lifesitenews--2020-05-07--CORRECTED: Three cardinals join global appeal decrying crackdown on basic freedoms over coronavirus

PETITION : Say no to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus Sign the petition here .
CORRECTION : This story originally indicated , based on information from the organizers , that Cardinal Robert Sarah , prefect of the Vatican ’ s Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments , had joined the appeal .
But the cardinal has now written on Twitter that he did not sign .
“ From a personal point of view , I may share some questions or preoccupations raised regarding restrictions on fundamental freedom but I did n't sign that petition , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LifeSiteNews ) – Catholic clergy led by former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Cardinals Gerhard Ludwig Mueller , Joseph Zen , and Janis Pujats have joined an appeal “ for the Church and the world ” that warns that the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a “ pretext ” by world leaders to “ control ” people , strip them of their fundamental rights , while providing a “ disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control ” ( read full text below ) .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the public celebration of the sacraments , the signatories assert the right of the Church to offer public worship , unimpeded by State interventions .
The signatories ask that “ restrictions on the celebration of public ceremonies be removed.
” Along with the 4 cardinals signing the appeal are 8 bishops , 3 priests , 21 journalists , 11 medical doctors , 13 lawyers , 18 teachers and professionals , and 12 various groups and associations .
SIGN Appeal for the Church and the World here In reference to coronavirus lockdown measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals ’ civil liberties , the signatories say that they believe there are powers at work in society “ interested in creating panic among the world ’ s population with the sole aim of permanently imposing unacceptable forms of restriction on freedoms , of controlling people and of tracking their movements.
” “ The imposition of these illiberal measures is a disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control , ” they state .
Arguing that widespread closures of shops and businesses has in some instances “ precipitated a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the economy , ” the signatories continue to raise concerns about potential radical changes to the geopolitical landscape .
They stated that such weakened economies “ encourages interference by foreign powers and has serious social and political repercussions.
” “ Those with governmental responsibility must stop these forms of social engineering , by taking measures to protect their citizens whom they represent , and in whose interests they have a serious obligation to act , ” the letter states .
The letter also directly addresses several questions related to medical treatments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letter implores governments and international bodies not to allow “ shady business interests ” to influence their responses to the coronavirus .
“ It is unreasonable to penalize those remedies that have proved to be effective , and are often inexpensive , just because one wishes to give priority to treatments or vaccines that are not as good , but which guarantee pharmaceutical companies far greater profits , and exacerbate public health expenditures , ” the signatories write .
On the question of potential coronavirus vaccines , the signatories say that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses.
” They insist too that individuals must be free to reject such vaccines without any penalties being imposed on them .
The letter also calls on governments not to adopt attempts to control people through “ tracking systems or any other form of location-finding , ” or for the crisis to be used as an excuse for increasing levels of media censorship and the de-platforming of dissenting voices .
“ Let us not allow centuries of Christian civilization to be erased under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ odious technological tyranny to be established , in which nameless and faceless people can decide the fate of the world by confining us to a virtual reality , ” the letter urges .
The signatories stress that in the face of the current crisis , followers of God must try to understand the current situation in the light of the Gospels .
“ This means taking a stand : either with Christ or against Christ .
Let us not be intimidated or frightened by those who would have us believe that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread and powerful than the world would have us believe.
” “ With faith , let us beseech the Lord to protect the Church and the world .
May the Blessed Virgin , Help of Christians , crush the head of the ancient Serpent and defeat the plans of the children of darkness , ” the appeal concludes .
Read Appeal for the Church and the World in various languages : English , French , Spanish , Italian , German , Portuguese APPEAL FOR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD To Catholics and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of great crisis , we Pastors of the Catholic Church , by virtue of our mandate , consider it our sacred duty to make an Appeal to our Brothers in the Episcopate , to the Clergy , to Religious , to the holy People of God and to all men and women of good will .
This Appeal has also been undersigned by intellectuals , doctors , lawyers , journalists and professionals who agree with its content , and may be undersigned by those who wish to make it their own .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretext of the Covid-19 epidemic , the inalienable rights of citizens have in many cases been violated and their fundamental freedoms , including the exercise of freedom of worship , expression and movement , have been disproportionately and unjustifiably restricted .
Public health must not , and can not , become an alibi for infringing on the rights of millions of people around the world , let alone for depriving the civil authority of its duty to act wisely for the common good .
This is particularly true as growing doubts emerge from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger and resistance of the virus .
Many authoritative voices in the world of science and medicine confirm that the media ’ s alarmism about Covid-19 appears to be absolutely unjustified .
We have reason to believe , on the basis of official data on the incidence of the epidemic as related to the number of deaths , that there are powers interested in creating panic among the world ’ s population with the sole aim of permanently imposing unacceptable forms of restriction on freedoms , of controlling people and of tracking their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures is a disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control .
We also believe that in some situations the containment measures that were adopted , including the closure of shops and businesses , have precipitated a crisis that has brought down entire sectors of the economy .
This encourages interference by foreign powers and has serious social and political repercussions .
Those with governmental responsibility must stop these forms of social engineering , by taking measures to protect their citizens whom they represent , and in whose interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Likewise , let them help the family , the cell of society , by not unreasonably penalizing the weak and elderly , forcing them into a painful separation from their loved ones .
The criminalization of personal and social relationships must likewise be judged as an unacceptable part of the plan of those who advocate isolating individuals in order to better manipulate and control them .
We ask the scientific community to be vigilant , so that cures for Covid-19 are offered in honesty for the common good .
Every effort must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests do not influence the choices made by government leaders and international bodies .
It is unreasonable to penalize those remedies that have proved to be effective , and are often inexpensive , just because one wishes to give priority to treatments or vaccines that are not as good , but which guarantee pharmaceutical companies far greater profits , and exacerbate public health expenditures .
Let us also remember , as Pastors , that for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms of control over people , whether through tracking systems or any other form of location-finding , are rigorously avoided .
The fight against Covid-19 , however serious , must not be the pretext for supporting the hidden intentions of supranational bodies that have very strong commercial and political interests in this plan .
In particular , citizens must be given the opportunity to refuse these restrictions on personal freedom , without any penalty whatsoever being imposed on those who do not wish to use vaccines , contact tracking or any other similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blatant contradiction of those who pursue policies of drastic population control and at the same time present themselves as the savior of humanity , without any political or social legitimacy .
Finally , the political responsibility of those who represent the people can in no way be left to “ experts ” who can indeed claim a kind of immunity from prosecution , which is disturbing to say the least .
We strongly urge those in the media to commit themselves to providing accurate information and not penalizing dissent by resorting to forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media , in the press and on television .
Providing accurate information requires that room be given to voices that are not aligned with a single way of thinking .
This allows citizens to consciously assess the facts , without being heavily influenced by partisan interventions .
A democratic and honest debate is the best antidote to the risk of imposing subtle forms of dictatorship , presumably worse than those our society has seen rise and fall in the recent past .
Finally , as Pastors responsible for the flock of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church firmly asserts her autonomy to govern , worship , and teach .
This autonomy and freedom are an innate right that Our Lord Jesus Christ has given her for the pursuit of her proper ends .
For this reason , as Pastors we firmly assert the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments , just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction , such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments .
The State has no right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sovereignty of the Church .
Ecclesiastical authorities have never refused to collaborate with the State , but such collaboration does not authorize civil authorities to impose any sort of ban or restriction on public worship or the exercise of priestly ministry .
The rights of God and of the faithful are the supreme law of the Church , which she neither intends to , nor can , abdicate .
We ask that restrictions on the celebration of public ceremonies be removed .
We should like to invite all people of good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperate for the common good , each according to his or her own state and possibilities and in a spirit of fraternal charity .
The Church desires such cooperation , but this can not disregard either a respect for natural law or a guarantee of individual freedoms .
The civil duties to which citizens are bound imply the State ’ s recognition of their rights .
We are all called to assess the current situation in a way consistent with the teaching of the Gospel .
This means taking a stand : either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us not be intimidated or frightened by those who would have us believe that we are a minority : Good is much more widespread and powerful than the world would have us believe .
We are fighting against an invisible enemy that seeks to divide citizens , to separate children from their parents , grandchildren from their grandparents , the faithful from their pastors , students from teachers , and customers from vendors .
Let us not allow centuries of Christian civilization to be erased under the pretext of a virus , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which nameless and faceless people can decide the fate of the world by confining us to a virtual reality .
If this is the plan to which the powers of this earth intend to make us yield , know that Jesus Christ , King and Lord of History , has promised that “ the gates of Hell shall not prevail ” ( Mt 16:18 ) .
Let us entrust government leaders and all those who rule over the fate of nations to Almighty God , that He may enlighten and guide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
May they remember that , just as the Lord will judge us Pastors for the flock which he has entrusted to us , so will He also judge government leaders for the peoples whom they have the duty to defend and govern .
With faith , let us beseech the Lord to protect the Church and the world .
May the Blessed Virgin , Help of Christians , crush the head of the ancient Serpent and defeat the plans of the children of darkness .
Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World here LIST OF SIGNATORIES TO THE APPEAL Mgr .
Carlo Maria Viganò , Archbishop , Apostolic Nuncio Cdl Robert Sarah , Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship Cdl Gerhard Ludwig Mueller , Prefect emeritus of Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith Cdl Joseph Zen Ze-kiun , Bishop emeritus of Hong Kong Cdl Janis Pujats , Archbishop emeritus of Riga Mgr Luigi Negri , Archbishop emeritus of Ferrara-Comacchio Mgr Joseph Strickland , Bishop of Tyler , Texas Mgr Thomas Peta , Metropolitan Archbishop of Astana Mgr Athanasius Schneider , Auxiliary Bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Archbishop emeritus of Karaganda Mgr Rene Henry Gracida , Bishop emeritus of Corpus Christi Mgr Andreas Laun , Auxiliary Bishop of Salzburg Father Serafino Lanzetta , Theologian Father Alfredo Maria Morselli , Theologian Father Curzio Nitoglia , Theologian Dr Aldo Maria Valli , journalist Dr Magdi Cristiano Allam , writer Dr Giulio Meotti , journalist Dr Marco Tosatti , journalist Claudio Messora , director Byoblu.com Dr Robert Moynihan , writer , journalist Jeanne Smits , journalist Olivier Figueras , journalist Dr Cesare Sacchetti , journalist Prof. Giorgio Nicolini , director of Tele Maria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John-Henry Westen , co-founder , editor-in-chief LifeSiteNews.com Vittoria Alliata di Villafranca , journalist and writer Maria Guarini , editor Prof. Francesco Lamendola António Carlos de Azeredo , editor José Narciso Pinto Soares , editorial counselor Dr Massimo Rodolfi Riccardo Zenobi , writer Danilo Quinto , writer Olivier Valette , writer Atman Association - President Manuela Baccin Riprendiamoci Il Pianeta Association - President Magda Piacentini Movimento 3V - Vaccini Vogliamo Verità - Secretary Luca Teodori Libera Scelta Association - President Alessandra Bocchi Iustitia in Veritate Association- Directors Una Vox Association - President Calogero Cammarata @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rebecchi Confederazione dei Triarii AURET , Autismo , Ricerca e Terapie - President Lawyer Roberto Mastalia Vita al Microscopio Association - President Nino Ferri Texas Right to Life - Jim Graham Cleveland Right to Life - Molly Smith

