lifesitenews--2020-01-21--Midwifery student demands apology after being denied job for pro-life views

NOTTINGHAM , England , January 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A midwifery student has demanded an apology after being barred from a work placement because she is pro-life .
Julia Rynkiewicz , 24 , a student at the University of Nottingham , was left in academic limbo when she was prevented from completing her work placement at a local hospital .
Rynkiewicz is the president of the University of Nottingham ’ s student pro-life group , and the university ’ s objections to her pro-life advocacy led to her suspension from her studies .
The university reversed its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against her .
However , Rynkiewicz , who told British media that she suffered from stress and lack of financial support while she was suspended , wants an apology .
She believes that this is a “ matter of justice ” and wants university officials to concede that “ they have done wrong ” and will ensure that “ no one else has to go through what I have.
” Rynkiewicz told the UK ’ s Telegraph that she is willing to sue .
“ I ’ m willing to take this as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think it ’ s important to remember that being pro-life isn ’ t incompatible with being a midwife , ” she continued .
“ It all felt a bit ridiculous and I have had to put my life on hold for a year and that ’ s been frustrating.
” The student indicated that she will be “ applying for compensation ” and noted that this case “ says a lot about freedom of speech , especially regarding pro-life students.
” Rynkiewicz declined to give an interview to LifeSiteNews , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until after her complaint is resolved before answering the pro-life news site ’ s questions .
This is not the first time pro-life students have suffered discrimination at the University of Nottingham .
In 2019 the Nottingham Students for Life were initially refused affiliation – that is , the status of an official student organization – at their university .
According to Church Militant , the Nottingham University Student Union ( NUSU ) rejected the group ’ s application by email , saying that its aims went against the student union ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion in Northern Ireland , the repeal of the pro-life Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland , and the “ Equal Opportunities Guidance Document.
” The pro-life students were given a chance to argue their case before the NUSU , and were shocked to discover themselves attacked on social media by NUSU student officers .
NUSU officials also organized a pro-abortion protest against Students for Life and stood outside the meeting room where the pro-life students were to make their case for affilation , handing out pro-abortion literature .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Students for Life , 98:42 .
Subsequently , however , the pro-life students ’ legal counsel informed the NUSU that it was in violation of the UK ’ s Equality Act .
Cowed by the threat of legal action , the NUSU allowed Students for Life to become an official university club .
According to the Nottingham Post , Rynkiewicz said at that time that it was “ important to have both views at the university ― pro-life and pro-choice.
” “ The university has pro-choice policies , and there 's nothing representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she continued .
Rynkiewicz said that the pro-life students did not want to take legal advice , so it was “ quite sad ” that they had had to turn to the law for official recognition by their school .
“ It was a matter of free speech , ” she added .

'I have had to put my life on hold for a year and that’s been frustrating,' said 24-year-old Julia Rynkiewicz.
NOTTINGHAM, England, January 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A midwifery student has demanded an apology after being barred from a work placement because she is pro-life.
Julia Rynkiewicz, 24, a student at the University of Nottingham, was left in academic limbo when she was prevented from completing her work placement at a local hospital. Rynkiewicz is the president of the University of Nottingham’s student pro-life group, and the university’s objections to her pro-life advocacy led to her suspension from her studies.
The university reversed its decision last week and dismissed its case against her. However, Rynkiewicz, who told British media that she suffered from stress and lack of financial support while she was suspended, wants an apology. She believes that this is a “matter of justice” and wants university officials to concede that “they have done wrong” and will ensure that “no one else has to go through what I have.”
Rynkiewicz told the UK’s Telegraph that she is willing to sue.
“I’m willing to take this as far as necessary,” Rynkiewicz said.
“I think it’s important to remember that being pro-life isn’t incompatible with being a midwife,” she continued. “It all felt a bit ridiculous and I have had to put my life on hold for a year and that’s been frustrating.”
The student indicated that she will be “applying for compensation” and noted that this case “says a lot about freedom of speech, especially regarding pro-life students.”
Rynkiewicz declined to give an interview to LifeSiteNews, saying that she would prefer to wait until after her complaint is resolved before answering the pro-life news site’s questions.
This is not the first time pro-life students have suffered discrimination at the University of Nottingham. In 2019 the Nottingham Students for Life were initially refused affiliation – that is, the status of an official student organization – at their university. According to Church Militant, the Nottingham University Student Union (NUSU) rejected the group’s application by email, saying that its aims went against the student union’s own policies, especially the expansion of abortion in Northern Ireland, the repeal of the pro-life Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland, and the “Equal Opportunities Guidance Document.”
The pro-life students were given a chance to argue their case before the NUSU, and were shocked to discover themselves attacked on social media by NUSU student officers. NUSU officials also organized a pro-abortion protest against Students for Life and stood outside the meeting room where the pro-life students were to make their case for affilation, handing out pro-abortion literature. The vote went against the affiliation of Students for Life, 98:42.
Subsequently, however, the pro-life students’ legal counsel informed the NUSU that it was in violation of the UK’s Equality Act. Cowed by the threat of legal action, the NUSU allowed Students for Life to become an official university club.
According to the Nottingham Post, Rynkiewicz said at that time that it was “important to have both views at the university ― pro-life and pro-choice.”
“The university has pro-choice policies, and there's nothing representing us when there should be,” she continued.
“The students union should represent everybody.”
Rynkiewicz said that the pro-life students did not want to take legal advice, so it was “quite sad” that they had had to turn to the law for official recognition by their school.
“It was a matter of free speech,” she added.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-21--Pope Francis’ favored interviewer casts Cdl Sarah as leading ‘opposition’ campaign

ROME , January 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Eugenio Scalfari ’ s latest “ interview ” with Pope Francis , which came out at the height of the recent Benedict XVI-Cardinal Sarah book controversy , was a “ loose reconstruction ” of the Italian journalist ’ s recollection of the meeting , the Vatican has said .
In the January 16 “ interview , ” published in the left-leaning Italian daily La Repubblica , 95-year-old Scalfari , who is regarded as Francis ’ s preferred interviewer , portrayed “ From the Depths of Our Hearts ” as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the current pontificate .
