lifesitenews--2020-02-22--Austrian diocese sues father of six for refusing to pay Church tax

FELDKIRCH , Austria , February 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Austrian diocese of Feldkirch is taking a father of six to court for refusing to pay the Church tax .
The father , who remains anonymous , argued that he could not pay the tax in good conscience because of the diocese ’ s involvement in the promotion of homosexuality and gender ideology .
As reported by faithful Catholic news website kath.net , the father pointed out that employees of the diocese took part in an event celebrating homosexuality .
He also mentioned that the diocese , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on pastoral care for homosexuals .
Gender ideology has taken over the diocese , according to the father .
At the same time , openly Christian associations like “ Teenstar ” receive no support .
The first hearing in court took place on Tuesday , February 18 .
The diocese “ remained firm and did not want to hear theological objections and reasons ” for the man ’ s refusal to pay the Church tax , kath.net wrote .
The next hearing is scheduled for March 31 .
Even though the father did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and contributed to the well-being of the Church .
Receipts documenting his contributions were sent to the bishop .
The diocese preferred going to court over roughly €400 , accumulated from 2016 to 2018 .
In Austria , the Church tax ( Kirchenbeitrag ) is 1.1 percent of a person ’ s income .
An employee making €35,000 per year would have to pay the Church €385 .
However , most people are able to apply certain deductions , decreasing the taxable income as well as the Church tax .
In Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax ( Kirchensteuer ) is collected not by the Church , but by the government .
The amount is based on a person ’ s income tax , which in turn depends on many other factors , like how much money a person makes and how many children there are in the family .
The Church tax in Germany is eight to nine percent of the income tax .
A monthly income tax of €250 would lead to a Church tax of roughly €20 .
The government would collect €270 from the taxpayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church .
Catholics in Austria have the option of designating half of their Church tax to a specific cause of their choosing ( Zweckwidmung ) .
What sounds good in theory is often difficult in practice .
The father taken to court by the diocese of Feldkirch , for instance , was not able to support Teenstar , since the diocese did not list it as one of the options .
In 2016 , it was reported that in the diocese of Feldkirch alone , about 300 cases of people not paying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before that happens , however , Catholics usually receive a number of letters from the diocese .
Rudolf Höfer , professor of Church history at the university of Graz , criticized the Church tax in an opinion piece published by Austrian newspaper Die Presse in January 2020 .
“ It still remains to be explained what is terrible about the year 2019 , when 67,583 people , an increase of 15 percent compared to 2018 , have chosen to leave the Catholic Church and thus freed themselves from a coercive Nazi law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1946 , ” Höfer wrote .
He went on to ask , “ Is the Nazi law not rather terrible , whose intention was ‘ a crushing blow against the Church organization , ’ and which has the same effect today ?
In 1939 , all bishops protested against it in writing.
” Höfer expressed his surprise that in spite of almost 70,000 Catholics leaving the Church , the amount of money brought in by the Church tax in all of Austria rose from €461 million to €474 million .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people leave the Church every year in European dioceses where no Church tax is collected .
The Diocese of Bozen-Brixen had 14 Catholics leave out of 480,000 ; the archdiocese of Ljubljana had 27 leave out of 580,000 .
“ Austria should have had only 150 Catholics leave , due to about ten times the number of Catholics .
In reality , there were 58,376 departures in 2018 and 67,538 in 2019 .
Since 1945 there have been over 2.4 million , ” Höfer stated .

The father opposes the promotion of homosexuality and gender ideology, which he says is running rampant in his diocese.
FELDKIRCH, Austria, February 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Austrian diocese of Feldkirch is taking a father of six to court for refusing to pay the Church tax. The father, who remains anonymous, argued that he could not pay the tax in good conscience because of the diocese’s involvement in the promotion of homosexuality and gender ideology.
As reported by faithful Catholic news website kath.net, the father pointed out that employees of the diocese took part in an event celebrating homosexuality. He also mentioned that the diocese, bordering Switzerland, puts too much emphasis on pastoral care for homosexuals.
Gender ideology has taken over the diocese, according to the father. At the same time, openly Christian associations like “Teenstar” receive no support.
The first hearing in court took place on Tuesday, February 18. The diocese “remained firm and did not want to hear theological objections and reasons” for the man’s refusal to pay the Church tax, kath.net wrote. The next hearing is scheduled for March 31.
Even though the father did not pay the tax, he tithed and contributed to the well-being of the Church. Receipts documenting his contributions were sent to the bishop. The diocese preferred going to court over roughly €400, accumulated from 2016 to 2018.
In Austria, the Church tax (Kirchenbeitrag) is 1.1 percent of a person’s income. An employee making €35,000 per year would have to pay the Church €385. However, most people are able to apply certain deductions, decreasing the taxable income as well as the Church tax.
In Germany, on the other hand, the Church tax (Kirchensteuer) is collected not by the Church, but by the government. The amount is based on a person’s income tax, which in turn depends on many other factors, like how much money a person makes and how many children there are in the family.
The Church tax in Germany is eight to nine percent of the income tax. A monthly income tax of €250 would lead to a Church tax of roughly €20. The government would collect €270 from the taxpayer and forward what is owed to the Church.
Catholics in Austria have the option of designating half of their Church tax to a specific cause of their choosing (Zweckwidmung). What sounds good in theory is often difficult in practice. The father taken to court by the diocese of Feldkirch, for instance, was not able to support Teenstar, since the diocese did not list it as one of the options.
In 2016, it was reported that in the diocese of Feldkirch alone, about 300 cases of people not paying the Church tax ended up in court. Before that happens, however, Catholics usually receive a number of letters from the diocese.
Rudolf Höfer, professor of Church history at the university of Graz, criticized the Church tax in an opinion piece published by Austrian newspaper Die Presse in January 2020.
“It still remains to be explained what is terrible about the year 2019, when 67,583 people, an increase of 15 percent compared to 2018, have chosen to leave the Catholic Church and thus freed themselves from a coercive Nazi law, signed by a war criminal executed in 1946,” Höfer wrote.
He went on to ask, “Is the Nazi law not rather terrible, whose intention was ‘a crushing blow against the Church organization,’ and which has the same effect today? In 1939, all bishops protested against it in writing.”
Höfer expressed his surprise that in spite of almost 70,000 Catholics leaving the Church, the amount of money brought in by the Church tax in all of Austria rose from €461 million to €474 million.
According to the professor of Church history, very few people leave the Church every year in European dioceses where no Church tax is collected. The Diocese of Bozen-Brixen had 14 Catholics leave out of 480,000; the archdiocese of Ljubljana had 27 leave out of 580,000.
“Austria should have had only 150 Catholics leave, due to about ten times the number of Catholics. In reality, there were 58,376 departures in 2018 and 67,538 in 2019. Since 1945 there have been over 2.4 million,” Höfer stated.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-22--Cardinal Schönborn hangs gigantic purple female sweater in Vienna Cathedral for Lent

VIENNA , Austria , February 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – For Lent , the high altar of St. Stephen ’ s Cathedral in Vienna , Austria , where Cardinal Christoph Schönborn is archbishop , is covered in a larger-than-life feminine purple sweater .
The sweater , consisting of 80 square meters of material , supposedly shows “ the priority of warming love of neighbor , ” according to the website of the cathedral parish .
The cathedral parish claims the sweater is a modern Lenten veil ( Fastentuch ) .
Austrian artist Erwin Wurm is responsible for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that depict naked photographs of men with genitals showing in varying poses .
On Wurm ’ s website , he presents photos of a number of middle-aged naked men as part of his series De Profundis .
The Austrian artist painted over some of those photos in order to cover the genitalia .
In other photos , they can be seen partially .
One photo is painted over around the upper body of the man , with the genitalia being clearly and fully visible .
Apart from the sweater , other art projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephen ’ s Cathedral , a church that goes back to the 12th century .
One of the works is a gray , life-sized statue of a man without head , hands , or lower legs .
“ A man without head and hands , bodies that are only defined by a briefcase or a handbag , or can only be experienced as packaged sausages , offer a mirror of conscience and the potential for questioning one ’ s own freedom and its restrictions , ” the Cathedral stated on its website .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ perspectives on the power and possibility of our renewal from faith .
How much of goodwill and , contrary to that , relapse into old patterns of behavior do we experience in our own lives ?
The violence , too , which was not only inflicted on the martyrs of National Socialism , leaves life shaken and deformed , ” it continued .
Outside the cathedral , a sculpture of a hot-water bag standing on two feet can be seen .
The plan was to place it in front of the main entrance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the local government objected , as reported by Vienna Online .
Now , the object is placed on church-owned land .
As explained by the Liturgical Arts Journal , “ in order to prepare themselves to live the great mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ , Christians not only fasted from food but also practiced an auditory and visual fast.
” Many Catholic parishes still follow the practice of veiling crosses and statues during Lent while refraining from using flowers on the altar .
Visual privation traditionally included a Lenten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reminding the faithful of the veil in the temple of Jerusalem .
The faithful were not able to see the priest saying Mass on the other side of the veil .
The Liturgical Arts Journal pointed out that Martin Luther , “ who detested the idea of Lent and of penance , tried to make the Fastentuch disappear in all of Germany.
” Over time , the use of Lenten veils largely disappeared .
“ Curiously , this ancient tradition reappeared vigorously beginning in 1974 , when the charitable association Misereor had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give concrete expression to Christians ’ Lenten efforts .
This initiative has a certain impact all over Germany , leading to the rediscovery of this tradition , the restoration of numerous historic veils that slept in the vaults of cathedrals or museums , and their suspension in sanctuaries once more .
There was so much interest that even the Lutherans were moved to put them up !
” the journal continued .
In recent years , various modern art projects were presented in the cathedral of Vienna under the guise of being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a veil not even remotely .
In 2015 , an artist had connected a large amount of ribbon into cubes , which were then placed in front of the high altar during Lent .
Catholics were encouraged to write down prayer intentions and tie them to the ribbons .
The Lenten veil of 2018 simply showed drawings , although it was impossible to tell what they were supposed to depict .
“ In the individual pictorial elements of the Lenten veil , abstract black silhouettes are artistically implemented in embroidery technique .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just as the Psalms only make the real meaning of the text comprehensible through patience in reading and listening , ” the cathedral parish commented .
“ Not one-dimensional classifications become visible , but always new thought-provoking impulses , which remain fragile in the end – just like life itself .
The original reason behind this is symbolically recognizable with the biblical Alpha and Omega , the beginning and end , ” the website of the parish added cryptically .

