lifesitenews--2020-07-06--Russian President Putin mocks US embassy for flying gay pride flag

MOSCOW , Russia , July 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that a “ gay pride ” flag flying at the U.S. embassy in Moscow indicates the people working there are homosexuals .
When Putin was told during a televised video conference that the U.S. embassy had a pride flag hanging from the front of its building to celebrate Pride month in June , he asked , “ Who works in this building ?
” When the president was told “ Americans , ” he responded , “ Let them celebrate.
” “ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people who work there , ” he added with a smile , according to The Moscow Times , seeming to suggest that flying the rainbow flag could be a reflection of the embassy workers ’ homosexuality or transgenderism .
During a video conference on Friday , Putin also said “ we passed a law banning the propaganda of homosexuality among minors .
So what ?
Let people grow up , become adults and then decide their own destinies.
” In a statement , the U.S. embassy explained the “ LGBTI flag was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baker and was first raised as a symbol of hope and diversity on June 25 , 1978 , during the Gay Freedom Day parade in San Francisco.
” The embassy then mentioned that “ June is Pride Month and we celebrate that everyone deserves to live a life free from hatred , prejudice , and persecution.
” Ambassador John J. Sullivan , who went to a Catholic high school , commented , “ LGBTI rights are human rights .
And human rights are universal .
It ’ s as simple as that.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people claiming to be a member of the opposite sex need special rights they don ’ t already have as human beings .
In June 2019 , NBC News reported , “ The Trump administration is rejecting requests from U.S. embassies to fly the rainbow pride flag on embassy flagpoles during June , LGBTQ Pride Month.
” “ During the Obama administration , the government granted blanket permission to embassies overseas to fly the pride flag during June , ” NBC News continued .
“ This year , U.S. diplomats said , embassies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag in other places , including inside embassies , but that requests to fly it on the flagpole must be specifically approved .
No approvals have been granted.
” In Moscow in 2020 , the rainbow flag was flown not on a flagpole but outside a window , prominently placed just below the American flag .
Meanwhile , a new amendment to the Russian constitution was approved by the people just a few days ago .
That amendment determines that only monogamous heterosexual unions are recognized as marriages .
Other amendments put up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase “ faith in God ” to the Russian constitution , and another that would eliminate term limits for the Russian president , effectively allowing Putin to remain in power for life .
Putin said earlier this year , “ We need to clarify some things .
A marriage is a union of a man and woman .
A family is a different thing , but the idea is right and it should be supported .
We need to only think about how to formulate it and where.
” “ As for ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # 2 , ’ I have already publicly said it and I will repeat it once more : as long as I am president , we will not have parents # 1 and # 2 , we will have ‘ papa ’ and ‘ mama , ’ ” the Russian president added .
In 2013 , as prime minister , Putin signed a bill outlawing the promotion of homosexuality , homosexual “ marriage , ” and so-called “ gay pride ” parades throughout the country .
The law banned the distribution of information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , describing such actions as attractive , promoting a “ distorted understanding of social equality of traditional and non-traditional relations , ” and being involved in the “ unwanted solicitation of information that could provoke interest in such relations.
” Even though Russia has been strong on stopping propaganda for homosexuality and gender ideology , the country is still plagued by high numbers of abortions .
In 2018 , roughly 661,000 children were killed before birth , compared with over 1.6 million live births .
Both the number of abortions and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for several years .
In 2014 , there were almost 2 million children born in Russia , and more than 900,000 abortions .
During the time of the Soviet Union , the number of abortions consistently exceeded 4 million , in some years even 5 million .
Since the early 2000s , there have been less than 2 million abortions every year .
The number dropped to under 1 million for the first time in 2014 .
In the United States , according to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute , roughly “ 862,320 abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that number is higher than in Russia , relative to the population size , abortion is far more common in Russia than in the United States .

It shows ‘something’ about the people who work there, he said.
MOSCOW, Russia, July 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that a “gay pride” flag flying at the U.S. embassy in Moscow indicates the people working there are homosexuals.
When Putin was told during a televised video conference that the U.S. embassy had a pride flag hanging from the front of its building to celebrate Pride month in June, he asked, “Who works in this building?” When the president was told “Americans,” he responded, “Let them celebrate.”
“They’ve shown a certain something about the people who work there,” he added with a smile, according to The Moscow Times, seeming to suggest that flying the rainbow flag could be a reflection of the embassy workers’ homosexuality or transgenderism.
During a video conference on Friday, Putin also said “we passed a law banning the propaganda of homosexuality among minors. So what? Let people grow up, become adults and then decide their own destinies.”
In a statement, the U.S. embassy explained the “LGBTI flag was created by American artist and activist Gilbert Baker and was first raised as a symbol of hope and diversity on June 25, 1978, during the Gay Freedom Day parade in San Francisco.”
The embassy then mentioned that “June is Pride Month and we celebrate that everyone deserves to live a life free from hatred, prejudice, and persecution.”
Ambassador John J. Sullivan, who went to a Catholic high school, commented, “LGBTI rights are human rights. And human rights are universal. It’s as simple as that.” He did not explain why homosexuals and people claiming to be a member of the opposite sex need special rights they don’t already have as human beings.
In June 2019, NBC News reported, “The Trump administration is rejecting requests from U.S. embassies to fly the rainbow pride flag on embassy flagpoles during June, LGBTQ Pride Month.”
“During the Obama administration, the government granted blanket permission to embassies overseas to fly the pride flag during June,” NBC News continued. “This year, U.S. diplomats said, embassies were told they can display the pride flag in other places, including inside embassies, but that requests to fly it on the flagpole must be specifically approved. No approvals have been granted.”
In Moscow in 2020, the rainbow flag was flown not on a flagpole but outside a window, prominently placed just below the American flag.
Meanwhile, a new amendment to the Russian constitution was approved by the people just a few days ago. That amendment determines that only monogamous heterosexual unions are recognized as marriages.
Other amendments put up for referendum include one that adds the phrase “faith in God” to the Russian constitution, and another that would eliminate term limits for the Russian president, effectively allowing Putin to remain in power for life.
Putin said earlier this year, “We need to clarify some things. A marriage is a union of a man and woman. A family is a different thing, but the idea is right and it should be supported. We need to only think about how to formulate it and where.”
“As for ‘parent #1’ and ‘parent #2,’ I have already publicly said it and I will repeat it once more: as long as I am president, we will not have parents #1 and #2, we will have ‘papa’ and ‘mama,’” the Russian president added.
In 2013, as prime minister, Putin signed a bill outlawing the promotion of homosexuality, homosexual “marriage,” and so-called “gay pride” parades throughout the country.
The law banned the distribution of information on “non-traditional sexual concepts” to children, describing such actions as attractive, promoting a “distorted understanding of social equality of traditional and non-traditional relations,” and being involved in the “unwanted solicitation of information that could provoke interest in such relations.”
Even though Russia has been strong on stopping propaganda for homosexuality and gender ideology, the country is still plagued by high numbers of abortions. In 2018, roughly 661,000 children were killed before birth, compared with over 1.6 million live births.
Both the number of abortions and the number of live births have been decreasing for several years. In 2014, there were almost 2 million children born in Russia, and more than 900,000 abortions. During the time of the Soviet Union, the number of abortions consistently exceeded 4 million, in some years even 5 million.
Since the early 2000s, there have been less than 2 million abortions every year. The number dropped to under 1 million for the first time in 2014.
In the United States, according to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, roughly “862,320 abortions were performed in 2017.” Even though that number is higher than in Russia, relative to the population size, abortion is far more common in Russia than in the United States.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-06--Will Pope Benedict be affected by Francis’ investigation of Communion and Liberation’s lay associati

Will Pope Benedict be affected by Francis’ investigation of Communion and Liberation’s lay association?

