lifesitenews--2020-02-28--Pope’s Lenten message includes environment damage as ‘wounds of Christ’

February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pope Francis has published his Lenten message for 2020 , encouraging all Catholics continually to return to the “ mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus , ” “ the cornerstone of our personal and communal Christian life.
” While insisting in traditional terms on reconciliation with God and conversion in this “ favorable season , ” Pope Francis mostly spoke of the horizontal effects of the special Christian time of penance — which he did not mention — whose fruits he mainly named as “ a means of personally participating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And , of course , of commitment to bettering the “ environment.
” In particular , Francis spoke of the “ wounds of the crucified Christ ” as being “ present in environmental disasters , the unequal distribution of the earth ’ s goods , human trafficking in all its forms , and the unbridled thirst for profit , which is a form of idolatry.
” There was no mention of man ’ s necessary atonement for sins , nor of the possibility of everlasting life with God obtained through the sacrifice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead focused on the social aspect of the “ paschal mystery.
” “ Putting the paschal mystery at the center of our lives means feeling compassion towards the wounds of the crucified Christ present in the many innocent victims of wars , in attacks on life , from that of the unborn to that of the elderly , and various forms of violence , ” he wrote .
The appeal to see Jesus Himself and to serve Him in alleviating the suffering of our neighbor is classic .
“ In truth I tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine , you did it to me , ” said the Lord Jesus ( Matth .
25:40 ) .
But Pope Francis ’ s message for Lent mostly remains at this level : a call to be “ the salt of the earth and the light of the world , ” as its final words say , but without recalling that the object of conversion , sacrifice ( another absent word ) , and charity is to obtain God Himself .
Pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ paschal mystery as the basis of conversion.
” “ Christian joy flows from listening to , and accepting , the Good News of the death and resurrection of Jesus .
This kerygma sums up the mystery of a love ‘ so real , so true , so concrete , that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue ’ ( Christus Vivit , 117 ) .
Whoever believes this message rejects the lie that our life is ours to do with as we will .
Rather , life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our Father , from his desire to grant us life in abundance ( cf .
Jn 10:10 ) .
” But still in his horizontal vein , the Pope Francis added : “ If we listen instead to the tempting voice of the ‘ father of lies ’ ( Jn 8:44 ) , we risk sinking into the abyss of absurdity , and experiencing hell here on earth , as all too many tragic events in the personal and collective human experience sadly bear witness.
” Once again , this is not false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ hell here on earth , ” while not recalling that the worst Hell is the everlasting suffering that awaits those who reject God ’ s commandments , His grace , and His mercy .
“ Tragic events ” are the price we pay for sin — our own sins and the sins of mankind — but they are not the end of all goodness and joy , but instead God ’ s merciful gateway that allows us to obtain Heaven .
Recalling his words to the young in his post-synodal exhortation Christus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis invited all Christians to contemplate the suffering Jesus and to be reconciled to Him and to be “ saved over and over again ” through the confession of sins : In this Lent of 2020 , I would like to share with every Christian what I wrote to young people in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit : ‘ Keep your eyes fixed on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified , let yourself be saved over and over again .
And when you go to confess your sins , believe firmly in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Contemplate his blood poured out with such great love , and let yourself be cleansed by it .
In this way , you can be reborn ever anew ” ( No .
123 ) .
Jesus ’ Pasch is not a past event ; rather , through the power of the Holy Spirit it is ever present , enabling us to see and touch with faith the flesh of Christ in those who suffer .
Pope Francis called on Christians to pray , especially in this time of Lent : “ May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass in vain , in the foolish illusion that we can control the times and means of our conversion to him.
” He also recalled that God ’ s saving will led the Father to burden his Son with the weight of our sins , thus , in the expression of Pope Benedict XVI , ‘ turning of God against himself ’ ( Deus Caritas Est , 12 ) .
” The Lenten message ’ s final paragraphs speak of Francis ’ s particular vision of earthly goods and the well-being of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the classic reproof of “ unbridled thirst for profit , which is a form of idolatry ” ( one can not serve two masters , God and Mammon ... ) , the pope wrote , going one step farther than the traditional view of evil , that the “ wounds of the crucified Christ ” are present not only in suffering human beings , but in “ environmental disasters.
” In today ’ s language , these often designate man-made pollution or abuse of the Creation , but the identification between Christ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is problematic and recalls the pantheistic overtones of Querida Amazonia .
Again , human-trafficking is of itself a disorder and an evil , but “ the unequal distribution of the earth ’ s goods ” is a given of material reality and the hierarchic structure of mankind , where the rich are evil not because they have more than others , but because they choose not to use their wealth to alleviate the misery of the needy .
In designating the “ unequal distribution ” of earthly goods as akin to killing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of individual charity to the political plane , suggesting that “ equal distribution ” is to be sought after .
He did recall in the following paragraph that “ there is a need to appeal to men and women of goodwill to share , by almsgiving , their goods with those most in need , as a means of personally participating in the building of a better world.
” But he went on to say : “ Charitable giving makes us more human , whereas hoarding risks making us less human , imprisoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and must go even further , and consider the structural aspects of our economic life.
” What does he mean exactly by this ?
The answer will come in March .
That is when , in Assisi , at the invitation of Pope Francis , a convention will take place in Assisi under the title “ The Economy of Francesco.
” He wrote in his message for Lent : “ For this reason , in the midst of Lent this year , from 26 to 28 March , I have convened a meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and change-makers , with the aim of shaping a more just and inclusive economy .
As the Church ’ s magisterium has often repeated , political life represents an eminent form of charity ( cf .
Pius XI , Address to the Italian Federation of Catholic University Students , 18 December 1927 ) .
The same holds true for economic life , which can be approached in the same evangelical spirit , the spirit of the Beatitudes.
” The “ Francesco Economy ’ s ” website explains that young people are being called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the spirit of Saint Francis , in order to make the economy of today and tomorrow fair , sustainable and inclusive , with no one left behind.
” Speakers will include population control advocate Jeffrey Sachs , Nobel prizewinners Amartya Sen and Muhammad Yunus , and many others .
Jennifer Nedelsky , who will be a keynote speaker , deserves a special mention : this professor of law and political science has concentrated on Feminist Theory in her academic career , and the way gender and feminist theory “ intersect ” with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as feminine autonomy .
Among the events is one called “ Slow down ” — an “ anti-growth ” workshop ?
— and a party .
“ Thematic villages ” will be associated with themes such as “ Policies and happiness , ” “ CO2 of inequalities , ” and “ Economy is woman .
”