Other questionable works from an artist known for photos showing genitalia can be found in and around the parish.
VIENNA, Austria, February 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – For Lent, the high altar of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria, where Cardinal Christoph Schönborn is archbishop, is covered in a larger-than-life feminine purple sweater.
The sweater, consisting of 80 square meters of material, supposedly shows “the priority of warming love of neighbor,” according to the website of the cathedral parish. The cathedral parish claims the sweater is a modern Lenten veil (Fastentuch).
Austrian artist Erwin Wurm is responsible for the sweater. He has also created works that depict naked photographs of men with genitals showing in varying poses.
On Wurm’s website, he presents photos of a number of middle-aged naked men as part of his series De Profundis. The Austrian artist painted over some of those photos in order to cover the genitalia. In other photos, they can be seen partially. One photo is painted over around the upper body of the man, with the genitalia being clearly and fully visible.
Additionally, Wurm has created images mocking priests and religious.
Apart from the sweater, other art projects by Wurm are currently presented in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a church that goes back to the 12th century.
One of the works is a gray, life-sized statue of a man without head, hands, or lower legs.
“A man without head and hands, bodies that are only defined by a briefcase or a handbag, or can only be experienced as packaged sausages, offer a mirror of conscience and the potential for questioning one’s own freedom and its restrictions,” the Cathedral stated on its website.
“Deformed buildings and objects open new perspectives on the power and possibility of our renewal from faith. How much of goodwill and, contrary to that, relapse into old patterns of behavior do we experience in our own lives? The violence, too, which was not only inflicted on the martyrs of National Socialism, leaves life shaken and deformed,” it continued.
Outside the cathedral, a sculpture of a hot-water bag standing on two feet can be seen. The plan was to place it in front of the main entrance, but since this is public land, the local government objected, as reported by Vienna Online. Now, the object is placed on church-owned land.
As explained by the Liturgical Arts Journal, “in order to prepare themselves to live the great mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ, Christians not only fasted from food but also practiced an auditory and visual fast.”
Many Catholic parishes still follow the practice of veiling crosses and statues during Lent while refraining from using flowers on the altar. Visual privation traditionally included a Lenten veil at the front of the church, reminding the faithful of the veil in the temple of Jerusalem. The faithful were not able to see the priest saying Mass on the other side of the veil.
The Liturgical Arts Journal pointed out that Martin Luther, “who detested the idea of Lent and of penance, tried to make the Fastentuch disappear in all of Germany.” Over time, the use of Lenten veils largely disappeared.
“Curiously, this ancient tradition reappeared vigorously beginning in 1974, when the charitable association Misereor had the idea of producing a Fastentuch to give concrete expression to Christians’ Lenten efforts. This initiative has a certain impact all over Germany, leading to the rediscovery of this tradition, the restoration of numerous historic veils that slept in the vaults of cathedrals or museums, and their suspension in sanctuaries once more. There was so much interest that even the Lutherans were moved to put them up!” the journal continued.
In recent years, various modern art projects were presented in the cathedral of Vienna under the guise of being a Lenten veil. Some of them resembled a veil not even remotely.
In 2015, an artist had connected a large amount of ribbon into cubes, which were then placed in front of the high altar during Lent. Catholics were encouraged to write down prayer intentions and tie them to the ribbons.
The Lenten veil of 2018 simply showed drawings, although it was impossible to tell what they were supposed to depict.
“In the individual pictorial elements of the Lenten veil, abstract black silhouettes are artistically implemented in embroidery technique. It certainly requires the patience of meditative contemplation, just as the Psalms only make the real meaning of the text comprehensible through patience in reading and listening,” the cathedral parish commented.
“Not one-dimensional classifications become visible, but always new thought-provoking impulses, which remain fragile in the end – just like life itself. The original reason behind this is symbolically recognizable with the biblical Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end,” the website of the parish added cryptically.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-21--Federal court blocks Mississippi law protecting babies with beating hearts

JACKSON , Mississippi , February 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Mississippi law that bans aborting the vast majority of babies hit a roadblock in federal appeals court Thursday , albeit one the law ’ s supporters fully anticipated .
Last March , Republican Gov .
Phil Bryant signed a law banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected ( as early as six weeks ) , with exceptions only to save a woman ’ s life or prevent harm to a “ major bodily function.
” It was slated to take effect on July 1 but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the abortion lobby , as well as 21 state attorneys general .
Last May , U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves expressed indignation at Mississippi lawmakers for daring to disregard his previous judgment against a milder 15-week abortion ban and pass the heartbeat law anyway .
On Thursday , a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that the heartbeat law was unconstitutional , Fox News reported .
Remarkably , the panel acknowledged that “ cardiac activity can be detected well before the fetus is viable , ” yet rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preborn ’ s humanity , that fact actually “ dooms the law , ” simply because the 15-week ban was already said to be unconstitutional regardless of fetal heartbeat .
“ If a ban on abortion after 15 weeks is unconstitutional , then it follows that a ban on abortion at an earlier stage of pregnancy is also unconstitutional , ” the panel claimed .
While pro-lifers would take issue with the logic of that conclusion , the outcome is not exactly unwelcome .
The heartbeat law , like many such abortion bans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was never expected to quickly take effect within Mississippi ’ s borders , but rather intended to provoke a legal battle that would hopefully reach the U.S. Supreme Court and instigate a review of Roe v. Wade , thereby potentially overturning decades of pro-abortion legal precedent and freeing the states to set their own abortion laws .
“ We will sustain our efforts to fight for America ’ s unborn children , ” Bryant declared in December .
“ Mississippi will continue this mission to the United States Supreme Court .
”

While a panel acknowledged 'cardiac activity can be detected well before the fetus is viable,' its ruling was not a surprise.
JACKSON, Mississippi, February 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Mississippi law that bans aborting the vast majority of babies hit a roadblock in federal appeals court Thursday, albeit one the law’s supporters fully anticipated.
Last March, Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed a law banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected (as early as six weeks), with exceptions only to save a woman’s life or prevent harm to a “major bodily function.” It was slated to take effect on July 1 but was quickly blocked by a legal challenge from the abortion lobby, as well as 21 state attorneys general.
Last May, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves expressed indignation at Mississippi lawmakers for daring to disregard his previous judgment against a milder 15-week abortion ban and pass the heartbeat law anyway.
On Thursday, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that the heartbeat law was unconstitutional, Fox News reported.
Remarkably, the panel acknowledged that “cardiac activity can be detected well before the fetus is viable,” yet rather than strengthening the case for recognizing the preborn’s humanity, that fact actually “dooms the law,” simply because the 15-week ban was already said to be unconstitutional regardless of fetal heartbeat.
“If a ban on abortion after 15 weeks is unconstitutional, then it follows that a ban on abortion at an earlier stage of pregnancy is also unconstitutional,” the panel claimed.
While pro-lifers would take issue with the logic of that conclusion, the outcome is not exactly unwelcome.
The heartbeat law, like many such abortion bans passed across the country last year, was never expected to quickly take effect within Mississippi’s borders, but rather intended to provoke a legal battle that would hopefully reach the U.S. Supreme Court and instigate a review of Roe v. Wade, thereby potentially overturning decades of pro-abortion legal precedent and freeing the states to set their own abortion laws.
“We will sustain our efforts to fight for America’s unborn children,” Bryant declared in December. “Mississippi will continue this mission to the United States Supreme Court.”
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lifesitenews--2020-02-24--California to defy Trump admin, keep forcing churches to fund abortions