July 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – According to news reports from Italy and the U.S. , Pope Francis has decided to place the religious order Memores Domini – four of whose female members are serving in the household of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI since 2005 – under a pontifical delegate .
The reason given is that the statues and governance of this community that has been established in 1981 are in need of revision , next to the fact that there exist some internal disagreements .
Observers are concerned that this decision will affect the personal life of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pontifical decision broke on June 26 , when Cardinal Kevin Farrell – the head of the Dicastery for Laity , Family and Life – met with representatives of the religious community Memores Domini which has 1,600 lay members in dozens of countries , belongs to the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation , and which follows “ a vocation of total devotion to God by living in the world and practising the Evangelical counsels with personal and private commitment as their purpose , ” according to the Vatican .
These lay members practice obedience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a climate of silence and common prayer .
Four female members of Memores Domini have served in Pope Benedict 's household since his election to the papacy in 2005 and continue to do so in his retirement home .
On June 26 , Cardinal Farrell informed the community that Pope Francis has decided to put them under the rule of a pontifical delegate , the Jesuit Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda ( professor emeritus of Canon Law at the Gregorian University in Rome ) who is to oversee the revision of the statutes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The community had not yet met the Vatican 's 2018 request for a revision of the statutes , and there seem to be concerns over the mixing of matters of governance with matters of spiritual guidance .
As the decree as presented by Farrell states ( see full translation of the text below ) , the intention of this intervention is to “ achieve a clear separation of the sphere of governance of the association and the sphere of conscience of the members.
” In addition , this new pontifical delegate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among all the members of the association an opportune pedagogy ordered to the understanding of the sphere of conscience , the internal sacramental forum , as well as the external forum.
” After the Italian blog Messainlatino had first reported on this event , the Italian journalist Aldo Maria Valli confirmed the news on July 1 and published the official decree as presented by Cardinal Farrell on that June 26 .
Subsequently , the National Catholic Register 's Edward Pentin also wrote on these developments .
The German Catholic commentator Giuseppe Nardi also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing tensions within the larger religious community Communio e Liberazione since the death of Don Luigi Giussani , its founder , in 2005 .
These tensions , he reported , have especially increased under the pontificate of Pope Francis , with some parts of the community trying to adapt to his novel teachings and approaches and with others trying to remain on a more conservative path .
Since 2005 , Don Julián Carrón has been the new leader of the community .
Many members of Communio e Liberazione regret a change of direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community altogether .
Worrying about this new apostolic delegate – who had been doing similar work with the Legionnaires of Christ under Pope Benedict – is that there is an explicit reference to Pope Francis ' direct 2005 rebuke of the religious community .
The Pope had then warned the Communion and Liberation movement about the danger of turning into a museum .
He stated : “ Faithfulness to the charism does not mean to write it on a parchment and frame it .
The reference to the legacy that Don Giussani left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ museum of records , of decisions taken , of the rules of conduct .
It certainly entails faithfulness to tradition , but faithfulness to tradition , Mahler said , 'is not to worship the ashes but to pass on the flame ' .
Don Giussani would never forgive you if you lost the liberty and transformed yourselves into museum guides or worshippers of ashes .
Pass on the flame of the memory of that first encounter and be free !
” Pope Francis then also cautioned them to “ reject self-referentiality , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he continued , “ knowing how to listen to those who are not like us , learning from everyone , with sincere humility.
” In negative terms he spoke of becoming “ slaves to self-referentiality ” which makes us “ end up cultivating a 'labelled spirituality . '
” Such a self-referentiality “ transforms us into mere impresarios in an NGO , ” the Pope warned .
According to the Italian journalist Valli , Cardinal Farrell made during the June 26 meeting with the Memores Domini community an explicit reference to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the danger of being self-referential and of becoming an NGO .
Father Ghirlanda , similar to Cardinal Farrell , at the same meeting also referred back to the Pope 's March 7 , 2015 address and told the Memores Domini that one must not “ become self-referentiality , as the Pope warned , because the association would die of asphyxiation and sooner or later would risk of not receiving nourishment from the life of the Church.
” He cautioned the community to receive the changes with “ docility ” and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priest and papal delegate added that what counts is not only the founder 's own charism , but also “ the spiritual experience ” as it is being lived by all the members of the community .
According to one senior Vatican source with whom LifeSite spoke about the matter , this new papal move seems to mean that the Pope is trying to get the Communion and Liberation movement “ reformed ” in the sense of “ liquidating that part of the community that wishes to remain loyal to the original charism.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the source continued , “ is to align itself with the new paradigm.
” Some members have “ strong resistances against this new order , ” the source explained .
This source , however , does not believe that it will affect Pope Benedict 's own personal life and that the members of his household would not be removed .
Other observers in Rome with whom LifeSite corresponded , seem to agree with this assessment .
However , another senior source in the Vatican seems more alarmed and indicates that there takes place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughtlessness.
” He is particularly concerned that this intervention takes place just at a moment when “ the elderly Pope Benedict just lost his brother !
” He reminds us to see “ parallels ” with previous events , such as how the Vatican dealt with the French conservative order of Little Sisters of Mary , Mother of the Redeemer , with the Order of Malta , as well as the Brazilian Heralds of the Gospel , an association of faithful that was favored by Pope Benedict XVI .
This Vatican source says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the Memores Domini who are living with Pope Benedict for years now will be removed and exchanged , but this possibility will “ hang over him like the sword of Damocles , which is evil in itself.
” Giuseppe Nardi of Katholisches.info concludes his own above-mentioned report with the following words : “ In Rome , there is speculation that the sending of a commissar could also affect the four Memores Domini who run the household of Benedict XVI and who live with him at the monastery Mater Ecclesiae .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the establishment of an administration by a commissioner , they could be removed and replaced by other members whose obedience has another direction.
” Edward Pentin , in his own above-mentioned report , reminds us of other different Catholic communities that have been recently placed under papal commissioners , for example the prominent case of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate , an order that has been gravely damaged by this papal intervention .
On July 1 , Pope emeritus Benedict XVI lost his last surviving family member , his brother Monsignor Georg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of age .
Benedict had been able , at the end of June , to visit his brother on his sickbed for a few days .
( Those interested in writing a note of condolence to Pope Benedict and Bishop Voderholzer of Regensburg can do so here . )
Since this is a developing story , LifeSite will update this report as more information becomes available .
Please see here a translation of the decree as signed and presented by Cardinal Kevin Farrell : This Dicastery for Laity , the Family , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competence relative to the accompaniment and development of associations of the faithful , has received reports from members of the lay association Memores Domini , recognized as an international association of the faithful by decree of the former Pontifical Council for the Laity on December 8 , 1988 , expressing detailed doubts regarding the provisions of its statutory text and the directory of the association itself .
Having thoroughly examined the normative texts of the association , and ascertained the presence of provisions that prejudice the necessary distinction between the sphere of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscience of its members , with particular reference to the powers of government and of spiritual direction given to the ecclesiastical councilor of the association ; having assessed the repercussions of the contested provisions on the members of the association in terms of personal freedom , the right to privacy , and more generally regarding the right governance of the same association ; having listened to the motivations of the president of Memores Domini , Dr. Antonella Frongillo , and of the former ecclesiastical councilor of the association , Rev .
Julián Carrón @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith as far as it is competent , given the need to ensure the right functioning of the government of the aforementioned association of the faithful and to protect the rights of the members of the same association , also preserving and promoting the participation of the association Memores Domini in the communion and mission of the Church according to the recognized criteria of ecclesiality ; taking into account the ecclesial relevance of the lay association Memores Domini at the international level and of the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holy Spirit has bestowed on the Church by means of the Servant of God Fr .
Luigi Giussani ; having regard for canons 305 and 323 of the Code of Canon Law , article 7 paragraph 1 of the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity , the Family and Life , as well as the current statutes of the lay association Memores Domini ; this Dicastery for Laity , the Family and Life , in the exercise of its proper function and by mandate of the Supreme Authority , decrees : The appointment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegate for the lay association Memores Domini so that he may guide the process of the revision of the statutes and the directory of the association , with particular reference to : a ) the structure of governance , the configuration of the offices , particularly and not exclusively the powers of the ecclesiastical councilor , the president and members of the governing council , in order to achieve a clear separation of the sphere of governance of the association and the sphere of conscience of the members ; b ) the truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the association .
The appointment of a commission , presided over by the Pontifical delegate , composed of competent members of Memores Domini , with the specific competence of revising the statutes and directory of the association , following , according to the manner established by the Pontifical delegate , a procedure of consultation of all of the houses of the association and welcoming the contributions of all of its members .
The number and names of the members of the aforementioned commission , as also its manner of functioning , shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Pontifical delegate .
For the formation of the commission the governing council of the association shall propose two nominees , whose appointment shall be subject to the judgment of this Dicastery .
The Pontifical delegate shall also assist the government in promoting among all the members of the association an opportune pedagogy ordered to the understanding of the sphere of conscience , the internal sacramental forum , as well as the external forum .
To this end , the delegate is granted the faculty to use consultors and experts on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Memores Domini to provide for all of the necessary expenses of the Pontifical delegate related to the exercise of his office .
These measures are taken with the hope of an effective collaboration of all the members of Memores Domini , for the good of the entire association of the faithful and of the Church .

