lifesitenews--2020-09-09--Teachers call child protective service on students for missing online school last spring

MASSACHUSETTS , September 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Teachers from public schools in Massachusetts allegedly had been informing local police and child protective services on parents whose kids missed online school meetings while learning during the spring .
The Boston Globe reported that officials in Massachusetts singled out “ dozens ” of families to the state ’ s Department of Children and Families ( DCF ) , due to an alleged lack of participation in virtual learning , which began after local schools were shut due to the coronavirus .
According to the Globe report , the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done simply because a student did not login to certain class times , and that most of the parents of those referred were moms with no previous social services records .
The Globe reported that the “ trend ” was most common in higher-poverty , and mostly Black and Latino school districts , with next to none in “ wealthier communities.
” According to the Globe report , officials in several school districts claimed that in each case they reported the child had a “ pattern of problematic behavior ” and was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online classes .
But the Globe also reported that it talked with parents who had both calls and visits from the state DCF .
One parent , Em Quiles , was quoted in the Globe report as saying she “ couldn ’ t believe it ” after she got a call from the DCF in June accusing her of neglect because her 7-yer-old had apparently missed class and assignments during remote class time .
Quiles told the Globe that she struggled to work with her son ’ s school ’ s online platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer any help.
” A neglect charge levied against a parent can carry with it serious consequences if proven to be true in the state of Massachusetts , such as a child being taken into state custody .
Quiles told the Globe that it did not take much time for the DCF agent to realize that the complaint against her was not valid , adding she knew she didn ’ t do “ anything wrong.
” Michael Gregory told the Globe that “ It ’ s the exact wrong thing that the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents being targeted due to their kids missing online Zoom meetings or assignments .
Gregory is managing attorney with the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative of Massachusetts Advocates for Children and the Harvard Law School .
A LifeSiteNews opinion piece by Randall Smith highlights how schools in the United States investing in multi-billion-dollar technology upgrades , which includes online learning , does not “ translate to kids learning.
” “ The greatest danger of any crisis is the inability to learn the lessons it should teach .
Will the online , ‘ tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic ?
Is the online experience a temporary solution to a passing problem ?
” wrote Smith .
“ I wouldn ’ t bet on it .
Having spent billions on new tech while firing actual faculty members , administrators will be loath not to use their new gadgets to ‘ transform ’ education .
”

Teachers from public schools in Massachusetts allegedly had been informing local police and child protective services on parents whose kids missed online school meetings while learning during the spring.
MASSACHUSETTS, September 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Teachers from public schools in Massachusetts allegedly had been informing local police and child protective services on parents whose kids missed online school meetings while learning during the spring.
The Boston Globe reported that officials in Massachusetts singled out “dozens” of families to the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), due to an alleged lack of participation in virtual learning, which began after local schools were shut due to the coronavirus.
According to the Globe report, the majority of the referrals to the DCF were done simply because a student did not login to certain class times, and that most of the parents of those referred were moms with no previous social services records.
The Globe reported that the “trend” was most common in higher-poverty, and mostly Black and Latino school districts, with next to none in “wealthier communities.”
According to the Globe report, officials in several school districts claimed that in each case they reported the child had a “pattern of problematic behavior” and was not only because they did not sign into online classes.
But the Globe also reported that it talked with parents who had both calls and visits from the state DCF.
One parent, Em Quiles, was quoted in the Globe report as saying she “couldn’t believe it” after she got a call from the DCF in June accusing her of neglect because her 7-yer-old had apparently missed class and assignments during remote class time.
Quiles told the Globe that she struggled to work with her son’s school’s online platform and that they “didn’t offer any help.”
A neglect charge levied against a parent can carry with it serious consequences if proven to be true in the state of Massachusetts, such as a child being taken into state custody.
Quiles told the Globe that it did not take much time for the DCF agent to realize that the complaint against her was not valid, adding she knew she didn’t do “anything wrong.”
Michael Gregory told the Globe that “It’s the exact wrong thing that the moment calls for” when it comes to parents being targeted due to their kids missing online Zoom meetings or assignments.
Gregory is managing attorney with the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative of Massachusetts Advocates for Children and the Harvard Law School.
A LifeSiteNews opinion piece by Randall Smith highlights how schools in the United States investing in multi-billion-dollar technology upgrades, which includes online learning, does not “translate to kids learning.”
“The greatest danger of any crisis is the inability to learn the lessons it should teach. Will the online, ‘tech’ mania pass with the passing of the coronavirus pandemic? Is the online experience a temporary solution to a passing problem?” wrote Smith.
“I wouldn’t bet on it. Having spent billions on new tech while firing actual faculty members, administrators will be loath not to use their new gadgets to ‘transform’ education.”
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lifesitenews--2020-09-09--Austrian Catholic school sex ed features graphic sex acts, gender ideology

VIENNA , Austria , September 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A Catholic foundation running kindergartens and daycare centers in the Archdiocese of Vienna is implementing a sex education curriculum informed by gender ideology .
Employees are trained in sex education by a group fully embracing gender ideology , too .
The St. Nicholas Foundation is a Catholic institution of the Archdiocese of Vienna .
Through its kindergartens and daycare centers with about 850 employees , it looks after about 6,000 children .
The Austrian Family Alliance , which is committed to the protection of children against ideological indoctrination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered almost three years ago that the St. Nicholas Foundation has its educational staff trained by the Viennese sexual-pedagogical association “ Selbstlaut.
” This association is one of the most ideologically questionable and radical associations in the German-speaking world committed to gender ideology , as can be illustrated by a few examples .
In the teaching materials for 6- to 12-year-old children published by the association with financial support from the government , the following illustration of a so-called “ House of Diversity ” is found , in which various sexual practices are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s note : Readers should be warned that the illustration is extremely graphic .
It can be viewed here . ]
Natural procreation through the union of man and woman is presented as one of many possibilities among reproductive medicine and other approaches to having a child under the title , “ How do babies really come to us ?
” Out of 16 family models depicted , only two represent the natural family with father , mother , and children , and these two are ridiculed by their corresponding subtitles .
Pictures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people are intersexual ( in reality it is less than 0.1 percent ) .
These are just a few examples of the ideological content of these materials , which aim to present to children an image of sexuality that is detached from the natural family contexts in which they grew up .
By denying the children ’ s realities of life and the biological and sociological facts , the “ ideology of diversity ” is supposed to be anchored in the adolescents at an early age .
The association “ Selbstlaut ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is dangerous for children .
The children are supposed to learn “ at every small step ” of an encounter to “ feel ” whether a “ communicated consent regarding [ … ] sexual activities ” is given .
This is by no means only about so-called “ doctor games ” , which serve to satisfy children ’ s curiosity .
Rather , sexual activities among children should be assumed to be normal .
In doing so , a morality of consent that is completely absurd for children is established .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current sex education in the German-speaking world and can be traced back to the so-called “ neo-emancipatory sex education ” of professor of social education and pedophilia activist Helmut Kentler .
Kentler ’ s criminal activities in the 1970s are today the subject of public debate and investigation in Germany .
Back to the St. Nicholas Foundation .
This foundation had , obviously in cooperation with the association “ Selbstlaut ” , developed a sexual education concept for its facilities , which was obtained and published by the Austrian Family Alliance .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the Church , is imbued with gender ideology and reveals numerous shortcomings that are dangerous for the children .
They were analyzed in detail in a report by the psychiatrist Christian Spaemann .
Among other things , completely unacceptable and uncontrollable staging of sexual self-experience and doctor games are recommended for children in a public institution .
According to the concept , every child has the right “ to determine his or her own body , i. e. to decide what kinds of touches he or she finds pleasant and who may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when.
” Even the decidedly liberal , respected German sexual pedagogue Karla Etschenberg , when asked , looked at the concept and , in a letter she wrote , assessed it negatively throughout , describing it as dangerous for children .
This raises the question of how it is possible that such concepts , influenced by cultural Marxism , can be applied in the Church , while the psychological consequences of sexual assaults between children are increasingly being discussed in scientific communities and the media .
Any experienced psychotherapist can tell a thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened in the meantime ?
More than two years ago , the Austrian Family Alliance contacted the archdiocesan leadership .
In doing so , the organization demanded that the foundation publicly distance itself from the “ Selbstlaut ” association , withdraw the sexual education concept , subject the staff to corrective retraining and , if necessary , draw consequences as to personnel so that one can be sure that nothing like it will happen again in the future .
Only in this way can parents in good conscience entrust their children to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interventions at various levels of Church authorities .
This is perceived as depressing insofar as these are children in need of protection .
It is also about numerous well-meaning pedagogical staff members who are exposed to ideological indoctrination through further training at the association “ Selbstlaut ” and who would also be entitled to protection by their employer .
The Austrian Family Alliance wants to continue the fight .
The article was first published in German by Austrian Catholic news website kath.net on September 8 .
With permission , it was translated into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