February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – California officials will not heed the Trump administration ’ s warnings that the state is in defiance of federal religious liberty protections , announcing Friday that they intend to continue a policy of forcing private employers to subsidize abortion , even churches .
Back in 2014 , California enacted rules forcing all employers to fund health insurance plans that coverd elective abortions on the theory they are a “ medically necessary ” part of “ basic health care , ” regardless of religious- or conscience-based objections .
The state has been embroiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last month , the Trump Health and Human Services ( HHS ) Department ’ s Office for Civil Rights issued a Notice of Violation to the state , declaring that California was in violation of the federal Weldon amendment , which forbids federal assistance to states or localities that discriminatee against “ any institutional or individual healthcare entity ” on the basis “ that the healthcare entity does not provide , pay for , provide coverage of , or refer for abortions.
” “ If , after 30 days , OCR does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into compliance with federal law , OCR will forward the Notice of Violation and the evidence supporting OCR ’ s findings in this matter to the HHS funding components from which California receives funding for appropriate action under applicable grants and contracts regulations , ” OCR warned .
“ This action may ultimately result in limitations on continued receipt of certain HHS funds.
” Yet California has no intention of changing its policies , the Los Angeles Times reported .
“ California will take no ‘ corrective action , ’ ” state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to HHS , which speaks for Gov .
Gavin Newsom as well .
The letter noted that the Obama administration , which was notoriously pro-abortion , had previously been satisified that waivers offered by the state to religious objectors satisfied the requirements of the Weldon amendment , and “ the facts … have not changed ” since then .
But religious entities in the state are still being pressured to fund abortion against their will , such as Skyline Wesleyan Church , whom Alliance Defending Freedom is representing in court on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions are cold and cruel , ” responded House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , who also represents California ’ s 23rd congressional district .
“ I urge California Gov .
Gavin Newsom to comply with the Trump administration ’ s notice and stop forcing pro-life Americans to choose between personal beliefs and health care .
”

Attorney General Xavier Becerra cited compliance with Obama administration requirements and said 'California will take no 'corrective action.'''
February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – California officials will not heed the Trump administration’s warnings that the state is in defiance of federal religious liberty protections, announcing Friday that they intend to continue a policy of forcing private employers to subsidize abortion, even churches.
Back in 2014, California enacted rules forcing all employers to fund health insurance plans that coverd elective abortions on the theory they are a “medically necessary” part of “basic health care,” regardless of religious- or conscience-based objections. The state has been embroiled in lawsuits over the policy ever since.
Last month, the Trump Health and Human Services (HHS) Department’s Office for Civil Rights issued a Notice of Violation to the state, declaring that California was in violation of the federal Weldon amendment, which forbids federal assistance to states or localities that discriminatee against “any institutional or individual healthcare entity” on the basis “that the healthcare entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.”
“If, after 30 days, OCR does not receive sufficient assurance that California will come into compliance with federal law, OCR will forward the Notice of Violation and the evidence supporting OCR’s findings in this matter to the HHS funding components from which California receives funding for appropriate action under applicable grants and contracts regulations,” OCR warned. “This action may ultimately result in limitations on continued receipt of certain HHS funds.”
Yet California has no intention of changing its policies, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“California will take no ‘corrective action,’” state Attorney General Xavier Becerra wrote in a letter to HHS, which speaks for Gov. Gavin Newsom as well. The letter noted that the Obama administration, which was notoriously pro-abortion, had previously been satisified that waivers offered by the state to religious objectors satisfied the requirements of the Weldon amendment, and “the facts … have not changed” since then.
But religious entities in the state are still being pressured to fund abortion against their will, such as Skyline Wesleyan Church, whom Alliance Defending Freedom is representing in court on this issue.
“The state’s actions are cold and cruel,” responded House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who also represents California’s 23rd congressional district. “I urge California Gov. Gavin Newsom to comply with the Trump administration’s notice and stop forcing pro-life Americans to choose between personal beliefs and health care.”
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lifesitenews--2020-02-24--Female prisoner sues prison, says ‘trans’ male inmate raped her

February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – I don ’ t know precisely how it is going to happen , but I am certain that there is going to be an ugly reckoning for those who decided it was a sane idea to send biological men identifying as women to women ’ s prisons , where vulnerable female populations find themselves locked in with violent rapists and criminals .
Numerous assaults have already occurred , and now a female prisoner at the Logan Correctional Centre in Illinois is suing the prison , claiming that a “ transgender inmate ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prison tried to cover it up .
The rape apparently happened last June , and the inmate claims that a correctional officer forced her to withdraw the claim .
As a result , she was subsequently disciplined for filing a false claim under the Prison Rape Elimination Act .
She alleges that she was raped by “ Janiah Monroe , ” a man named Andre Patterson who was sentenced to a dozen years behind bars for the attempted murder of a government employee and another 20 for murdering his cellmate .
Patterson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had managed to get transferred to women ’ s prisons after suing the Illinois Department of Corrections .
Patterson , it must be pointed out , is still in possession of a fully functioning penis .
After he was transferred to Logan Corrections Centre , Patterson ’ s victim alleges that he began “ expressing an interest ” in her , and then on June 18 , he “ easily overpowered ” her and raped her .
She says that Todd Sexton , a senior correctional officer in the Health Unit , did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pushed her to retract her allegation .
As a result , the prison classified her experience as “ consensual sex ” and the alleged victim was punished for the “ major infraction ” of filing a false rape claim .
Patterson ’ s lawyer , Alan Mills of the Uptown People ’ s Law Center , went so far as to claim that his client may have been a victim of “ transphobia.
” I ’ ve been covering the transfer of male prisoners identifying as female to women ’ s prisons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this situation for a few years now , and many people respond by insisting that I am merely highlighting unfortunate outliers .
Putting aside for a moment the insinuation that the occasional rape victim is acceptable collateral damage for implementing the transgender ideology , it simply isn ’ t true that these situations are rare .
In fact , the Daily Mail recently reported that in the U.K. , the number of male prisoners now claiming to be transgender has risen to one in 50— “ four times the number in the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversely , the number is one in 100 .
It is obvious to everyone that prisoners are taking advantage of our new collective insanity , with the Mail noting that the “ high ration may raise concerns that some offenders pretend to be transgender to gain extra privileges while inside .
Inmates who identify as the opposite sex can choose whether they are kept in male or female jails and are allowed to shower alone.
” In response , one Surrey jail has “ set up a transgender wing over concerns that such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” —not , it must be noted , out of concern for the women who were being locked up with these violent criminals .
The latest annual report by Her Majesty ’ s Chief Inspector of Prisons noted that the number of inmates claiming to be transgender in England and Wales may actually be around 1,500 , which is a full 10 times higher than the current government estimate .
According to the Mail , the Ministry of Justice was claiming that there were only 138 transgender inmates only a half year ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 2 % of men and a staggering 10 % of Travellers identified as transgender .
The report , of course , solemnly ignored the plight of vulnerable women and instead noted that “ Most [ transgender ] individuals received support , but some prisons were not aware of the full extent of the needs of these prisoners and had not yet identified and addressed them.
” The spike , predictably , occurred once the guidelines no longer stated that inmates had to be placed in the prison that matched the gender on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Chief Inspector of Prisons , so memorably put it , he “ could not determine whether prisoners pretended to be transgender.
” That , of course , is true for everyone , since there is no longer any objective standard to determine whether one is transgender besides the person ’ s say-so .
You don ’ t need a “ sex change , ” and you don ’ t even need to have any intention of attempting physical transition—you can simply say that you feel like a woman , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are no big deal anymore , since the geniuses running the show are required to believe that women have beards and penises now , too .
It is obvious to ordinary people that this situation is both tragic as well as predictable .
Any person with a mind unconstrained by ideology could have told these muddled officials that this was going to happen , and one can only imagine the internal hilarity of these violent male criminals , who are using wokeness to hold the entire system hostage .
Many of the prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware that the situation they are being put in is insane , but will not say so because they will lose their jobs .
And so everyone plays along , the vulnerable get hurt , and the chasm grows between those afflicted by ideology and those ordinary people who believe their own eyeballs .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In his latest episode , he interviews Claire Culwell , who survived an abortion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outspoken pro-life advocate and brings a face to the millions of babies lost to abortion .
Culwell was featured in the Faces of Choice Ad , asking abortion advocates if they can look the survivors in the eyes and tell them they are better off dead .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – I don’t know precisely how it is going to happen, but I am certain that there is going to be an ugly reckoning for those who decided it was a sane idea to send biological men identifying as women to women’s prisons, where vulnerable female populations find themselves locked in with violent rapists and criminals. Numerous assaults have already occurred, and now a female prisoner at the Logan Correctional Centre in Illinois is suing the prison, claiming that a “transgender inmate”—a biological male—raped her, and that the prison tried to cover it up.
The rape apparently happened last June, and the inmate claims that a correctional officer forced her to withdraw the claim. As a result, she was subsequently disciplined for filing a false claim under the Prison Rape Elimination Act. She alleges that she was raped by “Janiah Monroe,” a man named Andre Patterson who was sentenced to a dozen years behind bars for the attempted murder of a government employee and another 20 for murdering his cellmate. Patterson and another man claiming to be transgender had managed to get transferred to women’s prisons after suing the Illinois Department of Corrections. Patterson, it must be pointed out, is still in possession of a fully functioning penis.
After he was transferred to Logan Corrections Centre, Patterson’s victim alleges that he began “expressing an interest” in her, and then on June 18, he “easily overpowered” her and raped her. She says that Todd Sexton, a senior correctional officer in the Health Unit, did not believe that she had been raped and pushed her to retract her allegation. As a result, the prison classified her experience as “consensual sex” and the alleged victim was punished for the “major infraction” of filing a false rape claim. Patterson’s lawyer, Alan Mills of the Uptown People’s Law Center, went so far as to claim that his client may have been a victim of “transphobia.”
I’ve been covering the transfer of male prisoners identifying as female to women’s prisons as well as the inevitable results of this situation for a few years now, and many people respond by insisting that I am merely highlighting unfortunate outliers. Putting aside for a moment the insinuation that the occasional rape victim is acceptable collateral damage for implementing the transgender ideology, it simply isn’t true that these situations are rare. In fact, the Daily Mail recently reported that in the U.K., the number of male prisoners now claiming to be transgender has risen to one in 50—“four times the number in the population as a whole.” With women, conversely, the number is one in 100.
It is obvious to everyone that prisoners are taking advantage of our new collective insanity, with the Mail noting that the “high ration may raise concerns that some offenders pretend to be transgender to gain extra privileges while inside. Inmates who identify as the opposite sex can choose whether they are kept in male or female jails and are allowed to shower alone.” In response, one Surrey jail has “set up a transgender wing over concerns that such inmates were vulnerable to bullying and suicide”—not, it must be noted, out of concern for the women who were being locked up with these violent criminals.
The latest annual report by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons noted that the number of inmates claiming to be transgender in England and Wales may actually be around 1,500, which is a full 10 times higher than the current government estimate. According to the Mail, the Ministry of Justice was claiming that there were only 138 transgender inmates only a half year ago, with the most recent report showing that 2% of men and a staggering 10% of Travellers identified as transgender. The report, of course, solemnly ignored the plight of vulnerable women and instead noted that “Most [transgender] individuals received support, but some prisons were not aware of the full extent of the needs of these prisoners and had not yet identified and addressed them.”
The spike, predictably, occurred once the guidelines no longer stated that inmates had to be placed in the prison that matched the gender on their birth certificate. As Peter Clarke, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, so memorably put it, he “could not determine whether prisoners pretended to be transgender.” That, of course, is true for everyone, since there is no longer any objective standard to determine whether one is transgender besides the person’s say-so. You don’t need a “sex change,” and you don’t even need to have any intention of attempting physical transition—you can simply say that you feel like a woman, and that is that. Your beard and penis are no big deal anymore, since the geniuses running the show are required to believe that women have beards and penises now, too.
It is obvious to ordinary people that this situation is both tragic as well as predictable. Any person with a mind unconstrained by ideology could have told these muddled officials that this was going to happen, and one can only imagine the internal hilarity of these violent male criminals, who are using wokeness to hold the entire system hostage. Many of the prison officials, I assume, are also aware that the situation they are being put in is insane, but will not say so because they will lose their jobs. And so everyone plays along, the vulnerable get hurt, and the chasm grows between those afflicted by ideology and those ordinary people who believe their own eyeballs.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Claire Culwell, who survived an abortion. Her twin did not. Culwell is an outspoken pro-life advocate and brings a face to the millions of babies lost to abortion. Culwell was featured in the Faces of Choice Ad, asking abortion advocates if they can look the survivors in the eyes and tell them they are better off dead.
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-24--WATCH: Ex-trans pleads with Canadian politicians not to ban therapy that ‘saved my life’