PETITION: Say no to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
UPDATE (May 8, 9:00AM EST): Archbishop Viganò, who gathered the signatures and communicated with Cardinal Sarah about the initiative, has now issued a timeline of his communications with Sarah. Read full report here.
UPDATE (May 7, 8:00PM EST): This story originally indicated, based on information from the organizers, that Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, had joined the appeal. But the cardinal has now written on Twitter that he did not sign. “From a personal point of view, I may share some questions or preoccupations raised regarding restrictions on fundamental freedom but I didn't sign that petition,” he wrote.
May 7, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Catholic clergy led by former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Cardinals Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, Joseph Zen, and Janis Pujats have joined an appeal “for the Church and the world” that warns that the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a “pretext” by world leaders to “control” people, strip them of their fundamental rights, while providing a “disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control” (read full text below).
In the face of restrictions around the world on the public celebration of the sacraments, the signatories assert the right of the Church to offer public worship, unimpeded by State interventions.
Finally, as Pastors responsible for the flock of Christ, let us remember that the Church firmly asserts her autonomy to govern, worship, and teach. This autonomy and freedom are an innate right that Our Lord Jesus Christ has given her for the pursuit of her proper ends. For this reason, as Pastors we firmly assert the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments, just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction, such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments. The State has no right to interfere, for any reason whatsoever, in the sovereignty of the Church.
The signatories ask that “restrictions on the celebration of public ceremonies be removed.”
Along with the 4 cardinals signing the appeal are 8 bishops, 3 priests, 21 journalists, 11 medical doctors, 13 lawyers, 18 teachers and professionals, and 12 various groups and associations.
SIGN Appeal for the Church and the World here
In reference to coronavirus lockdown measures around the world and the reduction of individuals’ civil liberties, the signatories say that they believe there are powers at work in society “interested in creating panic among the world’s population with the sole aim of permanently imposing unacceptable forms of restriction on freedoms, of controlling people and of tracking their movements.”
“The imposition of these illiberal measures is a disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control,” they state.
Arguing that widespread closures of shops and businesses has in some instances “precipitated a crisis that has brought down entire sectors of the economy,” the signatories continue to raise concerns about potential radical changes to the geopolitical landscape. They stated that such weakened economies “encourages interference by foreign powers and has serious social and political repercussions.”
“Those with governmental responsibility must stop these forms of social engineering, by taking measures to protect their citizens whom they represent, and in whose interests they have a serious obligation to act,” the letter states.
The letter also directly addresses several questions related to medical treatments for Covid-19.
In the first instance, the letter implores governments and international bodies not to allow “shady business interests” to influence their responses to the coronavirus.
“It is unreasonable to penalize those remedies that have proved to be effective, and are often inexpensive, just because one wishes to give priority to treatments or vaccines that are not as good, but which guarantee pharmaceutical companies far greater profits, and exacerbate public health expenditures,” the signatories write.
On the question of potential coronavirus vaccines, the signatories say that “for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses.” They insist too that individuals must be free to reject such vaccines without any penalties being imposed on them.
The letter also calls on governments not to adopt attempts to control people through “tracking systems or any other form of location-finding,” or for the crisis to be used as an excuse for increasing levels of media censorship and the de-platforming of dissenting voices.
“Let us not allow centuries of Christian civilization to be erased under the pretext of a virus, and an odious technological tyranny to be established, in which nameless and faceless people can decide the fate of the world by confining us to a virtual reality,” the letter urges.
The signatories stress that in the face of the current crisis, followers of God must try to understand the current situation in the light of the Gospels.
“This means taking a stand: either with Christ or against Christ. Let us not be intimidated or frightened by those who would have us believe that we are a minority: Good is much more widespread and powerful than the world would have us believe.”
“With faith, let us beseech the Lord to protect the Church and the world. May the Blessed Virgin, Help of Christians, crush the head of the ancient Serpent and defeat the plans of the children of darkness,” the appeal concludes.
***
Read Appeal for the Church and the World in various languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese
APPEAL FOR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD
To Catholics and all people of good will
Veritas liberabit vos. Jn 8:32
In this time of great crisis, we Pastors of the Catholic Church, by virtue of our mandate, consider it our sacred duty to make an Appeal to our Brothers in the Episcopate, to the Clergy, to Religious, to the holy People of God and to all men and women of good will. This Appeal has also been undersigned by intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, journalists and professionals who agree with its content, and may be undersigned by those who wish to make it their own.
The facts have shown that, under the pretext of the Covid-19 epidemic, the inalienable rights of citizens have in many cases been violated and their fundamental freedoms, including the exercise of freedom of worship, expression and movement, have been disproportionately and unjustifiably restricted. Public health must not, and cannot, become an alibi for infringing on the rights of millions of people around the world, let alone for depriving the civil authority of its duty to act wisely for the common good. This is particularly true as growing doubts emerge from several quarters about the actual contagiousness, danger and resistance of the virus. Many authoritative voices in the world of science and medicine confirm that the media’s alarmism about Covid-19 appears to be absolutely unjustified.
We have reason to believe, on the basis of official data on the incidence of the epidemic as related to the number of deaths, that there are powers interested in creating panic among the world’s population with the sole aim of permanently imposing unacceptable forms of restriction on freedoms, of controlling people and of tracking their movements. The imposition of these illiberal measures is a disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control.
We also believe that in some situations the containment measures that were adopted, including the closure of shops and businesses, have precipitated a crisis that has brought down entire sectors of the economy. This encourages interference by foreign powers and has serious social and political repercussions. Those with governmental responsibility must stop these forms of social engineering, by taking measures to protect their citizens whom they represent, and in whose interests they have a serious obligation to act. Likewise, let them help the family, the cell of society, by not unreasonably penalizing the weak and elderly, forcing them into a painful separation from their loved ones. The criminalization of personal and social relationships must likewise be judged as an unacceptable part of the plan of those who advocate isolating individuals in order to better manipulate and control them.
We ask the scientific community to be vigilant, so that cures for Covid-19 are offered in honesty for the common good. Every effort must be made to ensure that shady business interests do not influence the choices made by government leaders and international bodies. It is unreasonable to penalize those remedies that have proved to be effective, and are often inexpensive, just because one wishes to give priority to treatments or vaccines that are not as good, but which guarantee pharmaceutical companies far greater profits, and exacerbate public health expenditures. Let us also remember, as Pastors, that for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses.
We also ask government leaders to ensure that forms of control over people, whether through tracking systems or any other form of location-finding, are rigorously avoided. The fight against Covid-19, however serious, must not be the pretext for supporting the hidden intentions of supranational bodies that have very strong commercial and political interests in this plan. In particular, citizens must be given the opportunity to refuse these restrictions on personal freedom, without any penalty whatsoever being imposed on those who do not wish to use vaccines, contact tracking or any other similar tool. Let us also consider the blatant contradiction of those who pursue policies of drastic population control and at the same time present themselves as the savior of humanity, without any political or social legitimacy. Finally, the political responsibility of those who represent the people can in no way be left to “experts” who can indeed claim a kind of immunity from prosecution, which is disturbing to say the least.
We strongly urge those in the media to commit themselves to providing accurate information and not penalizing dissent by resorting to forms of censorship, as is happening widely on social media, in the press and on television. Providing accurate information requires that room be given to voices that are not aligned with a single way of thinking. This allows citizens to consciously assess the facts, without being heavily influenced by partisan interventions. A democratic and honest debate is the best antidote to the risk of imposing subtle forms of dictatorship, presumably worse than those our society has seen rise and fall in the recent past.
Finally, as Pastors responsible for the flock of Christ, let us remember that the Church firmly asserts her autonomy to govern, worship, and teach. This autonomy and freedom are an innate right that Our Lord Jesus Christ has given her for the pursuit of her proper ends. For this reason, as Pastors we firmly assert the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments, just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction, such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments. The State has no right to interfere, for any reason whatsoever, in the sovereignty of the Church. Ecclesiastical authorities have never refused to collaborate with the State, but such collaboration does not authorize civil authorities to impose any sort of ban or restriction on public worship or the exercise of priestly ministry. The rights of God and of the faithful are the supreme law of the Church, which she neither intends to, nor can, abdicate. We ask that restrictions on the celebration of public ceremonies be removed.
We should like to invite all people of good will not to shirk their duty to cooperate for the common good, each according to his or her own state and possibilities and in a spirit of fraternal charity. The Church desires such cooperation, but this cannot disregard either a respect for natural law or a guarantee of individual freedoms. The civil duties to which citizens are bound imply the State’s recognition of their rights.
We are all called to assess the current situation in a way consistent with the teaching of the Gospel. This means taking a stand: either with Christ or against Christ. Let us not be intimidated or frightened by those who would have us believe that we are a minority: Good is much more widespread and powerful than the world would have us believe. We are fighting against an invisible enemy that seeks to divide citizens, to separate children from their parents, grandchildren from their grandparents, the faithful from their pastors, students from teachers, and customers from vendors. Let us not allow centuries of Christian civilization to be erased under the pretext of a virus, and an odious technological tyranny to be established, in which nameless and faceless people can decide the fate of the world by confining us to a virtual reality. If this is the plan to which the powers of this earth intend to make us yield, know that Jesus Christ, King and Lord of History, has promised that “the gates of Hell shall not prevail” (Mt 16:18).
Let us entrust government leaders and all those who rule over the fate of nations to Almighty God, that He may enlighten and guide them in this time of great crisis. May they remember that, just as the Lord will judge us Pastors for the flock which he has entrusted to us, so will He also judge government leaders for the peoples whom they have the duty to defend and govern.
With faith, let us beseech the Lord to protect the Church and the world. May the Blessed Virgin, Help of Christians, crush the head of the ancient Serpent and defeat the plans of the children of darkness.
8 May 2020
Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii
Sign the Appeal for the Church and the World here.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-07--66% of recent corona hospitalizations in NY from people staying at home: Live updates