VIENNA, Austria, September 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Catholic foundation running kindergartens and daycare centers in the Archdiocese of Vienna is implementing a sex education curriculum informed by gender ideology. Employees are trained in sex education by a group fully embracing gender ideology, too.
The St. Nicholas Foundation is a Catholic institution of the Archdiocese of Vienna. Through its kindergartens and daycare centers with about 850 employees, it looks after about 6,000 children. The Austrian Family Alliance, which is committed to the protection of children against ideological indoctrination and sexual-pedagogical transgressions at educational institutions, discovered almost three years ago that the St. Nicholas Foundation has its educational staff trained by the Viennese sexual-pedagogical association “Selbstlaut.” This association is one of the most ideologically questionable and radical associations in the German-speaking world committed to gender ideology, as can be illustrated by a few examples. In the teaching materials for 6- to 12-year-old children published by the association with financial support from the government, the following illustration of a so-called “House of Diversity” is found, in which various sexual practices are shown by children:
[Editor’s note: Readers should be warned that the illustration is extremely graphic. It can be viewed here.]
Natural procreation through the union of man and woman is presented as one of many possibilities among reproductive medicine and other approaches to having a child under the title, “How do babies really come to us?” Out of 16 family models depicted, only two represent the natural family with father, mother, and children, and these two are ridiculed by their corresponding subtitles. Pictures suggest to the children that half of the people are intersexual (in reality it is less than 0.1 percent).
These are just a few examples of the ideological content of these materials, which aim to present to children an image of sexuality that is detached from the natural family contexts in which they grew up. By denying the children’s realities of life and the biological and sociological facts, the “ideology of diversity” is supposed to be anchored in the adolescents at an early age. The association “Selbstlaut” also represents a concept of abuse prevention that is dangerous for children. The children are supposed to learn “at every small step” of an encounter to “feel” whether a “communicated consent regarding […] sexual activities” is given. This is by no means only about so-called “doctor games”, which serve to satisfy children’s curiosity. Rather, sexual activities among children should be assumed to be normal. In doing so, a morality of consent that is completely absurd for children is established. This sexualized view of children is typical of current sex education in the German-speaking world and can be traced back to the so-called “neo-emancipatory sex education” of professor of social education and pedophilia activist Helmut Kentler. Kentler’s criminal activities in the 1970s are today the subject of public debate and investigation in Germany.
Back to the St. Nicholas Foundation. This foundation had, obviously in cooperation with the association “Selbstlaut”, developed a sexual education concept for its facilities, which was obtained and published by the Austrian Family Alliance. This concept, which is now being applied within the Church, is imbued with gender ideology and reveals numerous shortcomings that are dangerous for the children. They were analyzed in detail in a report by the psychiatrist Christian Spaemann. Among other things, completely unacceptable and uncontrollable staging of sexual self-experience and doctor games are recommended for children in a public institution. According to the concept, every child has the right “to determine his or her own body, i. e. to decide what kinds of touches he or she finds pleasant and who may touch what, how, where and when.” Even the decidedly liberal, respected German sexual pedagogue Karla Etschenberg, when asked, looked at the concept and, in a letter she wrote, assessed it negatively throughout, describing it as dangerous for children. This raises the question of how it is possible that such concepts, influenced by cultural Marxism, can be applied in the Church, while the psychological consequences of sexual assaults between children are increasingly being discussed in scientific communities and the media. Any experienced psychotherapist can tell a thing or two about this.
What has happened in the meantime? More than two years ago, the Austrian Family Alliance contacted the archdiocesan leadership. In doing so, the organization demanded that the foundation publicly distance itself from the “Selbstlaut” association, withdraw the sexual education concept, subject the staff to corrective retraining and, if necessary, draw consequences as to personnel so that one can be sure that nothing like it will happen again in the future. Only in this way can parents in good conscience entrust their children to this foundation. Nothing has happened despite repeated interventions at various levels of Church authorities. This is perceived as depressing insofar as these are children in need of protection. It is also about numerous well-meaning pedagogical staff members who are exposed to ideological indoctrination through further training at the association “Selbstlaut” and who would also be entitled to protection by their employer. The Austrian Family Alliance wants to continue the fight.
The article was first published in German by Austrian Catholic news website kath.net on September 8. With permission, it was translated into English by LifeSite’s Martin Bürger.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-09--Tech company MobileCause pulls plug on Family Research Council 1 hour before election broadcast even

Tech company MobileCause pulls plug on Family Research Council 1 hour before election broadcast event

PETITION : Break up Big Tech tyrants and defend free speech !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , September 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In a stunning incident of big tech censorship and religious discrimination , MobileCause 's CEO Victor Limongelli terminated Family Research Council ’ s ( FRC ) contract one hour before the conservative religious organization 's Pray Vote Stand broadcast .
The termination , based upon FRC ’ s religious views , prevented the broadcast from reaching thousands of Christian voters with information about the 2020 election .
“ MobileCause has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech censorship but in their desperation to silence those they disagree with , they have now added religious discrimination to their portfolio , ” said Tony Perkins , president of FRC .
“ Is it a coincidence that a big tech company pulled the plug on us one hour before the second installment of one of our most extensive evangelical voter education and mobilization efforts in this election cycle ?
The big tech agenda is beyond obvious .
MobileCause views evangelicals and conservatives as a political enemy that must be silenced , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum effect.
” “ The Left 's determination to silence voices with which they disagree should make clear to every evangelical voter what is at stake in this election and why they need to pray , vote , and stand !
Big tech , Hollywood , and the elites intend to decide this election , and they will resort to religious discrimination , censorship , and bullying to get that mission accomplished .
We can not , and we must not , allow them to succeed , ” concluded Perkins .
For more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcast , please visit prayvotestand.org .

'MobileCause has not only provided yet another example of big tech censorship but in their desperation to silence those they disagree with, they have now added religious discrimination to their portfolio?'
PETITION: Break up Big Tech tyrants and defend free speech! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In a stunning incident of big tech censorship and religious discrimination, MobileCause's CEO Victor Limongelli terminated Family Research Council’s (FRC) contract one hour before the conservative religious organization's Pray Vote Stand broadcast. The termination, based upon FRC’s religious views, prevented the broadcast from reaching thousands of Christian voters with information about the 2020 election.
MobileCause develops software for nonprofits.
“MobileCause has not only provided yet another example of big tech censorship but in their desperation to silence those they disagree with, they have now added religious discrimination to their portfolio,” said Tony Perkins, president of FRC. “Is it a coincidence that a big tech company pulled the plug on us one hour before the second installment of one of our most extensive evangelical voter education and mobilization efforts in this election cycle? The big tech agenda is beyond obvious. MobileCause views evangelicals and conservatives as a political enemy that must be silenced, and so it timed its religious discrimination for maximum effect.”
“The Left's determination to silence voices with which they disagree should make clear to every evangelical voter what is at stake in this election and why they need to pray, vote, and stand! Big tech, Hollywood, and the elites intend to decide this election, and they will resort to religious discrimination, censorship, and bullying to get that mission accomplished. We cannot, and we must not, allow them to succeed,” concluded Perkins.
For more information on the weekly Pray Vote Stand broadcast, please visit prayvotestand.org.
Contact information for respectful communication:
MobileCause
27001 Agoura Road 350A
Calabasas, CA 91301
888.661.8804
818.296.0345
[email protected]
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lifesitenews--2020-09-09--BREAKING: Trump praises Catholic navy chaplains for ‘compassion & skill,’ says US gov’t won’t cancel

BREAKING: Trump praises Catholic navy chaplains for ‘compassion & skill,’ says US gov’t won’t cancel contracts