He also claimed that , for Francis , once Benedict had shown solidarity with him by reportedly denying co-authorship of the book , “ the issue with Ratzinger was closed.
” La Repubblica featured its co-founder ’ s latest “ interview ” with the pontiff on page 2 , with the headline : “ Pope Francis : Case Closed with Ratzinger .
Scalfari in conversation with Bergoglio after the controversy on priestly celibacy.
” Scalfari begins the piece by noting that “ a few days before ” Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his meeting with Francis by phone and agree to meet him at his Santa Marta residence in the Vatican .
Scalfari also reminds his readers from the outset of his “ very intense relationship ” with the pontiff .
He notes further on , that the two had agreed to resume their “ face to face ” meetings several weeks prior .
“ In the meantime , ” he adds , “ the Pope who resigned … had received a request from Cardinal Sarah for a text on priestly celibacy.
” Scalfari then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrounding the Benedict XVI-Cardinal Sarah book on priestly celibacy , writing : Sarah thought he opposed the positions of Francis and had hoped that Ratzinger would associate himself with his own positions .
Benedict had provided a text and on the basis of this Sarah sent to press a co-authored book with very polemical content .
Almost all the major Italian newspapers prominently highlighted this news which , if it had been true , would have produced a considerable crisis by gathering , under the banners of a cardinal and Pope who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of bishops more or less discontent with the current pontificate , and thus putting Pope Francis in considerable difficulty .
He continues : “ This being the situation , Ratzinger had made it known that he had not sided with Sarah at all nor had he ever authorized a co-authored book with him.
” “ Benedict therefore showed Francis all his solidarity , ” Scalfari , a self-professed atheist , writes .
“ Our Pope [ Francis ] did not take the attempt of a group of cardinals backing Sarah seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s friendly and even fraternal offer the day before our meeting.
” “ As for me , ” the Italian journalist continues , “ aware of Sarah ’ s attempt , I asked at the beginning of our meeting what his inner reaction was to the existence of a group in opposition to his pontificate.
” “ The answer , ” Scalfari then claims without quoting the Pope , “ was that there is always someone opposed in an organization that embraces hundreds of millions of people around the world .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the small or great opposition that still remains standing ought to be considered a fairly normal phenomenon in such structures.
” “ Thus began our discussion , with an issue considered to be of no interest , ” Scalfari concludes before moving on to other matters which he reported as direct quotes .
The 95-year-old Italian journalist does not record his interviews .
In comments to LifeSite on January 16 , Matteo Bruni , Vatican spokesman , confirmed that Scalfari ’ s meeting took place , but added that “ the content of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist , is a loose reconstruction of what he recollects.
” The timing of the latest Scalfari “ interview ” is significant .
Reviewing the rollout of Cardinal Sarah ’ s new book with Benedict XVI : • On Sunday evening , January 12 , the French daily Le Figaro announced the forthcoming book , titled : “ From the Depths of Our Hearts.
” The announcement was met with a storm of criticism , questioning Benedict ’ s right to express his views and accusing Cardinal Sarah of manipulating the pope emeritus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , editorial director of Vatican News , Andrea Tornielli , penned a neutral piece saying the book — including introduction and conclusion — “ bears the signatures ” of Cardinal Sarah and Benedict XVI .
He noted that the book was written “ in filial obedience to Pope Francis ” and “ in a spirit of love for the unity of the Church.
” • Two reliable sources told the National Catholic Register that Tornielli phoned Benedict ’ s private secretary , Archbishop Georg Gänswein , on Jan 13 and 14 to discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , January 14 , amid continued criticism , Cardinal Sarah issued an official statement saying that Benedict had seen the manuscript , introduction , conclusion and cover of the co-authored book .
He also published several letters from the pope emeritus showing Benedict ’ s involvement in the project .
“ The polemic that has sought to smear me … by insinuating that Benedict XVI was not informed of the publication of the book ‘ From the Depths of Our Hearts ’ is deeply abject , ” Cardinal Sarah wrote .
He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who slander me or who want to oppose me to Pope Francis .
My attachment to Benedict XVI remains intact and my filial obeisance to Pope Francis remains absolute.
” • On Tuesday afternoon , January 14 , Archbishop Gänswein told ANSA news agency : “ I can confirm that this morning I acted on instructions from the Pope Emeritus and I asked Cardinal Robert Sarah to contact the book ’ s publishers and request them to remove Benedict XVI ’ s name as co-author of the book and remove his signature from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said that Benedict had contributed a text to the volume asserted that the pope emeritus “ did not approve a project for a co-authored book and he had not seen or authorized the cover.
” • Shortly thereafter , Cardinal Sarah tweeted : “ Considering the polemics caused by the publication of the book From the Depths of Our Hearts , it was decided that the book ’ s author for future publications will be : ‘ Cardinal Sarah , with the contribution of Benedict XVI.
’ However , the full text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later the same day , the Cardinal again tweeted his official statement , saying : “ I confirm that I was able to speak this morning with Archbishop Georg Gänswein .
This communiqué remains my one and only version of the course of events .
I also had a conversation with the management of Fayard [ the French publisher ] to implement the specific requests of Mgr Gänswein .
+RS ” • Later on January 14 , Ignatius Press , the English-language publisher of the new book , issued a statement saying they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On January 16 , Eugenio Scalfari meets with Pope Francis , asking him about the controversy surrounding the new book .
“ After Benedict ’ s show of solidarity with Pope Francis , the issue with Ratzinger was closed , ” Scalfari reports .
Observers see the timing of the latest “ interview ” as a further instance of Scalfari being used as an unofficial mouthpiece , or a kind of parallel press office for Pope Francis during media controversy related to this pontificate .
After Scalfari ’ s 2016 “ interview ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think like communists , ” Riccardo Cascioli wrote in La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana : Now , after three years , we have to admit — though the misconduct remains with Scalfari — that this is a modus operandi of Pope Francis .
As he has shown in recent weeks , first with the meeting with the Lutherans in Lund and then now with the popular movements in the Vatican , he has made it a habit to call or meet Scalfari on occasions of important meetings of his pontificate to explain the meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , well aware that the founder of La Repubblica will report it in his newspaper .