LifeSite ’ s previous ( and future ) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced that “ 66 percent of the people ” recently hospitalized for the coronavirus “ were at home , which is shocking to us.
” “ They 're not working ; they 're not traveling , ” he said .
“ We were thinking that maybe we were going to find a higher percent of essential employees who were getting sick because they were going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses , doctors , transit workers .
That 's not the case .
They were predominantly at home.
” May 7 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Honolulu , Hawaii , is cracking down on its homeless population , despite the fact that the city ’ s shelters “ had a 96 % occupancy rate in December 2019 , ” the Honolulu Civil Beat reported .
“ The situation is especially dire now because shelters have reduced their capacities to allow for more social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Experts are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skyrockets and people find themselves unable to pay rent.
” People who had and then recovered from the coronavirus are banned from entering the military , the Pentagon confirmed to Military Times .
A medical researcher said to be on the “ verge of making very significant ” coronavirus findings was found shot to death over the weekend in Pennsylvania , officials said .
Bing Liu , 37 , a researcher for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , was found dead Saturday inside a home in Ross Township , north of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He had been shot in the head and neck , the agency said .
An hour after Liu 's body was discovered , a second person , Hao Gu , 46 , was found dead inside a car less than a mile away , the agency said .
Noting the Empire State ’ s $ 13 billion deficit , Gov .
Cuomo said healthcare workers who volunteered to come to New York during the pandemic will have to pay state taxes .
4,575 Canadians have been fined or ticketed for alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost $ 6 million .
Ten people in Argentina were arrested for going to Mass .
The Texas Supreme Court has ordered the release of Shelley Luther , the salon owner who was jailed and fined $ 7,000 for keeping her business open during the state ’ s lockdown .
Luther said she and her stylists needed to be able to feed their families .

Live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to pro-life issues, faith, and freedom.
LifeSite’s previous (and future) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that “66 percent of the people” recently hospitalized for the coronavirus “were at home, which is shocking to us.”
“They're not working; they're not traveling,” he said. “We were thinking that maybe we were going to find a higher percent of essential employees who were getting sick because they were going to work — that these may be nurses, doctors, transit workers. That's not the case. They were predominantly at home.”
May 8, 2020, 8:49 a.m. EST: A group of pastors and a state legislator wrote to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on April 30 that some churches in the commonwealth will open up on May 3 and May 10, regardless of his executive orders.
The New York Daily News reported yesterday, “A ghoulish Staten Island nurse swiped a credit card from a dying coronavirus patient in a hospital ventilator unit, using the pilfered plastic to callously purchase groceries and gas as he wasted away, authorities charged Thursday.”
An off-duty police officer in Birmingham, Alabama, who was moonlighting as a Walmart security guard, body-slammed a woman for not wearing a facemask. Video of the violent altercation can be viewed HERE.
President Trump’s new press secretary Kayleigh McEnany shut down media by turning a question back to them and reading a list of their various inaccurate headlines on the coronavirus.
Asked if our story about a valet testing positive will have any effect on what's going on inside the West Wing, like staff wearing masks, Kellyanne Conway says in part, “I think if anybody should start wearing masks and showing more respect, it should be the media.” — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 7, 2020
May 7, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Honolulu, Hawaii, is cracking down on its homeless population, despite the fact that the city’s shelters “had a 96% occupancy rate in December 2019,” the Honolulu Civil Beat reported. “The situation is especially dire now because shelters have reduced their capacities to allow for more social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts are also predicting a spike in homelessness as unemployment skyrockets and people find themselves unable to pay rent.”
People who had and then recovered from the coronavirus are banned from entering the military, the Pentagon confirmed to Military Times.
TODAY reports:
A medical researcher said to be on the “verge of making very significant” coronavirus findings was found shot to death over the weekend in Pennsylvania, officials said. Bing Liu, 37, a researcher for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, was found dead Saturday inside a home in Ross Township, north of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner said. He had been shot in the head and neck, the agency said. An hour after Liu's body was discovered, a second person, Hao Gu, 46, was found dead inside a car less than a mile away, the agency said.
Noting the Empire State’s $13 billion deficit, Gov. Cuomo said healthcare workers who volunteered to come to New York during the pandemic will have to pay state taxes.
4,575 Canadians have been fined or ticketed for alleged coronavirus-related infractions, to the tune of almost $6 million.
Ten people in Argentina were arrested for going to Mass.
The Texas Supreme Court has ordered the release of Shelley Luther, the salon owner who was jailed and fined $7,000 for keeping her business open during the state’s lockdown. Luther said she and her stylists needed to be able to feed their families.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-05-07--Argentine police arrest 10 people for attending Mass against coronavirus directives