September 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – President Donald Trump confirmed in a tweet this morning that the U.S. Navy has reversed course and decided to renew contracts with Catholic priests to celebrate Holy Mass on military bases .
Trump praised the Catholic priests for their “ great compassion & skill.
” “ The United States Navy , or the Department of Defense , will NOT be cancelling its contract with Catholic Priests who serve our men and women in the Armed Forces so well , and with such great compassion & skill .
This will no longer be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote in a tweeted in which he tagged New York Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan .
Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar , the commander of Navy Region Southwest , announced the reversal of the plan to suspend most contracts for priests on Tuesday , reported the San Diego Union Tribune .
Vice Admiral Yancey Lindsey , the commander of Naval Installations Command , had previously stated about the original decision : “ We have a responsibility to use our limited resources wisely in meeting the needs of our personnel .
Therefore , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources.
” The San Diego Union-Tribune , which first reported on the news , explained at the time that “ religious services will be cut at bases where those services are readily available in the surrounding community outside the base.
” The newspaper pointed out , “ While the Navy has an active-duty component of clergy – the Chaplain Corps – the number of Catholic priests among them is small .
To make up for that shortage , the service contracted with priests to lead services on U.S. bases .
Those contracts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego Union-Tribune quoted Fr .
Jose Pimentel , who was contracted to say Mass on naval bases in the San Diego area , as saying , “ One issue is discrimination ( and ) another is the violation of your right to practice your religion.
” Between 250 and 400 service members attend Mass at San Diego Navy installations every weekend .
A petition by LifeSiteNews signed by over 10,000 people , addressed to Commander of Navy Installations , Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey , and Commander in Chief , President Donald Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” against Catholics to cancel Masses while still offering services to other Christian denominations .
“ Going to Mass on Sunday is not just a optional thing for Catholics , it is an obligation .
The Navy , therefore , has an obligation to its Catholic sailors , to facilitate attendance at Mass , especially as many sailors may not be able to travel off-base , ” the petition stated .
“ We , the undersigned , are dismayed to learn that the Navy intends to cancel on-base Masses for Catholic sailors citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time , continuing to fund other religious services as per normal.
” “ THANK YOU !
I 'm one of those priests who in the past contracted with the Navy .
THANK YOU !
” he tweeted .

'The United States Navy, or the Department of Defense, will NOT be cancelling its contract with Catholic Priests who serve our men and women in the Armed Forces so well,' the president tweeted this morning.
September 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – President Donald Trump confirmed in a tweet this morning that the U.S. Navy has reversed course and decided to renew contracts with Catholic priests to celebrate Holy Mass on military bases. Trump praised the Catholic priests for their “great compassion & skill.”
“The United States Navy, or the Department of Defense, will NOT be cancelling its contract with Catholic Priests who serve our men and women in the Armed Forces so well, and with such great compassion & skill. This will no longer be even a point of discussion!” he wrote in a tweeted in which he tagged New York Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan.
The United States Navy, or the Department of Defense, will NOT be cancelling its contract with Catholic Priests who serve our men and women in the Armed Forces so well, and with such great compassion & skill. This will no longer be even a point of discussion! @CardinalDolan — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2020
Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, the commander of Navy Region Southwest, announced the reversal of the plan to suspend most contracts for priests on Tuesday, reported the San Diego Union Tribune.
Vice Admiral Yancey Lindsey, the commander of Naval Installations Command, had previously stated about the original decision: “We have a responsibility to use our limited resources wisely in meeting the needs of our personnel. Therefore, we will reduce redundancies and capture efficiencies by realigning resources.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune, which first reported on the news, explained at the time that “religious services will be cut at bases where those services are readily available in the surrounding community outside the base.”
The newspaper pointed out, “While the Navy has an active-duty component of clergy – the Chaplain Corps – the number of Catholic priests among them is small. To make up for that shortage, the service contracted with priests to lead services on U.S. bases. Those contracts are the ones being canceled.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Fr. Jose Pimentel, who was contracted to say Mass on naval bases in the San Diego area, as saying, “One issue is discrimination (and) another is the violation of your right to practice your religion.”
Between 250 and 400 service members attend Mass at San Diego Navy installations every weekend.
A petition by LifeSiteNews signed by over 10,000 people, addressed to Commander of Navy Installations, Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey, and Commander in Chief, President Donald Trump, argued that it is “blatant discrimination” against Catholics to cancel Masses while still offering services to other Christian denominations.
“Going to Mass on Sunday is not just a optional thing for Catholics, it is an obligation. The Navy, therefore, has an obligation to its Catholic sailors, to facilitate attendance at Mass, especially as many sailors may not be able to travel off-base,” the petition stated.
“We, the undersigned, are dismayed to learn that the Navy intends to cancel on-base Masses for Catholic sailors citing cost as the reason, while, at the same time, continuing to fund other religious services as per normal.”
Popular Catholic blogger Father John Zuhlsdorf thanked Trump for the good news.
“THANK YOU! I'm one of those priests who in the past contracted with the Navy. THANK YOU!” he tweeted.
THANK YOU! I'm one of those priests who in the past contracted with the Navy. THANK YOU! — Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (@fatherz) September 9, 2020
LifeSite’s Martin Bürger contributed to this report
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lifesitenews--2020-09-09--Navy alters course after outcry, says Catholic Masses will continue on bases

September 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – After public outcry , which included a petition by LifeSiteNews signed by over 10,000 people , the Navy has reversed course and decided to renew contracts with Catholic priests to celebrate Holy Mass on military bases .
The cost-cutting measure was to be enforced across the country .
Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar , the commander of Navy Region Southwest , announced the reversal of the plan to suspend most contracts for priests on Tuesday , reported the San Diego Union Tribune .
Trump confirmed the news in a tweet this morning : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Naval Installations Command , had previously stated about the original decision : “ We have a responsibility to use our limited resources wisely in meeting the needs of our personnel .
Therefore , we will reduce redundancies and capture efficiencies by realigning resources.
” The San Diego Union-Tribune , which first reported on the news , explained at the time that “ religious services will be cut at bases where those services are readily available in the surrounding community outside the base.
” The newspaper pointed out , “ While the Navy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chaplain Corps – the number of Catholic priests among them is small .
To make up for that shortage , the service contracted with priests to lead services on U.S. bases .
Those contracts are the ones being canceled.
” The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Fr .
Jose Pimentel , who was contracted to say Mass on naval bases in the San Diego area , as saying , “ One issue is discrimination ( and ) another is the violation of your right to practice your religion.
” Between 250 and 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy installations every weekend .
LifeSite stated in its petition addressed to Commander of Navy Installations , Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey , and Commander in Chief , President Donald Trump , that it is “ blatant discrimination ” against Catholics to cancel Masses while still offering services to other Christian denominations .
“ Going to Mass on Sunday is not just a optional thing for Catholics , it is an obligation .
The Navy , therefore , has an obligation to its Catholic sailors , to facilitate attendance at Mass , especially as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel off-base , ” the petition stated .
“ We , the undersigned , are dismayed to learn that the Navy intends to cancel on-base Masses for Catholic sailors citing cost as the reason , while , at the same time , continuing to fund other religious services as per normal.
” Karen White , herself a former naval officer who retired as a lieutenant , told LifeSiteNews about the harsh “ the very unique life that sailors and their families lead.
” “ I won ’ t detail to you what my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a destroyer last year , ” she said .
“ There were many deprivations suffered , regarding schedule , food , living conditions , etc .
And he is an officer !
Not to mention separation from everyone he loved and often , especially in the surface Navy , harsh superiors as well.
” White ’ s husband was also a long-time naval officer , retiring as a captain .
“ God has mostly been eradicated from our current human culture , ” White pointed out .
“ Suicides from the resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of society but are particularly high amongst active duty and veterans.
” “ Young people who enter the service , though smart and capable , often enter with a lot of personal baggage and are extremely young .
They get paid little but do benefit from the discipline , though they don ’ t always have good examples to follow .
For the faith-filled or those faltering in their faith , the chapel and chaplain are lifelines for them .
Schedules are all over the place and the ability to catch a morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass can provide the strength they need to endure the rest of their crazy life.
” She also spoke about difficulties of long deployments , often without access to Mass at all , in addition to being separated from the family back home in the United States .
With that in mind , having priests ministering “ to military is unique.
” “ The priests who are Navy chaplains , even the ones on contract , have an appreciation for their unique life and minister to them specifically in it , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to a parish off base is there , it is not the same .
Military chaplains are used accommodating military moves in their sacramental preps , for instance.
” “ I just want you to understand the unique role and importance of having a priest on base , serving the Catholic military population there , ” she emphasized .