OTTAWA , February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A Canadian man who underwent hormone injections and surgery to live as a woman for 18 years is pleading with the country ’ s politicians to not proceed in banning counseling that he says saved his life by helping him to live once again according to his biological sex as a male .
“ I fear if this bill is passed , it will prevent LGBTQ people who are struggling with mental health issues from getting much-needed help , ” said Robert John Wenman about Bill S-202 , which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwanted sexual conditions .
The bill is now before the Senate .
Wenman outlined in a video how he lived as a woman from 1994 to 2012 after coming to believe that “ sex reassignment surgery ” would be the “ fix-all solution ” to what he described as “ lifelong deep-rooted emotional problems and inferiority complexes.
” He anticipated a “ new life , happily ever after ” right after the surgery and thought he had finally closed an unhappy life ’ s chapter .
Wenman ’ s new chapter included full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman .
He obtained a new driver ’ s license and health card with his new name “ Rebecca ” on the cards , accompanied by a female-looking photo of himself .
Canada ’ s progressive society had nothing but encouragement and praise for the man ’ s choice to use a female name and present himself as a woman .
“ Unfortunately , my post-gender-reassignment euphoria collapsed and faded , ” Wenman related in the video .
“ All my inescapable emotional burdens were returning with increasing intensity .
I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help as my complete gender transition had left me emotionally paralyzed in a prison of fear with shame and guilt , ” he added .
Wenman said that professional and medical counseling did not help alleviate his “ severe emotional anxiety ” that was crippling his life .
“ In truth , my sex reassignment surgery only made my emotional problems worse , ” he said .
“ I remember going to my family doctor and bursting into tears , coming to realize my gender transition was a failure.
” Wenman said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” questioning how to continue living with the nightmare he had found himself in .
Trying to find some way to “ ease the pain , ” he even contemplated suicide .
Eventually , Wenman began to understand through self-reflection that his emotional turmoil was part of a larger “ spiritual ” battle that was being waged against his soul .
And the battle was not only affecting his own life , but the lives of people all around him , including his family , friends , and society at large .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consequences of not living in truth .
There was spiritual warfare against my unrealized spiritual identity that had ripple effects affecting not only myself but family , friends , acquaintances , and society who were being forced to accept something factually untrue , ” he said .
Wenman said that he finally came to accept his biological sex as a male and see that it was a “ blessing , not a mistake.
” Wenman started attending a “ fundamental , Bible-believing church , ” where he received counseling that he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was being convicted in my conscience and soul that having a woman 's name and identity was false , despite hormones , surgery , and legal recognition to live as a woman , ” he said .
He felt all his efforts to live as a woman were but a “ vain attempt to remanufacture my creation , like the clay dictating to the Potter.
” “ God 's holy spirit of truth was opening my eyes and softening my heart to absolute truth .
I became convicted that I must live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to my given male birth name .
I have learned to be thankful for who I am and what I have , including my birth sex , and for God 's many blessings in my life , ” Wenman said .
Wenman is now accusing the Liberal government of moving to outlaw the help he received that saved his life .
Campaign Life , Canada ’ s national pro-life , pro-family political lobbying group , sent his testimony last week to all the country ’ s senators and MPs .
Bill S-202 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminalize so-called conversion therapy , which it defines as : Given this definition , Bill S-202 will not only prevent individuals from seeking help for unwanted same-sex attraction , but also prevent persons such as Wenman from receiving help to accept their biological sex , points out Campaign Life director of political operations Jack Fonseca .
“ Any kind of clinical therapy or spiritual counseling to help a person overcome their gender identity confusion and to accept their bodily reality , including the pastoral support Robert got at his Baptist Church , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ and thus , become illegal , ” he told LifeSiteNews .
“ Imagine that S-202 became law today , and fast forward Robert ’ s experience to tomorrow .
In that hypothetical scenario , the same pastor whom Robert credited with saving his life , would face up to five years in prison… and Robert might be dead from suicide.
” Wenman said in his video testimony that he is living proof that therapy helped him overcome his delusion that he was a woman in a man ’ s body .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman from 1994 until 2012 , and refute the implication that all LGBTQ+ people are becoming emotionally scarred after undergoing conversion therapy , ” he said .
Fonseca said that the country should not ban helpful and healing therapy and counseling for those with unwanted sexual conditions .
“ We ’ re talking about loving , standard talk therapy .
There ’ s nothing forcible about it ; people are going there voluntarily , ” he said .
But that ’ s not what Canadians or politicians hear from media and LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” therapy .
“ At this very moment , dishonest media outlets and even more dishonest LGBT activists are running around the country , lying and claiming that gays and lesbians are being electroshocked , and forcibly confined , and tortured by churches and psychotherapists who practice ‘ conversion ’ therapy , ” observed Fonseca .
“ And this is a lie , ” he said .
“ We wanted to be sure our senators and MPs have the opportunity to see the other side of the story , which in fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story.
” That includes testimonies like Wenman ’ s , who is now asking senators and MPs to vote against S-202 .
“ I appeal to your conscience to please consider the implications of passing a bill based on political correctness and not properly investigating the truth , ” Wenman says .
“ I must emphasize : we must speak the truth with love and compassion and always respecting one ’ s dignity .
We must have truth , even when it hurts.
” Contact your MP ( here ) and senator ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Bill S-202 .
To sign the Campaign Life petition against Bill S-202 , go here .