July 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – According to news reports from Italy and the U.S., Pope Francis has decided to place the religious order Memores Domini – four of whose female members are serving in the household of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI since 2005 – under a pontifical delegate. The reason given is that the statues and governance of this community that has been established in 1981 are in need of revision, next to the fact that there exist some internal disagreements. Observers are concerned that this decision will affect the personal life of Pope Benedict.
The news of this pontifical decision broke on June 26, when Cardinal Kevin Farrell – the head of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life – met with representatives of the religious community Memores Domini which has 1,600 lay members in dozens of countries, belongs to the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, and which follows “a vocation of total devotion to God by living in the world and practising the Evangelical counsels with personal and private commitment as their purpose,” according to the Vatican. These lay members practice obedience, poverty and chastity, and live in a climate of silence and common prayer. Four female members of Memores Domini have served in Pope Benedict's household since his election to the papacy in 2005 and continue to do so in his retirement home.
On June 26, Cardinal Farrell informed the community that Pope Francis has decided to put them under the rule of a pontifical delegate, the Jesuit Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda (professor emeritus of Canon Law at the Gregorian University in Rome) who is to oversee the revision of the statutes as well as of the community's directorate. The community had not yet met the Vatican's 2018 request for a revision of the statutes, and there seem to be concerns over the mixing of matters of governance with matters of spiritual guidance. As the decree as presented by Farrell states (see full translation of the text below), the intention of this intervention is to “achieve a clear separation of the sphere of governance of the association and the sphere of conscience of the members.” In addition, this new pontifical delegate is to “assist the government in promoting among all the members of the association an opportune pedagogy ordered to the understanding of the sphere of conscience, the internal sacramental forum, as well as the external forum.”
After the Italian blog Messainlatino had first reported on this event, the Italian journalist Aldo Maria Valli confirmed the news on July 1 and published the official decree as presented by Cardinal Farrell on that June 26. Subsequently, the National Catholic Register's Edward Pentin also wrote on these developments.
The German Catholic commentator Giuseppe Nardi also reported on these events and referred to ongoing tensions within the larger religious community Communio e Liberazione since the death of Don Luigi Giussani, its founder, in 2005. These tensions, he reported, have especially increased under the pontificate of Pope Francis, with some parts of the community trying to adapt to his novel teachings and approaches and with others trying to remain on a more conservative path. Since 2005, Don Julián Carrón has been the new leader of the community. Many members of Communio e Liberazione regret a change of direction under Carrón; some have left the community altogether.
Worrying about this new apostolic delegate – who had been doing similar work with the Legionnaires of Christ under Pope Benedict – is that there is an explicit reference to Pope Francis' direct 2015 rebuke of the religious community. The Pope had then warned the Communion and Liberation movement about the danger of turning into a museum. He stated:
“Faithfulness to the charism does not mean to write it on a parchment and frame it. The reference to the legacy that Don Giussani left you cannot be reduced to a museum of records, of decisions taken, of the rules of conduct. It certainly entails faithfulness to tradition, but faithfulness to tradition, Mahler said, 'is not to worship the ashes but to pass on the flame'. Don Giussani would never forgive you if you lost the liberty and transformed yourselves into museum guides or worshippers of ashes. Pass on the flame of the memory of that first encounter and be free!”
Pope Francis then also cautioned them to “reject self-referentiality, in all its forms.” “It means,” he continued, “knowing how to listen to those who are not like us, learning from everyone, with sincere humility.” In negative terms he spoke of becoming “slaves to self-referentiality” which makes us “end up cultivating a 'labelled spirituality.'” Such a self-referentiality “transforms us into mere impresarios in an NGO,” the Pope warned.
According to the Italian journalist Valli, Cardinal Farrell made during the June 26 meeting with the Memores Domini community an explicit reference to this 2005 papal speech and rebuke, referring to the danger of being self-referential and of becoming an NGO.
Father Ghirlanda, similar to Cardinal Farrell, at the same meeting also referred back to the Pope's March 7, 2015 address and told the Memores Domini that one must not “become self-referentiality, as the Pope warned, because the association would die of asphyxiation and sooner or later would risk of not receiving nourishment from the life of the Church.” He cautioned the community to receive the changes with “docility” and a “great deal of humility.” The priest and papal delegate added that what counts is not only the founder's own charism, but also “the spiritual experience” as it is being lived by all the members of the community.
According to one senior Vatican source with whom LifeSite spoke about the matter, this new papal move seems to mean that the Pope is trying to get the Communion and Liberation movement “reformed” in the sense of “liquidating that part of the community that wishes to remain loyal to the original charism.” “Communione e Liberazione,” the source continued, “is to align itself with the new paradigm.” Some members have “strong resistances against this new order,” the source explained. This source, however, does not believe that it will affect Pope Benedict's own personal life and that the members of his household would not be removed.
Other observers in Rome with whom LifeSite corresponded, seem to agree with this assessment.
However, another senior source in the Vatican seems more alarmed and indicates that there takes place an unjust intrusion and a “grave thoughtlessness.” He is particularly concerned that this intervention takes place just at a moment when “the elderly Pope Benedict just lost his brother!” He reminds us to see “parallels” with previous events, such as how the Vatican dealt with the French conservative order of Little Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, with the Order of Malta, as well as the Brazilian Heralds of the Gospel, an association of faithful that was favored by Pope Benedict XVI. This Vatican source says he does not know whether the four members of the Memores Domini who are living with Pope Benedict for years now will be removed and exchanged, but this possibility will “hang over him like the sword of Damocles, which is evil in itself.”
Giuseppe Nardi of Katholisches.info concludes his own above-mentioned report with the following words:
“In Rome, there is speculation that the sending of a commissar could also affect the four Memores Domini who run the household of Benedict XVI and who live with him at the monastery Mater Ecclesiae. There is concern that under the pretext of the establishment of an administration by a commissioner, they could be removed and replaced by other members whose obedience has another direction.”
Edward Pentin, in his own above-mentioned report, reminds us of other different Catholic communities that have been recently placed under papal commissioners, for example the prominent case of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, an order that has been gravely damaged by this papal intervention.
On July 1, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI lost his last surviving family member, his brother Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, who died at 96 years of age. Benedict had been able, at the end of June, to visit his brother on his sickbed for a few days. (Those interested in writing a note of condolence to Pope Benedict and Bishop Voderholzer of Regensburg can do so here.)
Since this is a developing story, LifeSite will update this report as more information becomes available.
***
Please see here a translation of the decree as signed and presented by Cardinal Kevin Farrell:
Decree
This Dicastery for Laity, the Family, and Life, in the exercise of its competence relative to the accompaniment and development of associations of the faithful, has received reports from members of the lay association Memores Domini, recognized as an international association of the faithful by decree of the former Pontifical Council for the Laity on December 8, 1988, expressing detailed doubts regarding the provisions of its statutory text and the directory of the association itself.
Having thoroughly examined the normative texts of the association, and ascertained the presence of provisions that prejudice the necessary distinction between the sphere of government of the association and the sphere of conscience of its members, with particular reference to the powers of government and of spiritual direction given to the ecclesiastical councilor of the association; having assessed the repercussions of the contested provisions on the members of the association in terms of personal freedom, the right to privacy, and more generally regarding the right governance of the same association; having listened to the motivations of the president of Memores Domini, Dr. Antonella Frongillo, and of the former ecclesiastical councilor of the association, Rev. Julián Carrón; having received the opinion of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith as far as it is competent, given the need to ensure the right functioning of the government of the aforementioned association of the faithful and to protect the rights of the members of the same association, also preserving and promoting the participation of the association Memores Domini in the communion and mission of the Church according to the recognized criteria of ecclesiality; taking into account the ecclesial relevance of the lay association Memores Domini at the international level and of the need to protect and promote the charism that the Holy Spirit has bestowed on the Church by means of the Servant of God Fr. Luigi Giussani; having regard for canons 305 and 323 of the Code of Canon Law, article 7 paragraph 1 of the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, as well as the current statutes of the lay association Memores Domini; this Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, in the exercise of its proper function and by mandate of the Supreme Authority, decrees:
1)
The appointment of Reverend Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda as Pontifical delegate for the lay association Memores Domini so that he may guide the process of the revision of the statutes and the directory of the association, with particular reference to:
a) the structure of governance, the configuration of the offices, particularly and not exclusively the powers of the ecclesiastical councilor, the president and members of the governing council, in order to achieve a clear separation of the sphere of governance of the association and the sphere of conscience of the members;
b) the truly representative nature of the organs of governance of the association.
2)
The appointment of a commission, presided over by the Pontifical delegate, composed of competent members of Memores Domini, with the specific competence of revising the statutes and directory of the association, following, according to the manner established by the Pontifical delegate, a procedure of consultation of all of the houses of the association and welcoming the contributions of all of its members. The number and names of the members of the aforementioned commission, as also its manner of functioning, shall be defined by this Dicastery in agreement with the Pontifical delegate.
3)
For the formation of the commission the governing council of the association shall propose two nominees, whose appointment shall be subject to the judgment of this Dicastery.
4)
The Pontifical delegate shall also assist the government in promoting among all the members of the association an opportune pedagogy ordered to the understanding of the sphere of conscience, the internal sacramental forum, as well as the external forum. To this end, the delegate is granted the faculty to use consultors and experts on the subject.
5)
It shall be the responsibility of Memores Domini to provide for all of the necessary expenses of the Pontifical delegate related to the exercise of his office.
These measures are taken with the hope of an effective collaboration of all the members of Memores Domini, for the good of the entire association of the faithful and of the Church.
From the Vatican, 26 June 2020
Kevin Cardinal Farrell, Prefect
Father Alexandre Awi Mello, Secretary
Translated by Giuseppe Pellegrino
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-06--Cardinal Zen calls out Pope Francis for not answering dubia about ‘murder’ of Chinese Church