After public outcry, which included a petition by LifeSiteNews signed by over 10,000 people, the Navy has reversed course and decided to renew contracts with Catholic priests to celebrate Holy Mass on military bases.
September 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – After public outcry, which included a petition by LifeSiteNews signed by over 10,000 people, the Navy has reversed course and decided to renew contracts with Catholic priests to celebrate Holy Mass on military bases. The cost-cutting measure was to be enforced across the country.
Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, the commander of Navy Region Southwest, announced the reversal of the plan to suspend most contracts for priests on Tuesday, reported the San Diego Union Tribune.
Trump confirmed the news in a tweet this morning:
The United States Navy, or the Department of Defense, will NOT be cancelling its contract with Catholic Priests who serve our men and women in the Armed Forces so well, and with such great compassion & skill. This will no longer be even a point of discussion! @CardinalDolan — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2020
Vice Admiral Yancey Lindsey, the commander of Naval Installations Command, had previously stated about the original decision: “We have a responsibility to use our limited resources wisely in meeting the needs of our personnel. Therefore, we will reduce redundancies and capture efficiencies by realigning resources.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune, which first reported on the news, explained at the time that “religious services will be cut at bases where those services are readily available in the surrounding community outside the base.”
The newspaper pointed out, “While the Navy has an active-duty component of clergy – the Chaplain Corps – the number of Catholic priests among them is small. To make up for that shortage, the service contracted with priests to lead services on U.S. bases. Those contracts are the ones being canceled.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Fr. Jose Pimentel, who was contracted to say Mass on naval bases in the San Diego area, as saying, “One issue is discrimination (and) another is the violation of your right to practice your religion.”
Between 250 and 400 service members attend Mass at San Diego Navy installations every weekend.
LifeSite stated in its petition addressed to Commander of Navy Installations, Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey, and Commander in Chief, President Donald Trump, that it is “blatant discrimination” against Catholics to cancel Masses while still offering services to other Christian denominations.
“Going to Mass on Sunday is not just a optional thing for Catholics, it is an obligation. The Navy, therefore, has an obligation to its Catholic sailors, to facilitate attendance at Mass, especially as many sailors may not be able to travel off-base,” the petition stated.
“We, the undersigned, are dismayed to learn that the Navy intends to cancel on-base Masses for Catholic sailors citing cost as the reason, while, at the same time, continuing to fund other religious services as per normal.”
Karen White, herself a former naval officer who retired as a lieutenant, told LifeSiteNews about the harsh “the very unique life that sailors and their families lead.”
“I won’t detail to you what my son-in-law endured on his 7 month deployment on a destroyer last year,” she said. “There were many deprivations suffered, regarding schedule, food, living conditions, etc. And he is an officer! Not to mention separation from everyone he loved and often, especially in the surface Navy, harsh superiors as well.”
White’s husband was also a long-time naval officer, retiring as a captain.
“God has mostly been eradicated from our current human culture,” White pointed out. “Suicides from the resulting emptiness are on the rise in all of society but are particularly high amongst active duty and veterans.”
“Young people who enter the service, though smart and capable, often enter with a lot of personal baggage and are extremely young. They get paid little but do benefit from the discipline, though they don’t always have good examples to follow. For the faith-filled or those faltering in their faith, the chapel and chaplain are lifelines for them. Schedules are all over the place and the ability to catch a morning or noon Mass and especially a Sunday Mass can provide the strength they need to endure the rest of their crazy life.”
She also spoke about difficulties of long deployments, often without access to Mass at all, in addition to being separated from the family back home in the United States.
With that in mind, having priests ministering “to military is unique.”
“The priests who are Navy chaplains, even the ones on contract, have an appreciation for their unique life and minister to them specifically in it,” she said. “While the option to go to a parish off base is there, it is not the same. Military chaplains are used accommodating military moves in their sacramental preps, for instance.”
“I just want you to understand the unique role and importance of having a priest on base, serving the Catholic military population there,” she emphasized.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-09--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

September 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united daily in prayer , in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade .
Catholics from all over the world—from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , Pakistan , Singapore , the Philippines , India , Indonesia , Australia , New Zealand , Thailand , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Brazil , and other countries—are gathering daily to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our goal is , by means of this daily rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima , the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
To help obtain that goal , Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide rosary crusade : O Immaculate Heart of Mary , you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother .
Look upon the distress in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church .
In Fatima you warned against these errors , as you spoke about the errors of Russia .
You are the Mediatrix of all graces .
Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope : that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart , so that Russia will be converted , a period of peace will be granted to the world , and your Immaculate Heart will triumph , through an authentic renewal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purity of the Catholic Faith , of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life .
O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother , turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer .
Amen .
+ Athanasius Schneider , Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady ’ s message at Fatima , and about what you can do , please read Cardinal Burke ’ s 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
As St. Padre Pio once said , “ The rosary is the weapon for these times.
” Through prayer , God can shape history , change the world , and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world , through the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
Join us today !
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this rosary , you can access them via this PDF .
This document also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily rosary on LifeSite led by Fr .
Pillari .
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-09-11--Alberta govt drops yet another $1,200 COVID fine against protesting citizen

September 10 , 2020 ( Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ) — A ticket issued under the Alberta Public Health Act to a man represented by the Justice Centre has been withdrawn by Crown prosecutors .
On May 10 , 2020 , Cory Teichroew , of Edmonton , was fined $ 1,200 while attending a peaceful protesting against government infringements on freedoms at the Alberta Legislature grounds .
The Justice Centre represents Mr. Teichroew at no charge and has also submitted a complaint to the Alberta Law Enforcement and Oversight Branch regarding the three Alberta Sheriffs who handcuffed Mr. Teichroew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional $ 1,200 tickets issued under the Public Health Act to individuals exercising their Charter rights to peacefully protest have also been withdrawn by Crown prosecutors .
On the afternoon of May 2 , 2020 , Patrick Lefebvre and approximately six others were at the Alberta Legislature grounds in Edmonton , peacefully protesting the Alberta Government COVID lockdown measures .
Mr. Lefebvre was approached by two Alberta Sheriffs on bicycles .
One Sheriff told Mr. Lefebvre , “ You ’ re not going to be able to have your rally here.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arms and physically compelled him to walk off the Legislature grounds to a Sheriff vehicle .
Mr. Lefebvre was detained by the Sheriffs for approximately 30 minutes .
He was issued a ticket in the amount of $ 1,200 for allegedly contravening an order of a medical officer of health .
On the afternoon of May 10 , 2020 , Patrick Tipper and approximately 50 other individuals , independently attended the Legislature grounds to peacefully rally against the Canadian Government gun ban and the Alberta Government COVID lockdown .
During the rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved among the attendees , targeting individuals for detentions and removal from the grounds .
One team of Sheriffs approached Mr. Tipper and demanded that he accompany them off the Legislature grounds .
He was detained and ticketed .
Mr. Tipper ’ s ticket was also in the amount of $ 1,200 and issued for allegedly contravening an order of a medical officer of health .
Like Mr. Lefebvre , Mr. Tipper was not told what was unlawful about his conduct or why he had been removed from the Legislature grounds .
Published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitutional Freedoms .

This is the third such ticket abandoned by Crown prosecutors after a legal challenge.
September 10, 2020 (Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms) — A ticket issued under the Alberta Public Health Act to a man represented by the Justice Centre has been withdrawn by Crown prosecutors. On May 10, 2020, Cory Teichroew, of Edmonton, was fined $1,200 while attending a peaceful protesting against government infringements on freedoms at the Alberta Legislature grounds. The Justice Centre represents Mr. Teichroew at no charge and has also submitted a complaint to the Alberta Law Enforcement and Oversight Branch regarding the three Alberta Sheriffs who handcuffed Mr. Teichroew and issued him the ticket.
Two additional $1,200 tickets issued under the Public Health Act to individuals exercising their Charter rights to peacefully protest have also been withdrawn by Crown prosecutors.
On the afternoon of May 2, 2020, Patrick Lefebvre and approximately six others were at the Alberta Legislature grounds in Edmonton, peacefully protesting the Alberta Government COVID lockdown measures. Mr. Lefebvre was approached by two Alberta Sheriffs on bicycles. One Sheriff told Mr. Lefebvre, “You’re not going to be able to have your rally here.” The Sheriffs then forcibly grabbed Mr. Lefebvre by the arms and physically compelled him to walk off the Legislature grounds to a Sheriff vehicle.
Mr. Lefebvre was detained by the Sheriffs for approximately 30 minutes. He was issued a ticket in the amount of $1,200 for allegedly contravening an order of a medical officer of health.
On the afternoon of May 10, 2020, Patrick Tipper and approximately 50 other individuals, independently attended the Legislature grounds to peacefully rally against the Canadian Government gun ban and the Alberta Government COVID lockdown.
During the rally, two teams of three Sheriffs each moved among the attendees, targeting individuals for detentions and removal from the grounds. One team of Sheriffs approached Mr. Tipper and demanded that he accompany them off the Legislature grounds. He was detained and ticketed.
Mr. Tipper’s ticket was also in the amount of $1,200 and issued for allegedly contravening an order of a medical officer of health. Like Mr. Lefebvre, Mr. Tipper was not told what was unlawful about his conduct or why he had been removed from the Legislature grounds.
Published with permission from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-11--Police release images of suspects in tabernacle theft and desecration of Blessed Sacrament