SAN LUIS , Argentina , May 7 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Police in Argentina arrested ten faithful for attending a Mass despite stay-at-home orders in place in the area .
Among those present for the Mass celebrated by 79-year-old priest José Mendiano were two former policemen .
According to Crónica , Enrique Miranda , a lawyer , told the media after his arrest , “ It must be said once and for all .
This is a big circus , there is no pandemic here.
” The province of San Luis , with a population of almost half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases of coronavirus so far , as well as three suspected cases .
“ We prayed for the people who died from coronavirus and for the health of those infected , ” he added .
“ This is all a big lie , a farce .
This is a house arrest being imposed on the people of San Luis by the local government and the national government.
” He emphasized , “ The law may stipulate whatever it wants , but in matters of faith it is exclusively the competence of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government “ is wrong if it thinks that we are going to bow down before it.
” Local bishop Pedro Daniel Martínez Perea tried to downplay the significance of the event .
“ It is regrettable what has happened .
Nobody likes to be taken out of a church , nor do the authorities like to take them out of that place , ” he said .
The bishop did not defend his priest for having several people participate in his Mass , nor did he , apparently , protest the government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attract my attention is that in the pastoral letter I asked them to hold the Masses without the faithful , ” Martínez explained .
“ I can not explain to myself how this could have happened differently from what the diocese had foreseen.
” Bishop Martínez reached out to both the priest and the faithful after the incident .
He praised the small congregation for their “ good intention ” in observing social distancing measures but called them out for breaking “ an objective rule.
” “ We are all making an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect each other , ” he said .
As Crónica reported , neighbors had alerted the police after noticing “ movement inside the chapel.
” They feared “ something had happened to the priest because he is diabetic , has problems with blood pressure , and suffers from deafness .
They never imagined that a Mass was being held there.
” Recently , Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò , in the context of public Masses being prohibited , said that “ the faithful have the right , as well as the duty , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confession , to receive the Sacraments : this is a right that comes to them as living members of the Mystical Body in virtue of their Baptism.
” “ The Pastors have therefore the sacred duty — even at the risk of their health and of life itself , when required — to fulfill this right of the faithful , and for this they will have to answer to God , not to the President of the [ Italian bishops ’ conference ] nor to the President , ” the former apostolic nuncio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked , “ Do you believe that , when the churches in Mexico or in Spain were closed [ in the 20th century ] , when they prohibited processions , when they banned the wearing of the religious habit in public , that things started differently [ from how ] they have started now ?
” He stressed that Catholics , especially members of the hierarchy , should not allow “ the freedoms of the Church to be limited by the excuse of an alleged epidemic !
” Obedience , Viganò said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If our faith was based only on obedience , the martyrs would not have had to face the torment to which the civil law condemned them : it would have been enough to obey and burn a grain of incense before the statue of the Emperor.
” In the aftermath of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia with its discussion of giving Holy Communion to Catholics who are civilly divorced and living in adultery , San Luis Bishop Martínez had confirmed the traditional teaching of the Church .
“ And , therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cohabitation ( more uxorio ) while the sacramental bond with another person remains , they would be in an objective state of sin .
This reality of life precludes the reception of Holy Communion , except in danger of death , because it contradicts ‘ the loving union of Christ and the Church signified and made present in the Eucharist , ’ ” he wrote .

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock Sign the petition here.
SAN LUIS, Argentina, May 7, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Police in Argentina arrested ten faithful for attending a Mass despite stay-at-home orders in place in the area. Among those present for the Mass celebrated by 79-year-old priest José Mendiano were two former policemen.
According to Crónica, Enrique Miranda, a lawyer, told the media after his arrest, “It must be said once and for all. This is a big circus, there is no pandemic here.” The province of San Luis, with a population of almost half a million people, reported only ten confirmed cases of coronavirus so far, as well as three suspected cases.
“We prayed for the people who died from coronavirus and for the health of those infected,” he added. “This is all a big lie, a farce. This is a house arrest being imposed on the people of San Luis by the local government and the national government.”
He emphasized, “The law may stipulate whatever it wants, but in matters of faith it is exclusively the competence of the Catholic Church.” Miranda said the national government “is wrong if it thinks that we are going to bow down before it.”
Local bishop Pedro Daniel Martínez Perea tried to downplay the significance of the event. “It is regrettable what has happened. Nobody likes to be taken out of a church, nor do the authorities like to take them out of that place,” he said.
The bishop did not defend his priest for having several people participate in his Mass, nor did he, apparently, protest the government’s quarantine orders.
“What does attract my attention is that in the pastoral letter I asked them to hold the Masses without the faithful,” Martínez explained. “I cannot explain to myself how this could have happened differently from what the diocese had foreseen.”
Bishop Martínez reached out to both the priest and the faithful after the incident. He praised the small congregation for their “good intention” in observing social distancing measures but called them out for breaking “an objective rule.”
“We are all making an effort, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, to respect each other,” he said.
As Crónica reported, neighbors had alerted the police after noticing “movement inside the chapel.” They feared “something had happened to the priest because he is diabetic, has problems with blood pressure, and suffers from deafness. They never imagined that a Mass was being held there.”
Recently, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, in the context of public Masses being prohibited, said that “the faithful have the right, as well as the duty, to assist at Mass, to go to confession, to receive the Sacraments: this is a right that comes to them as living members of the Mystical Body in virtue of their Baptism.”
“The Pastors have therefore the sacred duty — even at the risk of their health and of life itself, when required — to fulfill this right of the faithful, and for this they will have to answer to God, not to the President of the [Italian bishops’ conference] nor to the President,” the former apostolic nuncio to the United States emphasized.
Viganò asked, “Do you believe that, when the churches in Mexico or in Spain were closed [in the 20th century], when they prohibited processions, when they banned the wearing of the religious habit in public, that things started differently [from how] they have started now?”
He stressed that Catholics, especially members of the hierarchy, should not allow “the freedoms of the Church to be limited by the excuse of an alleged epidemic!”
Obedience, Viganò said, is not an excuse for servility. “If our faith was based only on obedience, the martyrs would not have had to face the torment to which the civil law condemned them: it would have been enough to obey and burn a grain of incense before the statue of the Emperor.”
In the aftermath of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia with its discussion of giving Holy Communion to Catholics who are civilly divorced and living in adultery, San Luis Bishop Martínez had confirmed the traditional teaching of the Church.
“And, therefore, if they continue in that state of cohabitation (more uxorio) while the sacramental bond with another person remains, they would be in an objective state of sin. This reality of life precludes the reception of Holy Communion, except in danger of death, because it contradicts ‘the loving union of Christ and the Church signified and made present in the Eucharist,’” he wrote.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-07--Canadian cops have doled out nearly $6M in coronavirus noncompliance fines