There was no mention of man’s necessary atonement for sins, nor of the possibility of everlasting life with God obtained through the sacrifice of His only Son.
February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis has published his Lenten message for 2020, encouraging all Catholics continually to return to the “mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus,” “the cornerstone of our personal and communal Christian life.” While insisting in traditional terms on reconciliation with God and conversion in this “favorable season,” Pope Francis mostly spoke of the horizontal effects of the special Christian time of penance — which he did not mention — whose fruits he mainly named as “a means of personally participating in the building of a better world.” And, of course, of commitment to bettering the “environment.”
In particular, Francis spoke of the “wounds of the crucified Christ” as being “present in environmental disasters, the unequal distribution of the earth’s goods, human trafficking in all its forms, and the unbridled thirst for profit, which is a form of idolatry.”
There was no mention of man’s necessary atonement for sins, nor of the possibility of everlasting life with God obtained through the sacrifice of His only Son.
Pope Francis instead focused on the social aspect of the “paschal mystery.”
“Putting the paschal mystery at the center of our lives means feeling compassion towards the wounds of the crucified Christ present in the many innocent victims of wars, in attacks on life, from that of the unborn to that of the elderly, and various forms of violence,” he wrote.
The appeal to see Jesus Himself and to serve Him in alleviating the suffering of our neighbor is classic. “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me,” said the Lord Jesus (Matth. 25:40).
But Pope Francis’s message for Lent mostly remains at this level: a call to be “the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” as its final words say, but without recalling that the object of conversion, sacrifice (another absent word), and charity is to obtain God Himself.
Pope Francis did call all Christians to see the “paschal mystery as the basis of conversion.”
“Christian joy flows from listening to, and accepting, the Good News of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This kerygma sums up the mystery of a love ‘so real, so true, so concrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue’ (Christus Vivit, 117). Whoever believes this message rejects the lie that our life is ours to do with as we will. Rather, life is born of the love of God our Father, from his desire to grant us life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10).”
But still in his horizontal vein, the Pope Francis added: “If we listen instead to the tempting voice of the ‘father of lies’ (Jn 8:44), we risk sinking into the abyss of absurdity, and experiencing hell here on earth, as all too many tragic events in the personal and collective human experience sadly bear witness.”
Once again, this is not false, but it reductively speaks only of “hell here on earth,” while not recalling that the worst Hell is the everlasting suffering that awaits those who reject God’s commandments, His grace, and His mercy. “Tragic events” are the price we pay for sin — our own sins and the sins of mankind — but they are not the end of all goodness and joy, but instead God’s merciful gateway that allows us to obtain Heaven.
Recalling his words to the young in his post-synodal exhortation Christus Vivit after the Youth Synod, Pope Francis invited all Christians to contemplate the suffering Jesus and to be reconciled to Him and to be “saved over and over again” through the confession of sins:
In this Lent of 2020, I would like to share with every Christian what I wrote to young people in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: ‘Keep your eyes fixed on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, let yourself be saved over and over again. And when you go to confess your sins, believe firmly in his mercy which frees you of your guilt. Contemplate his blood poured out with such great love, and let yourself be cleansed by it. In this way, you can be reborn ever anew” (No. 123). Jesus’ Pasch is not a past event; rather, through the power of the Holy Spirit it is ever present, enabling us to see and touch with faith the flesh of Christ in those who suffer.
Pope Francis called on Christians to pray, especially in this time of Lent: “May we not let this time of grace pass in vain, in the foolish illusion that we can control the times and means of our conversion to him.” He also recalled that God’s saving will led the Father to burden his Son with the weight of our sins, thus, in the expression of Pope Benedict XVI, ‘turning of God against himself’ (Deus Caritas Est, 12).”
The Lenten message’s final paragraphs speak of Francis’s particular vision of earthly goods and the well-being of our planet and the economy. Together with the classic reproof of “unbridled thirst for profit, which is a form of idolatry” (one cannot serve two masters, God and Mammon…), the pope wrote, going one step farther than the traditional view of evil, that the “wounds of the crucified Christ” are present not only in suffering human beings, but in “environmental disasters.” In today’s language, these often designate man-made pollution or abuse of the Creation, but the identification between Christ and nature and the material goods of Creation is problematic and recalls the pantheistic overtones of Querida Amazonia.
Again, human-trafficking is of itself a disorder and an evil, but “the unequal distribution of the earth’s goods” is a given of material reality and the hierarchic structure of mankind, where the rich are evil not because they have more than others, but because they choose not to use their wealth to alleviate the misery of the needy.
In designating the “unequal distribution” of earthly goods as akin to killing the innocent, Pope Francis moves the question of individual charity to the political plane, suggesting that “equal distribution” is to be sought after.
He did recall in the following paragraph that “there is a need to appeal to men and women of goodwill to share, by almsgiving, their goods with those most in need, as a means of personally participating in the building of a better world.”
But he went on to say: “Charitable giving makes us more human, whereas hoarding risks making us less human, imprisoned by our own selfishness. We can and must go even further, and consider the structural aspects of our economic life.”
What does he mean exactly by this? The answer will come in March. That is when, in Assisi, at the invitation of Pope Francis, a convention will take place in Assisi under the title “The Economy of Francesco.”
He wrote in his message for Lent: “For this reason, in the midst of Lent this year, from 26 to 28 March, I have convened a meeting in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs and change-makers, with the aim of shaping a more just and inclusive economy. As the Church’s magisterium has often repeated, political life represents an eminent form of charity (cf. Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation of Catholic University Students, 18 December 1927). The same holds true for economic life, which can be approached in the same evangelical spirit, the spirit of the Beatitudes.”
The “Francesco Economy’s” website explains that young people are being called to Assisi “to make a commitment in the spirit of Saint Francis, in order to make the economy of today and tomorrow fair, sustainable and inclusive, with no one left behind.”
Speakers will include population control advocate Jeffrey Sachs, Nobel prizewinners Amartya Sen and Muhammad Yunus, and many others.
Jennifer Nedelsky, who will be a keynote speaker, deserves a special mention: this professor of law and political science has concentrated on Feminist Theory in her academic career, and the way gender and feminist theory “intersect” with multiple fields of law, as well as feminine autonomy.
Among the events is one called “Slow down” — an “anti-growth” workshop? — and a party. “Thematic villages” will be associated with themes such as “Policies and happiness,” “CO2 of inequalities,” and “Economy is woman.”
Follow Jeanne Jeanne Smits has worked as a journalist in France since 1987 after obtaining a Master of Arts in Law. She formerly directed the French daily Présent and was editor-in-chief of an all-internet French-speaking news site called reinformation.tv. She writes regularly for a number of Catholic journals (Monde & vie, L’Homme nouveau, Reconquête…) and runs a personal pro-life blog. In addition, she is often invited to radio and TV shows on alternative media. She is vice-president of the Christian and French defense association “AGRIF.” She is the French translator of The Dictator Pope by Henry Sire and Christus Vincit by Bishop Schneider, and recently contributed to the Bref examen critique de la communion dans la main about Communion in the hand. She is married and has three children, and lives near Paris.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--VP Pence: Trump admin is defunding Planned Parenthood and 2020 a fight between freedom and socialism

February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Trump administration is defunding Planned Parenthood ahead of a 2020 presidential election that shapes up as a fight between freedom and socialism , Vice President Mike Pence told the nation 's largest gathering of conservatives today .
Pence told the Conservative Political Action Conference ( CPAC ) that he was proud to serve under “ a president who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life.
” After noting that President Donald Trump “ made history by becoming the first president to attend the March for Life last month on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained some of the ways in which Trump has reduced funding to abortion businesses .
“ He signed legislation to make it possible for every state to deny Title X funding to abortion providers , ” he said “ And just this week the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld President Trump ’ s executive order denying taxpayer funding to family planning clinics that make referrals for abortion .
We are defunding Planned Parenthood.
” Pence also said that “ in support of the rule of law , ” Trump has kept his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 190 conservatives to our federal courts at our every level , including Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
” Speaking of those appointments , Pence said , “ I ’ ve gotten to know a lot of these incredible men and women and I can assure you that they are all principled jurists who will uphold the God-given liberties enshrined in our constitution , like the freedom of religion , the freedom of speech , and the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
” Pence took aim at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referencing the failure of the Senate to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act .
This was “ a week when Democrats in the United States Senate actually voted down a bill that would have extended legal protections to babies that survive abortions.
” Pence then told pro-life Democrats that they “ have a home in today ’ s Republican Party.
” “ Life is winning in America , ” he said , “ and that ’ s what makes it so remarkable that every leading Democrat running for president has actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in today ’ s Democratic party for pro-life voters.
” “ So let me say to every pro-life American , Republican , Independent , or Democrat – you have a home in today ’ s Republican party .
President Donald Trump is the most pro-life president in American history.
” In the second half of his speech , Pence mocked the current Democrat presidential hopefuls , describing the most recent Democratic primary debate as a “ demolition derby.
” “ I mean think about it , ” he said , “ now you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crummiest ideas in politics .
They ’ re all smashing into each other and eventually there ’ ll be one left driving .
But I think we all know how this is going to end .
There ’ s going to be a monster truck with a big ‘ T ’ on the hood that ’ s going to drive into the infield and roll right over it !
It ’ s going to happen.
” Becoming serious again , Pence said that “ the truth is today ’ s Democratic Party has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who want higher taxes , open borders , and late-terms abortions.
” “ It ’ s really astonishing to think that the party of Harry Truman and JFK is actually on the verge of nominating an avowed socialist as their party ’ s standard bearer , ” he continued .
“ The Democratic party is on the verge of nominating a candidate who honeymooned in the Soviet Union , wants to take away the health insurance of 160 million Americans , and speaks glowingly of socialist dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said , “ this isn ’ t just about Bernie ( Sanders ) .
Despite what the media loves to tell you , there are no moderates in this Democratic field.
” The 2020 Democrats are all virtually in lockstep on social issues : They support taxpayer-funded abortion on demand and the homosexual/LGBT cause .
At least two candidates – Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg – list their gender pronouns in their Twitter bios .
The latter is in a same-sex “ marriage.
” Warren says she will let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of Education if she wins .
Former Vice President Joe Biden has said he would direct the Department of Justice to “ do everything in its power ” to block state laws that place any restriction on abortion , including parental notification requirements , ultrasound laws , and waiting periods .
Meanwhile , Sanders has threatened that he would “ use the Department of Justice to go after those states ” that restrict abortion “ in every way that I legally can.
” Every Democrat candidate has also pledged to nominate pro-abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bench .
Earlier this week , Sanders unveiled his plans to fund universal child care and pre-kindergarten programs that would mean all children in the United States from infancy would have access to taxpayer funded , full-day , full-week child care and would enter pre-kindergarten beginning at three years old .
Pro-family and education experts slammed the proposal as “ bad for kids , bad for women , ( and ) bad for families.
” Meanwhile , Pence highlighted the work of the Trump administration to expand parental choice in education , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ll give every parent in America the right to choose where their children go to school : public , private , parochial or homeschool .
It ’ s time.
” The vice president said “ Democrats have been overtaken by a leftist ideology that history tells us has literally impoverished millions of people around the world and robbed the liberties of generations .
And that system is socialism.
” Pence lamented that “ far too many young people ” have rallied around this cause and that it won ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Conservatives must win the next generation , he said .
Pence described the upcoming presidential election as a battle between “ socialism ” and “ freedom.
” “ Socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried , in every era , on every continent and among every class of people .
Freedom works , socialism doesn ’ t , ” he said .
“ It was freedom , not socialism , that gave us the strongest , most prosperous nation in the history of the world , ” he continued .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ended slavery , won two world wars , and has made America a beacon of hope for all mankind .
It was freedom .
And so as the Democratic party seeks to nominate and embrace the failed policies of socialism , we must renew our resolve in this year 2020 , as the president said one year ago , ‘ America will never be a socialist country.
’ ” Calling on those in attendance to go out and take action to ensure that Trump is re-elected , Pence told the crowd : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Four more years means more judges .
Four more years means more support for our troops .
And it ’ s going to take at least four more years to drain that swamp .
”