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
ST. CATHARINES , Ontario , September 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Local police are seeking help from the public to identify two men suspected of stealing a tabernacle from a Canadian cathedral .
Niagara Regional Police issued a press release September 10 with descriptions of the suspects , as well as surveillance camera images of the pair standing inside St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral and of them pushing a shopping cart carrying the stolen tabernacle .
The police statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one wearing a “ red hoodie , camo pants , black running shoes and carrying a backpack ” and the other wearing “ grey jogging pants , black hoodie , pushing a shopping cart , and carrying a backpack.
” The 176-year-old cathedral of the Diocese of St. Catharines in southwest Ontario was broken into at 4:30 A.M. September 8 , and the tabernacle pried off the main altar and carried away .
After hearing of the devastating event , a group of cathedral parishioners organized a search .
They found the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Old Welland Canal , according to a statement by diocesan vice chancellor Margaret Jong .
The Blessed Sacrament was not found .
According to Catholic doctrine , the consecrated Hosts , also referred to as the Blessed Sacrament and the Eucharist , are the literal Body and Blood , Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ .
Deliberate desecration of the consecrated Host is the gravest of sins .
“ [ O ] ur hopeful presumption is that the consecrated Hosts dissolved naturally in the water where the tabernacle was found , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview Tuesday , Bishop Gerald Bergie of St. Catharines pleaded with the thieves not to violate the consecrated Hosts , but to return them intact , Catholic News Agency reported .
“ The tabernacle can be replaced .
It ’ s the contents ... that is what is so precious to us .
That ’ s what ’ s irreplaceable , ” Bergie told NewsTalk 610 CKTB .
He said there would be “ no questions asked ” if the thieves returned the Blessed Sacrament unharmed .
Cathedral rector Fr .
Donald Lizzotti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident and described to LifeSiteNews the lengths to which the thieves went to steal the sacred container .
“ The tabernacle itself was mounted to wooden platform pieces that were screwed to the altar top itself , ” he said .
Moreover , it had a covering of steel “ which looked like another tabernacle with brass doors ” over it .
The thieves removed this before they pried the tabernacle , which Lizzotti said is made of lead , from its platform .
The recovered tabernacle is “ badly damaged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken off , and the ciborium — which holds the consecrated Hosts — is missing , though the lid was found , he said .
One of the tabernacle doors has also been found , and “ our hope is that the second door may yet be recovered , ” Jong said .
A man on the street gave the one door to a parishioner and said he had been given it by another individual in Centennial Park .
Lizzotti told CNA he believes that the thieves checked out the church beforehand and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fingerprints and believed that the thieves had wiped the scene clean .
The cathedral ’ s “ most vulnerable ” doors are now barricaded with crossbars , and the parish will be “ putting in a surveillance system , and alarm system , ” he told LifeSiteNews .
Bishop Bergie told the radio station that because it was so dark , the surveillance camera footage is “ grainy , ” and it might be hard to identify the culprits .
He said the thieves may have thought the tabernacle ’ s bronze doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a more heinous motive , CNA reported .
“ Who knows what goes through the minds of these people ?
” he said .
Catholic author Phil Lawler , when writing some years back about a willful and announced act of desecration of the Host , observed : “ A generation or two ago , even the most hardened anti-Catholic bigot would have shied away from such a frontal assault on the Holy of Holies .
But we live at a time when hatred for the Church is intense , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face.
” He quoted Jesuit Fr .
Donald Keefe ’ s words to that perpetrator : “ Your conduct with respect to the Eucharist is execrable , but that you would spend so much time and energy on that desecration , and yet more upon publicizing your iniquity , is indisputable evidence that you take the Eucharist very , very seriously .
“ So you should : it is the central reality of the universe ; more ; it represents our only ground for joy .
There has been a long line of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existence and intent upon its abolition , but that is a cause lost from the beginning .
”

PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario, September 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Local police are seeking help from the public to identify two men suspected of stealing a tabernacle from a Canadian cathedral.
Niagara Regional Police issued a press release September 10 with descriptions of the suspects, as well as surveillance camera images of the pair standing inside St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral and of them pushing a shopping cart carrying the stolen tabernacle.
The police statement describes the two suspects as male, with one wearing a “red hoodie, camo pants, black running shoes and carrying a backpack” and the other wearing “grey jogging pants, black hoodie, pushing a shopping cart, and carrying a backpack.”
The 176-year-old cathedral of the Diocese of St. Catharines in southwest Ontario was broken into at 4:30 A.M. September 8, and the tabernacle pried off the main altar and carried away.
After hearing of the devastating event, a group of cathedral parishioners organized a search.
They found the tabernacle Wednesday morning “partially submerged” in the Old Welland Canal, according to a statement by diocesan vice chancellor Margaret Jong. The Blessed Sacrament was not found.
According to Catholic doctrine, the consecrated Hosts, also referred to as the Blessed Sacrament and the Eucharist, are the literal Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
Deliberate desecration of the consecrated Host is the gravest of sins.
“[O]ur hopeful presumption is that the consecrated Hosts dissolved naturally in the water where the tabernacle was found,” Jong said.
During a radio interview Tuesday, Bishop Gerald Bergie of St. Catharines pleaded with the thieves not to violate the consecrated Hosts, but to return them intact, Catholic News Agency reported.
“The tabernacle can be replaced. It’s the contents … that is what is so precious to us. That’s what’s irreplaceable,” Bergie told NewsTalk 610 CKTB.
He said there would be “no questions asked” if the thieves returned the Blessed Sacrament unharmed.
Cathedral rector Fr. Donald Lizzotti said he was “shocked” by the incident and described to LifeSiteNews the lengths to which the thieves went to steal the sacred container.
“The tabernacle itself was mounted to wooden platform pieces that were screwed to the altar top itself,” he said. Moreover, it had a covering of steel “which looked like another tabernacle with brass doors” over it. The thieves removed this before they pried the tabernacle, which Lizzotti said is made of lead, from its platform.
The recovered tabernacle is “badly damaged,” he said.
The doors were taken off, and the ciborium — which holds the consecrated Hosts — is missing, though the lid was found, he said.
One of the tabernacle doors has also been found, and “our hope is that the second door may yet be recovered,” Jong said.
A man on the street gave the one door to a parishioner and said he had been given it by another individual in Centennial Park.
Lizzotti told CNA he believes that the thieves checked out the church beforehand and that the police could not find any fingerprints and believed that the thieves had wiped the scene clean.
The cathedral’s “most vulnerable” doors are now barricaded with crossbars, and the parish will be “putting in a surveillance system, and alarm system,” he told LifeSiteNews.
Bishop Bergie told the radio station that because it was so dark, the surveillance camera footage is “grainy,” and it might be hard to identify the culprits.
He said the thieves may have thought the tabernacle’s bronze doors were gold, or they could have had a more heinous motive, CNA reported.
“Who knows what goes through the minds of these people?” he said.
Catholic author Phil Lawler, when writing some years back about a willful and announced act of desecration of the Host, observed: “A generation or two ago, even the most hardened anti-Catholic bigot would have shied away from such a frontal assault on the Holy of Holies. But we live at a time when hatred for the Church is intense, and the Enemy is not afraid to show his face.”
He quoted Jesuit Fr. Donald Keefe’s words to that perpetrator: “Your conduct with respect to the Eucharist is execrable, but that you would spend so much time and energy on that desecration, and yet more upon publicizing your iniquity, is indisputable evidence that you take the Eucharist very, very seriously.
“So you should: it is the central reality of the universe; more; it represents our only ground for joy. There has been a long line of people like yourself unable to bear its existence and intent upon its abolition, but that is a cause lost from the beginning.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-09-11--German doctor: COVID-19 vaccine ‘could prove to be the biggest mistake’