ONTARIO , May 6 , 2020 , ( LifeSiteNews ) — A new report says Canadians have been fined to a tune of almost $ 6 million for alleged coronavirus-related tickets and charges since March , with a total of 4,575 people having been ticketed to date .
The Policing the Pandemic Mapping Project shows that the province with the highest amount of purported violations is Quebec , with 3,048 violations amounting to $ 4,696,288 in fines .
Ontario is second at 930 alleged violations with $ 700,400 in fines .
Nova Scotia comes in third with 516 alleged violations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 44 supposed violations with fines under $ 75,000 .
When broken down to the city level , Montreal leads the way with police enforcement actions at 1,848 , followed by Toronto with 594 and Halifax at 216 .
Jay Cameron , a lawyer for the Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( JCCF ) , told LifeSiteNews that the level of police agitation in some places in Canada is something that has not been seen for generations .
“ In some places in Canada , notably Quebec , Nova Scotia and Ontario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassment of citizens is at levels which Canada has not seen in our lifetimes , ” said Cameron .
“ Citizens must be mindful of their ability to contest the tickets by pleading not guilty and scheduling a hearing.
” The enforcement agency listed as having issued the most tickets is Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal , followed by the Sûreté du Québec and then the Toronto Police Services/Toronto municipal by-law officers .
The pro-abortion prime minister of Canada , Justin Trudeau , was asked about the Policing the Pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said Canadians should follow the advice of the police and health officials .
“ I think it ’ s extremely important that Canadians continue to behave as we have largely in social distancing and staying home , ” said Trudeau .
“ We are not out of the woods , however , and it requires us to continue to remain attentive and vigilant in following the instruction set out by our public health officials.
” When speaking to LifeSiteNews , Cameron said the JCCF is concerned about how Canadians ’ rights are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have followed the rules thus far .
“ When government closed businesses and shut down the economy , civilians were told by politicians that ‘ we are all in this together ’ .
Citizens patiently bore the decimation of industry and the loss of their jobs , the loss of their retirement and loss of civil liberties , ” said Cameron to LifeSiteNews .
“ This trust is at stark odds with the opportunistic increase of police surveillance and threats of punishment and even incarceration , and the levying of enormous fines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks , sitting on benches , doing pullups in parks , and the harassment of churches by police for holding drive-in only services.
” The mapping project is the work of a University of Toronto Ph.D. student in criminology , Alex Luscombe , and a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Ottawa , Alexander McClelland .
Luscombe and McClelland launched their site in early April to “ track and visualize the massive and extraordinary expansions of police power in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the unequal patterns of enforcement that may arise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their project has released two reports , with the latest one , “ Policing the Pandemic Enforcement Report , ” dated from April 14 to May 1 .
“ We were shocked , ” Luscombe was quoted as saying in a Global News report on the project , adding , “ It ’ s a hell of a lot of money to try to extract from people that are under financial distress right now.
” The report notes that most police fines have been for “ failure to physical distance/comply with minimal gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a distant second place are 105 fines and charges for businesses that have been deemed non-essential that have continued to operate during lockdown .
The least common alleged violations are for coronavirus “ mischief ” at 24 , “ coughing or spitting on someone ” at 20 , not following mandatory 14-day quarantine at 10 , and going to a closed park at 6 .
Luscombe ’ s and McClelland ’ s findings note that most enforcement actions have come under provincial public and health emergency laws , with a small number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local municipal regulations .
The report authors note that their work does not give a complete picture of enforcement that is ongoing in Canada , and its analysis is based on “ publicly accessible media articles , police press releases , and social media posts.
” Across Canada , many municipalities have launched “ snitch lines ” that encourage citizens to report on their neighbors should they feel they are breaking coronavirus rules .
The Policing the Pandemic mapping project lists a total of 28 municipalities in Canada where such lines exist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and McClelland created an interactive tracking map of “ Snitch Lines ” along with other “ Non-Compliance Reporting Related to COVID-19 ” at policingthepandemic.ca .
The same site also has a searchable database one can use to see the cases compiled by various news reports and social media posts .
A few weeks ago , the JCCF warned that Canadians ’ rights are being trampled because of the coronavirus lockdown measures .
Rebel News has a site called “ Fight the Fines , ” which lists cases of coronavirus fines where the Rebel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In early April , a Calgary street preacher was fined $ 1,200 for breaking social distancing health rules after refusing to cancel a street service that included feeding the homeless .
Last week , another Calgary street preacher was issued a $ 1,200 fine as well .
An Ontario pastor was fined $ 880 for violating “ social distancing ” health rules because he held “ a seder night ” at his residence .
Last week , Police in Aylmer , Ontario said that The Aylmer Church of God congregants who took part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 would “ be held accountable ” for allegedly breaking coronavirus social distancing rules .
The Aylmer Police decided to not press charges , but The Church of God will now be challenging the Ontario government in court with the help of the JCCF .

The Policing the Pandemic Mapping Project lays out the statistics on how Canada's law enforcement are treating citizens' rights during the coronavirus panic.
PETITION: Urge your premier to reject mandatory government surveillance post COVID-19 Sign the petition here.
ONTARIO, May 6, 2020, (LifeSiteNews) — A new report says Canadians have been fined to a tune of almost $6 million for alleged coronavirus-related tickets and charges since March, with a total of 4,575 people having been ticketed to date.
The Policing the Pandemic Mapping Project shows that the province with the highest amount of purported violations is Quebec, with 3,048 violations amounting to $4,696,288 in fines. Ontario is second at 930 alleged violations with $700,400 in fines. Nova Scotia comes in third with 516 alleged violations at $394,499, followed by Alberta with 44 supposed violations with fines under $75,000.
When broken down to the city level, Montreal leads the way with police enforcement actions at 1,848, followed by Toronto with 594 and Halifax at 216.
Jay Cameron, a lawyer for the Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), told LifeSiteNews that the level of police agitation in some places in Canada is something that has not been seen for generations.
“In some places in Canada, notably Quebec, Nova Scotia and Ontario, the level of police threats and harassment of citizens is at levels which Canada has not seen in our lifetimes,” said Cameron.
“Citizens must be mindful of their ability to contest the tickets by pleading not guilty and scheduling a hearing.”
The enforcement agency listed as having issued the most tickets is Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal, followed by the Sûreté du Québec and then the Toronto Police Services/Toronto municipal by-law officers.
The pro-abortion prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, was asked about the Policing the Pandemic report at his Monday press conference. He said Canadians should follow the advice of the police and health officials.
“I think it’s extremely important that Canadians continue to behave as we have largely in social distancing and staying home,” said Trudeau.
“We are not out of the woods, however, and it requires us to continue to remain attentive and vigilant in following the instruction set out by our public health officials.”
When speaking to LifeSiteNews, Cameron said the JCCF is concerned about how Canadians’ rights are being violated, especially considering that most have followed the rules thus far.
“When government closed businesses and shut down the economy, civilians were told by politicians that ‘we are all in this together’. Citizens patiently bore the decimation of industry and the loss of their jobs, the loss of their retirement and loss of civil liberties,” said Cameron to LifeSiteNews.
“This trust is at stark odds with the opportunistic increase of police surveillance and threats of punishment and even incarceration, and the levying of enormous fines for the ‘offences’ of walking in parks, sitting on benches, doing pullups in parks, and the harassment of churches by police for holding drive-in only services.”
The mapping project is the work of a University of Toronto Ph.D. student in criminology, Alex Luscombe, and a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Ottawa, Alexander McClelland.
Luscombe and McClelland launched their site in early April to “track and visualize the massive and extraordinary expansions of police power in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the unequal patterns of enforcement that may arise as a result.”
Thus far, their project has released two reports, with the latest one, “Policing the Pandemic Enforcement Report,” dated from April 14 to May 1.
“We were shocked,” Luscombe was quoted as saying in a Global News report on the project, adding, “It’s a hell of a lot of money to try to extract from people that are under financial distress right now.”
The report notes that most police fines have been for “failure to physical distance/comply with minimal gathering rules,” at 4,398. In a distant second place are 105 fines and charges for businesses that have been deemed non-essential that have continued to operate during lockdown.
The least common alleged violations are for coronavirus “mischief” at 24, “coughing or spitting on someone” at 20, not following mandatory 14-day quarantine at 10, and going to a closed park at 6.
Luscombe’s and McClelland’s findings note that most enforcement actions have come under provincial public and health emergency laws, with a small number of them issued under the criminal code and local municipal regulations.
The report authors note that their work does not give a complete picture of enforcement that is ongoing in Canada, and its analysis is based on “publicly accessible media articles, police press releases, and social media posts.”
“Snitch Lines” highest in Ontario
Across Canada, many municipalities have launched “snitch lines” that encourage citizens to report on their neighbors should they feel they are breaking coronavirus rules.
The Policing the Pandemic mapping project lists a total of 28 municipalities in Canada where such lines exist, with Ontario having the most.
Luscombe and McClelland created an interactive tracking map of “Snitch Lines” along with other “Non-Compliance Reporting Related to COVID-19” at policingthepandemic.ca. The same site also has a searchable database one can use to see the cases compiled by various news reports and social media posts.
A few weeks ago, the JCCF warned that Canadians’ rights are being trampled because of the coronavirus lockdown measures.
Rebel News has a site called “Fight the Fines,” which lists cases of coronavirus fines where the Rebel News is providing free legal help.
In early April, a Calgary street preacher was fined $1,200 for breaking social distancing health rules after refusing to cancel a street service that included feeding the homeless.
Last week, another Calgary street preacher was issued a $1,200 fine as well.
An Ontario pastor was fined $880 for violating “social distancing” health rules because he held “a seder night” at his residence.
Last week, Police in Aylmer, Ontario said that The Aylmer Church of God congregants who took part in a Sunday drive-in service on April 26 would “be held accountable” for allegedly breaking coronavirus social distancing rules. The Aylmer Police decided to not press charges, but The Church of God will now be challenging the Ontario government in court with the help of the JCCF.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-05-07--Wisconsin bishops show openness to consecrating state to Immaculate Heart of Mary

