lifesitenews--2020-08-27--Australian diocese to teach kids LGBT studies, gender fluidity, atheism in new religion class

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PARRAMATTA , Australia , August 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) –– A Catholic diocese in Australia has adopted a new religion curriculum “ based on contemporary research ” which introduces young students to LGBT studies , gender fluidity , identity politics , and atheism in order to make religion more relevant to students ’ lives .
Year 7 and 8 students in the Diocese of Parramatta , Australia , will reportedly be asked “ to recognise sexuality as an exploration in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Is sexuality optional ?
” “ Does the Church ’ s teaching on sexuality have any value or relevance to modern life ?
” “ How does social media construct sexual identity ?
” “ As you can imagine , I and other Catholics living in this diocese are extremely concerned about this new curriculum , ” wrote one Catholic parent who is alarmed by the about-to-be-introduced religious education program .
Diocese school chief Greg Whitby acknowledged that the move would be controversial among devout Catholics but insisted that the change was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage students in religion , according to Australia ’ s Daily Telegraph on August 16 .
Bishop encourages straying from the teachings of the Church and the Bible “ The new curriculum is not just a one way street , ” claims Parrammatta ’ s prelate , Bishop Vincent Long .
“ It ’ s not just our teachers proclaiming tenets of the Christian faith and doctrines we believe in .
Young people engage much better with the Christian faith much more meaningfully , personally and seriously when their questions , concerns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education teachers must not just learn from the textbook or the teachings of the Church or the Bible for that matter , ” insisted Bishop Long in a podcast interview .
“ The onus is on them to dialogue with the young people , instead of just teaching them or proclaiming the faith to them.
” New curriculum is ‘ a Trojan horse to smuggle in a leftist political agenda ’ A commentary printed in The Daily Telegraph ten days after its initial article delivered a searing critique of the new curriculum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointing out that the Diocese ’ s Catholic schools would cease to be Catholic with this new curriculum .
If McDonald ’ s stopped selling hamburgers and started dishing up sushi instead , it would no longer be McDonald ’ s .
People who once frequented the Golden Arches for a Big Mac and fries would stop going .
It ’ s the same with Catholic schools .
Parents send their children to Catholic schools to receive a Catholic education .
If they wanted woke secular indoctrination in LGBT studies , gender fluidity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would enroll their children in the local government ‘ Safe School ’ and save money on fees .
This is obvious .
But for some reason , Catholic schools in Parramatta have chosen to go down the woke path to oblivion , with a new religious studies curriculum that is just a Trojan horse to smuggle in a leftist political agenda .
...
This dumbed-down , sex-obsessed sociology mumbo jumbo , disguised in the language of the Church , is supposed to make religion classes more ‘ relevant ’ to children ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Catholic ‘ brand , ’ both reason enough to reject the curriculum .
“ As a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Parramatta , I kindly remind the Catholic Education Office of Parramatta of their crucial responsibility in teaching their students of the importance of the 10 Commandments [ and ] the Catholic teachings of morality , ” said Fr .
John Rizzo , a priest of the diocese told the Daily Telegraph .
“ Catholic faithful are sick and tired of politically correct agendas being thrown at the innocence of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new curriculum appears to align with the personal beliefs of the Parramatta bishop , whom the regional newspaper described as “ woke local bishop Vincent Long , ” as it strays from strict adherence to Catholic moral teaching .
In 2016 , Long gave a lecture in which he denounced Church teaching that homosexuality is disordered .
He said that he was simply following Pope Francis ’ s lead in calling on the Church to end “ oppression ” against gays and lesbians caused by “ defin [ ing ] their sexuality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Pope Francis ] has refocused on the proclamation of God ’ s love for the poor , the vulnerable and the marginalized ; ... he has committed the church to the way of engagement , affirmation , and compassion , which is at the heart of the Gospel , ” said Long at the time .
“ We can not talk about the integrity of creation , the universal and inclusive love of God , while at the same time colluding with the forces of oppression in the ill-treatment of racial minorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said , insisting , “ It won ’ t wash with young people , especially when we purport to treat gay people with love and compassion and yet define their sexuality as ‘ intrinsically disordered.
’ ” Father Terence Mary Naughtin , the Latin Mass chaplain for Australia ’ s Wagga diocese , commented that the word “ inclusion ” used by Bishop Long is a “ vague word ” that is also used by ideologically driven groups to mean , in effect , “ compromising the Gospel of our Lord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifestyles.
” “ We need to reject such an idea , ” he added .

PETITION: No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine! Sign the petition here.
PARRAMATTA, Australia, August 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) –– A Catholic diocese in Australia has adopted a new religion curriculum “based on contemporary research” which introduces young students to LGBT studies, gender fluidity, identity politics, and atheism in order to make religion more relevant to students’ lives.
Year 7 and 8 students in the Diocese of Parramatta, Australia, will reportedly be asked “to recognise sexuality as an exploration in forming personal identity” and will discuss “Is sexuality optional?” “Does the Church’s teaching on sexuality have any value or relevance to modern life?” “How does social media construct sexual identity?”
“As you can imagine, I and other Catholics living in this diocese are extremely concerned about this new curriculum,” wrote one Catholic parent who is alarmed by the about-to-be-introduced religious education program.
Diocese school chief Greg Whitby acknowledged that the move would be controversial among devout Catholics but insisted that the change was necessary if religion teachers were going to engage students in religion, according to Australia’s Daily Telegraph on August 16.
Bishop encourages straying from the teachings of the Church and the Bible
“The new curriculum is not just a one way street,” claims Parrammatta’s prelate, Bishop Vincent Long. “It’s not just our teachers proclaiming tenets of the Christian faith and doctrines we believe in. Young people engage much better with the Christian faith much more meaningfully, personally and seriously when their questions, concerns and issues are taken up.”
“Religious education teachers must not just learn from the textbook or the teachings of the Church or the Bible for that matter,” insisted Bishop Long in a podcast interview. “The onus is on them to dialogue with the young people, instead of just teaching them or proclaiming the faith to them.”
New curriculum is ‘a Trojan horse to smuggle in a leftist political agenda’
A commentary printed in The Daily Telegraph ten days after its initial article delivered a searing critique of the new curriculum, which amounted to the secular media outlet pointing out that the Diocese’s Catholic schools would cease to be Catholic with this new curriculum.
If McDonald’s stopped selling hamburgers and started dishing up sushi instead, it would no longer be McDonald’s. People who once frequented the Golden Arches for a Big Mac and fries would stop going. It’s the same with Catholic schools. Parents send their children to Catholic schools to receive a Catholic education. If they wanted woke secular indoctrination in LGBT studies, gender fluidity, identity politics and atheism, they would enroll their children in the local government ‘Safe School’ and save money on fees. This is obvious. But for some reason, Catholic schools in Parramatta have chosen to go down the woke path to oblivion, with a new religious studies curriculum that is just a Trojan horse to smuggle in a leftist political agenda. … This dumbed-down, sex-obsessed sociology mumbo jumbo, disguised in the language of the Church, is supposed to make religion classes more ‘relevant’ to children’s lives and, insaltingly, to rescue the Catholic ‘brand,’ both reason enough to reject the curriculum.
“As a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Parramatta, I kindly remind the Catholic Education Office of Parramatta of their crucial responsibility in teaching their students of the importance of the 10 Commandments [and] the Catholic teachings of morality,” said Fr. John Rizzo, a priest of the diocese told the Daily Telegraph.
“Catholic faithful are sick and tired of politically correct agendas being thrown at the innocence of their children,” added the priest.
Woke Bishop
The new curriculum appears to align with the personal beliefs of the Parramatta bishop, whom the regional newspaper described as “woke local bishop Vincent Long,” as it strays from strict adherence to Catholic moral teaching.
In 2016, Long gave a lecture in which he denounced Church teaching that homosexuality is disordered. He said that he was simply following Pope Francis’s lead in calling on the Church to end “oppression” against gays and lesbians caused by “defin[ing] their sexuality as ‘intrinsically disordered.’”
“[Pope Francis] has refocused on the proclamation of God’s love for the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized; … he has committed the church to the way of engagement, affirmation, and compassion, which is at the heart of the Gospel,” said Long at the time.
“We cannot talk about the integrity of creation, the universal and inclusive love of God, while at the same time colluding with the forces of oppression in the ill-treatment of racial minorities, women, and homosexual persons,” he said, insisting, “It won’t wash with young people, especially when we purport to treat gay people with love and compassion and yet define their sexuality as ‘intrinsically disordered.’”
Father Terence Mary Naughtin, the Latin Mass chaplain for Australia’s Wagga diocese, commented that the word “inclusion” used by Bishop Long is a “vague word” that is also used by ideologically driven groups to mean, in effect, “compromising the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to accommodate sinful lifestyles.”
“We need to reject such an idea,” he added.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-27--Seattle rioters attempt to burn police alive inside precinct building as summer of violence continue