PETITION : Support Cardinal Zen 's plea to stop the `` murder of the Church in China '' !
Sign the petition here .
VATICAN CITY , July 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — It has been a year since Cardinal Joseph Zen made an emergency trip to Rome in an attempt to warn Pope Francis about the Vatican ’ s just-released pastoral document that gives priests in China reasons why they should register with the Communist government .
The 88-year-old retired bishop of Hong Kong marked the anniversary this July by noting on his blog and Twitter that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his several “ dubia ” or criticisms of the document that Zen described as “ the most cruel thing ” the Vatican has done concerning the Catholic Church in China , and “ absolutely against the doctrine of the Church , because it encourages people to be part of a schismatic Church.
” Zen also marked the occasion by accusing Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin of “ single-handedly ” completing a “ trilogy of murdering the Church in China ” and of “ manipulating the Holy Father.
” He lists the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vatican ’ s September 2018 provisional secret deal with President Xi Jinping ’ s Communist regime on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China .
While the pope insists the agreement gives him final say on bishop appointments , Zen wrote that he doubts the document , which he has not been permitted to see , is clear on that point .
The trilogy ’ s second part was “ more damaging : the legitimization of seven ex-communicated ‘ bishops , ’ ” Zen wrote .
These were priests who had been illegitimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patriotic Catholic Association , while those in the underground Church who resisted were sent to “ to prison or labor camps where they could die.
” Not only did Pope Francis reinstate the excommunicated bishops , he gave them jurisdiction over dioceses , even though they “ showed no change in their behavior ” and “ reaffirmed their loyalty to the atheist government , ” Zen wrote .
“ That was astonishing for us : He is giving the sheep to the wolves !
” The third and “ most cruel thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Zen said .
This was June 28 , 2019 , release of the “ Pastoral guidance for the civil registration of clergy in China.
” With this document , “ Cardinal Parolin served the last blow to murder the Church in China , ” wrote Zen , recalling that when he read the document , he immediately flew to the Vatican to meet with the Holy Father .
He also questioned both the Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization and the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked to sign off on the guidance , and the latter told Zen that “ Now everything about China is exclusively in the hands of the Secretary of State.
” Once he arrived in Rome , Zen sent a letter to the pope asking him to be present “ at a dialogue between me and Cardinal Parolin , the obvious author of the document.
” He described how after receiving no answer , he sent Pope Francis another letter July 1 along with “ my ‘ dubia ’ about the document , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctrine of the Church , because it encourages people to be part of a schismatic Church.
” On July 2 , Francis advised Zen by letter to talk to Parolin , at which point the cardinal told the message-bearer : “ It would be completely useless ; so , please , tell the Holy Father I ’ m going back empty-handed.
” Zen recalled that the pope then invited him to dinner July 3 , which Parolin also attended but said little , and during which Francis showed “ great affection ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The cardinal wrote that he realized Parolin planned the dinner to make it clear that the Holy Father listened to him , not Zen , and that Parolin had no intention of talking about the pastoral guidelines to Zen .
“ So I did not come back empty-handed .
I had a chance to see with my eyes that Parolin is manipulating the Holy Father , ” wrote Zen .
In late September , Zen sent all members of the college of cardinals a copy of his book “ For the love of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” and a letter beseeching them to come to the aid of the Catholic Church in China — communications he made public in January .
However , the new Dean of the College of Cardinals , Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re , “ wrote a letter to all Cardinals criticizing my letter , ” he said , to which Zen responded in March .
“ It ’ s now a whole year since my visit to Pope Francis , but still no word from him .
I am not sure whether my letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now on my blog what I want to say , hoping that he may get the chance to read it through somebody , ” he wrote .
Meanwhile , Italian journalist Massimo Tosatti reported Sunday that Pope Francis inexplicably dropped from his post-Angelus remarks a message supporting liberty for the people of Hong Kong .
On June 30 , Beijing passed a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong that created four new crimes — secession , subversion , terrorist activities and collusion with a foreign country — which carry maximum sentences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law as destructive to religious freedom and warned it will “ destroy Hong Kong.
” Journalists were told just before the pope appeared that he would not read a message contained in the Vatican “ Bulletin ” in which he expresses the “ desire that societal freedom , and especially religious freedom , be expressed in full and true liberty ” for the people of Hong Kong , wrote Tosatti ( as translated by Giuseppe Pellegrino ) .
“ Since the Bulletin is under embargo until the moment when it is spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officially it is as if these words never existed , ” he said .
“ But they were written , and they are known.
” However , “ what is not known is what sort of pressure Beijing put on the Pope so that he would not speak on world television about the drama of the former British colony , even in the most delicate and peaceful tones possible , ” added Tosatti .
China expert Steven Mosher recently looked into the startling claims of Chinese dissident Guo Wengui that the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 billion a year ” to buy the Vatican ’ s silence about its ongoing persecution of the Catholic Church in China and other human rights abuses .
While Guo did not offer evidence to back up his claims , and is known to “ play fast and loose ” with numbers , his allegations have “ a ring of truth , ” Mosher concluded .
“ China is clearly throwing a lot of money around on the world stage in its drive for dominance , ” and it seems that there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such contributions , “ given some of the other shady transactions that have come to light in recent years .
”