MILWAUKEE , Wisconsin , May 7 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Catholics in Wisconsin are close to achieving their goal of having their state publicly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary , according to members of the Ave Maris Stella Group .
The founders of this group of pro-life Catholic professionals have advocated for this endeavor by petitioning the bishops of the state for permission to proceed with seeking a date and place for this public consecration .
Several bishops responded in favor of the endeavor and granted permission to seek an appropriate venue and acceptable date for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress .
Pro-Life Wisconsin jumped on board immediately and is leading the way by sponsoring the promotional effort to get information out to the public and communicating with a potential host organization .
Dan Miller , state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin , stated : “ We recognized this effort as not only good for the people of our state in general but also for our preborn children , specifically.
” “ The culture of death has made devastating inroads in our country over the last 50 years and the lives of preborn children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own culture .
The Federal election is just around the corner and we hope to petition Our Lord through His Blessed Mother for supernatural graces to help us defeat the culture of death and all abortion , euthanasia and other evils that come with it , ” he added .
THANK U.S. and Canadian Bishops for reconsecrating our countries to the Blessed Virgin Mary during COVID-19 !
Sign the petition here .
In order to promote this endeavor , the founders of the Ave Maris Stella Group created ConsecrateWI.org to emphasize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heart of Mary and encourage Wisconsinites to unite in prayer and penance , as called for in the message of Fatima .
Click here to find out more about the consecration and sign the petition to show support for this consecration .
The website went live on May 1 , the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker , a day that stands in stark contrast to the other May 1 “ day of celebration ” for the communist worker .
The symbolism of overcoming the “ errors of Russia , ” an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much intended .
The “ Consecrate Wisconsin ” website has two purposes : first , it is meant to convey the message of Fatima and its relevance to today ’ s times as a remedy and humble supplication for divine help , as Mary told Catholics they must do .
Second , it is educational and evangelical in its intention to promote the need for prayer and penance in union with this consecration .
Many in Wisconsin are telling the organizers they are grateful to the bishops for their willingness to offer this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state : “ We , the people of God , need to do our part as well and not only pray the rosary , but also amend our lives and offer up the difficulties in each of our lives as sacrifices in order to make reparation for the unprecedented evil in our times and in particular , our own American culture that is changing before our eyes .
Many understand there are times when prayer is simply not enough .
We must also change our lives and do penance.
” There are two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support this need .
The first is a quote from Jesus : “ … this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting ” ( Matthew 17:20 ) .
The second is a quote from Sr. Lucia , one of three child seers at Fatima : “ She [ Our Lady ] said to my cousins as well as to myself that God is giving two last remedies to the world : the Holy Rosary and the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary .
These being the last two remedies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no others.
” If other states are interested in requesting a consecration of their state to the Immaculate Heart of Mary , the Ave Maris Stella Group has stated that it is open to assisting with the technological infrastructure to launch such an endeavor .
The group can be reached at https : //www.consecratewi.org/

Many in Wisconsin are telling the event's organizers they are grateful to the bishops for their willingness to offer this consecration.
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, May 7, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Catholics in Wisconsin are close to achieving their goal of having their state publicly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, according to members of the Ave Maris Stella Group.
The founders of this group of pro-life Catholic professionals have advocated for this endeavor by petitioning the bishops of the state for permission to proceed with seeking a date and place for this public consecration. Several bishops responded in favor of the endeavor and granted permission to seek an appropriate venue and acceptable date for the consecration, which is currently in progress.
Pro-Life Wisconsin jumped on board immediately and is leading the way by sponsoring the promotional effort to get information out to the public and communicating with a potential host organization.
Dan Miller, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, stated: “We recognized this effort as not only good for the people of our state in general but also for our preborn children, specifically.”
“The culture of death has made devastating inroads in our country over the last 50 years and the lives of preborn children hang in the balance, as does our own culture. The Federal election is just around the corner and we hope to petition Our Lord through His Blessed Mother for supernatural graces to help us defeat the culture of death and all abortion, euthanasia and other evils that come with it,” he added.
THANK U.S. and Canadian Bishops for reconsecrating our countries to the Blessed Virgin Mary during COVID-19! Sign the petition here.
In order to promote this endeavor, the founders of the Ave Maris Stella Group created ConsecrateWI.org to emphasize the need for a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and encourage Wisconsinites to unite in prayer and penance, as called for in the message of Fatima.
Click here to find out more about the consecration and sign the petition to show support for this consecration.
The website went live on May 1, the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker, a day that stands in stark contrast to the other May 1 “day of celebration” for the communist worker. The symbolism of overcoming the “errors of Russia,” an important message of Fatima, was very much intended.
The “Consecrate Wisconsin” website has two purposes: first, it is meant to convey the message of Fatima and its relevance to today’s times as a remedy and humble supplication for divine help, as Mary told Catholics they must do. Second, it is educational and evangelical in its intention to promote the need for prayer and penance in union with this consecration.
Many in Wisconsin are telling the organizers they are grateful to the bishops for their willingness to offer this consecration.
The organizers of the effort state: “We, the people of God, need to do our part as well and not only pray the rosary, but also amend our lives and offer up the difficulties in each of our lives as sacrifices in order to make reparation for the unprecedented evil in our times and in particular, our own American culture that is changing before our eyes. Many understand there are times when prayer is simply not enough. We must also change our lives and do penance.”
There are two quotes highlighted on the website that specifically support this need.
The first is a quote from Jesus: “… this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:20).
The second is a quote from Sr. Lucia, one of three child seers at Fatima: “She [Our Lady] said to my cousins as well as to myself that God is giving two last remedies to the world: the Holy Rosary and the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These being the last two remedies, this signifies that there will be no others.”
If other states are interested in requesting a consecration of their state to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Ave Maris Stella Group has stated that it is open to assisting with the technological infrastructure to launch such an endeavor. The group can be reached at https://www.consecratewi.org/
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lifesitenews--2020-05-07--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

May 7 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united in praying the rosary together , at the same time , every day at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
To date , Catholics from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as other countries , have been joining in .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we can shape history , change the world , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-05-07--Without an understanding of home, man becomes sinful and desperate