'You’ve got these Democrats with the crummiest ideas in politics. They’re all smashing into each other ... But I think we all know how this is going to end.'
February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Trump administration is “defunding” Planned Parenthood ahead of a 2020 presidential election that shapes up as a fight between freedom and socialism, Vice President Mike Pence told the nation's largest gathering of conservatives today.
Pence told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that he was proud to serve under “a president who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life” (see minute 21:15 of video below for remarks).
After noting that President Donald Trump “made history by becoming the first president to attend the March for Life last month on the National Mall,” Pence then explained some of the ways in which Trump has reduced funding to abortion businesses.
“He signed legislation to make it possible for every state to deny Title X funding to abortion providers,” he said “And just this week the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld President Trump’s executive order denying taxpayer funding to family planning clinics that make referrals for abortion. We are defunding Planned Parenthood.”
Pence also said that “in support of the rule of law,” Trump has kept his word to conservatives by appointing “more than 190 conservatives to our federal courts at our every level, including Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.”
Speaking of those appointments, Pence said, “I’ve gotten to know a lot of these incredible men and women and I can assure you that they are all principled jurists who will uphold the God-given liberties enshrined in our constitution, like the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, and the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.”
Pence took aim at the position of Democrat politicians on life issues, referencing the failure of the Senate to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
This was “a week when Democrats in the United States Senate actually voted down a bill that would have extended legal protections to babies that survive abortions.”
Pence then told pro-life Democrats that they “have a home in today’s Republican Party.”
“Life is winning in America,” he said, “and that’s what makes it so remarkable that every leading Democrat running for president has actually said that there’s no room in today’s Democratic party for pro-life voters.”
“So let me say to every pro-life American, Republican, Independent, or Democrat – you have a home in today’s Republican party. President Donald Trump is the most pro-life president in American history.”
In the second half of his speech, Pence mocked the current Democrat presidential hopefuls, describing the most recent Democratic primary debate as a “demolition derby.”
“I mean think about it,” he said, “now you’ve got these Democrats with the crummiest ideas in politics. They’re all smashing into each other and eventually there’ll be one left driving. But I think we all know how this is going to end. There’s going to be a monster truck with a big ‘T’ on the hood that’s going to drive into the infield and roll right over it! It’s going to happen.”
Becoming serious again, Pence said that “the truth is today’s Democratic Party has been taken over by radical leftists, who want higher taxes, open borders, and late-terms abortions.”
“It’s really astonishing to think that the party of Harry Truman and JFK is actually on the verge of nominating an avowed socialist as their party’s standard bearer,” he continued. “The Democratic party is on the verge of nominating a candidate who honeymooned in the Soviet Union, wants to take away the health insurance of 160 million Americans, and speaks glowingly of socialist dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela.”
“And let’s just be clear,” he said, “this isn’t just about Bernie (Sanders). Despite what the media loves to tell you, there are no moderates in this Democratic field.”
The 2020 Democrats are all virtually in lockstep on social issues: They support taxpayer-funded abortion on demand and the homosexual/LGBT cause. At least two candidates – Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg – list their gender pronouns in their Twitter bios. The latter is in a same-sex “marriage.” Warren says she will let a gender-confused child vet her nominee for Secretary of Education if she wins.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has said he would direct the Department of Justice to “do everything in its power” to block state laws that place any restriction on abortion, including parental notification requirements, ultrasound laws, and waiting periods. Meanwhile, Sanders has threatened that he would “use the Department of Justice to go after those states” that restrict abortion “in every way that I legally can.” Every Democrat candidate has also pledged to nominate pro-abortion judges to the Supreme Court and federal bench.
Earlier this week, Sanders unveiled his plans to fund universal child care and pre-kindergarten programs that would mean all children in the United States from infancy would have access to taxpayer funded, full-day, full-week child care and would enter pre-kindergarten beginning at three years old. Pro-family and education experts slammed the proposal as “bad for kids, bad for women, (and) bad for families.”
Meanwhile, Pence highlighted the work of the Trump administration to expand parental choice in education, saying, “And with four more years we’ll give every parent in America the right to choose where their children go to school: public, private, parochial or homeschool. It’s time.”
The vice president said “Democrats have been overtaken by a leftist ideology that history tells us has literally impoverished millions of people around the world and robbed the liberties of generations. And that system is socialism.”
Pence lamented that “far too many young people” have rallied around this cause and that it won’t be enough to just win the next election. Conservatives must win the next generation, he said.
Pence described the upcoming presidential election as a battle between “socialism” and “freedom.”
“Socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried, in every era, on every continent and among every class of people. Freedom works, socialism doesn’t,” he said.
“It was freedom, not socialism, that gave us the strongest, most prosperous nation in the history of the world,” he continued.
“It was freedom, not socialism, that ended slavery, won two world wars, and has made America a beacon of hope for all mankind. It was freedom. And so as the Democratic party seeks to nominate and embrace the failed policies of socialism, we must renew our resolve in this year 2020, as the president said one year ago, ‘America will never be a socialist country.’”
Calling on those in attendance to go out and take action to ensure that Trump is re-elected, Pence told the crowd: “Four more years means more jobs. Four more years means more judges. Four more years means more support for our troops. And it’s going to take at least four more years to drain that swamp.”
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--Democrat Gillibrand claims pro-life bills take away ‘religious freedom’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Prior to Tuesday ’ s failed Senate votes on legislation to ban late-term abortion and require basic medical care for abortion survivors , Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , D-New York , chose an unusual direction from which to attack the measures .
The Senate voted 56-41 in favor of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act , which would require abortionists to transfer infants who survive abortions to hospitals , where they would be given the same degree of care as any wanted newborn .
It also voted 53-44 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act , which would ban most abortions starting at 20 weeks ( or five months ) into pregnancy ( by which point science indicates preborn babies are capable of feeling pain ) .
Neither bill passed , however , as the Senate ’ s current filibuster rules require 60 votes for most types of legislation .
“ This is part of President Trump and Mitch McConnell ’ s all-out assault on women , ” Gillibrand declared on MSNBC .
“ They ’ re trying to harm women .
They ’ re trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights , their ability to make the most important , intimate decisions of their lives .
They ’ re taking away their religious freedom .
They ’ re taking away their moral freedom.
” Gillibrand did not elaborate on how there could be a “ religious freedom ” to abort one ’ s child or starve a newborn to death , but she has previously suggested that banning abortion goes against “ free will ” and the “ separation of church and state.
” Like many “ Christian ” abortion defenders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s multiple prohibitions on “ spilling innocent blood ” factor into her moral calculus .
“ These two measures that we ’ re voting on literally changes the landscape of how we treat a baby who was born , who can not survive outside the womb and how those parents want to be able to have those final moments with their child , ” she continued .
“ It is a horrible , horrible choice by Mitch McConnell to force these votes , and we ’ ve voted on these measures before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think this is just a political ploy to satisfy those who are attending the CPAC conference.
” “ Sen .
Gillibrand is going right to the fetal abnormality argument , which is telling , ” Clash Daily associate editor K. Walker wrote in response .
“ She refuses to acknowledge that late-term abortion is mostly done for the convenience of the mother .
Even the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute study shows that the vast majority of women that choose to abort after 20 weeks are making the decision for the same reasons as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Gillibrand , who briefly competed in the Democrat presidential primary , holds 100 percent pro-abortion ratings with Planned Parenthood and NARAL ; has called the prospect of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and letting states decide their own abortion laws “ literally the biggest civil rights issue , certainly in my lifetime , for women ” ; and defended Planned Parenthood while refusing to watch the undercover videos revealing its sale of aborted baby parts .
During her presidential campaign , Gillibrand also claimed the rightness of legal abortion is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral clarity that we have as a society decided that the other side is not acceptable , ” and that appointing a pro-life jurist would be on par with “ saying that it ’ s OK to appoint a judge who ’ s racist or anti-Semitic or homophobic .
”