Seattle rioters attempt to burn police alive inside precinct building as summer of violence continues

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SEATTLE , Washington , August 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Rioters allegedly sought to trap police officers inside a precinct building in beleaguered downtown Seattle , and then tried to engulf the building in flames , killing the law enforcement occupants .
Multiple media outlets have labled the actions of the anarchists “ attempted murder.
” One police officer was injured and a single protester was taken into custody amid the melee outside Seattle ’ s East Precinct on Monday night .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected to be quick-dry concrete to seal shut the door to the East Precinct , the Seattle Police Department ( SPD ) has confirmed , ” reported Jason Rantz of KTTH .
“ At the same time , the rioter attempted to set fire to the building.
” Photos show an electronic key card reader outside the entrance to the precinct building that was destroyed so rescuers would be unable to aid officers trapped inside .
“ The officers inside had to kick the door open to exit the building and disperse the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luckily , already lacking discernible skills , the rioters did not follow directions and may have used too much water in the cement mixture .
Photos indicate it too runny to fully seal the doorway shut.
” The head of the Seattle Police Officers Guild condemned the crime and city leaders who have been mostly unresponsive to the city ’ s summer of violence .
“ It ’ s clear that domestic terrorists are continuing to hold our great city hostage by their criminal acts , ” Seattle Police Officers Guild president Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KTTH .
“ We ’ re talking about a little over 100 people who continue to force their political agenda to push assaults on officers , destroy private and public property , to continue their dangerous ideology.
” “ What ’ s next has been seen before and I ’ m fearful that someone will lose their life in the coming days , ” continued Solan .
“ This could all stop if our public officials would decry and push back against these criminal acts.
” The East Precinct building was abandoned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city hostage .
At the time , anarchists , inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement , took over six square blocks of the city surrounding the police precinct and dubbed it the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone or “ CHAZ.
” The occupiers draped a banner over the abandoned building , declaring , “ This space is now property of the Seattle People.
” The building was retaken by the SPD in July .
The Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ( ATF ) is reportedly working with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A report by Law Enforcement Today echoes Seattle Police Officers Guild president Solan ’ s words : “ This is not civil unrest .
This is terrorism.
” “ No one should understate the dangers of what is happening in Portland Seattle Chicago Minneapolis and now Kenosha , ” said former New York Times journalist Alex Berenson in a cautionary tweet .
“ The police are standing down ; nature abhors a vacuum ; political and apolitical violence are rising together ; thugs on both sides are brawling for the sheer thrill… @

'The police are standing down; nature abhors a vacuum; political and apolitical violence are rising together; thugs on both sides are brawling for the sheer thrill...'
PETITION: No to radical mandatory mask mandates! Sign the petition here.
SEATTLE, Washington, August 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Rioters allegedly sought to trap police officers inside a precinct building in beleaguered downtown Seattle, and then tried to engulf the building in flames, killing the law enforcement occupants.
Multiple media outlets have labled the actions of the anarchists “attempted murder.”
One police officer was injured and a single protester was taken into custody amid the melee outside Seattle’s East Precinct on Monday night.
“The rioters appear to have used a substance suspected to be quick-dry concrete to seal shut the door to the East Precinct, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) has confirmed,” reported Jason Rantz of KTTH. “At the same time, the rioter attempted to set fire to the building.”
Photos show an electronic key card reader outside the entrance to the precinct building that was destroyed so rescuers would be unable to aid officers trapped inside.
“The officers inside had to kick the door open to exit the building and disperse the rioters,” reported Rantz. “Luckily, already lacking discernible skills, the rioters did not follow directions and may have used too much water in the cement mixture. Photos indicate it too runny to fully seal the doorway shut.”
The head of the Seattle Police Officers Guild condemned the crime and city leaders who have been mostly unresponsive to the city’s summer of violence.
“It’s clear that domestic terrorists are continuing to hold our great city hostage by their criminal acts,” Seattle Police Officers Guild president Mike Solan told the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH. “We’re talking about a little over 100 people who continue to force their political agenda to push assaults on officers, destroy private and public property, to continue their dangerous ideology.”
“What’s next has been seen before and I’m fearful that someone will lose their life in the coming days,” continued Solan. “This could all stop if our public officials would decry and push back against these criminal acts.”
The East Precinct building was abandoned in June during the relentless protests that held the city hostage. At the time, anarchists, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, took over six square blocks of the city surrounding the police precinct and dubbed it the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone or “CHAZ.”
The occupiers draped a banner over the abandoned building, declaring, “This space is now property of the Seattle People.”
The building was retaken by the SPD in July.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is reportedly working with the Seattle Police Department to investigate the crime.
A report by Law Enforcement Today echoes Seattle Police Officers Guild president Solan’s words: “This is not civil unrest. This is terrorism.”
“No one should understate the dangers of what is happening in Portland Seattle Chicago Minneapolis and now Kenosha,” said former New York Times journalist Alex Berenson in a cautionary tweet. “The police are standing down; nature abhors a vacuum; political and apolitical violence are rising together; thugs on both sides are brawling for the sheer thrill…”
No one should understate the dangers of what is happening in Portland Seattle Chicago Minneapolis and now Kenosha; the police are standing down; nature abhors a vacuum; political and apolitical violence are rising together; thugs on both sides are brawling for the sheer thrill… — Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) August 26, 2020
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lifesitenews--2020-08-27--Army doctor at RNC who became nun: ‘I’m not just pro-life. I’m pro–eternal life’

WASHINGTON , DC , August 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A religious sister who was formerly a colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps gave a knock-out speech at the Republican National Convention last night , moving from a description of her recent work with refugees to her concern for the unborn .
“ They have all been marginalized , viewed as insignificant , powerless and voiceless .
And while we tend to think of the marginalized as living beyond our borders , the truth is the largest marginalized group in the world can be found here in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sister Dede held up the Lord Jesus Christ both as an example of someone once an embryo and as a model of defending justice against political correctness .
“ It is no coincidence that Jesus stood up for what was just and was ultimately crucified because what He said wasn ’ t politically correct or fashionable , ” she said .
“ As followers of Christ , we are called to stand up for life against the politically correct or fashionable of today .
We must fight against a legislative agenda that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the womb.
” Sister Dede combined her roles as a spiritual leader and a doctor to get across her deeply pro-life , humanitarian , and unabashedly Christian message .
“ Keep in mind , the laws we create define how we see our humanity , ” she said .
“ And we must ask ourselves , ‘ What are we saying when we go into a womb and snuff out an innocent , powerless , voiceless life ?
’ ” she continued .
“ As a physician , I can say without hesitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While what I have to say may be difficult for some to hear , I am saying it because I am not just pro-life ; I ’ m pro-eternal life .
I want all of us to end up in heaven together someday.
” Sister Dede told her audience of millions of American viewers that she had been praying to be allowed to be a voice for human life .
She saw the invitation to speak at the Republican National Convention as an answer to that prayer and was firm in her support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
“ Donald Trump is the most pro-life president this nation has ever had , defending life at all stages , ” Sister Dede said .
“ His belief in the sanctity of life transcends politics.
” In contrast , she described Biden-Harris as “ the most anti-life presidential ticket ever ” because together they support even late-term abortion and infanticide .
Therefore , Sister Dede declared , the president has two solid groups of allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conviction , President Trump has earned the support of America ’ s pro-life community , ” she said .
“ Moreover , he has a nation-wide of religious standing behind him .
You ’ ll find us here with our weapon of choice , the rosary.
” “ So thank you , Mr. President .
We are all praying for you.
” One of seven children , Deidre Byrne studied medicine at Georgetown University , where she joined the U.S. Army .
Her service , which included roles as both doctor and surgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Catholic News Agency ( CNA ) , she was asked to be on “ standby ” as personal physician to Mother Teresa when the saint visited Washington , D.C. in 1997 .
Byrne was also a first responder during the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon .
Convinced that she was being called to religious life , Byrne pronounced her first vows with the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary , which has a medical apostolate , in 2004 .
She continued to serve with the military , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 at her order ’ s request .
In the wake of Sister Dede ’ s speech , there has been a robust conversation on social media about how extreme the pro-abortion views of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are .
Their opinions have certainly diverged in the past .
Biden previously had only a 36 % rating as a pro-abortion politician from NARAL , thanks to his previous support for the Hyde Amendment .
However , Biden has subsequently rejected the amendment , and the anti-life organization now says it is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hyde Amendment bans federal funding for most abortions , anathema to radically pro-abortion politicians like Planned Parenthood ally Kamala Harris .
Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser described Harris earlier this month as “ an extremist.
” “ Kamala Harris is an extremist who supports abortion on demand through birth , paid for by taxpayers , and even infanticide — an agenda rejected by the overwhelming majority of Americans , including millions of Independents and rank-and-file Democrats , ” Dannenfelser said .
“ As attorney general of California , Harris conspired with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shakedown of brave citizen journalists who exposed Planned Parenthood ’ s role in the harvest and sale of aborted baby parts for profit.
” “ The stakes are life and death and the choice is clear .
Pro-life Americans must unite to defeat Biden-Harris .
”

