNews reached out to the Archdiocese of Washington for comment today, but has not yet received an answer.
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