The New York senator railed against President Trump and Mitch McConnell but failed to explain what late-term abortion has to do with religious freedom.
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Prior to Tuesday’s failed Senate votes on legislation to ban late-term abortion and require basic medical care for abortion survivors, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, chose an unusual direction from which to attack the measures.
The Senate voted 56-41 in favor of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require abortionists to transfer infants who survive abortions to hospitals, where they would be given the same degree of care as any wanted newborn. It also voted 53-44 in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban most abortions starting at 20 weeks (or five months) into pregnancy (by which point science indicates preborn babies are capable of feeling pain). Neither bill passed, however, as the Senate’s current filibuster rules require 60 votes for most types of legislation.
“This is part of President Trump and Mitch McConnell’s all-out assault on women,” Gillibrand declared on MSNBC. “They’re trying to harm women. They’re trying to take away their civil rights, their human rights, their ability to make the most important, intimate decisions of their lives. They’re taking away their religious freedom. They’re taking away their moral freedom.”
Gillibrand did not elaborate on how there could be a “religious freedom” to abort one’s child or starve a newborn to death, but she has previously suggested that banning abortion goes against “free will” and the “separation of church and state.” Like many “Christian” abortion defenders, she did not address how the Bible’s multiple prohibitions on “spilling innocent blood” factor into her moral calculus.
“These two measures that we’re voting on literally changes the landscape of how we treat a baby who was born, who cannot survive outside the womb and how those parents want to be able to have those final moments with their child,” she continued. “It is a horrible, horrible choice by Mitch McConnell to force these votes, and we’ve voted on these measures before and they’ve lost. I think this is just a political ploy to satisfy those who are attending the CPAC conference.”
.@SenGillibrand on the Senate taking up the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act: An “all-out assault on women” “They’re trying to harm women. They’re trying to take away their civil rights, human rights … They’re taking away their religious freedom” pic.twitter.com/2Ne6rGzpR3 — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 25, 2020
“Sen. Gillibrand is going right to the fetal abnormality argument, which is telling,” Clash Daily associate editor K. Walker wrote in response. “She refuses to acknowledge that late-term abortion is mostly done for the convenience of the mother. Even the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute study shows that the vast majority of women that choose to abort after 20 weeks are making the decision for the same reasons as the ones choosing to abort before 12 weeks.”
Gillibrand, who briefly competed in the Democrat presidential primary, holds 100 percent pro-abortion ratings with Planned Parenthood and NARAL; has called the prospect of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and letting states decide their own abortion laws “literally the biggest civil rights issue, certainly in my lifetime, for women”; and defended Planned Parenthood while refusing to watch the undercover videos revealing its sale of aborted baby parts.
During her presidential campaign, Gillibrand also claimed the rightness of legal abortion is an issue that has attained “such moral clarity that we have as a society decided that the other side is not acceptable,” and that appointing a pro-life jurist would be on par with “saying that it’s OK to appoint a judge who’s racist or anti-Semitic or homophobic.”
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--Anti-euthanasia orgs sound alarm on federal end-of-life bill

WASHINGTON , D.C. , February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Congress is currently considering legislation that would overhaul training and procedures for palliative and hospice care , but many have raised concerns that the bill would in practice hasten the deaths of seriously ill patients , including those whose situations are not terminal .
The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act , which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last October , requires the Department of Health & Human Services ( HHS ) to take steps to “ provide support for Palliative Care and Hospice Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training of health professionals in palliative care , ” according to its official summary .
The bill also calls on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to launch a “ national education and awareness campaign to inform patients , families , and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care , ” and on the National Institutes of Health to “ expand national research programs in palliative care.
” The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition USA ( EPCUSA ) warns that in their estimation , the bill would have several far more troubling consquences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more non-dying patients to hospice care , a system “ plagued by fraud , poor quality care leading to serious harm and deaths , while wasting hundreds of millions to billions of federal dollars “ Federal investigators found hospices enrolling patients who are not terminally ill , without their knowledge or under false pretenses , providing poor quality care , and inappropriately billing Medicare hundreds of millions of dollars , ” the group notes .
“ Nearly half of hospices are unsure they could pass a government audit.
” These transfers would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EPCUSA says will allow “ federal bureaucrats and palliative care insiders ” to define what constitutes a “ serious or life-threatening illness.
” “ Palliative leads to the deaths of people who were not otherwise dying , typically by casually assessing people as terminal and placing them in hospice where they are heavily sedated , overdosed on pain killers and denied food and water so the diagnosis becomes self-fulfilling , ” EPCUSA says .
They acknowledge that bill ’ s Section 5 contains language that forbids spending funds on education about or promotion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called mercy killing , but predicts that additional language in the Senate version “ will not stop the abuse and hastened deaths of people enrolled in hospice and palliative care.
” Discovery Institute senior fellow Wesley Smith , a prolific pro-life writer and bioethicist , disagrees .
Last September , he wrote in National Review that he believes Section 5 ’ s language is sufficient to keep the bill ’ s improvements to hospice care from morphing into cover for euthanasia .
“ It should also be noted that the sponsors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists expressed about its previous iteration , ” Smith wrote .
“ To be even more explicit and to prevent any confusion , this year ’ s version of the bill has added a clear statement that , in the programs it funds , ‘ palliative care and hospice shall not be furnished for the purpose of causing , or the purpose of assisting in causing , a patient ’ s death , for any reason.
’ There ’ s no wiggle room there.
” “ As an anti-euthanasia activist for 26 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith added .
“ I know that many assisted-suicide advocates wish to corrupt hospice and palliative care by authorizing killing in their names .
But their perfidy is not a reason to oppose a bill with great potential to help so many people.
” “ At first blush the new so-called ‘ anti-euthanasia ’ language looks good , but it does little or nothing .
That 's why there 's no need for wiggle room , ” attorney and EPCUSA board member Sara Buscher responded in a statement to LifeSiteNews .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of palliative care and hospice.
’ It funds education , research and public information programs .
The new language does not apply to the furnishing of medical care funded by Medicare , Medicaid and other federal programs because they are not funded by the bill.
” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) and the Catholic Medical Association ( CMA ) have come out against against the House version of the bill but for the Senate version , arguing the latter ’ s language that “ palliative care and hospice shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing , or the purpose of assisting in causing , a patient ’ s death , for any reason ” would prevent it from being abused .
The left-wing , Obama administration-colluding Catholic Health Association ( CHA ) supports both versions .
The National Association of Pro-Life Nurses has also come out against the bill , arguing that Section 5 is “ toothless ” because the practices it disavows “ are already considered acceptable by many influential hospice and palliative care doctors.
” “ We believe that the Palliative Care and Hospice Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow federal funding to teach and institutionalize such unethical practices without sufficient oversight , safeguards or penalties , ” the group declared .
“ As nurses , we are also very concerned that the Act contains no conscience rights protection for those of us – doctors and nurses alike – who will do anything for our patients except deliberately end their lives or help them kill themselves .
”

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Congress is currently considering legislation that would overhaul training and procedures for palliative and hospice care, but many have raised concerns that the bill would in practice hasten the deaths of seriously ill patients, including those whose situations are not terminal.
The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last October, requires the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to take steps to “provide support for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Centers” as they “improve the training of health professionals in palliative care,” according to its official summary. The bill also calls on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to launch a “national education and awareness campaign to inform patients, families, and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care,” and on the National Institutes of Health to “expand national research programs in palliative care.”
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition USA (EPCUSA) warns that in their estimation, the bill would have several far more troubling consquences, the first being the transfer of more non-dying patients to hospice care, a system “plagued by fraud, poor quality care leading to serious harm and deaths, while wasting hundreds of millions to billions of federal dollars
“Federal investigators found hospices enrolling patients who are not terminally ill, without their knowledge or under false pretenses, providing poor quality care, and inappropriately billing Medicare hundreds of millions of dollars,” the group notes. “Nearly half of hospices are unsure they could pass a government audit.”
These transfers would be exacerbated by language in the bill which EPCUSA says will allow “federal bureaucrats and palliative care insiders” to define what constitutes a “serious or life-threatening illness.”
“Palliative leads to the deaths of people who were not otherwise dying, typically by casually assessing people as terminal and placing them in hospice where they are heavily sedated, overdosed on pain killers and denied food and water so the diagnosis becomes self-fulfilling,” EPCUSA says.
They acknowledge that bill’s Section 5 contains language that forbids spending funds on education about or promotion of assisted suicide, euthanasia, and so-called mercy killing, but predicts that additional language in the Senate version “will not stop the abuse and hastened deaths of people enrolled in hospice and palliative care.”
Discovery Institute senior fellow Wesley Smith, a prolific pro-life writer and bioethicist, disagrees. Last September, he wrote in National Review that he believes Section 5’s language is sufficient to keep the bill’s improvements to hospice care from morphing into cover for euthanasia.
“It should also be noted that the sponsors of the bill listened to the concerns that anti-euthanasia activists expressed about its previous iteration,” Smith wrote. “To be even more explicit and to prevent any confusion, this year’s version of the bill has added a clear statement that, in the programs it funds, ‘palliative care and hospice shall not be furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, a patient’s death, for any reason.’ There’s no wiggle room there.”
“As an anti-euthanasia activist for 26 years, I am not naïve,” Smith added. “I know that many assisted-suicide advocates wish to corrupt hospice and palliative care by authorizing killing in their names. But their perfidy is not a reason to oppose a bill with great potential to help so many people.”
“At first blush the new so-called ‘anti-euthanasia’ language looks good, but it does little or nothing. That's why there's no need for wiggle room,” attorney and EPCUSA board member Sara Buscher responded in a statement to LifeSiteNews. “The bill does not fund ‘the furnishing of palliative care and hospice.’ It funds education, research and public information programs. The new language does not apply to the furnishing of medical care funded by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs because they are not funded by the bill.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) have come out against against the House version of the bill but for the Senate version, arguing the latter’s language that “palliative care and hospice shall not be furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, a patient’s death, for any reason” would prevent it from being abused. The left-wing, Obama administration-colluding Catholic Health Association (CHA) supports both versions.
The National Association of Pro-Life Nurses has also come out against the bill, arguing that Section 5 is “toothless” because the practices it disavows “are already considered acceptable by many influential hospice and palliative care doctors.”
“We believe that the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (2019) will allow federal funding to teach and institutionalize such unethical practices without sufficient oversight, safeguards or penalties,” the group declared. “As nurses, we are also very concerned that the Act contains no conscience rights protection for those of us – doctors and nurses alike – who will do anything for our patients except deliberately end their lives or help them kill themselves.”
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--Ninth Circuit rules against Prager U in YouTube censorship lawsuit