The 88-year-old bishop accused Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin of 'a trilogy of murdering the Church in China' and 'manipulating the Holy Father.'
PETITION: Support Cardinal Zen's plea to stop the “murder of the Church in China”! Sign the petition here.
VATICAN CITY, July 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — It has been a year since Cardinal Joseph Zen made an emergency trip to Rome in an attempt to warn Pope Francis about the Vatican’s just-released pastoral document that gives priests in China reasons why they should register with the Communist government.
The 88-year-old retired bishop of Hong Kong marked the anniversary this July by noting on his blog and Twitter that Pope Francis has still not responded to his several “dubia” or criticisms of the document that Zen described as “the most cruel thing” the Vatican has done concerning the Catholic Church in China, and “absolutely against the doctrine of the Church, because it encourages people to be part of a schismatic Church.”
Zen also marked the occasion by accusing Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin of “single-handedly” completing a “trilogy of murdering the Church in China” and of “manipulating the Holy Father.”
He lists the first part of the trilogy as the Vatican’s September 2018 provisional secret deal with President Xi Jinping’s Communist regime on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China.
While the pope insists the agreement gives him final say on bishop appointments, Zen wrote that he doubts the document, which he has not been permitted to see, is clear on that point.
The trilogy’s second part was “more damaging: the legitimization of seven ex-communicated ‘bishops,’” Zen wrote.
These were priests who had been illegitimately “ordained” in the state-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, while those in the underground Church who resisted were sent to “to prison or labor camps where they could die.”
Not only did Pope Francis reinstate the excommunicated bishops, he gave them jurisdiction over dioceses, even though they “showed no change in their behavior” and “reaffirmed their loyalty to the atheist government,” Zen wrote.
“That was astonishing for us: He is giving the sheep to the wolves!”
The third and “most cruel thing is what happened last year around this time,” Zen said. This was June 28, 2019, release of the “Pastoral guidance for the civil registration of clergy in China.”
With this document, “Cardinal Parolin served the last blow to murder the Church in China,” wrote Zen, recalling that when he read the document, he immediately flew to the Vatican to meet with the Holy Father.
He also questioned both the Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization and the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The former said he was not asked to sign off on the guidance, and the latter told Zen that “Now everything about China is exclusively in the hands of the Secretary of State.”
Once he arrived in Rome, Zen sent a letter to the pope asking him to be present “at a dialogue between me and Cardinal Parolin, the obvious author of the document.”
He described how after receiving no answer, he sent Pope Francis another letter July 1 along with “my ‘dubia’ about the document, which I judged to be absolutely against the doctrine of the Church, because it encourages people to be part of a schismatic Church.”
On July 2, Francis advised Zen by letter to talk to Parolin, at which point the cardinal told the message-bearer: “It would be completely useless; so, please, tell the Holy Father I’m going back empty-handed.”
Zen recalled that the pope then invited him to dinner July 3, which Parolin also attended but said little, and during which Francis showed “great affection” to Zen but also “some embarrassment.”
The cardinal wrote that he realized Parolin planned the dinner to make it clear that the Holy Father listened to him, not Zen, and that Parolin had no intention of talking about the pastoral guidelines to Zen.
“So I did not come back empty-handed. I had a chance to see with my eyes that Parolin is manipulating the Holy Father,” wrote Zen.
In late September, Zen sent all members of the college of cardinals a copy of his book “For the love of my people I will not keep silent,” and a letter beseeching them to come to the aid of the Catholic Church in China — communications he made public in January.
However, the new Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, “wrote a letter to all Cardinals criticizing my letter,” he said, to which Zen responded in March.
“It’s now a whole year since my visit to Pope Francis, but still no word from him. I am not sure whether my letters can reach him, so I put now on my blog what I want to say, hoping that he may get the chance to read it through somebody,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Italian journalist Massimo Tosatti reported Sunday that Pope Francis inexplicably dropped from his post-Angelus remarks a message supporting liberty for the people of Hong Kong.
On June 30, Beijing passed a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong that created four new crimes — secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with a foreign country — which carry maximum sentences of life in prison. Zen has blasted the law as destructive to religious freedom and warned it will “destroy Hong Kong.”
Journalists were told just before the pope appeared that he would not read a message contained in the Vatican “Bulletin” in which he expresses the “desire that societal freedom, and especially religious freedom, be expressed in full and true liberty” for the people of Hong Kong, wrote Tosatti (as translated by Giuseppe Pellegrino).
“Since the Bulletin is under embargo until the moment when it is spoken, and these words were never spoken, officially it is as if these words never existed,” he said. “But they were written, and they are known.”
However, “what is not known is what sort of pressure Beijing put on the Pope so that he would not speak on world television about the drama of the former British colony, even in the most delicate and peaceful tones possible,” added Tosatti.
China expert Steven Mosher recently looked into the startling claims of Chinese dissident Guo Wengui that the Chinese Communist Party “allocates up to $2 billion a year” to buy the Vatican’s silence about its ongoing persecution of the Catholic Church in China and other human rights abuses.
While Guo did not offer evidence to back up his claims, and is known to “play fast and loose” with numbers, his allegations have “a ring of truth,” Mosher concluded.
“China is clearly throwing a lot of money around on the world stage in its drive for dominance,” and it seems that there are officials in the Vatican who would accept such contributions, “given some of the other shady transactions that have come to light in recent years.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-06--CNN’s ‘Catholic’ Chris Cuomo: Americans don’t need ‘help from above’

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
NEW YORK , New York , July 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – CNN anchor Chris Cuomo , who claims to be a Catholic , said during his show on June 26 that Americans don ’ t need the help of God .
“ If you believe in one another and if [ you ] do the right thing for yourself and your community , things will get better in this country , ” he said .
“ You don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s within us.
” Cuomo seemed to echo statements made by his brother , Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , who said the state of New York improved the numbers during the coronavirus pandemic without God ’ s help .
“ The number is down because we brought the number down , ” he said .
“ God did not do that .
Faith did not do that .
Destiny did not do that .
A lot of pain and suffering did that … That ’ s how it works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you don ’ t continue to do that , you ’ re going to see that number go back up .
And that will be a tragedy if that number goes back up.
” By saying that Americans “ don ’ t need help from above , ” Cuomo directly contradicted numerous Bible passages .
“ Ask , and it will be given you ; seek , and you will find ; knock , and it will be opened to you , ” Christ said according to the Gospel of Matthew .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps them and delivers them ; he delivers them from the wicked , and saves them , because they take refuge in him.
” “ As for me , I am poor and needy ; but the Lord takes thought for me , ” yet another psalm emphasizes .
“ Thou art my help and my deliverer ; do not tarry , O my God !
” In 2016 , Cuomo wrote on Twitter , “ I am a Catholic .
Faith is not something to hide nor is it a requirement.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abortion – as is his brother , Governor Andrew Cuomo .
In a piece for Glamour , Chris Cuomo wrote of men , “ We can ’ t just sit on the sidelines while women work to protect reproductive rights .
If men support a woman ’ s right to choose , they need to get up and support it .
I say that as a husband , a man of faith , and especially as a parent blessed with two daughters and a son.
” He then proceeded to defend supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith .
“ My family is Catholic .
I know well the Catholic teachings .
It ’ s been easy for me to separate my faith from the laws in our country because we don ’ t live in a theocracy , ” Cuomo argued .
“ We live in a democratic , secular state , where the burden is not to find a way to impose your faith on others .
It ’ s the exact opposite—democracy is about making sure nobody can enforce their beliefs on you or anyone else .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and data to guide our decisions.
” Science , however , as embryology textbooks for medical students show , proves that an unborn baby is a whole , distinct , living human being from the moment of fertilization – a position always held by the Catholic Church .
In fact , Cuomo ’ s entire argument is based on the erroneous , anti-science position that an unborn baby , at least for some time , is not yet a human being .
Furthermore , laws – particularly those banning murder and rape , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morality on citizens .
“ It ’ s tricky to explain all of this to my kids , ” he admitted .
“ I know we ’ re raising them in a faith that , frankly , looks down on women , says women can ’ t have equal roles , can ’ t have equal power .
And parents know : You can ’ t fool kids .
My answer ?
What ’ s fundamental is the source of your faith .
Believe in a wisdom bigger than your own ; believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mercy .
That ’ s what I ’ ve tried to teach.
” Cuomo recounted a conversation with his daughter , who was 16 years old at the time and wanted to attend a march in support of abortion .
“ She told me , ‘ If I were to get pregnant today ’ —not something any father wants to contemplate about his 16-year-old— ‘ I could have an abortion and I wouldn ’ t have to tell you.
’ ” The CNN anchor seemed to be okay with his daughter telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without ever telling him about it .
“ Now I tell her : You do whatever you want as long as it ’ s on your own terms .
And if you ’ re not sure , you can talk to me or talk to your mom ( she ’ s the smarter one anyway ) .
” Cuomo framed the fight between the pro-life movement and the pro-abortion movement , which he called “ pro-choice , ” in very different terms .
“ This is about pro-women ’ s-choice and anti-women ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobody ’ s saying we want abortions because we ’ re in the people-killing business , ” Cuomo claimed .
“ Nobody ’ s happy to have an abortion .
We ’ ve had difficult pregnancies ; we ’ ve had things not go our way .
We ’ ve had to agonize about what to do .
We know the pain of it .
My wife had to suffer , and I suffered by her side .
There ’ s a pain in the powerlessness of how little we men can help.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Republican U.S .
Senator Rick Santorum and pro-abortion activist Christine Quinn on his show .
Practicing Catholic Santorum challenged both Cuomo and Quinn on their framing that “ this is all about choice , all about a woman ’ s right.
” No , he argued , “ it ’ s all about the life of a little baby .
And – and you can invalidate that and say that – that doesn ’ t matter .
But to millions of Americans , it does matter , and it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violate women , but we truly do care about the life of that child on the woman , and we think a good society protects those children.
” “ It ’ s in every biology textbook in the world , at conception that is a human life , ” Santorum noted , to which Quinn claimed , “ that is not the medical … that is not science.
” Cuomo again refused to give a straight answer as to what a fetus is before viability .
Santorum suggested he was essentially arguing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ property , ” to which Cuomo said , “ I ’ m okay with that .
”