September 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The first vaccine was developed at the end of the 18th century by English country doctor Edward Jenner .
Jenner ’ s success was so resounding that it remains the blueprint for all vaccination programs to this day .
The smallpox vaccine shows the four characteristics that characterize a good vaccine candidate .
The disease to be vaccinated against must be so serious that it justifies the vaccination of a large number of people .
This is because healthy people who may never come into contact with the pathogen are vaccinated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the benefits outweigh the risks with great certainty and by a large margin .
If this is not the case , vaccination constitutes a bodily injury .
This precautionary principle , which is expressed in the dictum primum nihil nocere ( “ first , do no harm ” ) , has been the guiding principle of all medical action for more than 2,000 years .
This sensitivity is also the reason why for a long time vaccine production was exclusively in the hands of the government .
The pathogen must also not change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is like shooting at a moving target with a fixed gun : you can hit the bull ’ s eye , but you usually miss .
Thirdly , the pathogen should occur only in humans , because its eradication is possible only if it does not find shelter in animals .
Finally , vaccination should provide long-term and comprehensive protection against the targeted disease .
Usually , the development of a new vaccine takes six to ten years .
First the vaccine must be produced in cell cultures , in chicken eggs or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , this production represents only a small part of the overall development .
Particularly demanding is the testing , which takes place in a pre-clinical phase in the test tube and in animal experiments , followed by three clinical phases in test subjects .
In the first clinical phase , the tolerability of the vaccine is usually tested on fewer than one hundred people .
Questions are answered such as : Does redness or pain occur at the injection site ?
Does it lead to inflammation ?
Are there deaths ?
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lasts from weeks to months , the second phase will involve up to 1,000 test persons to determine whether the vaccination causes an immune reaction at all .
If this is the case and the vaccine does not show any serious side-effects , the third and longest test phase follows .
In most cases , 30,000 to 50,000 test persons are divided into two groups , one of whom receives the new vaccine , the other a placebo .
Both groups are then usually exposed to an infection with the target pathogen for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period , it is investigated whether the vaccine group has fewer or at least milder infections than the placebo group .
The long-term observation of many people also serves to detect rare , serious side-effects .
Currently , the whole world is waiting for the new vaccine against COVID .
In a video podcast , German chancellor Angela Merkel said it is about “ how we develop vaccines for all people in the world.
” U.S. president Donald Trump even announced on television that he was prepared to “ be the first person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio interview , Bavaria ’ s Prime Minister Markus Söder pondered the idea of withdrawing the license from doctors who refuse to administer vaccines like the one against COVID .
Almost everything concerning the development of the vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus deviates from the principles of vaccine development .
For a pathogen to be suitable as a vaccination candidate , it must pose a significant risk to everyone .
However , it is becoming increasingly clear that severe COVID-19 progressions are , with few exceptions , restricted to very old people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the population , progressions are mild and often asymptomatic , especially in children .
In addition , the virus is extremely prone to mutation and is almost ubiquitous in the animal kingdom .
More recent data also indicate that immunogenicity of the vaccine may be difficult to achieve .
Thus , it is not certain whether antibodies alone protect or whether the so-called cell-mediated immunity is not the main focus .
In addition , antibody levels seem to drop rapidly after infection and are even more likely to drop after vaccination .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is even a candidate for mass vaccination or a mass vaccination requirement .
Approximately 200 vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 are currently being developed , at least ten of which are already in clinical trials .
For all candidates , the fact that the test phases are being shortened , as they are , is highly problematic .
It is true that time can be gained by removing bureaucratic hurdles .
Also , mRNA or DNA vaccines require less time for production than conventional vaccines .
But more than about one year can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subsequent test phases is associated with a higher risk of side-effects and a poorer evaluation of efficacy .
This can not be avoided with any test procedure , however sophisticated , but is a biological fact .
Many of the vaccines are also problematic for other reasons — for example , the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca , which is already in the third clinical trial phase .
This vaccine , which consists of a monkey adenovirus that carries the SARS-CoV-2 spiked protein on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line derived from the kidneys of a child who was aborted , probably in 1972 .
Similar candidates , such as the vaccine candidate developed by CanSino Biologics Inc. and the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese military , as well as a variant from the University of Pittsburgh , use either this renal cell line or another cell line from a child aborted in 1985 .
Five other vaccines currently in clinical trials consist of messenger RNA ( mRNA ) molecules that are injected under the skin or into muscle tissue and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mRNA , a molecular cousin of DNA , is used to transmit the genetic information of DNA to the ribosome , the “ assembly line of protein production ” in the cell .
The mRNA in the vaccine , which is structured like the RNA in the SARS-CoV-2 virus , “ captures ” our cells and causes them to produce and excrete parts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus .
According to theory , these then trigger a protective immune reaction against the virus .
The mRNA vaccination principle , on which work has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sounds promising but is fraught with considerable risks .
For this reason , mRNA vaccines have so far only been approved in veterinary medicine ( salmon and pig ) , and not in humans .
The main risk is the possible triggering of severe autoimmune reactions .
The immune defense is directed not only against the pathogen , but also against components of one ’ s own body .
At that time , mRNA vaccines were developed against the lung diseases SARS and MERS , which like COVID-19 were caused by coronaviruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have long-term efficacy , but they also caused severe autoimmune reactions in the lung tissue , which is why they did not pass clinical trials .
Another candidate in clinical testing does not consist of mRNA , but of the genetic material DNA , which is injected directly into test persons .
The mode of action is similar to that of mRNA vaccines , with DNA being inserted into the information chain one step before mRNA .
Therefore , the DNA vaccine carries not only the same risks as an mRNA vaccine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an immune reaction may occur against the DNA itself , the effects of which are not clear .
In addition , and more importantly , there is the possibility that some of the vaccine ’ s DNA will integrate with our own DNA .
Such insertion in the wrong place can lead to serious unintended consequences , such as cancer development .
There are no reports of such an effect , which led the biochemist and director of the Paul Ehrlich Institute , Klaus Cichutek , to say that “ in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent many decades pursuing a theoretical risk that has never actually been proven in animals and clinical trials.
” This statement must be considered abridged because there has not been a long-term study in a larger number of people .
In addition , most of the publications on the question come from the research laboratories of the vaccine manufacturers .
The requirements for a vaccine in terms of safety and efficacy are much higher than those for drugs .
This is all the more true when the whole of humanity is under discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not particularly suitable as a candidate for mass vaccination .
The hasty program of development can not guarantee the required safety .
Almost all of the vaccines currently in clinical trials are either unethical or based on active principles whose long-term effects and effectiveness have never been tested on humans .
But in vaccine production , the devil is in the details .
Despite intensive research over several decades , we still do not have a vaccine against HIV or malaria .
And even the effectiveness of the annual flu vaccination is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swine flu vaccine knitted with a hot needle in 2010 proved to be a fiasco , both in terms of its side-effect profile and its effectiveness .
It may not be possible to find a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in the end .
But this result is far better than a half-finished and ineffective product causing massive damage to health for which — let ’ s not forget — not the vaccine-manufacturer , but the general public would have to pay .
In retrospect , such a scenario could prove to be the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Added by the author after the original publication : Since this article was written , the use of an adenovirus vaccine manufactured by the state-owned Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow , Russia , was reported .
This vaccine , termed “ Sputnik V , ” contains a mixture of two adenoviruses that have been genetically modified to carry on their surface the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein ( glycoprotein S ) .
The author was unable to determine if human fetal cell lines were used in the development of this vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one clinical trial involving only 76 individuals .
The above article was first published on August 27 , 2020 by German Catholic weekly newspaper Die Tagespost .
Prof. Dr. Paul Cullen , the author , is president of “ Doctors for Life ” in Germany .
His article has been translated with permission by LifeSite ’ s Martin Bürger .