February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck a blow against conservative educational group Prager University ( PragerU ) on Wednesday , ruling that Google-owned YouTube was well within its rights to restrict access to many of PragerU ’ s popular videos .
In October 2017 , conservative pundit Dennis Prager filed a federal lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company for placing dozens ( currently more than 200 ) of PragerU ’ s videos in “ restricted mode , ” meaning they are inaccessible from accounts that employed parental controls to shield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise-inappropriate content .
He contends that the videos contained no sex , nudity , foul language , or graphic violence , and were being restricted in violation of YouTube ’ s Terms of Use .
That suit was tossed last year , leading PragerU to appeal to the Ninth Circuit , arguing first that YouTube officials ’ own claims to be a “ public forum ” make it subject to Ninth Circuit precedent that identifies such a forum ’ s speech regulation as “ state action ” subject to First Amendment scrutiny ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practices render its stated claims to respect “ freedom of expression ” and practice “ neutrality ” misrepresentations under the federal Lanham Act , which covers claims of false or misleading advertising .
The court has now rejected that appeal .
`` PragerU 's claim that YouTube censored PragerU 's speech faces a formidable threshold hurdle : YouTube is a private entity .
The Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government — not a private party — from abridging speech , '' the opinion reads .
`` Nor was YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos for Restricted Mode part of an advertising or promotion or a misrepresentation as to the videos ( ... ) YouTube 's braggadocio about its commitment to free speech constituted opinions that are not subject to the Lanham Act . ''
PragerU responded with a statement confirming the organization is “ considering its next steps in the federal case , ” and noting that a parallel state-level lawsuit is still pending .
“ As we feared , the Ninth circuit got this one wrong , and the important issue of online censorship did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” PragerU CEO Marissa Streit said .
“ Sadly , it appears as if even the Ninth Circuit is afraid of Goliath — Google .
We ’ re not done fighting for free speech and we will keep pushing forward.
” Conservatives have long been wary of YouTube due to recurring cases of apparent left-wing discrimination by the video giant and its parent company Google .
YouTube has deleted investigation footage from pro-life group Live Action , censored discussion of transgenderism and mental illness , and , according to an ex-Google software @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct response to left-wing pressure .

The conservative group fears that the court is intimidated by parent company Google, but says it's 'not done fighting for free speech.'
February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck a blow against conservative educational group Prager University (PragerU) on Wednesday, ruling that Google-owned YouTube was well within its rights to restrict access to many of PragerU’s popular videos.
In October 2017, conservative pundit Dennis Prager filed a federal lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company for placing dozens (currently more than 200) of PragerU’s videos in “restricted mode,” meaning they are inaccessible from accounts that employed parental controls to shield children from violent, sexual, or otherwise-inappropriate content. He contends that the videos contained no sex, nudity, foul language, or graphic violence, and were being restricted in violation of YouTube’s Terms of Use.
That suit was tossed last year, leading PragerU to appeal to the Ninth Circuit, arguing first that YouTube officials’ own claims to be a “public forum” make it subject to Ninth Circuit precedent that identifies such a forum’s speech regulation as “state action” subject to First Amendment scrutiny; and second that Google’s censorship practices render its stated claims to respect “freedom of expression” and practice “neutrality” misrepresentations under the federal Lanham Act, which covers claims of false or misleading advertising.
The court has now rejected that appeal. “PragerU's claim that YouTube censored PragerU's speech faces a formidable threshold hurdle: YouTube is a private entity. The Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government — not a private party — from abridging speech,” the opinion reads. “Nor was YouTube's designation of certain of plaintiff's videos for Restricted Mode part of an advertising or promotion or a misrepresentation as to the videos (…) YouTube's braggadocio about its commitment to free speech constituted opinions that are not subject to the Lanham Act.”
PragerU responded with a statement confirming the organization is “considering its next steps in the federal case,” and noting that a parallel state-level lawsuit is still pending.
“As we feared, the Ninth circuit got this one wrong, and the important issue of online censorship did not get a fair shake in court,” PragerU CEO Marissa Streit said. “Sadly, it appears as if even the Ninth Circuit is afraid of Goliath — Google. We’re not done fighting for free speech and we will keep pushing forward.”
Conservatives have long been wary of YouTube due to recurring cases of apparent left-wing discrimination by the video giant and its parent company Google. YouTube has deleted investigation footage from pro-life group Live Action, censored discussion of transgenderism and mental illness, and, according to an ex-Google software engineer, it skews search results in direct response to left-wing pressure.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--German diocesan mag floats idea of official blessing for same-sex couples

February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Diocese of Essen just published a magazine with statements from three men – a homosexual diocesan employee , a priest , and a therapist – calling for the acceptance of homosexuality in the Church .
Professor Ansgar Wucherpfennig , the head of the Jesuit Graduate School in Frankfurt , claims , “ I believe that the Bible as source is not sufficient for statements of the Church on this topic [ of homosexuality ] .
” He , as well as another interviewee , call for a liturgical blessing of homosexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as one of the leading candidates for the upcoming election of a new president of the German Bishops ’ Conference – has repeatedly made statements which show that he is in favor of the Church re-assessing its teaching on homosexuality .
In an October 2019 statement , he regretted his previous rejection of homosexuality and proposed the discussion of female “ ordination.
” In an essay for the German journal Herder Korrespondez , he had called for a “ de-pathologization ” of homosexuality .
Overbeck is also the bishop who claimed that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the same as before.
” Wucherpfennig himself had been involved in a conflict with the Vatican in 2018 when he was being blocked from remaining the rector of the Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology in Frankfurt .
Rome had objections since he was promoting the idea of blessing homosexual couples and had questioned the all-male priesthood .
But finally , with the moral support of the Jesuit order , the Vatican accepted his remaining in office .
In his interview with the diocesan magazine Bene ( March/April issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that next to the Bible – and “ Christian tradition ” – “ the insights of modern human sciences , ” as well as the “ often painful experiences of the faithful ” should be taken into account .
The German Jesuit also proposes that “ several dioceses ” could establish a liturgical blessing for homosexual couples with an “ official Church recognition.
” In his view , this would “ certainly ” be possible and “ in line with the Church 's doctrine ” since he claims there is in such relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blessing , ” such as “ loyalty , ” “ equality , ” and “ mutual respect of freedom.
” Additionally , Wucherpfennig states that the Church should re-evaluate her term “ fecundity , ” or fruitfulness , with regard to marriage .
Fruitfulness could not only mean having children , he suggests , but also “ other signs of fruitfulness , ” such as “ taking care of the elderly or being active in the social field.
” If the Church does not make such adaptations , the priest concludes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ space shuttle ” that is “ removed from all earthly realities.
” The diocesan magazine Bene published the interviews with Wucherpfenning , as well as as a therapist and a homosexual diocesan employee , with the explicit reference that Bishop Overbeck wishes a questioning of the Church 's teaching on sexuality .
“ The Diocese of Essen , ” states the magazine which is sent into 500,000 Catholic households , “ wishes to examine and change the system [ of the ] Church .
For this , it is also necessary to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morality.
” The goal is , the magazine continues , “ to develop an understanding of sexuality which is just toward a variety of ways of life.
” A diocesan working group is now preparing “ proposals for concrete measures.
” The Catechism of the Catholic Church ( no .
2357 ) says about homosexuality : “ Basing itself on Sacred Scripture , which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity , tradition has always declared that ‘ homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.
’ ” It also states that “ homosexual persons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
2359 ) .
Bishop Overbeck is not the only German bishop who now promotes the acceptance of homosexuality .
In 2018 , Cardinal Reinhard Marx , the head of the German Bishop 's Conference , revealed that there existed an episcopal commission in Germany that was discussing the matter of a blessing of homosexual couples .
This topic is now also part of the German “ Synodal Path ” that is already underway , with the official discussions having started on January 30 .
One of the four discussion forums aims at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the main architect of this forum – Professor Eberhard Schockenhoff – explicitly proposes the Church approve of such relationships .
The Diocese of Limburg has already developed proposals for a blessing that could be bestowed also on couples who are divorced and “ remarried , ” and , as Wucherpfennig proposes , the same blessing could be given to those couples “ who are not willing to enter into a marriage but who nevertheless wish to have their relationship blessed.
” That would be effectively the blessing of cohabiting couples .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President of the German Bishops ' Conference , Bishop Franz-Josef Bode , wrote a foreword to a book promoting the idea of blessing homosexual couples in the Catholic Church .
He proposed discussing publicly a possible blessing for homosexual couples .
He first did so in January 2018 and then again at the end of December 2019 .