The self-professed Catholic and supporter of abortion said God’s help is not needed for things to 'get better in this country.'
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
NEW YORK, New York, July 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who claims to be a Catholic, said during his show on June 26 that Americans don’t need the help of God. “If you believe in one another and if [you] do the right thing for yourself and your community, things will get better in this country,” he said. “You don’t need help from above. It’s within us.”
Here's a cleaned up, not-pointed-at-the-TV version of Chris Cuomo's crazy ending to Friday's show: “If you believe in one another and if do the right thing for yourself and your community, things will get better in this country. You don't need help from above. It's within us.” pic.twitter.com/r4daRrv4Jn — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 1, 2020
Cuomo seemed to echo statements made by his brother, Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said the state of New York improved the numbers during the coronavirus pandemic without God’s help.
“The number is down because we brought the number down,” he said. “God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that … That’s how it works. It’s math. And if you don’t continue to do that, you’re going to see that number go back up. And that will be a tragedy if that number goes back up.”
By saying that Americans “don’t need help from above,” Cuomo directly contradicted numerous Bible passages. “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” Christ said according to the Gospel of Matthew.
One psalm states, “The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”
“As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me,” yet another psalm emphasizes. “Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God!”
In 2016, Cuomo wrote on Twitter, “I am a Catholic. Faith is not something to hide nor is it a requirement.”
Nevertheless, he is a strong supporter of abortion – as is his brother, Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In a piece for Glamour, Chris Cuomo wrote of men, “We can’t just sit on the sidelines while women work to protect reproductive rights. If men support a woman’s right to choose, they need to get up and support it. I say that as a husband, a man of faith, and especially as a parent blessed with two daughters and a son.”
He then proceeded to defend supporting abortion in spite of his supposed Catholic faith.
“My family is Catholic. I know well the Catholic teachings. It’s been easy for me to separate my faith from the laws in our country because we don’t live in a theocracy,” Cuomo argued.
“We live in a democratic, secular state, where the burden is not to find a way to impose your faith on others. It’s the exact opposite—democracy is about making sure nobody can enforce their beliefs on you or anyone else. In a democracy we rely on science and data to guide our decisions.”
Science, however, as embryology textbooks for medical students show, proves that an unborn baby is a whole, distinct, living human being from the moment of fertilization – a position always held by the Catholic Church. In fact, Cuomo’s entire argument is based on the erroneous, anti-science position that an unborn baby, at least for some time, is not yet a human being.
Furthermore, laws – particularly those banning murder and rape, for instance – do “impose” morality on citizens.
Cuomo: ‘Frankly,’ Catholicism ‘looks down on women’
“It’s tricky to explain all of this to my kids,” he admitted. “I know we’re raising them in a faith that, frankly, looks down on women, says women can’t have equal roles, can’t have equal power. And parents know: You can’t fool kids. My answer? What’s fundamental is the source of your faith. Believe in a wisdom bigger than your own; believe the simple message of God: love, mercy. That’s what I’ve tried to teach.”
Cuomo recounted a conversation with his daughter, who was 16 years old at the time and wanted to attend a march in support of abortion. “She told me, ‘If I were to get pregnant today’—not something any father wants to contemplate about his 16-year-old—‘I could have an abortion and I wouldn’t have to tell you.’”
The CNN anchor seemed to be okay with his daughter telling him she would kill his grandchild, without ever telling him about it. “Now I tell her: You do whatever you want as long as it’s on your own terms. And if you’re not sure, you can talk to me or talk to your mom (she’s the smarter one anyway).”
Cuomo framed the fight between the pro-life movement and the pro-abortion movement, which he called “pro-choice,” in very different terms. “This is about pro-women’s-choice and anti-women’s-choice,” he wrote.
“Nobody’s saying we want abortions because we’re in the people-killing business,” Cuomo claimed. “Nobody’s happy to have an abortion. We’ve had difficult pregnancies; we’ve had things not go our way. We’ve had to agonize about what to do. We know the pain of it. My wife had to suffer, and I suffered by her side. There’s a pain in the powerlessness of how little we men can help.”
Also in 2019, Cuomo hosted former Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and pro-abortion activist Christine Quinn on his show.
Practicing Catholic Santorum challenged both Cuomo and Quinn on their framing that “this is all about choice, all about a woman’s right.” No, he argued, “it’s all about the life of a little baby. And – and you can invalidate that and say that – that doesn’t matter. But to millions of Americans, it does matter, and it’s not that we hate women or want to violate women, but we truly do care about the life of that child on the woman, and we think a good society protects those children.”
“It’s in every biology textbook in the world, at conception that is a human life,” Santorum noted, to which Quinn claimed, “that is not the medical … that is not science.” Cuomo again refused to give a straight answer as to what a fetus is before viability. Santorum suggested he was essentially arguing an early-term baby was a woman’s “property,” to which Cuomo said, “I’m okay with that.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-07-06--WATCH: US senator blasts leftist ‘woke ideology’ that fuels doctors to ‘mutilate’ gender-confused ki

WATCH: US senator blasts leftist ‘woke ideology’ that fuels doctors to ‘mutilate’ gender-confused kids

WASHINGTON , D.C. , July 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — U.S. Republican Senator Mike Lee has criticized state laws allowing so-called “ gender transition ” operations for children without parental consent in a blistering speech prompted by the refusal of Democrat senators to sign a resolution condemning mob violence .
Lee lamented that Democrats had objected to his resolution and insisted when the Senate returns from its recess it is “ not just going to be debating non-binding resolutions.
” “ It 's long past time to expose the shiftless idiocy of the anti-American , anti-science , anti-establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the federal trough , ” the senator said .
“ Colleges and universities that punish free speech and discriminate against conservative and religious students ; city council 's who defund their police departments and refuse to protect public safety ; states that force doctors to mutilate confused children without their parents ’ consent ; school districts that embrace the ahistorical nonsense of the ‘ 1619 Project ’ ; the smug sneering privilege of all the above and much more -- the whole garbage fire that is the so-called woke ideology depends on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this month , Lee was one of a trio of Republican senators who blocked a move by Democrats to pass the so-called “ Equality Act ” after the U.S. Supreme Court ’ s decision — popularly referred to as the “ Bostock case ” — earlier this month that discovered additional rights for LGBT individuals while threatening to further erode religious liberty protections across the land .
Lee ’ s proposed resolution had drawn a distinction between “ organized legitimate , peaceful , constitutionally protected demonstrations against instances of police brutality and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and criminal property destruction , not in service of any just or coherent cause , but simply as an arrogant , bullying tantrum of self-righteous illiberalism and rage.
” The resolution said that the “ mobs ” have demonstrated their “ contempt for public safety ” as well as their “ manifest ignorance and historical illiteracy … evidenced by their destruction of public memorials to historical heroes like Ulysses S. Grant , St. Junipero Serra , Miguel Cervantes , George Washington , Hans Christian Heg , and a reported plan to target a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely by private donations from freed African-American slaves.
” The resolution condemned “ the rising tide of vandalism , mob violence , and the mob mentality that feeds it — including its cruel and intolerant ‘ cancel culture.
’ ” But New Jersey Democrat Senator Bob Menendez objected to the resolution , saying it “ reeks of a supremacist view ” and complained that there was no mention of America ’ s “ original sin , which is slavery.
” Menendez wanted to add a line saying “ the President of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who engage in hate-fueled acts.
” “ This is a statement that says mob violence is bad .
Democrats can ’ t say mob violence is bad without simultaneously taking a jab at the President of the United States ?
” Lee said in response .
“ People are being shot .
Businesses are being looted .
Innocent Americans are being attacked and threatened .
Lives are being ruined .
Communities are burning , literally burning , so whose side are you on ?
” Lee asked Democrat senators .
When requesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referenced the dispersal of the “ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ” in Seattle by law enforcement this week after a fatal shooting and protesters marching into Mayor Jenny Durkan ’ s own community .
“ Mobs are not going to stop until they are stopped , ” Lee said .
“ A non-binding resolution is the tiniest first step of a response , the merest exercise of the senate 's atrophied institutional muscles .
We need to do much , much more and I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it .
”