Sister Deirdre Byrne, a nun who was formerly a colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, gave a knock-out speech at the Republican National Convention last night.
WASHINGTON, DC, August 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A religious sister who was formerly a colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps gave a knock-out speech at the Republican National Convention last night, moving from a description of her recent work with refugees to her concern for the unborn.
“Those refugees all share a common experience,” said Sister Deirdre “Dede” Byrne, POSC.
“They have all been marginalized, viewed as insignificant, powerless and voiceless. And while we tend to think of the marginalized as living beyond our borders, the truth is the largest marginalized group in the world can be found here in the United States,” she continued.
“They are the unborn.”
Sister Dede held up the Lord Jesus Christ both as an example of someone once an embryo and as a model of defending justice against political correctness.
“It is no coincidence that Jesus stood up for what was just and was ultimately crucified because what He said wasn’t politically correct or fashionable,” she said.
“As followers of Christ, we are called to stand up for life against the politically correct or fashionable of today. We must fight against a legislative agenda that supports and even celebrates destroying life in the womb.”
Sister Dede combined her roles as a spiritual leader and a doctor to get across her deeply pro-life, humanitarian, and unabashedly Christian message.
“Keep in mind, the laws we create define how we see our humanity,” she said.
“And we must ask ourselves, ‘What are we saying when we go into a womb and snuff out an innocent, powerless, voiceless life?’” she continued.
“As a physician, I can say without hesitation, ‘Life begins at conception.’ While what I have to say may be difficult for some to hear, I am saying it because I am not just pro-life; I’m pro-eternal life. I want all of us to end up in heaven together someday.”
Sister Dede told her audience of millions of American viewers that she had been praying to be allowed to be a voice for human life. She saw the invitation to speak at the Republican National Convention as an answer to that prayer and was firm in her support of the re-election of Donald Trump.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
“Donald Trump is the most pro-life president this nation has ever had, defending life at all stages,” Sister Dede said.
“His belief in the sanctity of life transcends politics.”
In contrast, she described Biden-Harris as “the most anti-life presidential ticket ever” because together they support even late-term abortion and infanticide.
Therefore, Sister Dede declared, the president has two solid groups of allies.
“Because of his courage and conviction, President Trump has earned the support of America’s pro-life community,” she said.
“Moreover, he has a nation-wide of religious standing behind him. You’ll find us here with our weapon of choice, the rosary.”
“So thank you, Mr. President. We are all praying for you.”
One of seven children, Deidre Byrne studied medicine at Georgetown University, where she joined the U.S. Army. Her service, which included roles as both doctor and surgeon, lasted 29 years. According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), she was asked to be on “standby” as personal physician to Mother Teresa when the saint visited Washington, D.C. in 1997. Byrne was also a first responder during the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.
Convinced that she was being called to religious life, Byrne pronounced her first vows with the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, which has a medical apostolate, in 2004. She continued to serve with the military, including in Afghanistan, until she retired in 2009 at her order’s request.
In the wake of Sister Dede’s speech, there has been a robust conversation on social media about how extreme the pro-abortion views of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are.
Their opinions have certainly diverged in the past. Biden previously had only a 36% rating as a pro-abortion politician from NARAL, thanks to his previous support for the Hyde Amendment. However, Biden has subsequently rejected the amendment, and the anti-life organization now says it is “proud to endorse” him.
The Hyde Amendment bans federal funding for most abortions, anathema to radically pro-abortion politicians like Planned Parenthood ally Kamala Harris. Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser described Harris earlier this month as “an extremist.”
“Kamala Harris is an extremist who supports abortion on demand through birth, paid for by taxpayers, and even infanticide — an agenda rejected by the overwhelming majority of Americans, including millions of Independents and rank-and-file Democrats,” Dannenfelser said.
“As attorney general of California, Harris conspired with the abortion industry to launch a politically-motivated shakedown of brave citizen journalists who exposed Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvest and sale of aborted baby parts for profit.”
“The stakes are life and death and the choice is clear. Pro-life Americans must unite to defeat Biden-Harris.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-27--US reignites ‘war of words’ with UN agents pushing abortion as ‘human right’