As Edward Pentin explained at the time : “ Before the Oct. 31 Lund meeting commemorating the Reformation , Francis called Scalfari to allegedly say that the brotherhood of all religions and the unity of all Christian churches is the goal as all believe in one God.
” What is more disconcerting , Casioli said , is that these interviews are creating a magisterium that is “ affirmed ” by the mainstream press , confusing and disorienting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who seek to destroy the Catholic Church .
On the eve of Holy Thursday , 2018 , Scalfari claimed the Pope had told him that hell does not exist , and that the souls of those who do not go to heaven are annihilated ( an implicit denial of the immorality of the soul ) .
More recently , in November 2019 , Scalfari went so far as to claim that Francis denied the divinity of Jesus Christ .
On January 16 , LifeSite asked Vatican spokesman , Matteo Bruni , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grant interviews to Eugenio Scalfari , when he has claimed that the Pope espouses what amounts to heresy .
On this point , Bruni offered no reply .
Many consider the swirl of controversy surrounding the rollout of the new book a storm in a teacup and a distraction from that really matters , i.e .
the book ’ s content .
On Friday , January 17 ( one day after the latest Scalfari “ interview ” ) , Cardinal Robert Sarah settled the controversy , sending out three tweets saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was “ not one misunderstanding ” between them , and encouraged people to read the book .
Editor ’ s note : “ From the Depths of Our Hearts : Priesthood , Celibacy , and the Crisis of the Catholic Church ” may be pre-ordered here .

Is the new ‘interview’ a further example of Pope Francis’s parallel press office?
ROME, January 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Eugenio Scalfari’s latest “interview” with Pope Francis, which came out at the height of the recent Benedict XVI-Cardinal Sarah book controversy, was a “loose reconstruction” of the Italian journalist’s recollection of the meeting, the Vatican has said.
In the January 16 “interview,” published in the left-leaning Italian daily La Repubblica, 95-year-old Scalfari, who is regarded as Francis’s preferred interviewer, portrayed “From the Depths of Our Hearts” as an opposition campaign launched by Cardinal Robert Sarah against the current pontificate. He also claimed that, for Francis, once Benedict had shown solidarity with him by reportedly denying co-authorship of the book, “the issue with Ratzinger was closed.”
The “interview”
La Repubblica featured its co-founder’s latest “interview” with the pontiff on page 2, with the headline: “Pope Francis: Case Closed with Ratzinger. Scalfari in conversation with Bergoglio after the controversy on priestly celibacy.”
Scalfari begins the piece by noting that “a few days before” Thursday, January 16, he set up his meeting with Francis by phone and agreed to meet him at his Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. Scalfari also reminds his readers from the outset of his “very intense relationship” with the pontiff.
He notes further on, that the two had agreed to resume their “face to face” meetings several weeks prior. “In the meantime,” he adds, “the Pope who resigned … had received a request from Cardinal Sarah for a text on priestly celibacy.”
Scalfari then offers his own account of the controversy surrounding the Benedict XVI-Cardinal Sarah book on priestly celibacy, writing:
Sarah thought he opposed the positions of Francis and had hoped that Ratzinger would associate himself with his own positions. Benedict had provided a text and on the basis of this Sarah sent to press a co-authored book with very polemical content. Almost all the major Italian newspapers prominently highlighted this news which, if it had been true, would have produced a considerable crisis by gathering, under the banners of a cardinal and Pope who had resigned but was still fully active, a number of bishops more or less discontent with the current pontificate, and thus putting Pope Francis in considerable difficulty.
He continues: “This being the situation, Ratzinger had made it known that he had not sided with Sarah at all nor had he ever authorized a co-authored book with him.”
“Benedict therefore showed Francis all his solidarity,” Scalfari, a self-professed atheist, writes. “Our Pope [Francis] did not take the attempt of a group of cardinals backing Sarah seriously at all, and he accepted Ratzinger’s friendly and even fraternal offer the day before our meeting.”
“As for me,” the Italian journalist continues, “aware of Sarah’s attempt, I asked at the beginning of our meeting what his inner reaction was to the existence of a group in opposition to his pontificate.”
“The answer,” Scalfari then claims without quoting the Pope, “was that there is always someone opposed in an organization that embraces hundreds of millions of people around the world. The issue with Ratzinger was therefore closed and the small or great opposition that still remains standing ought to be considered a fairly normal phenomenon in such structures.”
“Thus began our discussion, with an issue considered to be of no interest,” Scalfari concludes before moving on to other matters which he reported as direct quotes.
The 95-year-old Italian journalist does not record his interviews.
In comments to LifeSite on January 16, Matteo Bruni, Vatican spokesman, confirmed that Scalfari’s meeting took place, but added that “the content of the conversation, as described by the journalist, is a loose reconstruction of what he recollects.”
The timing
The timing of the latest Scalfari “interview” is significant. Reviewing the rollout of Cardinal Sarah’s new book with Benedict XVI:
On Sunday evening, January 12, the French daily Le Figaro announced the forthcoming book, titled: “From the Depths of Our Hearts.” The announcement was met with a storm of criticism, questioning Benedict’s right to express his views and accusing Cardinal Sarah of manipulating the pope emeritus.
On Monday, January 13, editorial director of Vatican News, Andrea Tornielli, penned a neutral piece saying the book — including introduction and conclusion — “bears the signatures” of Cardinal Sarah and Benedict XVI. He noted that the book was written “in filial obedience to Pope Francis” and “in a spirit of love for the unity of the Church.”
Two reliable sources told the National Catholic Register that Tornielli phoned Benedict’s private secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, on Jan 13 and 14 to discuss the book.
On Tuesday morning, January 14, amid continued criticism, Cardinal Sarah issued an official statement saying that Benedict had seen the manuscript, introduction, conclusion and cover of the co-authored book. He also published several letters from the pope emeritus showing Benedict’s involvement in the project. “The polemic that has sought to smear me … by insinuating that Benedict XVI was not informed of the publication of the book ‘From the Depths of Our Hearts’ is deeply abject,” Cardinal Sarah wrote. He added: “I sincerely forgive all those who slander me or who want to oppose me to Pope Francis. My attachment to Benedict XVI remains intact and my filial obeisance to Pope Francis remains absolute.”