'I fear if this bill is passed, it will prevent LGBTQ people who are struggling with mental health issues from getting much-needed help'
OTTAWA, February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Canadian man who underwent hormone injections and surgery to live as a woman for 18 years is pleading with the country’s politicians to not proceed in banning counseling that he says saved his life by helping him to live once again according to his biological sex as a male.
“I fear if this bill is passed, it will prevent LGBTQ people who are struggling with mental health issues from getting much-needed help,” said Robert John Wenman about Bill S-202, which would ban therapy to help LGBT people overcome unwanted sexual conditions. The bill is now before the Senate.
Wenman outlined in a video how he lived as a woman from 1994 to 2012 after coming to believe that “sex reassignment surgery” would be the “fix-all solution” to what he described as “lifelong deep-rooted emotional problems and inferiority complexes.”
He anticipated a “new life, happily ever after” right after the surgery and thought he had finally closed an unhappy life’s chapter. Wenman’s new chapter included full legal recognition of his new identity as a woman. He obtained a new driver’s license and health card with his new name “Rebecca” on the cards, accompanied by a female-looking photo of himself. Canada’s progressive society had nothing but encouragement and praise for the man’s choice to use a female name and present himself as a woman.
“Unfortunately, my post-gender-reassignment euphoria collapsed and faded,” Wenman related in the video.
“All my inescapable emotional burdens were returning with increasing intensity. I was now in deep depression and searching for help as my complete gender transition had left me emotionally paralyzed in a prison of fear with shame and guilt,” he added.
Wenman said that professional and medical counseling did not help alleviate his “severe emotional anxiety” that was crippling his life.
“In truth, my sex reassignment surgery only made my emotional problems worse,” he said. “I remember going to my family doctor and bursting into tears, coming to realize my gender transition was a failure.”
Wenman said he was in a “very dark place,” questioning how to continue living with the nightmare he had found himself in.
Trying to find some way to “ease the pain,” he even contemplated suicide.
Eventually, Wenman began to understand through self-reflection that his emotional turmoil was part of a larger “spiritual” battle that was being waged against his soul. And the battle was not only affecting his own life, but the lives of people all around him, including his family, friends, and society at large.
“I was learning the hard way the consequences of not living in truth. There was spiritual warfare against my unrealized spiritual identity that had ripple effects affecting not only myself but family, friends, acquaintances, and society who were being forced to accept something factually untrue,” he said.
Wenman said that he finally came to accept his biological sex as a male and see that it was a “blessing, not a mistake.”
Wenman started attending a “fundamental, Bible-believing church,” where he received counseling that he says “saved my life.”
“I was being convicted in my conscience and soul that having a woman's name and identity was false, despite hormones, surgery, and legal recognition to live as a woman,” he said.
He felt all his efforts to live as a woman were but a “vain attempt to remanufacture my creation, like the clay dictating to the Potter.”
“God's holy spirit of truth was opening my eyes and softening my heart to absolute truth. I became convicted that I must live in truth and therefore changed all my identity back to my given male birth name. I have learned to be thankful for who I am and what I have, including my birth sex, and for God's many blessings in my life,” Wenman said.
Bill S-202: criminalizing help
Wenman is now accusing the Liberal government of moving to outlaw the help he received that saved his life. Campaign Life, Canada’s national pro-life, pro-family political lobbying group, sent his testimony last week to all the country’s senators and MPs.
Bill S-202, now before the Senate, would criminalize so-called conversion therapy, which it defines as:
any practice, treatment or service designed to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or to eliminate or reduce sexual attraction or sexual behaviour between persons of the same sex. For greater certainty, this definition does not include a surgical sex change or any related service.
Given this definition, Bill S-202 will not only prevent individuals from seeking help for unwanted same-sex attraction, but also prevent persons such as Wenman from receiving help to accept their biological sex, points out Campaign Life director of political operations Jack Fonseca.
“Any kind of clinical therapy or spiritual counseling to help a person overcome their gender identity confusion and to accept their bodily reality, including the pastoral support Robert got at his Baptist Church, will be defined as ‘conversion therapy,’ and thus, become illegal,” he told LifeSiteNews.
“Imagine that S-202 became law today, and fast forward Robert’s experience to tomorrow. In that hypothetical scenario, the same pastor whom Robert credited with saving his life, would face up to five years in prison… and Robert might be dead from suicide.”
Wenman said in his video testimony that he is living proof that therapy helped him overcome his delusion that he was a woman in a man’s body.
“I am a male who lived as a woman from 1994 until 2012, and refute the implication that all LGBTQ+ people are becoming emotionally scarred after undergoing conversion therapy,” he said.
Fonseca said that the country should not ban helpful and healing therapy and counseling for those with unwanted sexual conditions. “We’re talking about loving, standard talk therapy. There’s nothing forcible about it; people are going there voluntarily,” he said.
But that’s not what Canadians or politicians hear from media and LGBTQ activists when they refer to “conversion” therapy.
“At this very moment, dishonest media outlets and even more dishonest LGBT activists are running around the country, lying and claiming that gays and lesbians are being electroshocked, and forcibly confined, and tortured by churches and psychotherapists who practice ‘conversion’ therapy,” observed Fonseca.
“And this is a lie,” he said. “We wanted to be sure our senators and MPs have the opportunity to see the other side of the story, which in fact, is the only true side of the story.”
That includes testimonies like Wenman’s, who is now asking senators and MPs to vote against S-202.
“I appeal to your conscience to please consider the implications of passing a bill based on political correctness and not properly investigating the truth,” Wenman says.
“I must emphasize: we must speak the truth with love and compassion and always respecting one’s dignity. We must have truth, even when it hurts.”
Contact information:
Contact your MP (here) and senator (here) to respectfully express your concerns about Bill S-202.
To sign the Campaign Life petition against Bill S-202, go here.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-02-24--Elizabeth Warren: It’s ‘cruel’ to tell boys they can’t compete in girls&#821

Elizabeth Warren: It’s ‘cruel’ to tell boys they can’t compete in girls’ sports

February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Massachusetts Senator and Democrat presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has urged Arizona lawmakers to reject a bill that would protect schoolgirls being forced to compete in sports with boys who claim to be girls .
Warren took to Twitter to describe Arizona House Bill 2706 as “ cruel , ” saying : “ Trans athletes are not a threat .
We need to protect trans kids—and all LGBTQ+ kids—and ensure they feel safe and welcomed at school .
I urge the Arizona legislature to reject this cruel bill.
” The law would require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community colleges and universities , categorize sports as either co-educational , male , or female – based on the legal definition of “ biological sex.
” Teams or sports categorized as “ female ” would not allow “ students of the male sex ” to participate .
Rep. Nancy Barto , R-Phoenix , who put forward the bill , said : “ Female student-athletes should not be forced to compete in a sport against biological males , who possess inherent physiological advantages .
When this is allowed , it discourages female participation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in women and girls being denied crucial educational and financial opportunities.
” Writing at The Post Millenial , Libby Emmons , a self-described feminist journalist , questioned Warren ’ s assertion that “ trans athletes are not a threat ” by pointing out that “ male bodied persons who compete in women ’ s rugby are so dangerous that referees were quitting the sport rather than watch the women ’ s injuries mount.
” Emmons noted that “ across the country , states are finding that they need to deal in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls ’ sports ” with similar bills being proposed in Kentucky , Alabama , Idaho , and Missouri .
Beth Stelzer of Save Women ’ s Sports told The Post Millennial that her organization fully supports the Arizona bill .
“ Warren is clearly ignoring the needs and feelings of females in favour of propagating the transgender ideology .
This bill is not cruel , it is fair , ” Stelzer said .
Warren , who currently places fourth in the field according to RealClearPolitics ’ national average , has made a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender identity issues in recent weeks .
She has promised that , should she become President , she will ask a “ trans child ” to approve her selection for Secretary of Education and will include “ gender non-binary ” individuals in her White House cabinet .
She has also called for gender-confused male inmates to be placed with women in prisons .
Warren also displays her “ preferred pronouns ” on social media as a show of solidarity with transgender activists and has vowed to wear a Planned Parenthood scarf to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tucker Carlson recently savaged Warren ’ s campaign saying that when it was over it will be remembered as having “ died by wokeness.
” PETITION : Biological males do n't belong in girls ' sports - # IStandWithSelina Sign the petition here .