August 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva has reacted scathingly to a recent letter by which several U.N. bodies accused the United States of having put in place undue “ restrictions taken in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic impeding access to abortion services.
” The U.N. letter alluded to in the official American response dates back to May 22 , 2020 .
Five days later , on May 27 , in a statement , the U.N .
Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls publicly accused the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrict women ’ s reproductive rights.
” Speaking on behalf of the Working Group , Elizabeth Broderick , vice chair , added : “ This situation is also the latest example illustrating a pattern of restrictions and retrogressions in access to legal abortion care across the country .
...
Abortion care constitutes essential health care and must remain available during the COVID-19 crisis .
Restrictions on access to comprehensive reproductive health information and services , including abortion as well as contraception , constitute human rights violations and can cause irreversible harm , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to racial minorities and immigrant communities , ” she added .
She insisted : “ We reiterate that sexual and reproductive health services , including access to safe and legal abortion , are essential and must remain a key component of the UN ’ s priorities in its responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
” The May 22 letter was also signed by the “ Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health ” and the “ Special Rapporteur on Violence against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The response by the Swiss-based special mission charged with relations with the U.N. was anything but diplomatic in tone .
The U.S. Mission ’ s website made its August 11 response to the U.N. authorities public on August 25 , unapologetically slamming their attempt to present access to abortion as a “ human right.
” Calling the U.N. letter “ bizarre and inexplicable , ” the U.S. Mission as such underscored the manipulation that is truly taking place in Geneva : “ As United Nations human rights mandate holders , you are undoubtedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not recognize any ‘ right to abortion.
’ The United States is disappointed by and categorically rejects this transparent attempt to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to assert the existence of such a right .
This is a perversion of the human rights system and the founding principles of the United Nations.
” The U.S. Mission took care to quote a recent letter by U.N. secretary general António Guterres to USAID on June 1 , 2020 , acknowledging that monitoring access to legal abortion is not part of the competency of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical support under the Global Humanitarian Response Plan ] , and in accordance with its Charter , the United Nations does not intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State .
Thus , health care is provided with full respect to national laws .
It does not promote , much less impose , abortion on anyone , nor is it intended to do so , ” wrote Guterres .
While this is not the whole picture — several U.N. agencies do in fact explicitly campaign for legal access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was clearly making the point that hard law — i.e.
, the written texts that govern international relations , in particular in the sphere of the United Nations — does not assert that abortion is a “ right.
” Many U.N. texts instead uphold “ reproductive rights , ” often the words used as a fig leaf for explicit pro-abortion language , but the point remains that international treaties and agreements do not include an obligation to make the killing of unborn children legal under any circumstance .
The U.S. Mission chose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct language , pinpointing real and serious human rights violations in other parts of the world that the Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls and Special Rapporteurs have preferred to overlook : We are particularly disappointed that you have chosen to waste the limited time and resources of your mandates on such spurious allegations , rather than focusing your energies on areas where your attention is most appropriate and warranted .
For instance , the Chinese Communist Party is currently directing the use of forced abortion , forced sterilization and forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actual human rights abuses , implicating millions of women and girls and their health , on an industrial scale , targeting a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority .
Yet the United Nations system — including the Secretary-General , the Human Rights Council , and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights — has been notably quiet on this topic , even as they find ample opportunity to opine on matters of American domestic political concern .
Reiterating its savage critique of the U.N. bodies , the U.S. Mission concluded : One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others increasingly see the UN ’ s human rights system as utterly broken is the tendency of its self-appointed guardians to label certain policy preferences as ‘ rights ’ — a practice that devalues the entire human rights enterprise and leads to absurd outcomes such as the above-referenced letter .
At the same time , we see violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a massive scale that generate little or no comment by these same guardians .
If you truly are concerned about the integrity of the United Nations human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconsider the approach that has led you and your colleagues to this sad point , so far from the noble purpose for which this institution was founded 75 years ago .
This is not the first time that U.S. officials have spoken out clearly under the Trump administration against pressure for what it calls “ legal and safe ” abortion on the part of the U.N. Last September , U.S. secretary for Health and Human Services , Alex Azar , joined eighteen other countries in delivering a joint statement at the United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no international right to abortion.
” The document underscored the fraudulent use of “ reproductive rights ” language in order to promote abortion worldwide : “ We do not support references to ambiguous terms and expressions , such as sexual and reproductive health and rights in U.N. documents , because they can undermine the critical role of the family and promote practices , like abortion , in circumstances that do not enjoy international consensus and which can be misinterpreted by U.N. agencies.
” Earlier this summer , Donald Trump ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conservative pro-family convention that there is no “ human right ” to abortion .
He told The Family Leader Summit in Iowa : “ Abortion quite simply isn ’ t a human right .
It takes a human life.
” He had already stated , regarding human rights as understood in the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution : “ Our nation ’ s foreign policy must be grounded in those central understandings.
” This commitment has been clearly enacted by the U.S. Mission to Geneva in what appears to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words at the U.N .
While — as the U.S. Mission recalled — no international instruments call for legalizing abortion in any country under any pretext , it is a fact that U.N. Women , the U.N. Population Fund , and the U.N. Human Rights Commission ( that was ultimately responsible for the May 22 letter of official complaints about U.S. policy regarding abortion during the COVID-19 lockdown ) have long done all they could to bring abortion “ rights ” into the U.N. by the back door , with former U.N. secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To give but a few examples , the official news site of the U.N. published a news item on September 28 , 2018 under the title “ Access to legal abortion services needed , to prevent 47,000 women dying each year — UN rights experts.
” In 2016 , for the first time , the United Nations Human Rights Committee ordered Peru to give compensation to a woman who had been prevented by medical authorities from aborting her anencephalic child in 2001 — she was 17 at the time — although Peruvian law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The girl ’ s baby lived for four days .
The legal process in Geneva took 15 years to complete , but Peru ended up paying financial compensation for its allegedly “ cruel , inhuman and degrading treatment.
” “ This marked the first time a United Nations Committee had held a country accountable for failing to ensure access to safe , legal abortion , ” the Huffington Post approvingly remarked .
This is not required by international law , but U.N. agencies are certainly doing their best to make member countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.N. Mission ’ s head-on response will also help those countries that have not bought the “ abortion rights ” propaganda to resist pressure coming from the United Nations in that direction .

Calling the U.N.'s latest pro-abortion salvo 'bizarre and inexplicable,' the U.S. Mission underscored the manipulation that is truly taking place in Geneva.
August 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva has reacted scathingly to a recent letter by which several U.N. bodies accused the United States of having put in place undue “restrictions taken in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic impeding access to abortion services.”
The U.N. letter alluded to in the official American response dates back to May 22, 2020. Five days later, on May 27, in a statement, the U.N. Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls publicly accused the United States of “manipulating the crisis to severely restrict women’s reproductive rights.”
Speaking on behalf of the Working Group, Elizabeth Broderick, vice chair, added: “This situation is also the latest example illustrating a pattern of restrictions and retrogressions in access to legal abortion care across the country. … Abortion care constitutes essential health care and must remain available during the COVID-19 crisis. Restrictions on access to comprehensive reproductive health information and services, including abortion as well as contraception, constitute human rights violations and can cause irreversible harm, in particular to low-income women and those belonging to racial minorities and immigrant communities,” she added.
She insisted: “We reiterate that sexual and reproductive health services, including access to safe and legal abortion, are essential and must remain a key component of the UN’s priorities in its responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The May 22 letter was also signed by the “Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health” and the “Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Its Causes and Consequences.”
The response by the Swiss-based special mission charged with relations with the U.N. was anything but diplomatic in tone. The U.S. Mission’s website made its August 11 response to the U.N. authorities public on August 25, unapologetically slamming their attempt to present access to abortion as a “human right.”
Calling the U.N. letter “bizarre and inexplicable,” the U.S. Mission as such underscored the manipulation that is truly taking place in Geneva: “As United Nations human rights mandate holders, you are undoubtedly aware that international human rights law does not recognize any ‘right to abortion.’ The United States is disappointed by and categorically rejects this transparent attempt to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to assert the existence of such a right. This is a perversion of the human rights system and the founding principles of the United Nations.”
The U.S. Mission took care to quote a recent letter by U.N. secretary general António Guterres to USAID on June 1, 2020, acknowledging that monitoring access to legal abortion is not part of the competency of the United Nations:
“In providing [critical support under the Global Humanitarian Response Plan], and in accordance with its Charter, the United Nations does not intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State. Thus, health care is provided with full respect to national laws. It does not promote, much less impose, abortion on anyone, nor is it intended to do so,” wrote Guterres.
While this is not the whole picture — several U.N. agencies do in fact explicitly campaign for legal access to abortion across the planet — Guterres was clearly making the point that hard law — i.e., the written texts that govern international relations, in particular in the sphere of the United Nations — does not assert that abortion is a “right.”
Many U.N. texts instead uphold “reproductive rights,” often the words used as a fig leaf for explicit pro-abortion language, but the point remains that international treaties and agreements do not include an obligation to make the killing of unborn children legal under any circumstance.
The U.S. Mission chose to make its point on the issue in direct language, pinpointing real and serious human rights violations in other parts of the world that the Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls and Special Rapporteurs have preferred to overlook:
We are particularly disappointed that you have chosen to waste the limited time and resources of your mandates on such spurious allegations, rather than focusing your energies on areas where your attention is most appropriate and warranted. For instance, the Chinese Communist Party is currently directing the use of forced abortion, forced sterilization and forced birth control in Xinjiang. These are actual human rights abuses, implicating millions of women and girls and their health, on an industrial scale, targeting a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority. Yet the United Nations system — including the Secretary-General, the Human Rights Council, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights — has been notably quiet on this topic, even as they find ample opportunity to opine on matters of American domestic political concern.
Reiterating its savage critique of the U.N. bodies, the U.S. Mission concluded:
One of the reasons that the United States and others increasingly see the UN’s human rights system as utterly broken is the tendency of its self-appointed guardians to label certain policy preferences as ‘rights’ — a practice that devalues the entire human rights enterprise and leads to absurd outcomes such as the above-referenced letter. At the same time, we see violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a massive scale that generate little or no comment by these same guardians. If you truly are concerned about the integrity of the United Nations human rights system, we urge you to reconsider the approach that has led you and your colleagues to this sad point, so far from the noble purpose for which this institution was founded 75 years ago.
This is not the first time that U.S. officials have spoken out clearly under the Trump administration against pressure for what it calls “legal and safe” abortion on the part of the U.N. Last September, U.S. secretary for Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, joined eighteen other countries in delivering a joint statement at the United Nations General Assembly in asserting that “there is no international right to abortion.”
The document underscored the fraudulent use of “reproductive rights” language in order to promote abortion worldwide: “We do not support references to ambiguous terms and expressions, such as sexual and reproductive health and rights in U.N. documents, because they can undermine the critical role of the family and promote practices, like abortion, in circumstances that do not enjoy international consensus and which can be misinterpreted by U.N. agencies.”
Earlier this summer, Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Mike Pompeo, declared at a conservative pro-family convention that there is no “human right” to abortion. He told The Family Leader Summit in Iowa: “Abortion quite simply isn’t a human right. It takes a human life.” He had already stated, regarding human rights as understood in the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution: “Our nation’s foreign policy must be grounded in those central understandings.”
This commitment has been clearly enacted by the U.S. Mission to Geneva in what appears to be the deliberate revival of a longstanding war of words at the U.N.
While — as the U.S. Mission recalled — no international instruments call for legalizing abortion in any country under any pretext, it is a fact that U.N. Women, the U.N. Population Fund, and the U.N. Human Rights Commission (that was ultimately responsible for the May 22 letter of official complaints about U.S. policy regarding abortion during the COVID-19 lockdown) have long done all they could to bring abortion “rights” into the U.N. by the back door, with former U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon’s blessing.
To give but a few examples, the official news site of the U.N. published a news item on September 28, 2018 under the title “Access to legal abortion services needed, to prevent 47,000 women dying each year — UN rights experts.”
In 2016, for the first time, the United Nations Human Rights Committee ordered Peru to give compensation to a woman who had been prevented by medical authorities from aborting her anencephalic child in 2001 — she was 17 at the time — although Peruvian law provides for legal abortion in such cases. The girl’s baby lived for four days. The legal process in Geneva took 15 years to complete, but Peru ended up paying financial compensation for its allegedly “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”
“This marked the first time a United Nations Committee had held a country accountable for failing to ensure access to safe, legal abortion,” the Huffington Post approvingly remarked.
This is not required by international law, but U.N. agencies are certainly doing their best to make member countries believe that it is the case. The U.N. Mission’s head-on response will also help those countries that have not bought the “abortion rights” propaganda to resist pressure coming from the United Nations in that direction.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-27--Trump’s ambassador to Geneva rips pro-abortion United Nations experts