In this magazine, a Jesuit also said 'the Bible as source is not sufficient' for Church teaching on homosexuality.
February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Diocese of Essen just published a magazine with statements from three men – a homosexual diocesan employee, a priest, and a therapist – calling for the acceptance of homosexuality in the Church. Professor Ansgar Wucherpfennig, the head of the Jesuit Graduate School in Frankfurt, claims, “I believe that the Bible as source is not sufficient for statements of the Church on this topic [of homosexuality].” He, as well as another interviewee, call for a liturgical blessing of homosexual couples.
Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck – regarded as one of the leading candidates for the upcoming election of a new president of the German Bishops’ Conference – has repeatedly made statements which show that he is in favor of the Church re-assessing its teaching on homosexuality. In an October 2019 statement, he regretted his previous rejection of homosexuality and proposed the discussion of female “ordination.” In an essay for the German journal Herder Korrespondez, he had called for a “de-pathologization” of homosexuality. Overbeck is also the bishop who claimed that, after the Amazon Synod, “nothing will be the same as before.”
Wucherpfennig himself had been involved in a conflict with the Vatican in 2018 when he was being blocked from remaining the rector of the Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology in Frankfurt. Rome had objections since he was promoting the idea of blessing homosexual couples and had questioned the all-male priesthood. But finally, with the moral support of the Jesuit order, the Vatican accepted his remaining in office.
In his interview with the diocesan magazine Bene (March/April issue), Wucherpfennig explains that he believes that next to the Bible – and “Christian tradition” – “the insights of modern human sciences,” as well as the “often painful experiences of the faithful” should be taken into account.
The German Jesuit also proposes that “several dioceses” could establish a liturgical blessing for homosexual couples with an “official Church recognition.” In his view, this would “certainly” be possible and “in line with the Church's doctrine” since he claims there is in such relationships “much that is capable of receiving a blessing,” such as “loyalty,” “equality,” and “mutual respect of freedom.” Additionally, Wucherpfennig states that the Church should re-evaluate her term “fecundity,” or fruitfulness, with regard to marriage. Fruitfulness could not only mean having children, he suggests, but also “other signs of fruitfulness,” such as “taking care of the elderly or being active in the social field.”
If the Church does not make such adaptations, the priest concludes, she will turn into a sort of “space shuttle” that is “removed from all earthly realities.”
The diocesan magazine Bene published the interviews with Wucherpfenning, as well as as a therapist and a homosexual diocesan employee, with the explicit reference that Bishop Overbeck wishes a questioning of the Church's teaching on sexuality.
“The Diocese of Essen,” states the magazine which is sent into 500,000 Catholic households, “wishes to examine and change the system [of the] Church. For this, it is also necessary to take a look at the Catholic sexual morality.” The goal is, the magazine continues, “to develop an understanding of sexuality which is just toward a variety of ways of life.”
A diocesan working group is now preparing “proposals for concrete measures.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 2357) says about homosexuality: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’” It also states that “homosexual persons are called to chastity” (no. 2359).
Bishop Overbeck is not the only German bishop who now promotes the acceptance of homosexuality. In 2018, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the head of the German Bishop's Conference, revealed that there existed an episcopal commission in Germany that was discussing the matter of a blessing of homosexual couples.
This topic is now also part of the German “Synodal Path” that is already underway, with the official discussions having started on January 30. One of the four discussion forums aims at questioning the Church's teaching on homosexuality, and the main architect of this forum – Professor Eberhard Schockenhoff – explicitly proposes the Church approve of such relationships.
The Diocese of Limburg has already developed proposals for a blessing that could be bestowed also on couples who are divorced and “remarried,” and, as Wucherpfennig proposes, the same blessing could be given to those couples “who are not willing to enter into a marriage but who nevertheless wish to have their relationship blessed.” That would be effectively the blessing of cohabiting couples.
Moreover, not long ago, the Vice President of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Franz-Josef Bode, wrote a foreword to a book promoting the idea of blessing homosexual couples in the Catholic Church. He proposed discussing publicly a possible blessing for homosexual couples. He first did so in January 2018 and then again at the end of December 2019.
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--Despite crowded stores and bars, N. Italian dioceses suspend sacraments, citing Coronavirus

THIENE , Vicenza , Italy , February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Catholics are being turned away from even the sacrament of penance in at least one Italian town .
Several dioceses in Italy , including Bologna , Milan , and Padua , cancelled Ash Wednesday liturgies and have suspended all public Masses , thanks to the outbreak of coronavirus in the northern regions of Italy .
But the parish of the Madonna of Olmo in Thiene has gone even further , advising Catholics that they may not receive the sacrament of Confession .
In a Facebook message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community stated that , because of diocesan orders , “ all the activities of the Sanctuary , Masses and Confessions , including the Ash Wednesday rite , Lauds and Vespers , the Way of the Cross , [ and ] Lectio Divina ” are suspended .
Local Catholic Andrea Zanato photographed one of the placards affixed to the church stating “ Confession isn ’ t possible.
” On Facebook , he lamented that the Diocese of Vicenza had merely repeated the closures ordered by the Patriarchate ( also Archdiocese ) of Venice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these rules very much exceed common sense , ” he wrote .
“ Not being available to hear confessions is really something incomprehensible.
” The church , like other churches affected by the suspension , is open for private prayers at certain hours of the day .
The cessation of Masses in these dioceses has been at the request of the Italian state .
However , some Catholics have been questioning the cancellation of Ash Wednesday services and the suspension of other Masses in Northern Italy when shops , restaurants , and bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corrispondenza Romana reported that in Cremona , whose bishop has suspended all Masses , and whose mayor has suspended schools , the public market , sports , and other public events remain open and people throng in bars , restaurants , pharmacies , and shopping centers .
“ Paradoxically [ in Cremona ] you can have an aperitif with friends , find yourself in a pizzeria and go to the shopping center , but you can ’ t receive the Eucharist , or pray together in Church to ask for protection against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polish woman living in Italy complained to Fr .
Dariusz Kowalczyk that it is not coronavirus , but Satan , that is attacking the country .
“ How else to explain the situation when in almost all dioceses of northern Italy all Masses and liturgies in churches are banned , and bars , restaurants and shopping centers are full of people ?
” asked Wioletta Wroblewska of Mantua .
“ I called the curia of the diocese in which I live , and the person on the other end of the phone couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the bar differs from the virus from church .
Is the virus from the bar okay , and only the one from church infects people ?
” Wroblewska said that she had searched a 100-kilometer radius from her home to find somewhere to attend Ash Wednesday Mass without finding one .
But it seems that Catholics ’ disappointments with the Italian Church ’ s measures have been heard .
The Patriarch of Venice , Archbishop Francesco Moraglia , told Vatican News today that he will be representing the bishops of Italy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not question the decisions taken by the authorities , ” he said .
“ However , I see that other gatherings , e.g .
in gyms , swimming pools , shopping malls and market halls , do not have the same restrictions as churches.
” Moraglia , 66 , said that as chairman of the episcopal conference of the Triveneto region , he had spoken to 15 bishops by phone and would explain to the civil authorities on their behalf that the Church would like to find a solution “ that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our communities can meet , especially for the Eucharist.
” The Patriarch will assure the authorities that the bishops will “ of course ” make sure that these gatherings are done in a careful manner , with a code of hygiene they will work out with the state .
“ I think that we can come to an agreement to respect the requirements of the common good , but at the same time be able to participate in the Eucharist , especially now during Lent , ” he said .
“ Yesterday I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Abitena who risked their lives because , as they confessed , they could not live without the Sunday Eucharist .
Today it is just as important for us as it was then for them.
” The Italian bishops ’ willingness to suspend public worship was in contrast to the response of the Diocese of Hong Kong , where public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been organized , so that the faithful may pray for an end to the coronavirus epidemic .
It is also in contrast to the response of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were divine chastisements , calling for more public prayer , not less .