September 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The first vaccine was developed at the end of the 18th century by English country doctor Edward Jenner. Jenner’s success was so resounding that it remains the blueprint for all vaccination programs to this day. The smallpox vaccine shows the four characteristics that characterize a good vaccine candidate. The disease to be vaccinated against must be so serious that it justifies the vaccination of a large number of people. This is because healthy people who may never come into contact with the pathogen are vaccinated. Therefore, one must be sure that the benefits outweigh the risks with great certainty and by a large margin. If this is not the case, vaccination constitutes a bodily injury. This precautionary principle, which is expressed in the dictum primum nihil nocere (“first, do no harm”), has been the guiding principle of all medical action for more than 2,000 years. This sensitivity is also the reason why for a long time vaccine production was exclusively in the hands of the government. The pathogen must also not change. If frequent mutations occur, vaccination is like shooting at a moving target with a fixed gun: you can hit the bull’s eye, but you usually miss. Thirdly, the pathogen should occur only in humans, because its eradication is possible only if it does not find shelter in animals. Finally, vaccination should provide long-term and comprehensive protection against the targeted disease.
Usually, the development of a new vaccine takes six to ten years. First the vaccine must be produced in cell cultures, in chicken eggs or by means of molecular biological processes. However, this production represents only a small part of the overall development. Particularly demanding is the testing, which takes place in a pre-clinical phase in the test tube and in animal experiments, followed by three clinical phases in test subjects. In the first clinical phase, the tolerability of the vaccine is usually tested on fewer than one hundred people. Questions are answered such as: Does redness or pain occur at the injection site? Does it lead to inflammation? Are there deaths?
If the vaccine survives this phase, which lasts from weeks to months, the second phase will involve up to 1,000 test persons to determine whether the vaccination causes an immune reaction at all. If this is the case and the vaccine does not show any serious side-effects, the third and longest test phase follows. In most cases, 30,000 to 50,000 test persons are divided into two groups, one of whom receives the new vaccine, the other a placebo. Both groups are then usually exposed to an infection with the target pathogen for four to six years. After this period, it is investigated whether the vaccine group has fewer or at least milder infections than the placebo group. The long-term observation of many people also serves to detect rare, serious side-effects.
Currently, the whole world is waiting for the new vaccine against COVID. In a video podcast, German chancellor Angela Merkel said it is about “how we develop vaccines for all people in the world.” U.S. president Donald Trump even announced on television that he was prepared to “be the first person to receive the vaccine.” In a radio interview, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder pondered the idea of withdrawing the license from doctors who refuse to administer vaccines like the one against COVID. Almost everything concerning the development of the vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus deviates from the principles of vaccine development.
For a pathogen to be suitable as a vaccination candidate, it must pose a significant risk to everyone. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that severe COVID-19 progressions are, with few exceptions, restricted to very old people with pre-existing conditions. For the rest of the population, progressions are mild and often asymptomatic, especially in children. In addition, the virus is extremely prone to mutation and is almost ubiquitous in the animal kingdom. More recent data also indicate that immunogenicity of the vaccine may be difficult to achieve. Thus, it is not certain whether antibodies alone protect or whether the so-called cell-mediated immunity is not the main focus. In addition, antibody levels seem to drop rapidly after infection and are even more likely to drop after vaccination. All this makes it appear questionable whether SARS-CoV-2 is even a candidate for mass vaccination or a mass vaccination requirement.
Approximately 200 vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 are currently being developed, at least ten of which are already in clinical trials. For all candidates, the fact that the test phases are being shortened, as they are, is highly problematic. It is true that time can be gained by removing bureaucratic hurdles. Also, mRNA or DNA vaccines require less time for production than conventional vaccines. But more than about one year cannot be saved overall. Any shortening of the subsequent test phases is associated with a higher risk of side-effects and a poorer evaluation of efficacy. This cannot be avoided with any test procedure, however sophisticated, but is a biological fact.
Many of the vaccines are also problematic for other reasons — for example, the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which is already in the third clinical trial phase. This vaccine, which consists of a monkey adenovirus that carries the SARS-CoV-2 spiked protein on its surface, is produced in a cell line derived from the kidneys of a child who was aborted, probably in 1972. Similar candidates, such as the vaccine candidate developed by CanSino Biologics Inc. and the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese military, as well as a variant from the University of Pittsburgh, use either this renal cell line or another cell line from a child aborted in 1985.
Five other vaccines currently in clinical trials consist of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that are injected under the skin or into muscle tissue and absorbed by our own body cells. mRNA, a molecular cousin of DNA, is used to transmit the genetic information of DNA to the ribosome, the “assembly line of protein production” in the cell. The mRNA in the vaccine, which is structured like the RNA in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, “captures” our cells and causes them to produce and excrete parts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to theory, these then trigger a protective immune reaction against the virus.
The mRNA vaccination principle, on which work has been going on for more than 20 years, sounds promising but is fraught with considerable risks. For this reason, mRNA vaccines have so far only been approved in veterinary medicine (salmon and pig), and not in humans. The main risk is the possible triggering of severe autoimmune reactions. The immune defense is directed not only against the pathogen, but also against components of one’s own body. At that time, mRNA vaccines were developed against the lung diseases SARS and MERS, which like COVID-19 were caused by coronaviruses. Not only did these vaccines not have long-term efficacy, but they also caused severe autoimmune reactions in the lung tissue, which is why they did not pass clinical trials.
Another candidate in clinical testing does not consist of mRNA, but of the genetic material DNA, which is injected directly into test persons. The mode of action is similar to that of mRNA vaccines, with DNA being inserted into the information chain one step before mRNA. Therefore, the DNA vaccine carries not only the same risks as an mRNA vaccine, but also additional risks. For example, an immune reaction may occur against the DNA itself, the effects of which are not clear. In addition, and more importantly, there is the possibility that some of the vaccine’s DNA will integrate with our own DNA. Such insertion in the wrong place can lead to serious unintended consequences, such as cancer development. There are no reports of such an effect, which led the biochemist and director of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Klaus Cichutek, to say that “in the case of DNA vaccines, we have spent many decades pursuing a theoretical risk that has never actually been proven in animals and clinical trials.” This statement must be considered abridged because there has not been a long-term study in a larger number of people. In addition, most of the publications on the question come from the research laboratories of the vaccine manufacturers.
The requirements for a vaccine in terms of safety and efficacy are much higher than those for drugs. This is all the more true when the whole of humanity is under discussion as recipients. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is not particularly suitable as a candidate for mass vaccination. The hasty program of development cannot guarantee the required safety. Almost all of the vaccines currently in clinical trials are either unethical or based on active principles whose long-term effects and effectiveness have never been tested on humans. But in vaccine production, the devil is in the details. Despite intensive research over several decades, we still do not have a vaccine against HIV or malaria. And even the effectiveness of the annual flu vaccination is only between 10 and 30 percent. The swine flu vaccine knitted with a hot needle in 2010 proved to be a fiasco, both in terms of its side-effect profile and its effectiveness. It may not be possible to find a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in the end. But this result is far better than a half-finished and ineffective product causing massive damage to health for which — let’s not forget — not the vaccine-manufacturer, but the general public would have to pay. In retrospect, such a scenario could prove to be the biggest mistake of the whole COVID episode.
Added by the author after the original publication:
Since this article was written, the use of an adenovirus vaccine manufactured by the state-owned Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow, Russia, was reported. This vaccine, termed “Sputnik V,” contains a mixture of two adenoviruses that have been genetically modified to carry on their surface the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (glycoprotein S). The author was unable to determine if human fetal cell lines were used in the development of this vaccine, which was introduced after a phase one clinical trial involving only 76 individuals.
The above article was first published on August 27, 2020 by German Catholic weekly newspaper Die Tagespost. Prof. Dr. Paul Cullen, the author, is president of “Doctors for Life” in Germany. His article has been translated with permission by LifeSite’s Martin Bürger.
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lifesitenews--2020-09-11--Another monastery closes, but it doesn’t have to be this way