Republican Senator Mike Lee said 'it's long past time to expose the shiftless idiocy of the anti-American, anti-science, anti-establishment, anti-constitution mob'
PETITION: Investigate George Soros' role in funding domestic terrorism! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — U.S. Republican Senator Mike Lee has criticized state laws allowing so-called “gender transition” operations for children without parental consent in a blistering speech prompted by the refusal of Democrat senators to sign a resolution condemning mob violence.
Lee lamented that Democrats had objected to his resolution and insisted when the Senate returns from its recess it is “not just going to be debating non-binding resolutions.”
“It's long past time to expose the shiftless idiocy of the anti-American, anti-science, anti-establishment, anti-constitution mob and remove their snouts from the federal trough,” the senator said.
“Colleges and universities that punish free speech and discriminate against conservative and religious students; city council's who defund their police departments and refuse to protect public safety; states that force doctors to mutilate confused children without their parents’ consent; school districts that embrace the ahistorical nonsense of the ‘1619 Project’; the smug sneering privilege of all the above and much more — the whole garbage fire that is the so-called woke ideology depends on federal money,” Lee blasted.
Earlier this month, Lee was one of a trio of Republican senators who blocked a move by Democrats to pass the so-called “Equality Act” after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision — popularly referred to as the “Bostock case” — earlier this month that discovered additional rights for LGBT individuals while threatening to further erode religious liberty protections across the land.
Lee’s proposed resolution had drawn a distinction between “organized legitimate, peaceful, constitutionally protected demonstrations against instances of police brutality and racial inequality” and “mob violence and criminal property destruction, not in service of any just or coherent cause, but simply as an arrogant, bullying tantrum of self-righteous illiberalism and rage.”
The resolution said that the “mobs” have demonstrated their “contempt for public safety” as well as their “manifest ignorance and historical illiteracy … evidenced by their destruction of public memorials to historical heroes like Ulysses S. Grant, St. Junipero Serra, Miguel Cervantes, George Washington, Hans Christian Heg, and a reported plan to target a statue of Abraham Lincoln financed in 1876 entirely by private donations from freed African-American slaves.”
The resolution condemned “the rising tide of vandalism, mob violence, and the mob mentality that feeds it — including its cruel and intolerant ‘cancel culture.’”
But New Jersey Democrat Senator Bob Menendez objected to the resolution, saying it “reeks of a supremacist view” and complained that there was no mention of America’s “original sin, which is slavery.”
Menendez wanted to add a line saying “the President of the United States should not incite violence or legitimize those who engage in hate-fueled acts.”
“This is a statement that says mob violence is bad. Democrats can’t say mob violence is bad without simultaneously taking a jab at the President of the United States?” Lee said in response.
“People are being shot. Businesses are being looted. Innocent Americans are being attacked and threatened. Lives are being ruined. Communities are burning, literally burning, so whose side are you on?” Lee asked Democrat senators.
When requesting unanimous consent for the resolution, Lee referenced the dispersal of the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” in Seattle by law enforcement this week after a fatal shooting and protesters marching into Mayor Jenny Durkan’s own community.
“Mobs are not going to stop until they are stopped,” Lee said.
“A non-binding resolution is the tiniest first step of a response, the merest exercise of the senate's atrophied institutional muscles. We need to do much, much more and I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle developing rep legislation to do it.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-06--Appeals court forces diocese in New York to cover abortion in health insurance plan

ALBANY , New York , July 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Catholic Diocese of Albany has lost an appeals challenge to a 2017 New York regulation that mandates health insurance providers to cover the cost of “ medically necessary ” abortions .
The diocese had argued that the 2017 mandate has “ moral and religious freedom issues ” and despite losing , vows to continue fighting the regulation .
Last Thursday , the New York Appellate Division of state Supreme Court 's Third Department court voted in unanimous 5-0 decision to uphold a January 2019 ruling by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ruling said that insurance providers who provide surgical , hospital , and medical expense coverage must also pay for abortions that are deemed “ medically necessary.
” The ruling stated : “ In essence , ( the diocese ) position boils down to the argument that , based upon their religious beliefs , there is a fundamental difference between prescribing contraceptives and performing an abortion procedure .
The crux of ( the state ’ s ) argument is that there is no substantive difference between an abortion and any other medically necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Diocese of Albany appeal said that the state mandating insurers to pay for “ medically necessary ” abortions , violated their First Amendment protections for freedom of religion and speech .
In 2019 , the Diocese of Albany along with other pro-life groups sued the state Division of Financial Services ( DFS ) , along with its former acting superintendent , Maria Vullo , and insurance companies .
They lost , but quickly appealed the 2019 ruling , which was struck down July 2 .
LifeSiteNews reached out to the Diocese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment about losing the appeal .
Mary DeTurris Poust , Director of Communications for the diocese responded to LifeSiteNews saying that they are not happy with the court ’ s decision .
“ This case involves profound constitutional , moral , and religious freedom issues and will be addressed on appeal . ''
The 2019 lawsuit by the Diocese of Albany alleged that Vullo and the DFS exceeded their “ statutory authority ” for the 2017 anti-life mandate by New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
That mandate effectively forced health insurers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are medically necessary without co-pays , coinsurance , or deductibles ( unless the plan is a high deductible plan ) .
” Cuomo ’ s 2017 mandate also required “ coverage for all contraceptive drugs and devices and cover at least one form of contraception.
” The Diocese of Albany lawsuit said the DFS ’ s regulation had an `` abortion mandate '' which would force them to provide coverage for abortions that were put in the category of “ medically necessary.
” In the January 2019 ruling , Justice Richard McNally said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , surgical , or medical expense coverage delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall not exclude coverage for medically necessary abortions . ''
A January 2019 Times Union report noted that the Diocese of Albany filed the appeal to the regulation `` due to the critical constitutional and statutory issues surrounding the abortion mandate , '' according to DeTurris Poust .
New York state law requires that abortion be covered under health insurance , and “ health insurance policies are barred from not covering or limiting or excluding coverage based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment of a medical condition , ” the judge added in his 2019 ruling .
The state of New York has some of the most aggressive pro-abortion laws in the U.S. Cuomo , who claims to be a Catholic , last year codified into law the “ Reproductive Health Act ” ( RHA ) , which gives a woman the “ right ” to have access to a third-trimester abortion .
The signing of the extreme abortion law had some Catholic church leaders call for Cuomo to be excommunicated .
The Bishops of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed their “ sorrow ” that Cuomo had indeed signed the RHA into law .