'Not being available to hear confessions is really something incomprehensible,' said one local Catholic.
PRAYER PLEDGE: VP Pence is right. We need prayer to fight coronavirus, not political antics! Sign the petition here.
THIENE, Vicenza, Italy, February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Catholics are being turned away from even the sacrament of penance in at least one Italian town.
Several dioceses in Italy, including Bologna, Milan, and Padua, cancelled Ash Wednesday liturgies and have suspended all public Masses, thanks to the outbreak of coronavirus in the northern regions of Italy.
But the parish of the Madonna of Olmo in Thiene has gone even further, advising Catholics that they may not receive the sacrament of Confession. In a Facebook message, one of the Capuchin friars serving the community stated that, because of diocesan orders, “all the activities of the Sanctuary, Masses and Confessions, including the Ash Wednesday rite, Lauds and Vespers, the Way of the Cross, [and] Lectio Divina” are suspended.
Local Catholic Andrea Zanato photographed one of the placards affixed to the church stating “Confession isn’t possible.” On Facebook, he lamented that the Diocese of Vicenza had merely repeated the closures ordered by the Patriarchate (also Archdiocese) of Venice.
“It seems to me that these rules very much exceed common sense,” he wrote. “Not being available to hear confessions is really something incomprehensible.”
The church, like other churches affected by the suspension, is open for private prayers at certain hours of the day.
The cessation of Masses in these dioceses has been at the request of the Italian state. However, some Catholics have been questioning the cancellation of Ash Wednesday services and the suspension of other Masses in Northern Italy when shops, restaurants, and bars are still open.
Mauro Faverzani of Corrispondenza Romana reported that in Cremona, whose bishop has suspended all Masses, and whose mayor has suspended schools, the public market, sports, and other public events remain open and people throng in bars, restaurants, pharmacies, and shopping centers.
“Paradoxically [in Cremona] you can have an aperitif with friends, find yourself in a pizzeria and go to the shopping center, but you can’t receive the Eucharist, or pray together in Church to ask for protection against the coronavirus,” he wrote.
A Polish woman living in Italy complained to Fr. Dariusz Kowalczyk that it is not coronavirus, but Satan, that is attacking the country.
“How else to explain the situation when in almost all dioceses of northern Italy all Masses and liturgies in churches are banned, and bars, restaurants and shopping centers are full of people?” asked Wioletta Wroblewska of Mantua.
“I called the curia of the diocese in which I live, and the person on the other end of the phone couldn’t tell me how the virus from the bar differs from the virus from church. Is the virus from the bar okay, and only the one from church infects people?”
Wroblewska said that she had searched a 100-kilometer radius from her home to find somewhere to attend Ash Wednesday Mass without finding one.
But it seems that Catholics’ disappointments with the Italian Church’s measures have been heard. The Patriarch of Venice, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, told Vatican News today that he will be representing the bishops of Italy in talks with the state.
“I do not question the decisions taken by the authorities,” he said.
“However, I see that other gatherings, e.g. in gyms, swimming pools, shopping malls and market halls, do not have the same restrictions as churches.”
Moraglia, 66, said that as chairman of the episcopal conference of the Triveneto region, he had spoken to 15 bishops by phone and would explain to the civil authorities on their behalf that the Church would like to find a solution “that would be acceptable to all, so that our communities can meet, especially for the Eucharist.”
The Patriarch will assure the authorities that the bishops will “of course” make sure that these gatherings are done in a careful manner, with a code of hygiene they will work out with the state.
“I think that we can come to an agreement to respect the requirements of the common good, but at the same time be able to participate in the Eucharist, especially now during Lent,” he said.
“Yesterday I remembered the faithful example of the martyrs of Abitena who risked their lives because, as they confessed, they could not live without the Sunday Eucharist. Today it is just as important for us as it was then for them.”
The Italian bishops’ willingness to suspend public worship was in contrast to the response of the Diocese of Hong Kong, where public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been organized, so that the faithful may pray for an end to the coronavirus epidemic. It is also in contrast to the response of their predecessors, who believed that such plagues were divine chastisements, calling for more public prayer, not less.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--Her mom tried to abort her. 20 years later, they met

February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Claire Culwell is one of the most well-known pro-life speakers in the United States .
Now a mom with four of her own children , she survived an attempted abortion while in her 13-year-old birth mother ’ s womb .
But she might not have chosen the path she did if it weren ’ t for meeting her birth mother face-to-face a decade ago .
“ Her tears moved me to action .
Her pain moved me to action , ” Culwell told pro-life activist Jonathon van Maren last week on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silent because I realized how this affected me . ''
Culwell grew up knowing she was adopted but unaware that her birth mother tried to abort her .
She said she met her birth mother when she was in her early twenties .
Five months later , she shared her heartbreaking story to a youth group for the first time .
“ I realized that day that this is good , something evil can be used for good .
And so I never looked back .
I 've continued to share my story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told van Maren that when she met her birth mother , it had a therapeutic affect — on both of them .
“ As she began her healing journey , she was able to say , ‘ Okay , Claire forgives me .
Claire sees what I experienced .
But not only that , I 'm being told that God forgives me !
’ ” Culwell said that her birth mother has also publicly shared what it was like being forced to get an abortion when she was 13 .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been so much redemption , ” Culwell said .
“ Nobody should walk the face of the earth as an abortion survivor or as the mother of an abortion survivor.
” Culwell , who was put up for adoption , said she told her birth mother that regardless of what she did in the past , she loves and appreciates her .
“ I wanted her to know that she was the best mother for me , for what she had done for me and giving me my family and giving me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upbringing because of her choice to give me my family in my life.
” The Van Maren Show is hosted on numerous platforms , including Spotify , SoundCloud , YouTube , iTunes , and Google Play .
For a full listing of episodes , and to subscribe to various channels , visit our Acast webpage here .
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded , subscribe here :

Claire Culwell survived an abortion attempt by her then-13 year old birth mother. Later put up for adoption, she said she forgave her birth mother and told her she loves her.
February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Claire Culwell is one of the most well-known pro-life speakers in the United States. Now a mom with four of her own children, she survived an attempted abortion while in her 13-year-old birth mother’s womb. But she might not have chosen the path she did if it weren’t for meeting her birth mother face-to-face a decade ago.
“Her tears moved me to action. Her pain moved me to action,” Culwell told pro-life activist Jonathon van Maren last week on his podcast. “I could not stay silent because I realized how this affected me.”
Culwell grew up knowing she was adopted but unaware that her birth mother tried to abort her. She said she met her birth mother when she was in her early twenties. Five months later, she shared her heartbreaking story to a youth group for the first time.
“I realized that day that this is good, something evil can be used for good. And so I never looked back. I've continued to share my story for the past 10 years.”
Culwell told van Maren that when she met her birth mother, it had a therapeutic affect — on both of them.
“As she began her healing journey, she was able to say, ‘Okay, Claire forgives me. Claire sees what I experienced. But not only that, I'm being told that God forgives me!’”
Culwell said that her birth mother has also publicly shared what it was like being forced to get an abortion when she was 13.
“It’s been incredible to watch as there has been so much redemption,” Culwell said. “Nobody should walk the face of the earth as an abortion survivor or as the mother of an abortion survivor.”
Culwell, who was put up for adoption, said she told her birth mother that regardless of what she did in the past, she loves and appreciates her.
“I wanted her to know that she was the best mother for me, for what she had done for me and giving me my family and giving me my life. I had an incredible upbringing because of her choice to give me my family in my life.”
The Van Maren Show is hosted on numerous platforms, including Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play.
For a full listing of episodes, and to subscribe to various channels, visit our Acast webpage here.
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded, subscribe here:
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lifesitenews--2020-02-27--Parents accused of ‘transphobia’ over concerns about ultra-sexual drag queen reading to

Parents accused of ‘transphobia’ over concerns about ultra-sexual drag queen reading to 4-year-olds