May 6 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — In a letter of sympathy to Evan Charteris , whose father had just died , Hilaire Belloc once wrote : What is left if the home vanishes ?
Little more than an incoherent mess of sensual data rushing at us from the vast world , with no possibility of resting among those to whom we know that we belong .
If a man seeks to find meaning while refusing to belong to his family , he will find nothing more than transient distractions to stimulate and occupy him for the present moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the emptiness of his rootless situation .
The Catholic philosopher Gabriel Marcel echoes Blaise Pascal and Søren Kierkegaard when he writes : I am inclined to think that those people are becoming ever more numerous whose existence coagulates round a few satisfactions which from outside seem almost incredibly petty : the daily bridge party , the football match , some recreation connected either with love or food .
They would not miss these pleasures for anything in the world .
If for some reason or another they have to do without them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blank night of gloom .
There is , of course , the most direct relation between the exaggerated value which is given to them and the insipidity which characterizes the general substance of life — an insipidity which can in an instant become nauseating .
In every department the passage from what is insipid to what is unendurable is imperceptible .
The sheer lack of normalcy in the past couple of months has forced millions of people to rethink their priorities , their work , their recreation , their family time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question : what is the personal value of my home to me ?
Do I even have a home ?
Or have I been so drawn away in other directions that I have failed to do what it takes to remain connected with or to establish with others such a mysterious place ?
When the heart of the rootless man tries to make a nest in the desperate vacuity of his whirlwind life and predictably fails , he will only redouble the search for temporary distractions until his life becomes a fleeing from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The home is the first and lasting context of the fullness we can speak of as “ welcome , ” “ familiarity , ” “ belonging.
” Strip it down or take it away , and eventually , the only thing remaining is a frivolous masquerade .
Behind the mask is nothing , yet the elaborate process of masking we see going on around us in the world — a masquerade that may be said already to have developed its own protocol , values , and lifestyle , especially in the virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rootless men and women to bear for a time the emptiness of their existence , the inversion of being and the nausea that would result from staring into it .
The “ outer world , ” the world outside us , has meaning only in terms of a stable reference point from which we gain our sense of belonging , of rootedness .
When we speak of “ going away , ” we imply that there is something central and fixed from which we depart : we go away from ... home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if not to leave behind something familiar , and to return to it afterward ?
The concepts “ domestic ” and “ foreign , ” “ near ” and “ far , ” “ local ” and “ foreign ” would have no meaning if we did not intuitively understand , as the basis of all such concepts , “ home ” and “ away from home.
” Each of us approaches the world from within a place where we are already welcome , not strangers — or at least where we feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome , whatever the strains and difficulties may be due to a history of human failings .
This feeling of welcome , which fits like a glove and warms like hot cocoa , is hidden within the meaning of the word familiar .
If there is no home — no household , no hearth , no mother and father , no family — then the world loses its intelligibility , its benevolence , its promise ; it becomes a place of emptiness , alienation , the echo chamber of the ego .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the way with that which is first and better known to us .
Our center of gravity , our language and our sentiments , are so tightly bound up with our homes that we can not even realize the extent of our indebtedness unless something goes tragically wrong .
Home is a locus of activities , memories , undefinable experiences , a shared dialect , a household way of doing things one doesn ’ t exactly find anywhere else in the world — all circling around the mother and the father .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a woman who , under God ’ s causality , give life to their children , and thus bring into being a complete ( if diminutive ) community of reciprocal love , care , sacrifice , authority , dependency , education , and transmission of culture .
This home is the soil where life — physical , spiritual , cultural — is rooted , and whence it draws sustenance from day to day , year to year .
For these reasons it is an elementary given of human life .
The home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the person — the beginning of our life , our consciousness , our development , our ability to engage the world , our adaptation to the demands accompanying maturity , our success in meeting others and loving them .
In a very real sense , home is a person ’ s greatest natural ( i.e.
, non-supernatural ) treasure in this world .
It seems to me that the present circumstances , as strange and strained as they are , push us inevitably toward these truths , or at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become more appreciative of goods we take for granted or fail to invest in .
Through the home of one ’ s childhood as well as the home one may later establish with a husband or a wife , one learns to absorb and reflect love ; one makes oneself available to others .
In our own homes , by working for and with our family , we fulfill our fundamental vocation to name and cultivate , rule and serve , carry the Cross and extend the Kingdom of God .

Through the home of one’s childhood as well as the home one may later establish with a husband or a wife, one learns to absorb and reflect love.
THANK U.S. and Canadian Bishops for reconsecrating our countries to the Blessed Virgin Mary during COVID-19! Sign the petition here.
May 6, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — In a letter of sympathy to Evan Charteris, whose father had just died, Hilaire Belloc once wrote:
Now what has come upon you is as hard a thing as any man can have to bear. The inanimate friends, which are the truest and which never betray, the walls and scents of home, when we lose these we lose, as it were, ourselves. It is a sharp foretaste of death[.] … To lose one’s home, Evan, is to lose one’s bones and one’s skin. I know it. To lose unique and mutual affection is almost (in a mad metaphor) to lose one’s soul.
What is left if the home vanishes? Little more than an incoherent mess of sensual data rushing at us from the vast world, with no possibility of resting among those to whom we know that we belong. If a man seeks to find meaning while refusing to belong to his family, he will find nothing more than transient distractions to stimulate and occupy him for the present moment, until his thoughts bring him back to the emptiness of his rootless situation.
The Catholic philosopher Gabriel Marcel echoes Blaise Pascal and Søren Kierkegaard when he writes:
I am inclined to think that those people are becoming ever more numerous whose existence coagulates round a few satisfactions which from outside seem almost incredibly petty: the daily bridge party, the football match, some recreation connected either with love or food. They would not miss these pleasures for anything in the world. If for some reason or another they have to do without them, existence itself becomes a desert, a blank night of gloom. There is, of course, the most direct relation between the exaggerated value which is given to them and the insipidity which characterizes the general substance of life — an insipidity which can in an instant become nauseating. In every department the passage from what is insipid to what is unendurable is imperceptible.
The sheer lack of normalcy in the past couple of months has forced millions of people to rethink their priorities, their work, their recreation, their family time, their children. It has forced the question: what is the personal value of my home to me? Do I even have a home? Or have I been so drawn away in other directions that I have failed to do what it takes to remain connected with or to establish with others such a mysterious place?
When the heart of the rootless man tries to make a nest in the desperate vacuity of his whirlwind life and predictably fails, he will only redouble the search for temporary distractions until his life becomes a fleeing from, not a movement towards, reality. The home is the first and lasting context of the fullness we can speak of as “welcome,” “familiarity,” “belonging.” Strip it down or take it away, and eventually, the only thing remaining is a frivolous masquerade. Behind the mask is nothing, yet the elaborate process of masking we see going on around us in the world — a masquerade that may be said already to have developed its own protocol, values, and lifestyle, especially in the virtual world created by social media — enables rootless men and women to bear for a time the emptiness of their existence, the inversion of being and the nausea that would result from staring into it.
The “outer world,” the world outside us, has meaning only in terms of a stable reference point from which we gain our sense of belonging, of rootedness. When we speak of “going away,” we imply that there is something central and fixed from which we depart: we go away from…home. What does it mean to travel, if not to leave behind something familiar, and to return to it afterward? The concepts “domestic” and “foreign,” “near” and “far,” “local” and “foreign” would have no meaning if we did not intuitively understand, as the basis of all such concepts, “home” and “away from home.”
Each of us approaches the world from within a place where we are already welcome, not strangers — or at least where we feel we ought to be and could be welcome, whatever the strains and difficulties may be due to a history of human failings. This feeling of welcome, which fits like a glove and warms like hot cocoa, is hidden within the meaning of the word familiar. If there is no home — no household, no hearth, no mother and father, no family — then the world loses its intelligibility, its benevolence, its promise; it becomes a place of emptiness, alienation, the echo chamber of the ego. We can no longer compare what we encounter along the way with that which is first and better known to us. Our center of gravity, our language and our sentiments, are so tightly bound up with our homes that we cannot even realize the extent of our indebtedness unless something goes tragically wrong.
Home is a locus of activities, memories, undefinable experiences, a shared dialect, a household way of doing things one doesn’t exactly find anywhere else in the world — all circling around the mother and the father. There is no home without a man and a woman who, under God’s causality, give life to their children, and thus bring into being a complete (if diminutive) community of reciprocal love, care, sacrifice, authority, dependency, education, and transmission of culture.
This home is the soil where life — physical, spiritual, cultural — is rooted, and whence it draws sustenance from day to day, year to year. For these reasons it is an elementary given of human life. The home, ensouled by the family, is the beginning of the person — the beginning of our life, our consciousness, our development, our ability to engage the world, our adaptation to the demands accompanying maturity, our success in meeting others and loving them. In a very real sense, home is a person’s greatest natural (i.e., non-supernatural) treasure in this world.
It seems to me that the present circumstances, as strange and strained as they are, push us inevitably toward these truths, or at least nudge us to awaken to them and become more appreciative of goods we take for granted or fail to invest in.
Through the home of one’s childhood as well as the home one may later establish with a husband or a wife, one learns to absorb and reflect love; one makes oneself available to others. In our own homes, by working for and with our family, we fulfill our fundamental vocation to name and cultivate, rule and serve, carry the Cross and extend the Kingdom of God.
Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer, is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College in California (B.A. Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy). He taught at the International Theological Institute in Austria and the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Austria Program, then helped establish Wyoming Catholic College in 2006. There he taught theology, philosophy, music, and art history and directed the choirs until leaving in 2018 to devote himself full-time to writing and lecturing. Today he contributes regularly to many websites and publications, including New Liturgical Movement, OnePeterFive, LifeSiteNews, Rorate Caeli, The Remnant, and Catholic Family News, and has published thirteen books, including four on traditional Catholicism: Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis (Angelico, 2014, also available in Czech, Polish, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Belarusian), Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness (Angelico, 2017), Tradition and Sanity (Angelico, 2018), and Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright: The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass (Angelico, 2020). His work has been translated into at least eighteen languages. Kwasniewski is a scholar of The Aquinas Institute in Green Bay, which is publishing the Opera Omnia of the Angelic Doctor, a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center. He has published over a thousand articles on Thomistic thought, sacramental and liturgical theology, the history and aesthetics of music, and the social doctrine of the Church. For news, information, article links, sacred music, and the home of Os Justi Press, visit his personal website, www.peterkwasniewski.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Legal org will fight Alberta order letting police access citizens’ medical records