On Tuesday afternoon, January 14, Archbishop Gänswein told ANSA news agency: “I can confirm that this morning I acted on instructions from the Pope Emeritus and I asked Cardinal Robert Sarah to contact the book’s publishers and request them to remove Benedict XVI’s name as co-author of the book and remove his signature from the introduction and the conclusions too.” He said that Benedict had contributed a text to the volume asserted that the pope emeritus “did not approve a project for a co-authored book and he had not seen or authorized the cover.”
Shortly thereafter, Cardinal Sarah tweeted: “Considering the polemics caused by the publication of the book From the Depths of Our Hearts, it was decided that the book’s author for future publications will be: ‘Cardinal Sarah, with the contribution of Benedict XVI.’ However, the full text remains absolutely unchanged. +RS.”
Later the same day, the Cardinal again tweeted his official statement, saying: “I confirm that I was able to speak this morning with Archbishop Georg Gänswein. This communiqué remains my one and only version of the course of events. I also had a conversation with the management of Fayard [the French publisher] to implement the specific requests of Mgr Gänswein. +RS”
Later on January 14, Ignatius Press, the English-language publisher of the new book, issued a statement saying they would stand by the co-authorship.
On January 16, Eugenio Scalfari meets with Pope Francis, asking him about the controversy surrounding the new book. “After Benedict’s show of solidarity with Pope Francis, the issue with Ratzinger was closed,” Scalfari reports.
A parallel press office?
Observers see the timing of the latest “interview” as a further instance of Scalfari being used as an unofficial mouthpiece, or a kind of parallel press office for Pope Francis during media controversy related to this pontificate.
After Scalfari’s 2016 “interview” claiming that Pope Francis said “Christians think like communists,” Riccardo Cascioli wrote in La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana:
Now, after three years, we have to admit — though the misconduct remains with Scalfari — that this is a modus operandi of Pope Francis. As he has shown in recent weeks, first with the meeting with the Lutherans in Lund and then now with the popular movements in the Vatican, he has made it a habit to call or meet Scalfari on occasions of important meetings of his pontificate to explain the meaning of the event and its global scope, well aware that the founder of La Repubblica will report it in his newspaper.
As Edward Pentin explained at the time: “Before the Oct. 31 Lund meeting commemorating the Reformation, Francis called Scalfari to allegedly say that the brotherhood of all religions and the unity of all Christian churches is the goal as all believe in one God.”
What is more disconcerting, Cascioli said, is that these interviews are creating a magisterium that is “affirmed” by the mainstream press, confusing and disorienting the faithful, and providing fodder for those who seek to destroy the Catholic Church.
On the eve of Holy Thursday, 2018, Scalfari claimed the Pope had told him that hell does not exist, and that the souls of those who do not go to heaven are annihilated (an implicit denial of the immortality of the soul). More recently, in November 2019, Scalfari went so far as to claim that Francis denied the divinity of Jesus Christ.
On January 16, LifeSite asked Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, if he could comment on why Francis continues to grant interviews to Eugenio Scalfari, when he has claimed that the Pope espouses what amounts to heresy. On this point, Bruni offered no reply.
Many consider the swirl of controversy surrounding the rollout of the new book a storm in a teacup and a distraction from that really matters, i.e. the book’s content.
On Friday, January 17 (one day after the latest Scalfari “interview”), Cardinal Robert Sarah settled the controversy, sending out three tweets saying he had met personally with Benedict XVI, there was “not one misunderstanding” between them, and encouraged people to read the book.
Editor’s note: “From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy, and the Crisis of the Catholic Church” may be pre-ordered here.
PETITION: Support Cardinal Sarah's and Pope Emeritus Benedict's Defense of Priestly Celibacy” Sign the petition here.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-21--Pro-family leader calls on Cdl Marx to ‘repent of…evil’ or face ‘fire of hell’

Editor 's note : The following address was given by LifeSiteNews ’ editor-in-chief John-Henry Westen at the Acies ordinata prayer and protest event in Munich , Germany on January 18 , 2020 .
January 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Your Eminence , Cardinal Reinhard Marx , with respect and love for your office as a bishop and cardinal , as a pastor called to feed the flock of Christ , it is with great sorrow that I must now speak very strongly to you .
I do this as a father of young children , as a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern for his own children and those of others does not allow me to keep silent .
On too many occasions recently we have lacked the charity and courage necessary to speak challenging words to our pastors , so that worse evils might be avoided .
And so I say… .
Cardinal Marx , in the words of St. Paul , you have blood on your hands .
Cardinal Reinhard Marx you have shown yourself to be a wolf , like those prophesied by the Apostle Paul who come to devour the sheep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disciples after them .
( Acts 20:29-30 ) In his letter to the Corinthians , St Paul called pastors like you false apostles , deceitful workmen , disguising yourself as an apostle of Christ .
( 2 Corinthians 11:13 ) Your false teaching on abortion , adultery and homosexual acts have perverted a whole generation of Catholic young people .
Many of them now go on to practice abominable acts which cry out to heaven for vengeance , which will imperil their souls and make them suffer in their bodies too , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Christ for your own benefit .
You want to rub shoulders with the elite of this world .
You talk about helping the poor and yet you spent over 20 million US dollars renovating your residences in Munich and Rome .
You speak of care for those with homosexual orientation yet you encourage the very behaviours that you know lead to AIDS and other deadly diseases and worse than that to the loss of eternal salvation .
Their blood is on your hands .
How dare you give a blessing to acts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ souls ?
You are a false prophet like those warned against by St. Peter the first Pope .
He said those like you would secretly bring in destructive heresies and that many would follow your sensuality and blaspheme the way of truth .
( 2 Peter 2:1-2 ) You have confused the faith of our children .
We Catholic parents are here to tell you , that you have perverted the faith of our children , you have scandalized them and led them astray you have led them down the path to hell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of Christ .
Repent of your evil for the fire of hell awaits you .
Our Lord warned you that it would be better for you that a millstone be tied about your neck and you be thrown into the sea .
( Mark 9:42 ) How dare you call yourself a Catholic .