February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Massachusetts Senator and Democrat presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has urged Arizona lawmakers to reject a bill that would protect schoolgirls being forced to compete in sports with boys who claim to be girls.
Warren took to Twitter to describe Arizona House Bill 2706 as “cruel,” saying: “Trans athletes are not a threat. We need to protect trans kids—and all LGBTQ+ kids—and ensure they feel safe and welcomed at school. I urge the Arizona legislature to reject this cruel bill.”
Trans athletes are not a threat. We need to protect trans kids—and all LGBTQ+ kids—and ensure they feel safe and welcomed at school. I urge the Arizona legislature to reject this cruel bill. https://t.co/9ALVjeIBiv — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 20, 2020
The law would require that public and private schools, including community colleges and universities, categorize sports as either co-educational, male, or female – based on the legal definition of “biological sex.” Teams or sports categorized as “female” would not allow “students of the male sex” to participate.
Rep. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, who put forward the bill, said: “Female student-athletes should not be forced to compete in a sport against biological males, who possess inherent physiological advantages. When this is allowed, it discourages female participation in athletics and, worse, it can result in women and girls being denied crucial educational and financial opportunities.”
Writing at The Post Millenial, Libby Emmons, a self-described feminist journalist, questioned Warren’s assertion that “trans athletes are not a threat” by pointing out that “male bodied persons who compete in women’s rugby are so dangerous that referees were quitting the sport rather than watch the women’s injuries mount.”
Emmons noted that “across the country, states are finding that they need to deal in some way with the de facto elimination of girls’ sports” with similar bills being proposed in Kentucky, Alabama, Idaho, and Missouri.
Beth Stelzer of Save Women’s Sports told The Post Millennial that her organization fully supports the Arizona bill.
“Warren is clearly ignoring the needs and feelings of females in favour of propagating the transgender ideology. This bill is not cruel, it is fair,” Stelzer said.
Warren, who currently places fourth in the field according to RealClearPolitics’ national average, has made a series of promises on “trans” and gender identity issues in recent weeks. She has promised that, should she become President, she will ask a “trans child” to approve her selection for Secretary of Education and will include “gender non-binary” individuals in her White House cabinet. She has also called for gender-confused male inmates to be placed with women in prisons.
Warren also displays her “preferred pronouns” on social media as a show of solidarity with transgender activists and has vowed to wear a Planned Parenthood scarf to her inauguration if elected.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson recently savaged Warren’s campaign saying that when it was over it will be remembered as having “died by wokeness.”
PETITION: Biological males don't belong in girls' sports – #IStandWithSelina Sign the petition here.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-24--BREAKING: 9th Circuit court upholds Trump rule that led to Planned Parenthood losing $60M

February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Trump administration may continue to enforce a rule mandating that recipients of federal planning funds , such as Planned Parenthood , separate themselves from abortion activities , the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday .
The administration ’ s Protect Life Rule requires “ clear financial and physical separation between Title X-funded projects and programs or facilities where abortion is a method of family planning ” and bans “ referral for abortion as a method of family planning.
” The abortion lobby has responded with multiple lawsuits , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X rather than comply with the new conditions .
Abortion proponents have dubbed the rule a “ gag rule.
” A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit lifted a temporary injunction against enforcing the rule last June , and the full court affirmed that decision Monday , Bloomberg Law reports .
Judge Sandra Ikuta wrote the majority opinion , which reportedly predicted that lawsuits brought in California , Oregon , and Washington “ will not succeed ” on the merits .
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund responded to the news by declaring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ dangerous , ” and calling on Congress to reverse it , which would require Democrats to oust President Donald Trump in November , keep the House of Representatives , and retake the Senate .
The Protect Life Rule is projected to cut almost $ 60 million from the $ 616 million Planned Parenthood received during the most recent fiscal year .

February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Trump administration may continue to enforce a rule mandating that recipients of federal planning funds, such as Planned Parenthood, separate themselves from abortion activities, the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday.
The administration’s Protect Life Rule requires “clear financial and physical separation between Title X-funded projects and programs or facilities where abortion is a method of family planning” and bans “referral for abortion as a method of family planning.” The abortion lobby has responded with multiple lawsuits, and Planned Parenthood chose to withdraw from Title X rather than comply with the new conditions. Abortion proponents have dubbed the rule a “gag rule.”
A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit lifted a temporary injunction against enforcing the rule last June, and the full court affirmed that decision Monday, Bloomberg Law reports.
Judge Sandra Ikuta wrote the majority opinion, which reportedly predicted that lawsuits brought in California, Oregon, and Washington “will not succeed” on the merits.
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund responded to the news by declaring the Protect Life rule “unethical” and “dangerous,” and calling on Congress to reverse it, which would require Democrats to oust President Donald Trump in November, keep the House of Representatives, and retake the Senate.
Today, a federal court upheld the Trump admin’s unethical, dangerous Title X gag rule — denying relief for patients across the country who depend on Planned Parenthood and other Title X providers for birth control and other care. Congress must reverse the gag rule. #ProtectX — Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) February 24, 2020
The Protect Life Rule is projected to cut almost $60 million from the $616 million Planned Parenthood received during the most recent fiscal year.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-24--Supreme Court to decide if religious adoption agencies can be forced to give kids to gays

WASHINGTON , D.C. , February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if faith-based adoption and foster agencies can be forced to place children with same-sex couples .
The Supreme Court has agreed to take a case that will clarify the role of faith-based agencies in the foster and adoption system .
In Fulton v. Philadelphia , Philadelphia foster moms Sharonell Fulton and Toni Simms-Busch are defending the faith-based agency that brought their families together .
Starting in 2018 , the City of Philadelphia began targeting and threatening to shut down Catholic Social Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sharonell Fulton has fostered more than 40 children over 25 years in partnership with Catholic Social Services ( CSS ) in Philadelphia , and Toni Simms-Busch is a former social worker who recently adopted the children she fostered through CSS .
Both mothers chose CSS because the agency shares their most deeply held values and beliefs , and both have relied heavily on CSS ’ s support during their foster care journey .
A federal appeals court ruled against the foster mothers and CSS , who are now urging the Supreme Court to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most vulnerable , at-risk children .
“ CSS has been a godsend to my family and so many like ours .
I don ’ t think I could have gone through this process without an agency that shares my core beliefs and cares for my children accordingly , ” said Toni Simms-Busch .
“ We are so grateful that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case and sort out the mess that Philadelphia has created for so many vulnerable foster children.
” In March 2018—and just days after putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families—the City of Philadelphia stopped allowing foster children to be placed with families who work with CSS .
Philadelphia argued that the Catholic agency had to either endorse and certify same-sex relationships or close down .
The City did this despite the fact that—for the over 100 years CSS had served the City—not a single same-sex couple had sought foster care certification from CSS .
Indeed , no couple has ever been prevented from fostering or adopting a child in need because of CSS ’ s religious beliefs .
Faith-based agencies place over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Across the country , five major cities and one state have already shut faith-based agencies out of the foster system .
Meanwhile , some are saying the U.S. is in the midst of a foster care crisis : there is a shortage of families and a surplus of at-risk children due in part to the opioid epidemic .
Religious agencies like CSS are particularly successful at placing high-risk children ( those with disabilities , large sibling groups , and older children ) in loving families .
“ I ’ m relieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weigh in on faith-based adoption and foster care , ” said Lori Windham , senior counsel at Becket Law .
“ Over the last few years , agencies have been closing their doors across the country , and all the while children are pouring into the system .
We are confident that the Court will realize that the best solution is the one that has worked in Philadelphia for a century—all hands on deck for foster kids .
”