CALGARY , Alberta , May 7 , 2020 ( Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ) — The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( jccf.ca ) is challenging the Alberta government and Minister of Health Tyler Shandro over using sweeping new powers under the Public Health Act via Bill 10 to provide police across the province with confidential patient medical information .
On his official Twitter on May 5 , 2020 , Shandro announced : “ Effective immediately under a new Ministerial Order — Alberta Health will be able to provide information to police , confirming whether or not an individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Justice Centre has already filed a legal challenge to Bill 10 ’ s amendments to the Public Health Act after determining that the Bill would allow a single minister to unilaterally make new laws and create new offences .
Bill 10 was rushed through the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in under 48 hours and passed on April 2 , 2010 with only 21 out of 87 elected MLAs present and voting on the final reading .
It provides sweeping , extraordinary , and nearly unlimited powers to any government minister at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill 10 , the Public Health Act already gave extraordinary powers to Cabinet , the Minister of Health , and the Chief Medical Officer in the event of a public health emergency .
These existing powers include taking a citizen ’ s real or personal property without consent , authorizing entry into a person ’ s residence without a warrant , requiring mass immunization of the public , and imposing mass public testing .
Under these existing provisions , a minister could suspend — for up to 60 days — the operation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned last month that adding to these existing draconian powers , Bill 10 would allow a single Minister to unilaterally make new laws and create new offences for the populace without consultation with the Legislative Assembly .
In response to concerns , the government initially claimed the changes were “ minor ” and “ technical ” in nature .
Concerned Albertans wrote scores of letters to various UCP MLAs , expressing their objection to the government overriding the principles of democracy and constitutionalism .
Various MLA ’ s responded with a form letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not create new powers for politicians to implement any law that they choose during an emergency , as some critics have claimed.
” The assertion from the MLAs has been shown to be demonstrably false , as the new Ministerial Order does precisely that .
Minister Shandro has utilized Bill 10 to unilaterally create new law by himself , bypassing the Legislature .
Bill 10 added section 52.1 ( 3 ) to the Public Health Act , which allows the Health Minister to “ make an order without consultation ” .
This provision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act so that “ information obtained by the Chief Medical Officer ” can be disclosed to “ any police service ” , as “ police officers need to know whether an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 ” to allow police the ability to comply with quarantine orders .
However , the newly added provision is poorly worded and drafted broadly enough to allow for the blanket release to police of the names of all Albertans who have tested positive for COVID-19 , and perhaps even the medical records of those who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law contains no safeguards outlining the use , storage and retention of the personal data by police .
It is unclear why the names of people who once tested positive for the virus and have recovered should be conveyed to police , or how long this information will remain in the police ’ s possession .
There are no limitations on how the police may use this private and personal information .
There is no clause that mandates that the information will be destroyed at a later date .
Providing the personal information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be accessed at the police ’ s discretion is in effect a warrantless search without judicial checks and balances , and an alarming breach of privacy rights .
Knowledge of whether an individual has , in the past , tested positive or negative for COVID-19 opens the door to abuses of power , discrimination and over policing , which is an increasingly problem in Alberta .
“ Minister Shandro ’ s unilateral creation of new laws without legislative involvement illustrates the extraordinary power that Bill 10 has given one politician .
Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and has all the markings of an unconstitutional intrusion on the lives and personal information of Albertans , and in our view constitutes an unjustified infringement of the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure as protected by section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms .
The Constitution protects against the unreasonable sharing of personal information without consent by and between government bodies , ” notes lawyer Jay Cameron , Justice Centre Litigation Manager .
“ Individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding their personal medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of laboratory tests .
Individuals who have consented to COVID-19 testing have done so expecting they have constitutional rights to privacy of their medical information , ” adds Mr. Cameron .
“ The existence of a declared public health emergency does not suspend the protections of the Charter.
” The Justice Centre is considering additional legal action as a result of the creation of Minister Shandro ’ s new law .
Published with permission from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms .

The Alberta government has instituted sweeping new powers under the Public Health Act via Bill 10 to provide police across the province with confidential patient medical information.
CALGARY, Alberta, May 7, 2020 (Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms) — The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (jccf.ca) is challenging the Alberta government and Minister of Health Tyler Shandro over using sweeping new powers under the Public Health Act via Bill 10 to provide police across the province with confidential patient medical information.
On his official Twitter on May 5, 2020, Shandro announced: “Effective immediately under a new Ministerial Order — Alberta Health will be able to provide information to police, confirming whether or not an individual has tested positive for COVID-19”. The Justice Centre has already filed a legal challenge to Bill 10’s amendments to the Public Health Act after determining that the Bill would allow a single minister to unilaterally make new laws and create new offences.
Bill 10 was rushed through the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in under 48 hours and passed on April 2, 2010 with only 21 out of 87 elected MLAs present and voting on the final reading. It provides sweeping, extraordinary, and nearly unlimited powers to any government minister at the stroke of a pen. Prior to Bill 10, the Public Health Act already gave extraordinary powers to Cabinet, the Minister of Health, and the Chief Medical Officer in the event of a public health emergency. These existing powers include taking a citizen’s real or personal property without consent, authorizing entry into a person’s residence without a warrant, requiring mass immunization of the public, and imposing mass public testing. Under these existing provisions, a minister could suspend — for up to 60 days — the operation of any existing law.
The Justice Centre warned last month that adding to these existing draconian powers, Bill 10 would allow a single Minister to unilaterally make new laws and create new offences for the populace without consultation with the Legislative Assembly. In response to concerns, the government initially claimed the changes were “minor” and “technical” in nature.
Concerned Albertans wrote scores of letters to various UCP MLAs, expressing their objection to the government overriding the principles of democracy and constitutionalism. Various MLA’s responded with a form letter which claimed that Bill 10 “does not create new powers for politicians to implement any law that they choose during an emergency, as some critics have claimed.”
The assertion from the MLAs has been shown to be demonstrably false, as the new Ministerial Order does precisely that. Minister Shandro has utilized Bill 10 to unilaterally create new law by himself, bypassing the Legislature. Bill 10 added section 52.1(3) to the Public Health Act, which allows the Health Minister to “make an order without consultation”. This provision was utilized to amend the Public Health Act so that “information obtained by the Chief Medical Officer” can be disclosed to “any police service”, as “police officers need to know whether an individual has tested positive for COVID-19” to allow police the ability to comply with quarantine orders.
However, the newly added provision is poorly worded and drafted broadly enough to allow for the blanket release to police of the names of all Albertans who have tested positive for COVID-19, and perhaps even the medical records of those who have not.
Minister Shandro’s new law contains no safeguards outlining the use, storage and retention of the personal data by police. It is unclear why the names of people who once tested positive for the virus and have recovered should be conveyed to police, or how long this information will remain in the police’s possession. There are no limitations on how the police may use this private and personal information. There is no clause that mandates that the information will be destroyed at a later date. Providing the personal information of patients to police so that it can be accessed at the police’s discretion is in effect a warrantless search without judicial checks and balances, and an alarming breach of privacy rights.
Knowledge of whether an individual has, in the past, tested positive or negative for COVID-19 opens the door to abuses of power, discrimination and over policing, which is an increasingly problem in Alberta.
“Minister Shandro’s unilateral creation of new laws without legislative involvement illustrates the extraordinary power that Bill 10 has given one politician. Minister Shandro’s new law is broad, and has all the markings of an unconstitutional intrusion on the lives and personal information of Albertans, and in our view constitutes an unjustified infringement of the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure as protected by section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Constitution protects against the unreasonable sharing of personal information without consent by and between government bodies,” notes lawyer Jay Cameron, Justice Centre Litigation Manager.
“Individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding their personal medical information, including and especially the results of laboratory tests. Individuals who have consented to COVID-19 testing have done so expecting they have constitutional rights to privacy of their medical information,” adds Mr. Cameron. “The existence of a declared public health emergency does not suspend the protections of the Charter.”
The Justice Centre is considering additional legal action as a result of the creation of Minister Shandro’s new law.
Published with permission from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
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