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
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NEW YORK , August 27 , 2020 ( C-Fam ) — The U.S .
Ambassador to Geneva , Andrew Bremberg , sent a blistering letter to UN human rights experts because of their abortion advocacy .
The UN experts criticized U.S. States who did not label abortion as “ essential ” during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ This is a perversion of the human rights system and the founding principles of the United Nations , ” Ambassador Bremberg lamented in a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls — a group of five independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to three year terms .
The UN experts accused U.S. States who did not label abortion an “ essential ” service during the COVID-19 pandemic of violating women ’ s reproductive rights .
Bremberg ’ s letter , dated August 11 , called the interference of the experts in U.S. politics “ bizarre , ” “ absurd , ” and “ inexplicable.
” Ambassador Bremberg ’ s response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts of ignoring ongoing human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party in Xinjiang , including forced abortion , forced sterilization and forced birth control .
“ These are actual human rights abuses , implicating millions of women and girls and their health , on an industrial scale , targeting a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority , ” the letter to the working group states .
The letter complained of the double standard of the UN human rights system .
All UN organs that deal with human rights , including the Secretary-General , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights , “ have been notably quiet on this topic , even as they find ample opportunity to opine on matters of American domestic political concern , ” Ambassador Bremberg lamented .
Ambassador Bremberg said the interference of the working group in U.S. domestic abortion politics was an example of why so many people see the UN ’ s human rights system as “ utterly broken.
” He warned the experts , whom he called “ self-appointed guardians , ” that they were undermining human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ rights.
” “ If you truly are concerned about the integrity of the United Nations human rights system , ” the letter concludes , “ we urge you to reconsider the approach that has led you and your colleagues to this sad point , so far from the noble purpose for which this institution was founded 75 years ago.
” The letter is the latest salvo in an ongoing tussle between the Trump administration and the UN system over the UN ’ s promotion of abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guterres assured the U.S. government that it would not promote abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Guterres told the Acting Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development John Barsa that the UN response to the COVID-19 virus “ does not promote , much less impose , abortion on anyone , nor is it intended to do so.
” He also said that any UN efforts in health care are “ provided with full respect to national laws.
” Guterres ’ apology followed a strongly worded letter from Barsa complaining that the UN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual and reproductive health ” that promotes abortion as a humanitarian right as “ essential ” in the UN response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The manual also calls for forcing doctors and health providers to refer for abortion against their conscience .

The experts had criticized U.S. states who did not label abortion 'essential' during the COVID-19 pandemic.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
NEW YORK, August 27, 2020 (C-Fam) — The U.S. Ambassador to Geneva, Andrew Bremberg, sent a blistering letter to UN human rights experts because of their abortion advocacy. The UN experts criticized U.S. States who did not label abortion as “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a perversion of the human rights system and the founding principles of the United Nations,” Ambassador Bremberg lamented in a letter labeled as the official U.S. response to the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls — a group of five independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to three year terms.
The UN experts accused U.S. States who did not label abortion an “essential” service during the COVID-19 pandemic of violating women’s reproductive rights. Bremberg’s letter, dated August 11, called the interference of the experts in U.S. politics “bizarre,” “absurd,” and “inexplicable.”
Ambassador Bremberg’s response to the working group also accused the UN experts of ignoring ongoing human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party in Xinjiang, including forced abortion, forced sterilization and forced birth control.
“These are actual human rights abuses, implicating millions of women and girls and their health, on an industrial scale, targeting a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority,” the letter to the working group states.
The letter complained of the double standard of the UN human rights system. All UN organs that deal with human rights, including the Secretary-General, the Human Rights Council, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “have been notably quiet on this topic, even as they find ample opportunity to opine on matters of American domestic political concern,” Ambassador Bremberg lamented.
Ambassador Bremberg said the interference of the working group in U.S. domestic abortion politics was an example of why so many people see the UN’s human rights system as “utterly broken.”
He warned the experts, whom he called “self-appointed guardians,” that they were undermining human rights and democracy by elevating their policy preferences as “rights.”
“If you truly are concerned about the integrity of the United Nations human rights system,” the letter concludes, “we urge you to reconsider the approach that has led you and your colleagues to this sad point, so far from the noble purpose for which this institution was founded 75 years ago.”
The letter is the latest salvo in an ongoing tussle between the Trump administration and the UN system over the UN’s promotion of abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June, U.S. Secretary General Antonio Guterres assured the U.S. government that it would not promote abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guterres told the Acting Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development John Barsa that the UN response to the COVID-19 virus “does not promote, much less impose, abortion on anyone, nor is it intended to do so.” He also said that any UN efforts in health care are “provided with full respect to national laws.”
Guterres’ apology followed a strongly worded letter from Barsa complaining that the UN had included a UN manual on “sexual and reproductive health” that promotes abortion as a humanitarian right as “essential” in the UN response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The manual also calls for forcing doctors and health providers to refer for abortion against their conscience.
Published with permission from C-Fam.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-27--New Trump policy doc prioritizes women over LGBT, enrages leftists

PETITION : Hold UN accountable for babies killed by sex-selection abortion !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , August 27 , 2020 ( C-Fam ) — The Trump administration struck at the heart of gender ideology in a new draft policy released last week by the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ) .
The administration inherited a gender equality policy from the Obama administration that was highly controversial in that it promoted homosexuality and transgenderism .
The Obama gender strategy has been guiding USAID gender equality programming in foreign countries ever since .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as referring strictly to equality between men and women and boys and girls .
This drew outrage from those on the left , who slammed the policy for adopting “ a conservative framing of human rights ” and erasing any mention of transgender issues or people who identify as LGBTQ .
The gender policy is one of several strategy documents that guide the agency ’ s work .
It replaces a previous 2012 policy put in place under the former president , Barack Obama .
A brief one-week period for comments on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes many notable changes from its predecessor , including emphasis on the importance of partnering with faith-based groups , which was omitted in the 2012 policy .
The policy also leaves out any references to abortion , including euphemistic language such as “ reproductive health , ” which the Trump administration has opposed in UN negotiations as well as internal policy documents .
The new draft policy also contains several references to “ unalienable rights , ” which echoes the recent document commissioned by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to address the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a traditional understanding of human rights as laid out in the founding documents of the United States and the core treaties of the United Nations .
It also emphasizes the importance of removing barriers to education for girls and employment and economic participation for women , in keeping with the Trump administration ’ s Women ’ s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative .
Many of the changes in the proposed policy have elicited complaints from the left .
Some initial reactions posted on Twitter summarized the policy not by its contents but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBT issues .
Pro-abortion activists also sounded the alarm .
Ms. Magazine called the draft policy a “ severe and harmful regression ” including the “ narrowing and politicization of reproductive health content.
” Among their complaints was the fact that the policy mentioned discrimination occurring “ before birth , ” in the case of sex-selective abortion .
They also objected to the fact that the policy ’ s discussion of family planning did not explicitly refer to contraceptives and promoted fertility awareness–based methods .
USAID will review the comments submitted and presumably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the near future .
The future of this policy depends greatly on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November .
This draft policy arrives more than three and a half years into a four-year term , and if President Trump loses the election , there is a high likelihood of these proposed improvements being rolled back .
In the meantime , several other Obama-era strategy documents that remain in effect in USAID and the Department of State , containing elements that contradict President Trump ’ s foreign policy objectives .