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if faith-based adoption and foster agencies can be forced to place children with same-sex couples.
The Supreme Court has agreed to take a case that will clarify the role of faith-based agencies in the foster and adoption system. In Fulton v. Philadelphia, Philadelphia foster moms Sharonell Fulton and Toni Simms-Busch are defending the faith-based agency that brought their families together. Starting in 2018, the City of Philadelphia began targeting and threatening to shut down Catholic Social Services unless it violates its sincere beliefs.
Sharonell Fulton has fostered more than 40 children over 25 years in partnership with Catholic Social Services (CSS) in Philadelphia, and Toni Simms-Busch is a former social worker who recently adopted the children she fostered through CSS. Both mothers chose CSS because the agency shares their most deeply held values and beliefs, and both have relied heavily on CSS’s support during their foster care journey. A federal appeals court ruled against the foster mothers and CSS, who are now urging the Supreme Court to protect the a ministry that serves Philadelphia’s most vulnerable, at-risk children.
“CSS has been a godsend to my family and so many like ours. I don’t think I could have gone through this process without an agency that shares my core beliefs and cares for my children accordingly,” said Toni Simms-Busch. “We are so grateful that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case and sort out the mess that Philadelphia has created for so many vulnerable foster children.”
In March 2018—and just days after putting out a call for 300 more foster families—the City of Philadelphia stopped allowing foster children to be placed with families who work with CSS. Philadelphia argued that the Catholic agency had to either endorse and certify same-sex relationships or close down. The City did this despite the fact that—for the over 100 years CSS had served the City—not a single same-sex couple had sought foster care certification from CSS. Indeed, no couple has ever been prevented from fostering or adopting a child in need because of CSS’s religious beliefs.
Faith-based agencies place over 57,000 children in loving homes nationwide each year. Across the country, five major cities and one state have already shut faith-based agencies out of the foster system. Meanwhile, some are saying the U.S. is in the midst of a foster care crisis: there is a shortage of families and a surplus of at-risk children due in part to the opioid epidemic. Religious agencies like CSS are particularly successful at placing high-risk children (those with disabilities, large sibling groups, and older children) in loving families.
“I’m relieved to hear that the Supreme Court will weigh in on faith-based adoption and foster care,” said Lori Windham, senior counsel at Becket Law. “Over the last few years, agencies have been closing their doors across the country, and all the while children are pouring into the system. We are confident that the Court will realize that the best solution is the one that has worked in Philadelphia for a century—all hands on deck for foster kids.”
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lifesitenews--2020-02-24--BREAKING: Hollywood’s Harvey Weinstein convicted of rape, criminal sexual acts

NEW YORK , February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of predatory sexual assault and rape .
On Monday morning , a jury of seven men and five women found Weinstein , 67 , guilty of two of the five charges for which he had been tried .
They deliberated for five days to reach the verdict .
According to the Hollywood Reporter , the crucial factors in the case were the testimony of former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haleyi , who accused Weinstein of criminal sexual assault , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mann , who accused him of rape in the third degree .
Sentencing will take place on a later date .
Weinstein was acquitted of the more serious charges , which included predatory sexual assault , and thus has avoided a life sentence .
However , he still faces four charges in Los Angeles County .
The New York native ’ s hometown trial began on January 6 and included the testimony of six women who swore that the famous producer had sexually assaulted them .
Besides Haleyi and Mann , they included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rape .
The allegations concerned incidents that happened over a thirty-year period .
A total of 28 witnesses gave testimony in the trial .
According to the New York Post , Manhattan Assistant DA Joan Illuzzi-Orbon and co-counsel Meghan Hast argued that Weinstein preyed on vulnerable , naive women who tried to develop professional relationships with him in the hope of furthering their careers .
“ To the defendant , it has been said he was the master of his universe and the witnesses here were merely ants that he could step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Manhattan Supreme Court jury during her closing arguments .
“ Moreover , he felt like he had a surefire insurance policy that the witnesses were standing in line to get into his universe , ” the prosecutor continued .
“ ‘ The universe is run by me ’ and therefore they don ’ t get to complain when they ’ re stepped on , spit on , demoralized and raped and abused by the defendant.
” According to the BBC , Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 80 women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misconduct was apparently an open secret to the glitterati of the entertainment industry .
Weinstein ’ s alleged crimes were first exposed in the press by journalists for the New York Times on October 5 , 2017 .
Fired from his own company and banished from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , Weinstein now faces a possible prison sentence of 25 years .
Besides his career as an Oscar-winning producer , Weinstein was known for his political activity on behalf of Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the sexual assault allegations came to light .
He pledged a $ 100,000 donation to abortion giant Planned Parenthood in May 2017 .
The abortion company denies that Weinstein ever fulfilled that pledge .

Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 80 women.
NEW YORK, February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of predatory sexual assault and rape.
On Monday morning, a jury of seven men and five women found Weinstein, 67, guilty of two of the five charges for which he had been tried. They deliberated for five days to reach the verdict.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the crucial factors in the case were the testimony of former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haleyi, who accused Weinstein of criminal sexual assault, and of “aspiring actress,” Jessica Mann, who accused him of rape in the third degree.
Sentencing will take place on a later date.
Weinstein was acquitted of the more serious charges, which included predatory sexual assault, and thus has avoided a life sentence. However, he still faces four charges in Los Angeles County.
The New York native’s hometown trial began on January 6 and included the testimony of six women who swore that the famous producer had sexually assaulted them. Besides Haleyi and Mann, they included actress Annabella Sciorra, who accused Weinstein of rape. The allegations concerned incidents that happened over a thirty-year period.
A total of 28 witnesses gave testimony in the trial.
According to the New York Post, Manhattan Assistant DA Joan Illuzzi-Orbon and co-counsel Meghan Hast argued that Weinstein preyed on vulnerable, naive women who tried to develop professional relationships with him in the hope of furthering their careers.
“To the defendant, it has been said he was the master of his universe and the witnesses here were merely ants that he could step on without consequences,” Illuzzi-Orbon told the Manhattan Supreme Court jury during her closing arguments.
“Moreover, he felt like he had a surefire insurance policy that the witnesses were standing in line to get into his universe,” the prosecutor continued.
“‘The universe is run by me’ and therefore they don’t get to complain when they’re stepped on, spit on, demoralized and raped and abused by the defendant.”
According to the BBC, Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 80 women. By 2013, Weinstein’s misconduct was apparently an open secret to the glitterati of the entertainment industry.
Weinstein’s alleged crimes were first exposed in the press by journalists for the New York Times on October 5, 2017.
Fired from his own company and banished from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Weinstein now faces a possible prison sentence of 25 years.
Besides his career as an Oscar-winning producer, Weinstein was known for his political activity on behalf of Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He was working on a documentary about Clinton until the sexual assault allegations came to light.
He pledged a $100,000 donation to abortion giant Planned Parenthood in May 2017. The abortion company denies that Weinstein ever fulfilled that pledge.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-24--L’Arche founder Jean Vanier’s abuse of women shows the ‘mystery of iniquity’ in our fallen world

February 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – With recent revelations of sexual abuse committed by the venerated founder of L ’ Arche , Jean Vanier , and the founder of the Community of St. John , Père Marie-Dominique Philippe , both of whom wrote many influential books and have international followings , our attention is turned once again to the mystery of iniquity : the human propensity to sin , and the need for humble reliance on God ’ s grace if we are not to fall into the worst vices , no matter how high we may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how proficient we may be in the science of theology .
The great masters of the spiritual life , from the Desert Fathers down into modern times , tell us repeatedly that those who have achieved a certain level of virtue become subject to new and more subtle temptations .
Vigilance can never be relaxed .
Pride and vanity must be suppressed every day .
And those who think they have gotten past carnal temptations may find themselves surprised by the residual force of concupiscence , which can tear down years of fortifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at some of the entries in the Roman Martyrology ( see here to learn more about this little-known liturgical book ) , because they seemed to me to be relatively… unremarkable .
In the midst of a catalogue of heroes who suffered the most devilish tortures invented by the malice of unbelievers , we find an expression like the following , on August 6 : “ At Bologna , the birthday of St Dominic , Confessor , founder of the Order of Friars Preachers , a man of great renown for holiness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unstained… ” When I first read it , I thought to myself : “ Surely it ’ s not such a big deal that he preserved his virginity ?
I mean , that ’ s got to be pretty common , right ?
” I learned over the years more—more than I ever wanted to know—about how the fallen world operates .
Nowadays , when I read the same entry for August 6 , I think : “ Thanks be to God for preserving St. Dominic from unchastity .
He was worthy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He lived the life that he urged others to live.
” And similarly with other entries : “ In England , the birthday of St Edward , King , famous for the virtue of chastity and the grace of miracles ” ( January 5 ) .
“ At Bude , Hungary , St Margaret , Virgin , of the royal family of the Arpad , a Dominican nun renowned for her chastity and rigorous penance ” ( January 18 ) .
“ At Florence in Tuscany , St Teresa Margaret Redi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmelites , admirable for purity and simplicity ” ( March 7 ) .
“ In Iona , an island off Scotland , St Egbert , Priest and monk , a man of wondrous humility and chastity ” ( April 24 ) .
“ At Rome , St Philip Neri , Priest and Confessor , Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory , remarkable for his virginity , his gifts of prophecy and miracles ” ( May 26 ) .
“ At Rome , St Praxedes , Virgin , well versed in all that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who after passing her life assiduously in watching , praying and fasting , rested in Christ ” ( July 21 ) .
What lessons these simple entries in the Martyrology teach us !
A king , a political ruler , can indeed be chaste—that is practically a miracle in its own right .
Only if chastity is a difficult virtue would it make sense to call someone renowned for it ; indeed , it is a virtue obtainable only through “ rigorous penance , ” something the Catholic Church forgot in the post-Vatican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virgin is said to be admirable for purity and simplicity , which reminds us that a life overly caught up in externals and inadequately rooted in prayer will always fall into impurity .
A monk of Iona was wondrous for his chastity because he was wondrous for his humility as well : only the humble man knows his weakness and his dependence on grace to conquer the world , the flesh , and the devil .
St. Philip Neri , another great founder of a religious order , shone for his gift of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he consistently used all the means of sanctification the Church offered him .
St. Praxedes was “ well versed in all that concerned chastity and the divine law ” —in other words , she made it her daily study to know what God commanded and to fix her mind firmly on the living of it , come what may .
And how did she succeed where others have failed ?
She “ pass [ ed ] her life assiduously in watching , praying , and fasting.
” There is no other way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sexual Revolution , the general rush towards hedonism and comfort in the Western world , Paul VI ’ s supremely foolish abolition of serious penitential discipline in the Catholic Church , and the collective turning of religious orders against the ascetical wisdom of the saints , one ends up with a hothouse environment for sins against temperance , chastity , and purity .
We are reaping the rotten fruits now in stifling abundance .
Pope Francis has said that sins of the flesh are not the worst sins .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The sin of pride is the worst sin ; it is the sin of Satan par excellence .
But sins of the flesh happen to be the easiest sins for human beings to fall into , and the most common , since we carry around with us the wound of disordered concupiscence , the lex fomitis or “ law of kindling , ” ready to catch fire at the smallest spark .
Moreover , regardless of how common they are or how easy to fall into , these sins , if unrepented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima stated that most souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh .
In addition , these sins readily combine with other sins and lead to worse vices ( e.g.
, avarice in the pornography industry , murder from abortion , arrogant rejection of the Lord ’ s call to conversion ) .
In that sense , sins of the flesh are like a gateway drug .
The great saints showed us how seriously they took chastity .
St. Francis of Assisi used to roll around in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thorn bush when experiencing temptations against chastity .
In his early years as a hermit , the devil once raised up in St. Benedict ’ s imagination a powerful temptation of the flesh ; the man took off his garment and rolled in briars and nettles until he bled .
After this , he was never troubled in the same manner .
St. Bernard leapt into an ice-cold pond for the same reason .
We find this kind of scene again and again in the lives of the saints : they were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight sin with ( so to speak ) nuclear weapons .
No peace , no arms reduction treaty , can ever be made with the forces of evil within us or outside of us .
If we abandon our weapons , we will succumb to sin .
This does not mean—not necessarily—that everyone has to go around hurling himself into thorn bushes .
What it does mean , however , is that we must take seriously the need for physical self-discipline and spiritual combat if we ourselves do not want to become the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Fr .
Dwight Longenecker said in an excellent column on February 22 , we should not have illusions about the depths of human wickedness when man is left to his own resources , or when , tragically , he lives according to his own inclinations .
We can predict what the results will be ; the pages of history are full of them .
The only way a saint is made is by God—by the grace He gives through the sacraments of the Church , by our daily prayer to Him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what the Martyrology reminds us of ; this is what Lent , each year , gives us a salutary opportunity to do .