You have said you don ’ t want to be a subsidiary of Rome and that Germany would follow its own so-called synodal path .
You know full well there is one body and Spirit in the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one faith and one baptism because there is one God and Father of us all .
( Eph .
4:4-6 ) How dare you profess to be a faithful follower of Christ , when you reject His plan for human sexuality and attempt to bring the spirit of fornication into the Church ?
All of your brothers in the clergy in Germany should know that in following your heresy they are betraying Christ .
Let all the faithful clergy in Germany reject your heresies and fight the good fight and keep the true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reward them .
( 2 Tim 4:7 ) You continue to support and give Holy Communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion , yet when a faithful Catholic stops giving you money from income tax then you refuse them the sacraments .
You have presented people with a false Christ and a false gospel .
We reject it , and cling to the One , Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which preaches sound doctrine in season and out of season , even when it goes against what the world wants to hear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even now after all the harm that you ’ ve caused our beloved Church and our children we hope and pray for your conversion .
You still have time to return to the way of Christ before meeting the just judge .
( 1 Pet 4:17-18 ) Cardinal Marx , hear now the words of Christ : Repent , and believe in the Gospel !
The true Gospel .
Until you do repent however , we will urge Catholics to shun you and ignore your teaching .
Luther used horrible words to falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ‘ not worthy of an apostle ’ but those words with all their horror describe perfectly your actions .
Repent and believe the Gospel .
( Mark 1:15 )

'Cardinal Marx, in the words of St. Paul, you have blood on your hands.'
Editor's note: The following address was given by LifeSiteNews’ editor-in-chief John-Henry Westen at the Acies ordinata prayer and protest event in Munich, Germany on January 18, 2020.
January 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Your Eminence, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, with respect and love for your office as a bishop and cardinal, as a pastor called to feed the flock of Christ, it is with great sorrow that I must now speak very strongly to you. I do this as a father of young children, as a member of the lay faithful whose love and concern for his own children and those of others does not allow me to keep silent. On too many occasions recently we have lacked the charity and courage necessary to speak challenging words to our pastors, so that worse evils might be avoided. And so I say….
Cardinal Marx, in the words of St. Paul, you have blood on your hands.
Cardinal Reinhard Marx you have shown yourself to be a wolf, like those prophesied by the Apostle Paul who come to devour the sheep by speaking twisted things and drawing away disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-30) In his letter to the Corinthians, St Paul called pastors like you false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising yourself as an apostle of Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:13)
Your false teaching on abortion, adultery and homosexual acts have perverted a whole generation of Catholic young people. Many of them now go on to practice abominable acts which cry out to heaven for vengeance, which will imperil their souls and make them suffer in their bodies too, all because you want to twist the truth of Christ for your own benefit.
You want to rub shoulders with the elite of this world. You talk about helping the poor and yet you spent over 20 million US dollars renovating your residences in Munich and Rome. You speak of care for those with homosexual orientation yet you encourage the very behaviours that you know lead to AIDS and other deadly diseases and worse than that to the loss of eternal salvation. Their blood is on your hands.
How dare you give a blessing to acts which harm people in their bodies and souls?
You are a false prophet like those warned against by St. Peter the first Pope. He said those like you would secretly bring in destructive heresies and that many would follow your sensuality and blaspheme the way of truth. (2 Peter 2:1-2)
You have confused the faith of our children. We Catholic parents are here to tell you, that you have perverted the faith of our children, you have scandalized them and led them astray you have led them down the path to hell making them believe your falsehood is the way of Christ.
Repent of your evil for the fire of hell awaits you. Our Lord warned you that it would be better for you that a millstone be tied about your neck and you be thrown into the sea. (Mark 9:42)
How dare you call yourself a Catholic. You have said you don’t want to be a subsidiary of Rome and that Germany would follow its own so-called synodal path. You know full well there is one body and Spirit in the Church, there is only one Lord, one faith and one baptism because there is one God and Father of us all. (Eph. 4:4-6)
How dare you profess to be a faithful follower of Christ, when you reject His plan for human sexuality and attempt to bring the spirit of fornication into the Church?
All of your brothers in the clergy in Germany should know that in following your heresy they are betraying Christ. Let all the faithful clergy in Germany reject your heresies and fight the good fight and keep the true faith so that the righteous Judge will reward them. (2 Tim 4:7)
You continue to support and give Holy Communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion, yet when a faithful Catholic stops giving you money from income tax then you refuse them the sacraments.
You have presented people with a false Christ and a false gospel. We reject it, and cling to the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which preaches sound doctrine in season and out of season, even when it goes against what the world wants to hear. (2 Tim 4:2)
And yet even now after all the harm that you’ve caused our beloved Church and our children we hope and pray for your conversion. You still have time to return to the way of Christ before meeting the just judge. (1 Pet 4:17-18)
Cardinal Marx, hear now the words of Christ: Repent, and believe in the Gospel! The true Gospel.
Until you do repent however, we will urge Catholics to shun you and ignore your teaching. Luther used horrible words to falsely describe the epistle of St. James calling it ‘not worthy of an apostle’ but those words with all their horror describe perfectly your actions.
Repent and believe the Gospel. (Mark 1:15)
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lifesitenews--2020-01-21--Missouri bill would let parents keep Drag Queen Story Hours out of libraries

JEFFERSON CITY , Missouri , January 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Missouri state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would empower communities to keep Drag Queen Story Hour and other radical , sexually-charged material away from their children at public libraries , to the chagrin of LGBT activists .
House Bill 2044 , the Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act , requires any library that receives taxpayer dollars to create a review board composed of five parents elected from the community , with final authority over the permissibility of sexual material .
These boards would be empowered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public concerns as to the library ’ s offering of “ age-inappropriate sexual material , ” meaning “ any description or representation , in any form , of nudity , sexuality , sexual conduct , sexual excitement , or sadomasochistic abuse ” that is deemed “ patently offensive ” and without “ serious literary , artistic , political , or scientific value for minors.
” “ Any public library personnel who willfully neglects or refuses to perform any duty imposed on a public library under this section , or who willfully violates any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year , ” the bill states .