The new policy clearly characterizes 'gender equality' as referring strictly to equality between men and women and boys and girls.
PETITION: Hold UN accountable for babies killed by sex-selection abortion! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 27, 2020 (C-Fam) — The Trump administration struck at the heart of gender ideology in a new draft policy released last week by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The administration inherited a gender equality policy from the Obama administration that was highly controversial in that it promoted homosexuality and transgenderism. The Obama gender strategy has been guiding USAID gender equality programming in foreign countries ever since.
The new policy clearly characterizes “gender equality” as referring strictly to equality between men and women and boys and girls. This drew outrage from those on the left, who slammed the policy for adopting “a conservative framing of human rights” and erasing any mention of transgender issues or people who identify as LGBTQ.
The gender policy is one of several strategy documents that guide the agency’s work. It replaces a previous 2012 policy put in place under the former president, Barack Obama. A brief one-week period for comments on the draft closed on Tuesday.
The policy includes many notable changes from its predecessor, including emphasis on the importance of partnering with faith-based groups, which was omitted in the 2012 policy. The policy also leaves out any references to abortion, including euphemistic language such as “reproductive health,” which the Trump administration has opposed in UN negotiations as well as internal policy documents.
The new draft policy also contains several references to “unalienable rights,” which echoes the recent document commissioned by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to address the recent proliferation of human rights claims not based in a traditional understanding of human rights as laid out in the founding documents of the United States and the core treaties of the United Nations.
It also emphasizes the importance of removing barriers to education for girls and employment and economic participation for women, in keeping with the Trump administration’s Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative.
Many of the changes in the proposed policy have elicited complaints from the left. Some initial reactions posted on Twitter summarized the policy not by its contents but by the lack of explicit references to LGBT issues.
Pro-abortion activists also sounded the alarm. Ms. Magazine called the draft policy a “severe and harmful regression” including the “narrowing and politicization of reproductive health content.” Among their complaints was the fact that the policy mentioned discrimination occurring “before birth,” in the case of sex-selective abortion. They also objected to the fact that the policy’s discussion of family planning did not explicitly refer to contraceptives and promoted fertility awareness–based methods.
USAID will review the comments submitted and presumably release a final version of the policy in the near future.
The future of this policy depends greatly on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November. This draft policy arrives more than three and a half years into a four-year term, and if President Trump loses the election, there is a high likelihood of these proposed improvements being rolled back. In the meantime, several other Obama-era strategy documents that remain in effect in USAID and the Department of State, containing elements that contradict President Trump’s foreign policy objectives.
Published with permission from C-Fam.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-27--Left-leaning fact-checker Snopes botches fact-check on born-alive bill

PETITION : Urge Hy-Vee to stop stocking Raygun products because of abortion funding !
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August 27 , 2020 ( Family Research Council ) — By omitting several key elements of the abortion survival debate , Snopes ' fact-check of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act ( SB 311 ) is not an unbiased appraisal of the issue .
Rather , it is a lackluster attempt to provide cover for U.S. senators who failed to support federal protections against infanticide .
Here is a fact-check of Snopes ' fact-check .
Thirty-four states have `` laws offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alive after failed abortions , and various levels of criminal penalties set out for health care practitioners who fail to provide care for them . ''
Actually , states have some form of legal protection for infants born alive after failed abortions .
Yet , nearly two-thirds of state laws have criminal penalties for physicians who fail to provide medical care to infants born alive .
Snopes mentions FRC 's Born-Alive Protections Map in its fact-check , but completely misses the map 's main takeaway .
Yes , 35 states have some form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but only 16 of those states mandate an appropriate form of care and impose penalties on physicians who fail to provide said care .
The remaining 19 states do not provide necessary protections for abortion survivors .
Most simply mirror the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002 , which recognized and defined any child surviving a failed abortion as a full person under the law but failed to provide any concrete ways to hold physicians accountable for killing or denying medical care to infants who survive abortion .
It appears that Snopes erroneously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in asserting that `` two-thirds '' of states have `` various levels of criminal penalties '' in their born-alive laws .
Snopes also conveniently omits that New York and Illinois repealed born-alive laws in 2019 .
Democrat and Independent U.S. senators voted against the federal Born-Alive bill ( SB 311 ) because it would have interfered with the doctor-patient relationship and undermined legal abortion access .
SB 311 contains no language that would undermine current abortion laws .
The bill merely seeks to ensure adequate protections for born-alive infants who have survived an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sen. Ben Sasse , explained on the Senate floor before the 2019 vote : `` The bill 's terms are simple .
A child born alive during a botched abortion would be given the same level of care that would be provided to any other baby born at the same gestational age….This bill is exclusively about protecting babies that have already been born and are outside the womb . ''
Rather than quote the bill 's sponsor , Snopes relied entirely on quotes from Democrat senators who opposed the bill .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential breach of the doctor-patient relationship as a reason for opposing the bill , no such breaches have been raised in the 16 states with born-alive laws comparable to SB 311 .
Furthermore , born-alive laws in these states have had no proven effect on access to late-term abortions .
Democrat senators voted against SB 311 because they felt it was unnecessary in light of existing law .
Senator Mazie Hirono said the bill was `` a solution in search of a problem . ''
Studies from around the world confirm that infants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 European study found that over half of 241 pre-viable pregnancies resulted in live births following attempted abortions .
A CDC report from 2003–14 revealed that at least 143 infants died after being born alive from an abortion .
Only eight U.S. states currently require reporting on abortion survivors , but in those states , there have been at least 179 survival cases .
Minnesota reported three cases in 2019 in its July 2020 report .
Florida , which provides live updates of born-alive survivors , has reported four cases in 2020 alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and do survive late-term abortions , and the states that provide accurate reporting report several cases each year .
We should all agree that whether by neglect or intentional means , the killing of a baby who has been born alive is abhorrent .
Since so few states provide detailed information on abortion survivors , the scope of the problem is not fully known .
Even one child born alive who dies after surviving an abortion attempt because they were denied medical care is too many .
Even Snopes grudgingly admitted in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 'born alive ' abortion law that would apply uniformly throughout the entire country .
By voting to block the progress of SB 311 , the Democratic and Independent senators did undoubtedly prevent that outcome from becoming much more likely '' ( bolding mine ) .
Published with permission from the Family Research Council .