February 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Last fall , writer and long-time gay “ rights ” activist Andrew Sullivan weighed in on the intramural conservative civil war over Drag Queen Story Hour , mocking the idea that drag queens were in any way a sexual phenomenon .
Drag queens , he asserted , were rather like clowns , and thus having them come to public libraries and read to children is much the same as having any other costumed performer do the same .
Anyone claiming that there is something sexual about drag queens , he concluded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve thought about Sullivan ’ s take fairly often as the Drag Queen Story Hour phenomenon spreads across North America ( and elsewhere—in Ireland , parents were outraged to discover that a drag troupe called “ Glitter Hole ” specializing in sexually explicit performances was scheduled to read to children ) .
I wonder what he ’ d think of a recent story in the Daily Star noting widespread backlash to the decision of Glencoates Primary School in Scotland to bring in a drag queen called “ Flowjob ” ( introduced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a history of explicit sexual content on social media .
As any adult knows ( or should know ) , one of the first things children and teens do after encountering someone is to look them up on social media .
And if any of them decided to look up Flowjob ( his real name is Nathan Mullen ) , who read a story to kids between the ages of four and five , they would have found photographs of him “ simulating a sex act with a dildo , laying spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ his ] mouth , and simulating oral sex.
” He also tweeted a photo of a man being throttled by another man with the caption : “ I need a Daddy like this.
” The drag queen was brought in to teach children for “ LGBT History Month , ” but even parents who are generally supportive of the LGBT movement were furious at the school , calling the visit “ outrageous , ” “ disgusting , ” and “ inappropriate.
” One noted that parents had not been given any information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m happy my child is learning about LGBT but it ’ s overtaking the school now .
Something every week…my 7 year old doesn ’ t need to know what a drag queen is and certainly not the one they had in.
” Others noted that a quick search for the drag performer , who is “ a regular in [ the ] Glasgow LGBTQ+ adult entertainment scene ” and visited the primary school alongside SNP MP and LGBT activist Mhari Black , would return a wide range of graphic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rights groups also complained , with one demanding to know why a male who “ dresses as a sexualised parody of a woman [ and ] goes by the name ‘ Flowjob ’ ” would be considered an appropriate “ role model for primary-aged children.
” Predictably , a number of LGBT activists came out to defend Flowjob , and in no time flat they were accusing the concerned parents of being reactionary homophobes who didn ’ t understand how privileged their children were to be exposed to an “ inspiring ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , biphobia , and transphobia ” directed at the school .
LGBT Youth Scotland sent out a tweet of support , as well : “ We 're horrified to see the abusive messages and tweets targeting Glencoates Primary School for their bold and brilliant LGBT inclusive education practices .
We are proud to work with their pioneering headteacher , and recognise the school as an example to others across the country.
” MP Mhari Black is also pushing back against criticism , saying that , “ If my school had invited a gay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during LGBT History Month , or even acknowledged that LGBT History Month existed , it would have made an immeasurable difference to the difficult childhoods my LGBT classmates and I had.
” She went on to tell those who disapproved that their “ homophobia is transparent ” and that the “ Simpsons has been mocking your ‘ won ’ t you think of the children !
’ faux sincerity since the 90s .
I don ’ t know why you think repackaging it now isn ’ t completely transparent.
” The headteacher also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school ’ s “ Rainbow squad , ” an LGBT group made up of students , had done a magnificent job inviting various LGBT community members to speak to the students , and that their “ number one priority was to fly the rainbow pride flag outside our school.
” In short , if any parent has an issue with children being read to by drag queens and inculcated with the ideology of the LGBT movement , they can shut up and keep their bigotry to themselves .
One wonders what they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK , who recently announced they would defy any government demand to teach LGBT programming in their schools .
The reason stories like this remind me of Andrew Sullivan ’ s take is because Sullivan is generally open to the concerns of Christians on issues like religious liberty .
But on this issue , Sullivan and many others imply that anyone with concerns is engaging in hand wringing .
They don ’ t understand why parents would not want cross-dressing caricatures of women to read to their children , and why Glitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabarets and stay out of primary schools .
And that is a sign of just how far we ’ ve traveled , and just how normal the idea of introducing these things to children has become .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In his latest episode , he interviews Norwegian pro-family activist Björn Korf , a Christian radio broadcaster who lives in Austria .
Korf helps run Step Up 4 Children ’ s Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is essentially state-sponsored kidnapping in Europe .
The Norwegian government , through its child welfare services called Barnevernet , takes four to five children away from their parents every day .
Sometimes children ’ s names are changed so parents can not find them .
Once , a breastfed three-month-old was taken from parents along with older siblings – all because the older kids had been singing Christian songs at school .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

February 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Last fall, writer and long-time gay “rights” activist Andrew Sullivan weighed in on the intramural conservative civil war over Drag Queen Story Hour, mocking the idea that drag queens were in any way a sexual phenomenon. Drag queens, he asserted, were rather like clowns, and thus having them come to public libraries and read to children is much the same as having any other costumed performer do the same. Anyone claiming that there is something sexual about drag queens, he concluded, was engaging in ignorant hysteria.
I’ve thought about Sullivan’s take fairly often as the Drag Queen Story Hour phenomenon spreads across North America (and elsewhere—in Ireland, parents were outraged to discover that a drag troupe called “Glitter Hole” specializing in sexually explicit performances was scheduled to read to children). I wonder what he’d think of a recent story in the Daily Star noting widespread backlash to the decision of Glencoates Primary School in Scotland to bring in a drag queen called “Flowjob” (introduced to the children as “Flow”) with a history of explicit sexual content on social media.
As any adult knows (or should know), one of the first things children and teens do after encountering someone is to look them up on social media. And if any of them decided to look up Flowjob (his real name is Nathan Mullen), who read a story to kids between the ages of four and five, they would have found photographs of him “simulating a sex act with a dildo, laying spread eagle in bathtub with a ball in [his] mouth, and simulating oral sex.” He also tweeted a photo of a man being throttled by another man with the caption: “I need a Daddy like this.”
The drag queen was brought in to teach children for “LGBT History Month,” but even parents who are generally supportive of the LGBT movement were furious at the school, calling the visit “outrageous,” “disgusting,” and “inappropriate.” One noted that parents had not been given any information about the visit, stating, “I’m happy my child is learning about LGBT but it’s overtaking the school now. Something every week…my 7 year old doesn’t need to know what a drag queen is and certainly not the one they had in.”
Others noted that a quick search for the drag performer, who is “a regular in [the] Glasgow LGBTQ+ adult entertainment scene” and visited the primary school alongside SNP MP and LGBT activist Mhari Black, would return a wide range of graphic and sexual images. Women and children’s rights groups also complained, with one demanding to know why a male who “dresses as a sexualised parody of a woman [and] goes by the name ‘Flowjob’” would be considered an appropriate “role model for primary-aged children.”
Predictably, a number of LGBT activists came out to defend Flowjob, and in no time flat they were accusing the concerned parents of being reactionary homophobes who didn’t understand how privileged their children were to be exposed to an “inspiring” drag queen and bemoaning the “homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia” directed at the school. LGBT Youth Scotland sent out a tweet of support, as well: “We're horrified to see the abusive messages and tweets targeting Glencoates Primary School for their bold and brilliant LGBT inclusive education practices. We are proud to work with their pioneering headteacher, and recognise the school as an example to others across the country.”
MP Mhari Black is also pushing back against criticism, saying that, “If my school had invited a gay MP and a drag queen to visit during LGBT History Month, or even acknowledged that LGBT History Month existed, it would have made an immeasurable difference to the difficult childhoods my LGBT classmates and I had.” She went on to tell those who disapproved that their “homophobia is transparent” and that the “Simpsons has been mocking your ‘won’t you think of the children!’ faux sincerity since the 90s. I don’t know why you think repackaging it now isn’t completely transparent.”
The headteacher also dismissed parental concerns by stating that her school’s “Rainbow squad,” an LGBT group made up of students, had done a magnificent job inviting various LGBT community members to speak to the students, and that their “number one priority was to fly the rainbow pride flag outside our school.” In short, if any parent has an issue with children being read to by drag queens and inculcated with the ideology of the LGBT movement, they can shut up and keep their bigotry to themselves. One wonders what they would have to say to Jewish leaders in the UK, who recently announced they would defy any government demand to teach LGBT programming in their schools.
The reason stories like this remind me of Andrew Sullivan’s take is because Sullivan is generally open to the concerns of Christians on issues like religious liberty. But on this issue, Sullivan and many others imply that anyone with concerns is engaging in hand wringing. They don’t understand why parents would not want cross-dressing caricatures of women to read to their children, and why Glitter Hole and Flowjob should stick to their cabarets and stay out of primary schools. And that is a sign of just how far we’ve traveled, and just how normal the idea of introducing these things to children has become.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Norwegian pro-family activist Björn Korf, a Christian radio broadcaster who lives in Austria. Korf helps run Step Up 4 Children’s Rights, an organization dedicated to stopping what is essentially state-sponsored kidnapping in Europe. The Norwegian government, through its child welfare services called Barnevernet, takes four to five children away from their parents every day. Sometimes children’s names are changed so parents cannot find them. Once, a breastfed three-month-old was taken from parents along with older siblings – all because the older kids had been singing Christian songs at school.
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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