The bill is largely a response to the spread of Drag Queen Story Hour events , in which adult crossdressers read storybooks to children .
These events are intensely controversial around the country ; organizers admit one of their central purposes is to indoctrinate children about “ learn [ ing ] to see beyond the pink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed children to sexually-charged performances as well as drag queens who range from x-rated performers in their day jobs to convicted pedophiles and prostitutes .
“ Just knowing that there are children being exposed to the agenda being pushed by the LGBTQ community is alarming , but even more so when the vehicle in these situations is our taxpayer funded public libraries , ” Republican state Rep. Ben Baker , who filed the bill , told LifeSiteNews .
LGBT groups and library officials have come out strongly against HB 2044 .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
They ’ re all very very upset about it , ” Neosho Newton County Library director Carrie Cline told KOAM .
“ The Missouri Library Association ’ s very aware of it , so also is the American Library Association at a federal level.
” Shira Berkowitz , communications manager for Missouri LGBT group PROMO declared that the bill was “ just based on fear , ” NBC News reports , and denied the Drag Queen Story Hours involve “ any kind of sexual content ” ... while at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ visibility of LGBTQ culture.
” “ I think it is a ridiculous accusation to say that the bill would ban books or censor literature , ” Baker responded .
“ Anything the parental oversight board would deem to be inappropriate for access by minors would still be available to adults to check out and provide to their children if they chose to do so .
They already have internet filters on library PCs for the same reason , and that is protecting children from objectionable materials.
” He added that the penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ library personnel already face for willfully neglecting other policies , such as Internet filters on library computers .
“ The current law on disseminating objectionable sexual material to minors is actually a felony which is a much stricter penalty than what the bill calls for , ” Baker noted .
“ I think it ’ s perfectly appropriate to have a penalty for those who would willfully ignore the wishes of the community regarding content or events available for children to view in a public space.
” Baker also revealed online that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I have received several death threats for me and my wife and four daughters , ” the lawmaker elaborated to LifeSiteNews .
“ Some of the threats were from as far away as Australia .
Most of the negative has been outside the state and what has been from Missouri has been outside of my district .
I think most sane thinking people can agree that this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
” “ The biggest problem is the false narrative that the media has created , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been objective with the story and the headlines are misleading so people just run with that rather than actually reading the bill and finding out what it actually would do.
” Research by the Personhood Alliance has played a significant role in drawing lawmakers ’ attention to the issue .
Earlier last year , Personhood Alliance 's Sarah Quale wrote an article revealing how the American Library Association ( ALA ) has been actively helping to promote the LGBT agenda and Drag Queen Story Hour at the local level .
In response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Personhood Alliance ’ s petition calling on the ALA to immediately cease its promotion of Drag Queen Story Hour events .
“ It is common knowledge that to expose children to sexual concepts beyond their years is tantamount to child abuse , ” the petition argues .
“ And unwary parents , trusting that the library system would never be used to corrupt their children , are taken by surprise.
” Those shocking revelations , along with the hand-delivery of nearly 100,000 signatures from LifeSite , Personhood Alliance , Activist Mommy , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office in Washington , D.C. , have provoked interest from legislators all over the US .
Interested readers can read , sign , and share the petition by clicking here .

Because of his efforts to empower communities to nix sexually charged events for kids, the lawmaker who introduced the bill has received death threats.
PETITION: Drag queens don't belong in kids' libraries – #IStandWithRepresentativeBaker” Sign the petition here.
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, January 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Missouri state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would empower communities to keep Drag Queen Story Hour and other radical, sexually-charged material away from their children at public libraries, to the chagrin of LGBT activists.
House Bill 2044, the Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act, requires any library that receives taxpayer dollars to create a review board composed of five parents elected from the community, with final authority over the permissibility of sexual material.
These boards would be empowered to hold public hearings and render verdicts on public concerns as to the library’s offering of “age-inappropriate sexual material,” meaning “any description or representation, in any form, of nudity, sexuality, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse” that is deemed “patently offensive” and without “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”
“Any public library personnel who willfully neglects or refuses to perform any duty imposed on a public library under this section, or who willfully violates any provision of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year,” the bill states.
The bill is largely a response to the spread of Drag Queen Story Hour events, in which adult crossdressers read storybooks to children. These events are intensely controversial around the country; organizers admit one of their central purposes is to indoctrinate children about “learn[ing] to see beyond the pink and blue gender binary.” Many have exposed children to sexually-charged performances as well as drag queens who range from x-rated performers in their day jobs to convicted pedophiles and prostitutes.
“Just knowing that there are children being exposed to the agenda being pushed by the LGBTQ community is alarming, but even more so when the vehicle in these situations is our taxpayer funded public libraries,” Republican state Rep. Ben Baker, who filed the bill, told LifeSiteNews.
LGBT groups and library officials have come out strongly against HB 2044. “I was contacted by my fellow directors across the state. They’re all very very upset about it,” Neosho Newton County Library director Carrie Cline told KOAM. “The Missouri Library Association’s very aware of it, so also is the American Library Association at a federal level.”
Shira Berkowitz, communications manager for Missouri LGBT group PROMO declared that the bill was “just based on fear,” NBC News reports, and denied the Drag Queen Story Hours involve “any kind of sexual content”…while at the same time declaring them important to the “visibility of LGBTQ culture.”
“I think it is a ridiculous accusation to say that the bill would ban books or censor literature,” Baker responded. “Anything the parental oversight board would deem to be inappropriate for access by minors would still be available to adults to check out and provide to their children if they chose to do so. They already have internet filters on library PCs for the same reason, and that is protecting children from objectionable materials.”
He added that the penalty for noncompliance is no harsher than what library personnel already face for willfully neglecting other policies, such as Internet filters on library computers.
“The current law on disseminating objectionable sexual material to minors is actually a felony which is a much stricter penalty than what the bill calls for,” Baker noted. “I think it’s perfectly appropriate to have a penalty for those who would willfully ignore the wishes of the community regarding content or events available for children to view in a public space.”