PETITION: Urge Hy-Vee to stop stocking Raygun products because of abortion funding! Sign the petition here.
August 27, 2020 (Family Research Council) — By omitting several key elements of the abortion survival debate, Snopes' fact-check of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (SB 311) is not an unbiased appraisal of the issue. Rather, it is a lackluster attempt to provide cover for U.S. senators who failed to support federal protections against infanticide.
Here is a fact-check of Snopes' fact-check.
Snopes' Claim:
Thirty-four states have “laws offering various levels of protection for babies born alive after failed abortions, and various levels of criminal penalties set out for health care practitioners who fail to provide care for them.”
What's True:
Actually, thirty-five states have some form of legal protection for infants born alive after failed abortions. Yet, nearly two-thirds of state laws do not have criminal penalties for physicians who fail to provide medical care to infants born alive.
Snopes mentions FRC's Born-Alive Protections Map in its fact-check, but completely misses the map's main takeaway. Yes, 35 states have some form of born-alive law on the books, but only 16 of those states mandate an appropriate form of care and impose penalties on physicians who fail to provide said care. The remaining 19 states do not provide necessary protections for abortion survivors. Most simply mirror the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002, which recognized and defined any child surviving a failed abortion as a full person under the law but failed to provide any concrete ways to hold physicians accountable for killing or denying medical care to infants who survive abortion.
It appears that Snopes erroneously conflates different elements of born alive laws in asserting that “two-thirds” of states have “various levels of criminal penalties” in their born-alive laws.
Snopes also conveniently omits that New York and Illinois repealed born-alive laws in 2019.
Snopes' Claim:
Democrat and Independent U.S. senators voted against the federal Born-Alive bill (SB 311) because it would have interfered with the doctor-patient relationship and undermined legal abortion access.
What's True:
SB 311 contains no language that would undermine current abortion laws. The bill merely seeks to ensure adequate protections for born-alive infants who have survived an abortion. As the bill's sponsor, Sen. Ben Sasse, explained on the Senate floor before the 2019 vote: “The bill's terms are simple. A child born alive during a botched abortion would be given the same level of care that would be provided to any other baby born at the same gestational age….This bill is exclusively about protecting babies that have already been born and are outside the womb.”
Rather than quote the bill's sponsor, Snopes relied entirely on quotes from Democrat senators who opposed the bill. While these Democrat senators may have claimed a potential breach of the doctor-patient relationship as a reason for opposing the bill, no such breaches have been raised in the 16 states with born-alive laws comparable to SB 311. Furthermore, born-alive laws in these states have had no proven effect on access to late-term abortions.
Snopes' Claim:
Democrat senators voted against SB 311 because they felt it was unnecessary in light of existing law. Senator Mazie Hirono said the bill was “a solution in search of a problem.”
What's True:
Studies from around the world confirm that infants can and do survive abortion. A 2018 European study found that over half of 241 pre-viable pregnancies resulted in live births following attempted abortions. A CDC report from 2003–14 revealed that at least 143 infants died after being born alive from an abortion. Only eight U.S. states currently require reporting on abortion survivors, but in those states, there have been at least 179 survival cases. Minnesota reported three cases in 2019 in its July 2020 report. Florida, which provides live updates of born-alive survivors, has reported four cases in 2020 alone. These reports show that infants can and do survive late-term abortions, and the states that provide accurate reporting report several cases each year.
We should all agree that whether by neglect or intentional means, the killing of a baby who has been born alive is abhorrent. Since so few states provide detailed information on abortion survivors, the scope of the problem is not fully known. Even one child born alive who dies after surviving an abortion attempt because they were denied medical care is too many.
Even Snopes grudgingly admitted in its article: “SB 311 would introduce a 'born alive' abortion law that would apply uniformly throughout the entire country. By voting to block the progress of SB 311, the Democratic and Independent senators did undoubtedly prevent that outcome from becoming much more likely” (bolding mine).
Published with permission from the Family Research Council.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-27--Virginia Democrats kill multiple bills to protect against forced COVID vaccine

PETITION : No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine !
Sign the petition here .
RICHMOND , Virginia , August 27 , 2020 ( Family Foundation ) — The shocking honesty — and general hostility — towards religious freedom was once again on display yesterday as a Democrat-controlled House Committee killed two bills — HB 5016 ( R-Cole ) and HB 5070 ( R-LaRock ) — on a party-line vote .
The bills would have simply allowed someone with a sincere religious objection to any COVID-19 vaccine mandate to be exempted when a vaccine is eventually developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levine ( D-Alexandria ) , a person who refuses to inject themselves or their children with an [ unproven ] foreign anti-body is no different than someone who gets behind the wheel and drives drunk .
He began his opposition speech to a religious exemption with a dramatic “ You do not have a right to kill somebody else !
” Levine went on to say that if someone chooses not to get the vaccine , “ and contracts this disease , and knowingly and intentionally goes out in public and kills someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongful death , or possibly even criminal penalties.
” ( Note : This isn ’ t the first time Del .
Levine has been hostile in attacking exemptions for religious convictions . )
The State Health Commissioner ’ s statement on Friday that he intends to force every Virginian to receive a COVID-19 vaccine has attracted national attention , which , along with your voices , actually prompted Governor Northam to issue a statement that he doesn ’ t plan to force every Virginian to receive the vaccine .
( It should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official position on it ) .
These are indeed dangerous times , when a state legislator suggests that a healthy person who declines a questionable vaccine for conscience objections is equivalent to killing someone and should be sued and/or put in prison .
The Committee also voted down HB 5018 ( R-Webert ) and HB 5023 ( R-Byron ) , bills which would ensure the Virginia Department of Health only accepts a complaint alleging a violation of an emergency order if it includes the first and last name and basic contact information of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have prevented petty and false reporting .
But even when a friendly amendment was offered to address a concern over whistle-blower protections , the Democrat-controlled committee still killed the bill .
Yesterday ’ s committee meetings were also further evidence that virtual legislative deliberations are leading to complications , confusion and an overall lack of public participation .
Not only are there technical difficulties like not being given access to the Zoom meeting in time to testify — many in the public were not given the chance to speak — but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sole power to dictate who speaks ( among those who have signed up the day before ) and for how long .
Another troubling aspect was how frequently debate was abruptly halted by a legislator motioning to “ table ” a bill ( i.e.
, defeat the bill ) , in some cases while the bill ’ s sponsor was still speaking .
This Special Session , with its delays , complicated virtual testimony procedures , and lack of any substantive debate , is quickly becoming a one-party show , and not bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not interested in passing reasonable solutions to serious issues — like reining in an out-of-control Governor .
Published with permission from the Family Foundation .

This after Virginia's top health official garnered national headlines by broadcasting his intention to force all Virginians to be injected with a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine.
PETITION: No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine! Sign the petition here.
RICHMOND, Virginia, August 27, 2020 (Family Foundation) — The shocking honesty — and general hostility — towards religious freedom was once again on display yesterday as a Democrat-controlled House Committee killed two bills — HB 5016 (R-Cole) and HB 5070 (R-LaRock) — on a party-line vote. The bills would have simply allowed someone with a sincere religious objection to any COVID-19 vaccine mandate to be exempted when a vaccine is eventually developed.
According to committee member Delegate Mark Levine (D-Alexandria), a person who refuses to inject themselves or their children with an [unproven] foreign anti-body is no different than someone who gets behind the wheel and drives drunk. He began his opposition speech to a religious exemption with a dramatic “You do not have a right to kill somebody else!” Levine went on to say that if someone chooses not to get the vaccine, “and contracts this disease, and knowingly and intentionally goes out in public and kills someone, I hope they are sued for wrongful death, or possibly even criminal penalties.” (Note: This isn’t the first time Del. Levine has been hostile in attacking exemptions for religious convictions.)
The State Health Commissioner’s statement on Friday that he intends to force every Virginian to receive a COVID-19 vaccine has attracted national attention, which, along with your voices, actually prompted Governor Northam to issue a statement that he doesn’t plan to force every Virginian to receive the vaccine. (It should be noted here that he has taken no official position on it). These are indeed dangerous times, when a state legislator suggests that a healthy person who declines a questionable vaccine for conscience objections is equivalent to killing someone and should be sued and/or put in prison.
The Committee also voted down HB 5018 (R-Webert) and HB 5023 (R-Byron), bills which would ensure the Virginia Department of Health only accepts a complaint alleging a violation of an emergency order if it includes the first and last name and basic contact information of the person making the report. This would have prevented petty and false reporting. But even when a friendly amendment was offered to address a concern over whistle-blower protections, the Democrat-controlled committee still killed the bill.
Yesterday’s committee meetings were also further evidence that virtual legislative deliberations are leading to complications, confusion and an overall lack of public participation. Not only are there technical difficulties like not being given access to the Zoom meeting in time to testify — many in the public were not given the chance to speak — but it also appears the Committee Chairman has the sole power to dictate who speaks (among those who have signed up the day before) and for how long. Another troubling aspect was how frequently debate was abruptly halted by a legislator motioning to “table” a bill (i.e., defeat the bill), in some cases while the bill’s sponsor was still speaking.
This Special Session, with its delays, complicated virtual testimony procedures, and lack of any substantive debate, is quickly becoming a one-party show, and not bipartisan governance. The majority party is simply not interested in passing reasonable solutions to serious issues — like reining in an out-of-control Governor.
Published with permission from the Family Foundation.
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lifesitenews--2020-08-27--Republican convention voices show where Democrats will lead America if Biden wins