February 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – With recent revelations of sexual abuse committed by the venerated founder of L’Arche, Jean Vanier, and the founder of the Community of St. John, Père Marie-Dominique Philippe, both of whom wrote many influential books and have international followings, our attention is turned once again to the mystery of iniquity: the human propensity to sin, and the need for humble reliance on God’s grace if we are not to fall into the worst vices, no matter how high we may have ascended in the spiritual life, or how proficient we may be in the science of theology.
The great masters of the spiritual life, from the Desert Fathers down into modern times, tell us repeatedly that those who have achieved a certain level of virtue become subject to new and more subtle temptations. Vigilance can never be relaxed. Pride and vanity must be suppressed every day. And those who think they have gotten past carnal temptations may find themselves surprised by the residual force of concupiscence, which can tear down years of fortifications overnight.
I used to be puzzled at some of the entries in the Roman Martyrology (see here to learn more about this little-known liturgical book), because they seemed to me to be relatively… unremarkable. In the midst of a catalogue of heroes who suffered the most devilish tortures invented by the malice of unbelievers, we find an expression like the following, on August 6: “At Bologna, the birthday of St Dominic, Confessor, founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, a man of great renown for holiness and learning, who permanently preserved his virginity unstained…”
When I first read it, I thought to myself: “Surely it’s not such a big deal that he preserved his virginity? I mean, that’s got to be pretty common, right?”
I learned over the years more—more than I ever wanted to know—about how the fallen world operates. Nowadays, when I read the same entry for August 6, I think: “Thanks be to God for preserving St. Dominic from unchastity. He was worthy to be the founder of his religious order. He lived the life that he urged others to live.”
And similarly with other entries:
“In England, the birthday of St Edward, King, famous for the virtue of chastity and the grace of miracles” (January 5). “At Bude, Hungary, St Margaret, Virgin, of the royal family of the Arpad, a Dominican nun renowned for her chastity and rigorous penance” (January 18). “At Florence in Tuscany, St Teresa Margaret Redi, Virgin, of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, admirable for purity and simplicity” (March 7). “In Iona, an island off Scotland, St Egbert, Priest and monk, a man of wondrous humility and chastity” (April 24). “At Rome, St Philip Neri, Priest and Confessor, Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, remarkable for his virginity, his gifts of prophecy and miracles” (May 26). “At Rome, St Praxedes, Virgin, well versed in all that concerned chastity and the divine law, who after passing her life assiduously in watching, praying and fasting, rested in Christ” (July 21).
What lessons these simple entries in the Martyrology teach us! A king, a political ruler, can indeed be chaste—that is practically a miracle in its own right. Only if chastity is a difficult virtue would it make sense to call someone renowned for it; indeed, it is a virtue obtainable only through “rigorous penance,” something the Catholic Church forgot in the post-Vatican II dismantling of penitential practice. Another virgin is said to be admirable for purity and simplicity, which reminds us that a life overly caught up in externals and inadequately rooted in prayer will always fall into impurity. A monk of Iona was wondrous for his chastity because he was wondrous for his humility as well: only the humble man knows his weakness and his dependence on grace to conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil. St. Philip Neri, another great founder of a religious order, shone for his gift of virginity. This was possible only because he consistently used all the means of sanctification the Church offered him. St. Praxedes was “well versed in all that concerned chastity and the divine law”—in other words, she made it her daily study to know what God commanded and to fix her mind firmly on the living of it, come what may. And how did she succeed where others have failed? She “pass[ed] her life assiduously in watching, praying, and fasting.” There is no other way.
If one puts together the libertine mentality of the Sexual Revolution, the general rush towards hedonism and comfort in the Western world, Paul VI’s supremely foolish abolition of serious penitential discipline in the Catholic Church, and the collective turning of religious orders against the ascetical wisdom of the saints, one ends up with a hothouse environment for sins against temperance, chastity, and purity. We are reaping the rotten fruits now in stifling abundance.
Pope Francis has said that sins of the flesh are not the worst sins. He is correct; St. Thomas argues the same. The sin of pride is the worst sin; it is the sin of Satan par excellence. But sins of the flesh happen to be the easiest sins for human beings to fall into, and the most common, since we carry around with us the wound of disordered concupiscence, the lex fomitis or “law of kindling,” ready to catch fire at the smallest spark. Moreover, regardless of how common they are or how easy to fall into, these sins, if unrepented, still lead to hell. The Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima stated that most souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh. In addition, these sins readily combine with other sins and lead to worse vices (e.g., avarice in the pornography industry, murder from abortion, arrogant rejection of the Lord’s call to conversion). In that sense, sins of the flesh are like a gateway drug.
The great saints showed us how seriously they took chastity. St. Francis of Assisi used to roll around in the snow or throw himself into a thorn bush when experiencing temptations against chastity. In his early years as a hermit, the devil once raised up in St. Benedict’s imagination a powerful temptation of the flesh; the man took off his garment and rolled in briars and nettles until he bled. After this, he was never troubled in the same manner. St. Bernard leapt into an ice-cold pond for the same reason.
We find this kind of scene again and again in the lives of the saints: they were not wimps and they knew they had to fight sin with (so to speak) nuclear weapons. No peace, no arms reduction treaty, can ever be made with the forces of evil within us or outside of us. If we abandon our weapons, we will succumb to sin.
This does not mean—not necessarily—that everyone has to go around hurling himself into thorn bushes. What it does mean, however, is that we must take seriously the need for physical self-discipline and spiritual combat if we ourselves do not want to become the next scandal splattered across the internet.
As Fr. Dwight Longenecker said in an excellent column on February 22, we should not have illusions about the depths of human wickedness when man is left to his own resources, or when, tragically, he lives according to his own inclinations. We can predict what the results will be; the pages of history are full of them. The only way a saint is made is by God—by the grace He gives through the sacraments of the Church, by our daily prayer to Him, by penance done for Him. This is what the Martyrology reminds us of; this is what Lent, each year, gives us a salutary opportunity to do.
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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