Baker also revealed online that he has received death threats for his stand:
Here’s the world we live in today. Try to protect children from age inappropriate content in our libraries and in response get death threats. It seems we no longer live in a society where you can have civil discourse about ideas. #Isaiahfivetwenty #HB2044 — Ben Baker (@BenBakerMO) January 17, 2020
“I have received several death threats for me and my wife and four daughters,” the lawmaker elaborated to LifeSiteNews. “Some of the threats were from as far away as Australia. Most of the negative has been outside the state and what has been from Missouri has been outside of my district. I think most sane thinking people can agree that this is an issue that needs to be addressed.”
“The biggest problem is the false narrative that the media has created,” Baker lamented. “They have not been objective with the story and the headlines are misleading so people just run with that rather than actually reading the bill and finding out what it actually would do.”
Research by the Personhood Alliance has played a significant role in drawing lawmakers’ attention to the issue. Earlier last year, Personhood Alliance's Sarah Quale wrote an article revealing how the American Library Association (ALA) has been actively helping to promote the LGBT agenda and Drag Queen Story Hour at the local level.
In response, nearly 60,000 people have signed LifeSiteNews and Personhood Alliance’s petition calling on the ALA to immediately cease its promotion of Drag Queen Story Hour events. “It is common knowledge that to expose children to sexual concepts beyond their years is tantamount to child abuse,” the petition argues. “And unwary parents, trusting that the library system would never be used to corrupt their children, are taken by surprise.”
Those shocking revelations, along with the hand-delivery of nearly 100,000 signatures from LifeSite, Personhood Alliance, Activist Mommy, and CitizenGO to the ALA’s head office in Washington, D.C., have provoked interest from legislators all over the US.
Interested readers can read, sign, and share the petition by clicking here.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-01-21--Lutheran minister: Pope Francis told me Protestants and Catholics are ‘very close’ in how we ‘worshi

Lutheran minister: Pope Francis told me Protestants and Catholics are ‘very close’ in how we ‘worship’

January 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – On January 10 , Pope Francis granted a private audience to Reverend Michael Jonas , pastor of the Lutheran Evangelical Community in Rome .
In a subsequent interview with the official website of the Evangelical Church in Germany ( EKD ) , evangelisch.de , Jonas reports on his conversation with the Pope , saying that the Pope “ stressed ” that “ Catholics and Protestants are very close to one another in what they do in their public worship [ Gottesdienst ] .
” He also reported that the Pope then referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped a Lutheran minister in celebrating a liturgy of the word for his Lutheran community .
This interview with evangelisch.de had sparked interest both in German-speaking and English-speaking outlets .
The minister ’ s claim that the Pope told him that the Catholic Mass and a Lutheran worship service are very similar is causing a stir in some Catholic circles .
The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist and that during Mass there takes place an unbloody sacrifice of Our Lord .
Lutherans , in general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Real Presence of Our Lord , nor in His unbloody sacrifice at Mass .
Lutherans also do not pray for the Pope and the bishops of the Catholic Church , nor do they invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother and of all the saints during their worship ceremony .
LifeSiteNews reached out to Reverend Jonas , asking him for confirmation of this earlier Evangelisch.de interview and for clarification concerning a passage of the evangelisch.de interview which seems to indicate that it was the Pope himself who had once helped out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastor in the north of Europe .
However , in response to LifeSite 's request , Dr. Jonas clarified that the Pope told him that “ he experienced [ in the Baltics ] that , from the side of the Catholics , one helped out Lutherans with their liturgy of the word.
” That is to say , a Catholic priest helped out a Lutheran minister by presiding over a Lutheran liturgy of the word .
As the comments by Dr. Jonas indicate , this comment was made by Pope Francis in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closeness of Lutherans and Catholics in their public worship , rather than in a negative sense .
The Pope has not “ explicitly ” said that he himself had once replaced a Lutheran minister , Jonas explained to LifeSiteNews , thereby correcting his earlier Evangelisch.de interview .
Jonas says now from the way the Pope talked about this incident , it was not clear whether he himself performed that Lutheran liturgy of the word or , rather , another Catholic priest .
Dr. Jonas is the pastor of the same Lutheran Evangelical Community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2015 .
During that visit , Pope Francis caused “ controversy by appearing to suggest that a Lutheran wife of a Catholic husband could receive Holy Communion based on the fact that she is baptized and in accordance with her conscience , ” in the words of Rome Correspondent Edward Pentin .
During a question and answer session at that meeting , a Lutheran woman had told the Pope that her husband and she can not receive together Holy Communion because she is not Catholic .
The Pope first answered with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem each must answer , but a pastor-friend once told me : 'We believe that the Lord is present there , he is present .
You all believe that the Lord is present .
And so what ’ s the difference ? '
— 'Eh , there are explanations , interpretations . '
Life is bigger than explanations and interpretations .
Always refer back to your baptism .
'One faith , one baptism , one Lord . '
This is what Paul tells us , and then take the consequences from there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow this , because it ’ s not my competence .
One baptism , one Lord , one faith .
Talk to the Lord and then go forward .
I don ’ t dare to say anything more.
” Not long after this incident , in January of 2016 , a group of Finnish Lutherans received Holy Communion at St. Peter 's Basilica .
They had come to a Holy Mass with their bishop , Samuel Salmi , who had had a private audience that day with Pope Francis .
During that Mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communion rail with their arms crossed in order to ask for a blessing , the priest insisted on giving them Holy Communion .
The Finnish bishop later told Kotimaa 24 that “ I myself accepted it [ Holy Communion ] , ” adding that “ this was not a coincidence , ” and that is was not a coincidence either when , two months earlier , the Pope had seemed to accept the idea of a Lutheran woman receiving communion with her Catholic husband .
Reverend Jonas , when meeting with Pope Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the refugee crisis in Europe , the importance of ecumenism , and the loss of faith in Europe .
This he told Vatican News .
Speaking about the rising secularism in Europe , the Pope said that it was important to learn to proclaim the Gospel in “ very elementary forms , ” Jonas explains and then continues : “ He [ the Pope ] also made this for me very impressive statement : 'The danger of the churches is the empty moralism . '
That we tell people how one should do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edifices of thought but then are defective when it comes to the concrete implementation and the witness .
Here , we should perhaps return to simple signals of mercy that are understandable for all.