PETITION : Tell the FDA to reverse its opposition to Hydroxychloroquine and help save lives !
Sign the petition here .
August 27 , 2020 ( FRC Action ) — On night two of the Republican National Convention , it was n't just the contrast in two parties that was on display — but the contrast of two media groups .
Networks like CNN , probably furious to see the RNC blow away the DNC 's ratings , dripped with animosity for speakers like teenager Nick Sandmann , calling him a `` snot-nosed , entitled kid from Kentucky . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` token minority '' label the Daily Beast slapped on rising star Daniel Cameron .
Then came the bogus fact checks , which the press bypassed for most of the DNC event because , as Chris Cuomo put it , Democrats `` do n't lie like Trump . ''
But for every bitter roundtable , every biting comment , all the over-the-top spin , conservatives proved they could dish it right back .
Nick , who 's had `` the full war machine of the mainstream media '' pointed directly at him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press is that the truth is n't important .
`` Advancing their anti-Christian , anti-Conservative , anti–Donald Trump narrative was all that mattered . ''
`` Canceled , '' he warned , `` is what 's happening to people around this country who refuse to be silenced by the far Left .
But I would n't be canceled . ''
Others , like Cissie Graham Lynch , dared to challenge the Democrats ' godless agenda .
`` During the Obama-Biden administration , [ our ] freedoms were under attack , '' she warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations pay for abortion-inducing drugs .
Democrats tried to force adoption agencies to violate their deeply held beliefs .
Democrats pressured schools to allow boys to compete in girls ' sports and use girls ' locker rooms . ''
The Biden-Harris vision , she insisted , will be worse .
It `` leaves no room for people of faith , whether you are a baker , or a florist or a football coach .
They will force the choice between being obedient to God or to Caesar , '' she added .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government power . ''
Almost immediately , the media and far-Left allies let loose .
Headlines like NBC 's declared that `` Cissie Graham Lynch Attacks Transgender Rights '' — a far cry from what reporters at the Washington Times heard : `` Billy Graham 's Granddaughter Lauds Trump on Religious Freedom . ''
The Human Rights Campaign accused her of being `` dehumanizing '' and `` demeaning '' for referring to them as boys using the restroom and not `` transgender girls . ''
`` There were no efforts to 'pressure schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , NBC lied — conveniently ignoring the 2016 mandate that cut federal funds for non-compliers .
It 's no wonder the media was racing to discredit everything Cissie said .
It was a powerful speech that pulled back the curtain on the Left 's best kept secret : how they plan to destroy America once they control it .
Even Politico has been stunned at just how intentional this strategy has been .
`` The Democratic Convention , '' their headline read , `` was a massive evasion ... masking the most Left-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way Joe Biden succeeds , many acknowledge , is by concealing his extremist plan from voters — which , as we know from his White House years , includes taking a blowtorch to religious freedom .
`` Our Founders did not envision a quiet , hidden faith , '' Cissie insisted .
`` They fought to ensure that voices of faith were always welcomed ... Not bullied . ''
That 's been a shared goal of this administration , she pointed out , which has shown an unparalleled commitment to persecuted people everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump became the first president to talk about the importance of religious liberty at the United Nations , giving hope to people of faith around the world , '' Cissie said .
Minutes later , everyone from NBC News to the AP rushed to declare , `` This is false , '' as they played a non-stop loop of Barack Obama in 2012 , delivering a throwaway line about the freedom he spent eight years dismantling .
If the Left wants to quibble over words , fine .
But the point is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just talk about religious freedom .
They acted on it .
Of course , President Obama acted too — punishing faith , marginalizing believers , and leaving tens of millions of brothers and sisters suffering silently around the world .
The fact that President Trump has freed Christian hostages , appointed an Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Liberty , used America 's economic leverage to stop persecution and religious genocide , hosted two international Ministerials to Advance Religious Freedom , condemned blasphemy and apostasy laws , denounced China , Iran , Nigeria , and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an International Religious Freedom Alliance , and so much more — speaks volumes to how much his team cares .
The media needs to stop with its `` fact checks '' and try a reality check instead .
There 's no glossing over the truth about these two parties or their agendas .
The reason networks ca n't stand speeches like Cissie 's or Nick 's or Abby Johnson 's is because they show viewers the one thing Democrats do n't want voters to see — a preview of exactly where they 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Showing viewers the one thing Democrats don't want voters to see: a preview of exactly where they'll take America if they have the chance.
PETITION: Tell the FDA to reverse its opposition to Hydroxychloroquine and help save lives! Sign the petition here.
August 27, 2020 (FRC Action) — On night two of the Republican National Convention, it wasn't just the contrast in two parties that was on display — but the contrast of two media groups. Networks like CNN, probably furious to see the RNC blow away the DNC's ratings, dripped with animosity for speakers like teenager Nick Sandmann, calling him a “snot-nosed, entitled kid from Kentucky.” But that was almost kind compared to the “token minority” label the Daily Beast slapped on rising star Daniel Cameron. Then came the bogus fact checks, which the press bypassed for most of the DNC event because, as Chris Cuomo put it, Democrats “don't lie like Trump.”
But for every bitter roundtable, every biting comment, all the over-the-top spin, conservatives proved they could dish it right back. Nick, who's had “the full war machine of the mainstream media” pointed directly at him, knows the real problem in the press is that the truth isn't important. “Advancing their anti-Christian, anti-Conservative, anti–Donald Trump narrative was all that mattered.” “Canceled,” he warned, “is what's happening to people around this country who refuse to be silenced by the far Left. But I wouldn't be canceled.”
Others, like Cissie Graham Lynch, dared to challenge the Democrats' godless agenda. “During the Obama-Biden administration, [our] freedoms were under attack,” she warned. “Democrats tried to make faith organizations pay for abortion-inducing drugs. Democrats tried to force adoption agencies to violate their deeply held beliefs. Democrats pressured schools to allow boys to compete in girls' sports and use girls' locker rooms.” The Biden-Harris vision, she insisted, will be worse. It “leaves no room for people of faith, whether you are a baker, or a florist or a football coach. They will force the choice between being obedient to God or to Caesar,” she added. “Because the radical Left's God is government power.”
Almost immediately, the media and far-Left allies let loose. Headlines like NBC's declared that “Cissie Graham Lynch Attacks Transgender Rights” — a far cry from what reporters at the Washington Times heard: “Billy Graham's Granddaughter Lauds Trump on Religious Freedom.” The Human Rights Campaign accused her of being “dehumanizing” and “demeaning” for referring to them as boys using the restroom and not “transgender girls.” “There were no efforts to 'pressure schools'” into changing their bathroom policies, NBC lied — conveniently ignoring the 2016 mandate that cut federal funds for non-compliers.
It's no wonder the media was racing to discredit everything Cissie said. It was a powerful speech that pulled back the curtain on the Left's best kept secret: how they plan to destroy America once they control it. Even Politico has been stunned at just how intentional this strategy has been. “The Democratic Convention,” their headline read, “was a massive evasion… masking the most Left-wing strategy in years.” The only way Joe Biden succeeds, many acknowledge, is by concealing his extremist plan from voters — which, as we know from his White House years, includes taking a blowtorch to religious freedom.
“Our Founders did not envision a quiet, hidden faith,” Cissie insisted. “They fought to ensure that voices of faith were always welcomed… Not bullied.” That's been a shared goal of this administration, she pointed out, which has shown an unparalleled commitment to persecuted people everywhere. “On the world stage, President Trump became the first president to talk about the importance of religious liberty at the United Nations, giving hope to people of faith around the world,” Cissie said. Minutes later, everyone from NBC News to the AP rushed to declare, “This is false,” as they played a non-stop loop of Barack Obama in 2012, delivering a throwaway line about the freedom he spent eight years dismantling.
If the Left wants to quibble over words, fine. But the point is, this administration's leaders didn't just talk about religious freedom. They acted on it. Of course, President Obama acted too — punishing faith, marginalizing believers, and leaving tens of millions of brothers and sisters suffering silently around the world. The fact that President Trump has freed Christian hostages, appointed an Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Liberty, used America's economic leverage to stop persecution and religious genocide, hosted two international Ministerials to Advance Religious Freedom, condemned blasphemy and apostasy laws, denounced China, Iran, Nigeria, and others for their human rights atrocities, launched an International Religious Freedom Alliance, and so much more — speaks volumes to how much his team cares.
The media needs to stop with its “fact checks” and try a reality check instead. There's no glossing over the truth about these two parties or their agendas. The reason networks can't stand speeches like Cissie's or Nick's or Abby Johnson's is because they show viewers the one thing Democrats don't want voters to see — a preview of exactly where they'll take America if they have the chance.
Published with permission from FRC Action.
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