The Catholic Diocese of Albany has lost an appeals challenge to a 2017 New York regulation that mandates health insurance providers to cover the cost of 'medically necessary' abortions
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
ALBANY, New York, July 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Catholic Diocese of Albany has lost an appeals challenge to a 2017 New York regulation that mandates health insurance providers to cover the cost of “medically necessary” abortions. The diocese had argued that the 2017 mandate has “moral and religious freedom issues” and despite losing, vows to continue fighting the regulation.
Last Thursday, the New York Appellate Division of state Supreme Court's Third Department court voted in unanimous 5-0 decision to uphold a January 2019 ruling by State Supreme Court Justice Richard McNally. That ruling said that insurance providers who provide surgical, hospital, and medical expense coverage must also pay for abortions that are deemed “medically necessary.”
The ruling stated: “In essence, (the diocese) position boils down to the argument that, based upon their religious beliefs, there is a fundamental difference between prescribing contraceptives and performing an abortion procedure. The crux of (the state’s) argument is that there is no substantive difference between an abortion and any other medically necessary procedure. Neither argument proves particularly satisfying.”
The Diocese of Albany appeal said that the state mandating insurers to pay for “medically necessary” abortions, violated their First Amendment protections for freedom of religion and speech.
In 2019, the Diocese of Albany along with other pro-life groups sued the state Division of Financial Services (DFS), along with its former acting superintendent, Maria Vullo, and insurance companies.
They lost, but quickly appealed the 2019 ruling, which was struck down July 2.
LifeSiteNews reached out to the Diocese of Albany to ask them for a comment about losing the appeal.
Mary DeTurris Poust, Director of Communications for the diocese responded to LifeSiteNews saying that they are not happy with the court’s decision.
“We strongly disagree with the court’s decision,” DeTurris Poust told LifeSiteNews.
“This case involves profound constitutional, moral, and religious freedom issues and will be addressed on appeal.”
The 2019 lawsuit by the Diocese of Albany alleged that Vullo and the DFS exceeded their “statutory authority” for the 2017 anti-life mandate by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
That mandate effectively forced health insurers to provide access for “abortion services that are medically necessary without co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles (unless the plan is a high deductible plan).”
Cuomo’s 2017 mandate also required “coverage for all contraceptive drugs and devices and cover at least one form of contraception.”
The Diocese of Albany lawsuit said the DFS’s regulation had an “abortion mandate” which would force them to provide coverage for abortions that were put in the category of “medically necessary.”
In the January 2019 ruling, Justice Richard McNally said, “insurance policies that provide hospital, surgical, or medical expense coverage delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall not exclude coverage for medically necessary abortions.”
A January 2019 Times Union report noted that the Diocese of Albany filed the appeal to the regulation “due to the critical constitutional and statutory issues surrounding the abortion mandate,” according to DeTurris Poust.
New York state law requires that abortion be covered under health insurance, and “health insurance policies are barred from not covering or limiting or excluding coverage based on the type of illness, accident, treatment of a medical condition,” the judge added in his 2019 ruling.
The state of New York has some of the most aggressive pro-abortion laws in the U.S.
Cuomo, who claims to be a Catholic, last year codified into law the “Reproductive Health Act” (RHA), which gives a woman the “right” to have access to a third-trimester abortion.
The signing of the extreme abortion law had some Catholic church leaders call for Cuomo to be excommunicated.
The Bishops of New York together released a statement that expressed their “sorrow” that Cuomo had indeed signed the RHA into law.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-06--US Supreme Court declines to hear cases on laws banning pro-life free speech outside abortion center

US Supreme Court declines to hear cases on laws banning pro-life free speech outside abortion centers

WASHINGTON , D.C. , July 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The U.S. Supreme Court decided last week on Thursday not to hear challenges by pro-life advocates to two “ bubble zone ” laws that ban them from exercising pro-life speech outside abortion centers .
The court ’ s July 2 written order declining to hear the cases from Chicago and Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , came scant days after its 5-4 ruling striking down a Louisiana law requiring abortion centers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals .
The justices followed the usual practice of not commenting on turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that the court ’ s order noted that Justice Clarence Thomas would have heard the Chicago case .
The Chicago ordinance has been in place since 2009 and forbids pro-life advocates from going within eight feet of a pregnant mother who is within 50 feet of an abortion center .
It is modelled on a law the Supreme Court upheld in its 2000 Hill vs. Colorado decision , which ruled bubble zones are not unconstitutional .
Pro-life advocates challenged the ordinance after the Supreme Court in 2014 unanimously struck down a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around abortion facilities .
The 34-page ruling written by Chief Justice John Roberts said the Massachusetts statute went too far by prohibiting pro-life advocates from engaging in free speech on “ a public way or sidewalk adjacent to a reproductive health care facility.
” The buffer zone law represents an “ extreme step of closing a substantial portion of a traditional public forum to all speakers , ” the justices ruled .
“ The Commonwealth may not do that consistent with the First Amendment.
” A U.S. District Court judge gave the Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceed with the challenge after Chicago ’ s city council tried to have it dismissed .
Pro-life activists told the Supreme Court that the Chicago ordinance violates their free speech rights and that the court ’ s 2000 Hill vs. Colorado decision should be reconsidered , Associated Press reported .
The top court also declined to hear a Liberty Counsel challenge to the Harrisburg city ordinance that makes it illegal to “ congregate , patrol , picket or demonstrate ” with 20 feet of an abortion facility .
The council of Pennsylvania ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2012 at the behest of Planned Parenthood , and tacked on fines of up to $ 300 and jail time 0f up to 30 days .
Lower courts have upheld the Harrisburg ordinance on the grounds that it doesn ’ t apply to “ sidewalk counseling , ” Associated Press reported .
The Supreme Court ’ s decision not to hear the bubble zone law challenges follows its Monday decision on the Louisiana abortion law , which it ruled violated the abortion “ rights ” the court discovered in the U.S. Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was the court ’ s first major case on abortion since Trump ’ s election and his appointment of two justices , which was thought to give the court a conservative majority , Associated Press noted .
However , Roberts sided with the majority and reversed his own past decision to uphold a similar Texas law .
Pro-life advocates denounced Monday ’ s ruling , with Abby Johnson describing it as a “ huge blow ” to women and Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser calling it a “ bitter @ @ @

The U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear challenges by pro-life advocates to two 'bubble zone' laws that ban them from exercising pro-life speech outside abortion centers
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The U.S. Supreme Court decided last week on Thursday not to hear challenges by pro-life advocates to two “bubble zone” laws that ban them from exercising pro-life speech outside abortion centers.
The court’s July 2 written order declining to hear the cases from Chicago and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, came scant days after its 5-4 ruling striking down a Louisiana law requiring abortion centers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
The justices followed the usual practice of not commenting on turning away the cases, Associated Press reported, adding that the court’s order noted that Justice Clarence Thomas would have heard the Chicago case.
The Chicago ordinance has been in place since 2009 and forbids pro-life advocates from going within eight feet of a pregnant mother who is within 50 feet of an abortion center. It is modelled on a law the Supreme Court upheld in its 2000 Hill vs. Colorado decision, which ruled bubble zones are not unconstitutional.
Pro-life advocates challenged the ordinance after the Supreme Court in 2014 unanimously struck down a Massachusetts law that created 35-foot buffer zones around abortion facilities.
The 34-page ruling written by Chief Justice John Roberts said the Massachusetts statute went too far by prohibiting pro-life advocates from engaging in free speech on “a public way or sidewalk adjacent to a reproductive health care facility.”
The buffer zone law represents an “extreme step of closing a substantial portion of a traditional public forum to all speakers,” the justices ruled. “The Commonwealth may not do that consistent with the First Amendment.”
A U.S. District Court judge gave the Thomas More Society the go-ahead in 2017 to proceed with the challenge after Chicago’s city council tried to have it dismissed.
Pro-life activists told the Supreme Court that the Chicago ordinance violates their free speech rights and that the court’s 2000 Hill vs. Colorado decision should be reconsidered, Associated Press reported.
The top court also declined to hear a Liberty Counsel challenge to the Harrisburg city ordinance that makes it illegal to “congregate, patrol, picket or demonstrate” with 20 feet of an abortion facility.
The council of Pennsylvania’s capital city passed the ordinance unanimously in 2012 at the behest of Planned Parenthood, and tacked on fines of up to $300 and jail time 0f up to 30 days.
Lower courts have upheld the Harrisburg ordinance on the grounds that it doesn’t apply to “sidewalk counseling,” Associated Press reported.
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the bubble zone law challenges follows its Monday decision on the Louisiana abortion law, which it ruled violated the abortion “rights” the court discovered in the U.S. Constitution in its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
It was the court’s first major case on abortion since Trump’s election and his appointment of two justices, which was thought to give the court a conservative majority, Associated Press noted.
However, Roberts sided with the majority and reversed his own past decision to uphold a similar Texas law.
Pro-life advocates denounced Monday’s ruling, with Abby Johnson describing it as a “huge blow” to women and Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser calling it a “bitter disappointment.”
Related:
BREAKING: Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana abortion regulations
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