” When Jonas invited Pope Francis to come and visit the Lutheran Evangelical community in Rome again , the Pope answered : “ I am always available to you !
”

Pope Francis has signaled prior to this that Protestants should be able to receive Holy Communion with Catholics.
January 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – On January 10, Pope Francis granted a private audience to Reverend Michael Jonas, pastor of the Lutheran Evangelical Community in Rome. In a subsequent interview with the official website of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), evangelisch.de, Jonas reports on his conversation with the Pope, saying that the Pope “stressed” that “Catholics and Protestants are very close to one another in what they do in their public worship [Gottesdienst].”
He also reported that the Pope then referred to an incident where a Catholic priest helped a Lutheran minister in celebrating a liturgy of the word for his Lutheran community.
This interview with evangelisch.de had sparked interest both in German-speaking and English-speaking outlets.
The minister’s claim that the Pope told him that the Catholic Mass and a Lutheran worship service are very similar is causing a stir in some Catholic circles.
Lutheran teaching holds that Christ is present “in, with, and under” the consecrated bread and wine, meaning that both Christ’s body and blood and the bread and wine are present from the consecration until the end of the ceremony, at which point Christ’s presence departs. Lutherans do not explain how Our Lord thus manifests Himself, with some rejecting the terms “consubstantiation” and “transsubstantation” alike.
Catholic teaching is that at the consecration, the bread and wine are completely transformed into Christ’s body and blood, which retain only the appearance and physical properties (“accidents”) of bread and wine. Unlike Lutherans, Catholics understand that Christ’s body and blood remain after the Mass is concluded, which is why He is reposed in the tabernacle and exposed for Eucharistic Adoration.
According to the Catholic Church, only validly ordained priests can confect the Eucharist. Therefore, the Catholic Church teaches that bread and wine used by Lutheran ministers in Lutheran ceremonies undergoes no miraculous change, remaining bread and wine.
Adding to the differences between the Catholic Mass and the Lutheran worship service, Lutherans do not pray for the Pope and the bishops of the Catholic Church, nor do they invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother and of all the saints.
LifeSiteNews reached out to Reverend Jonas, asking him for confirmation of this earlier Evangelisch.de interview and for clarification concerning a passage of the evangelisch.de interview which seems to indicate that it was the Pope himself who had once helped out with the public worship of a Lutheran pastor in the north of Europe.
However, in response to LifeSite's request, Dr. Jonas clarified that the Pope told him that “he experienced [in the Baltics] that, from the side of the Catholics, one helped out Lutherans with their liturgy of the word.” That is to say, a Catholic priest helped out a Lutheran minister by presiding over a Lutheran liturgy of the word.
As the comments by Dr. Jonas indicate, this comment was made by Pope Francis in a positive sense and with respect to the closeness of Lutherans and Catholics in their public worship, rather than in a negative sense. The Pope has not “explicitly” said that he himself had once replaced a Lutheran minister, Jonas explained to LifeSiteNews, thereby correcting his earlier Evangelisch.de interview. Jonas says now from the way the Pope talked about this incident, it was not clear whether he himself performed that Lutheran liturgy of the word or, rather, another Catholic priest.
Dr. Jonas is the pastor of the same Lutheran Evangelical Community which Pope Francis had visited in November of 2015. During that visit, Pope Francis caused “controversy by appearing to suggest that a Lutheran wife of a Catholic husband could receive Holy Communion based on the fact that she is baptized and in accordance with her conscience,” in the words of Rome Correspondent Edward Pentin.
During a question and answer session at that meeting, a Lutheran woman had told the Pope that her husband and she cannot receive together Holy Communion because she is not Catholic. The Pope first answered with the words: “It’s a problem each must answer, but a pastor-friend once told me: 'We believe that the Lord is present there, he is present. You all believe that the Lord is present. And so what’s the difference?' — 'Eh, there are explanations, interpretations.' Life is bigger than explanations and interpretations. Always refer back to your baptism. 'One faith, one baptism, one Lord.' This is what Paul tells us, and then take the consequences from there. I wouldn’t ever dare to allow this, because it’s not my competence. One baptism, one Lord, one faith. Talk to the Lord and then go forward. I don’t dare to say anything more.”
Not long after this incident, in January of 2016, a group of Finnish Lutherans received Holy Communion at St. Peter's Basilica. They had come to a Holy Mass with their bishop, Samuel Salmi, who had had a private audience that day with Pope Francis. During that Mass, after the Lutherans had approached the communion rail with their arms crossed in order to ask for a blessing, the priest insisted on giving them Holy Communion. The Finnish bishop later told Kotimaa 24 that “I myself accepted it [Holy Communion],” adding that “this was not a coincidence,” and that is was not a coincidence either when, two months earlier, the Pope had seemed to accept the idea of a Lutheran woman receiving communion with her Catholic husband.
Reverend Jonas, when meeting with Pope Francis on January 10, also spoke about the refugee crisis in Europe, the importance of ecumenism, and the loss of faith in Europe. This he told Vatican News. Speaking about the rising secularism in Europe, the Pope said that it was important to learn to proclaim the Gospel in “very elementary forms,” Jonas explains and then continues: “He [the Pope] also made this for me very impressive statement: 'The danger of the churches is the empty moralism.' That we tell people how one should do things and that we erect big moral edifices of thought but then are defective when it comes to the concrete implementation and the witness. Here, we should perhaps return to simple signals of mercy that are understandable for all.”
When Jonas invited Pope Francis to come and visit the Lutheran Evangelical community in Rome again, the Pope answered: “I am always available to you!”
This article has been updated.
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-21--Why are Christians called Christians?

Why are Christians called Christians?

Formerly Heart to Heart with Mother Miriam , Mother Miriam Live brings you inspiration and solutions for life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Miriam is a Catholic nun on a mission to bring hope to a world that @ @ @ @ @ let her share that hope and joy with you !
To tune into Mother Miriam @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page here every Monday to Friday at 10am .

Watch Mother Miriam's Live show from 1.21.2020. Mother continues to read from The Catechism Explained. Today she focuses on the origin of the word Christian and Christianity.
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Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live here.