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world : Feed your flock !
Sign the petition here .
September 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — In 1993 , a Benedictine monastery , Fort Augustus Abbey in Scotland closed the school that had been its major work since its foundation in 1880 , though latterly plagued by allegations of child abuse .
In 1998 , citing the high cost of maintaining the monastic buildings , the community itself was dissolved , its members dispersing to other monastic communities .
A similar process is now taking place with another Benedictine community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , the community was legally separated from the school which had existed alongside the monastic community since 1617 , at that time an English Catholic institution in exile on the Continent .
School and monastery have shared the current site in southwest England since 1814 .
But now it has been announced that the monks will be leaving : exactly when and to where has yet to be determined .
The monastic buildings were designed for fifty monks , and the community is down to eight , with little prospect of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and co-existing on the same site as a school they no longer run is awkward .
It is time , apparently , to move on .
The problems these institutions have had with vocations and with their schools are distinct , though entangled .
Britain ’ s fee-paying boarding schools have had a difficult time in recent years , but many continue to flourish .
It seems that they will do so without such a strong contingent of Catholic monastic schools among them as in the past .
The more fundamental problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the lack of vocations .
This is hardly a secret , and in 2015 , the English Benedictines held a crisis meeting to consider the situation , which was reported by one participant , Fr .Hugh Somerville-Knapman of Douai Abbey .
He notes : Something else the meeting apparently agreed about was the liturgy : The two things are linked .
The young men who have been presenting themselves at Benedictine houses over the last twenty or thirty years have very often been more liturgically and theologically conservative than the senior members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these young men have not always been made very welcome .
The same phenomenon has been recorded in diocesan seminaries , but in recent years , bishops and seminary rectors have begun to be appointed from a generation ordained well after Vatican II , who are a bit more open-minded .
In religious communities , the old-timers don ’ t disappear from the scene in the same way , and one can continue to be dominated by the generation personally responsible for ripping out the old High Altar and tossing the old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they reach their seventies , eighties , or nineties .
These men are not friendly to the idea that they may have made a mistake .
If there has been progress on the issues identified by Fr .
Somerville-Knapman since 2015 , it has been well hidden .
As Fr .
Christopher Basden pointed out in a recent open letter , not all religious communities have declined in the way that Downside ’ s has , and some have reversed such declines .
The examples Fr .
Basden gives provide several models that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track records of success .
These range from the complete restoration of pre–Vatican II liturgy and practices , as practiced in the monastery of Norcia in Italy , to the use of a form of the Office reformed after the Second Vatican Council , as practiced by the Carthusians of Parkminster in England , though celebrated in Latin , and various options in between , as practiced by some of the French Benedictine communities .
Fr .
Basden writes , of Parkminster : In 1990 my dear late friend , Dom Bernard O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they simply could not go on .
They were down to eleven old men .
The buildings were crumbling all around them .
Continual Postulants and Novices simply came and went with none persevering for almost twenty years .
The wisdom was that they were finished and that they would have to move .
Thankfully , a higher wisdom intervened , Dom Cyril Pierce took over and as a remarkably successful Master of Novices at The Grand Chartreuse ( twelve men to solemn profession ) also oversaw a confident formation of new men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lottery funding to repair the sorry state of the monastery .
Thirty years later they have twenty-seven monks .
It takes but one man with the vision and determination and grace to succeed .
What Fr .
Basden ’ s examples have in common is not a single , precise liturgical and community vision , but a life that is understood from within and from without as serious and tough , but sustained up by its celebration of the Office , which for religious claiming allegiance to St. Benedict has got to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , “ nihil operi Dei præponatur ” : “ nothing is to be given priority over the Work of God ” — that is , to the recitation of the Psalms , Antiphons , and Readings of the Office .
Readers should pay attention not to me , if I suggest that the spiritual vitality of a Benedictine community can be provided only by singing the Office in Latin with its ancient antiphons and using the ancient melodies .
No : you should listen instead to Pope Paul VI on the subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , what words or melodies could replace the forms of Catholic devotion which you have used until now ?
You should reflect and carefully consider whether things would not be worse , should this fine inheritance be discarded .
It is to be feared that the choral office would turn into a mere bland recitation , suffering from poverty and begetting weariness , as you yourselves would perhaps be the first to experience .
One can also wonder whether men would come in such numbers to your churches in quest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ native tongue , joined to a chant full of grave beauty , resounded no more within your walls .
We therefore ask all those to whom it pertains , to ponder what they wish to give up , and not to let that spring run dry from which , until the present , they have themselves drunk deep .
Pope Paul knew that religious communities all over the world were preparing to ditch the sung Latin Office , and with prophetic insight he knew what the consequence would be .
As Shakespeare expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the monasteries : “ Bare , ruined choirs , where late the sweet bird sang .
”

Not all religious communities have declined in the way that Downside Abbey’s has, and some have reversed such declines.
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock! Sign the petition here.
September 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — In 1993, a Benedictine monastery, Fort Augustus Abbey in Scotland closed the school that had been its major work since its foundation in 1880, though latterly plagued by allegations of child abuse. In 1998, citing the high cost of maintaining the monastic buildings, the community itself was dissolved, its members dispersing to other monastic communities.
A similar process is now taking place with another Benedictine community, Downside Abbey in England. In 2019, the community was legally separated from the school which had existed alongside the monastic community since 1617, at that time an English Catholic institution in exile on the Continent. School and monastery have shared the current site in southwest England since 1814. But now it has been announced that the monks will be leaving: exactly when and to where has yet to be determined. The monastic buildings were designed for fifty monks, and the community is down to eight, with little prospect of new members. It is expensive to maintain, and co-existing on the same site as a school they no longer run is awkward. It is time, apparently, to move on.
The problems these institutions have had with vocations and with their schools are distinct, though entangled. Britain’s fee-paying boarding schools have had a difficult time in recent years, but many continue to flourish. It seems that they will do so without such a strong contingent of Catholic monastic schools among them as in the past. The more fundamental problem for these and many other communities has been the lack of vocations.
This is hardly a secret, and in 2015, the English Benedictines held a crisis meeting to consider the situation, which was reported by one participant, Fr .Hugh Somerville-Knapman of Douai Abbey. He notes:
There was much discussion about the fact that young recruits now usually bring with them an implicit challenge to the status quo in many houses. We all agreed that their zeal and idealism must not be crushed but nurtured, matured and even encouraged.
Something else the meeting apparently agreed about was the liturgy:
There were repeated calls for greater dignity to our worship … and the need to de-stigmatize the Extraordinary Form.
The two things are linked. The young men who have been presenting themselves at Benedictine houses over the last twenty or thirty years have very often been more liturgically and theologically conservative than the senior members of the communities themselves. Put simply, these young men have not always been made very welcome. The same phenomenon has been recorded in diocesan seminaries, but in recent years, bishops and seminary rectors have begun to be appointed from a generation ordained well after Vatican II, who are a bit more open-minded. In religious communities, the old-timers don’t disappear from the scene in the same way, and one can continue to be dominated by the generation personally responsible for ripping out the old High Altar and tossing the old books onto the bonfire, even as they reach their seventies, eighties, or nineties. These men are not friendly to the idea that they may have made a mistake.
If there has been progress on the issues identified by Fr. Somerville-Knapman since 2015, it has been well hidden.
As Fr. Christopher Basden pointed out in a recent open letter, not all religious communities have declined in the way that Downside’s has, and some have reversed such declines. The examples Fr. Basden gives provide several models that could be followed — models with proven track records of success. These range from the complete restoration of pre–Vatican II liturgy and practices, as practiced in the monastery of Norcia in Italy, to the use of a form of the Office reformed after the Second Vatican Council, as practiced by the Carthusians of Parkminster in England, though celebrated in Latin, and various options in between, as practiced by some of the French Benedictine communities. Fr. Basden writes, of Parkminster:
In 1990 my dear late friend, Dom Bernard O’Donavon, then Prior, felt they simply could not go on. They were down to eleven old men. The buildings were crumbling all around them. Continual Postulants and Novices simply came and went with none persevering for almost twenty years. The wisdom was that they were finished and that they would have to move. Thankfully, a higher wisdom intervened, Dom Cyril Pierce took over and as a remarkably successful Master of Novices at The Grand Chartreuse (twelve men to solemn profession) also oversaw a confident formation of new men. In addition to this he oversaw lottery funding to repair the sorry state of the monastery. Thirty years later they have twenty-seven monks. It takes but one man with the vision and determination and grace to succeed.
What Fr. Basden’s examples have in common is not a single, precise liturgical and community vision, but a life that is understood from within and from without as serious and tough, but sustained up by its celebration of the Office, which for religious claiming allegiance to St. Benedict has got to be the ultimate priority. As St. Benedict wrote, “nihil operi Dei præponatur”: “nothing is to be given priority over the Work of God” — that is, to the recitation of the Psalms, Antiphons, and Readings of the Office.
Readers should pay attention not to me, if I suggest that the spiritual vitality of a Benedictine community can be provided only by singing the Office in Latin with its ancient antiphons and using the ancient melodies. No: you should listen instead to Pope Paul VI on the subject, writing in 1966.
In present conditions, what words or melodies could replace the forms of Catholic devotion which you have used until now? You should reflect and carefully consider whether things would not be worse, should this fine inheritance be discarded. It is to be feared that the choral office would turn into a mere bland recitation, suffering from poverty and begetting weariness, as you yourselves would perhaps be the first to experience. One can also wonder whether men would come in such numbers to your churches in quest of the sacred prayer, if its ancient and native tongue, joined to a chant full of grave beauty, resounded no more within your walls. We therefore ask all those to whom it pertains, to ponder what they wish to give up, and not to let that spring run dry from which, until the present, they have themselves drunk deep.
Pope Paul knew that religious communities all over the world were preparing to ditch the sung Latin Office, and with prophetic insight he knew what the consequence would be. As Shakespeare expressed it, lamenting a previous dissolution of the monasteries: “Bare, ruined choirs, where late the sweet bird sang.”
Follow Joseph Dr Joseph Shaw has a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University, where he also gained a first degree in Politics and Philosophy and a graduate Diploma in Theology. He has published on Ethics and Philosophy of Religion and is the editor of The Case for Liturgical Restoration: Una Voce Position Papers on the Extraordinary Form (Angelico Press). He is the Chairman of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales and Secretary of Una Voce International. He teaches Philosophy in Oxford University and lives nearby with his wife and nine children.
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