lifesitenews--2020-04-25--Leftist elites are using corona crisis to accomplish the ‘change’ promised by Obama, Hillary Clinton

PETITION : Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , April 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Amid the government 's aggressive response to the coronavirus pandemic , many suggest that much of the United States is under de facto Martial Law .
With citizens ordered to stay home , businesses forced to shut down , and even church services banned – with violators subject to onerous fines and jail time – it certainly feels that way .
And with some cities encouraging citizens to snitch on their neighbors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scenes of lone surfers and joggers , moms taking their kids to playgrounds , Christians sitting in their cars in church parking lots , and peaceful pro-life abortion protesters being ticketed or arrested and hauled off by police – despite practicing common sense social distancing – the U.S. has begun to feel more like communist East Germany under the Stasi ’ s reign of terror than the land of the free and the home of the brave .
And with tens of millions thrown out of work – over 25 million as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of privilege unruffled , the most powerful and prosperous nation in the history of the world has begun to feel more like a third world country .
Some state governors appear giddy with their new found powers to exert what amounts to tyrannical control over their citizens , as if the U.S. Constitution on display in the National Archives had been torn up in the same way House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brazenly ripped apart President Donald Trump ’ s speech as he wrapped up his 2020 State of the Union Address .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to something insidious , meant to fundamentally change the USA forever : The Cloward-Piven Strategy .
What leftist elites could n't accomplish under Obama , because of the massive pushback of the Tea Party that blocked them , they now hope to accomplish through the coronavirus pandemic .
What they could not accomplish after their hopes were dashed , when Donald J. Trump came out of nowhere to beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 , they now hope to accomplish by means of this crisis .
That became perfectly clear last week when former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shadows and announced his support for Democrat Joe Biden ’ s White House bid .
But Obama did more than that .
The man who explicitly promised to “ fundamentally transform the United States of America , ” who saw his presidency as “ the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow , and our planet began to heal , ” stated the agenda our nation ’ s leftist elites now have in store for us : If I were running today , I wouldn ’ t run the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as I did in 2008 .
The world is different ; there ’ s too much unfinished business for us to just look backwards .
We have to look to the future .
Even before the pandemic turned the world upside down , it was already clear that we needed real structural change .
So we need to do more than just tinker around the edges with tax credits or underfunded programs .
We have to go further ...
The leftist elites , the globalists , desperately need the United States to succumb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current pandemic to employ the Cloward-Piven Strategy in order to drag America the Beautiful into line with socialism , with the ultimate goal of establishing a Marxist state .
They are intent on going further than any of us might think possible in pursuit of their dream of making America un-American .
The Cloward–Piven strategy was outlined in a 1966 article in The Nation headlined “ The Weight of the Poor : A Strategy to End Poverty , ” penned by American sociologists and political activists Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. public welfare system in order to create a massive political crisis that would force the welfare system to be replaced with a national system of a guaranteed annual income as a means to end poverty .
Simply put , their strategy aimed to force political change through an orchestrated crisis .
The `` Cloward-Piven Strategy '' seeks to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands , thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse .
Tens of millions now unemployed , small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our nation ’ s economy – boarded up , and $ 2 trillion spent by the federal government in the blink of an eye in order to keep the nation afloat , are all due to a manufactured economic crisis in order to avoid , we are told , a greater medical crisis .
The result , predicted Cloward and Piven , would be “ a profound financial and political crisis ” that would unleash “ powerful forces … for major economic reform at the national level.
” Dear reader : Doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now witnessing ?
Not just about economics : Molding an anti-Christian America Over the years , the strategy has clearly been expanded and adapted to also bring about fundamental transformational change concerning important social issues , undermining human dignity .
The U.S. Supreme Court ’ s landmark 2015 Obergefell decsion instituted same-sex “ marriage ” by the thinnest of margins – a 5-4 vote – quickly unleashed the ghastly contagion of transgenderism on our nation , a virus of a different kind that the nation was ill-prepared to battle .
Our children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We no longer face the single issue of same-sex “ marriage.
” The nation is being pummeled with a broad spectrum of gender identity issues , not to mention infestations of drag queens in the children ’ s sections of our public libraries .
The rise of surrogacy has altered the sacredness of motherhood .
Bedrock definitions of marriage , of man , of woman , and children have all irrationally been thrown into question , as if nature had had it wrong all along .
“ Religious liberty ” has gone from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to being demonized as a code term belonging to “ haters.
” In 2016 , the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued a report titled Peaceful Coexistence : Reconciling Nondiscrimination Principles with Civil Liberties .
When the report was unveiled , the commission ’ s chairman , Martin Castro , said , “ The phrases ‘ religious liberty ’ and ‘ religious freedom ’ ... remain code words for discrimination , intolerance , racism , sexism , homophobia , Islamophobia , Christian supremacy , or any form of intolerance.
” Ever since , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad guys , ” as “ haters , ” scapegoated for resistance to political correctness , for preventing progress .
Leftist elites have managed to turn America into an anti-Christian state .
Where are we headed ?
Turning America into Venezuela All together , American culture is being attacked on myriad fronts in countless ways on multiple levels with the intent of causing our society to completely break down and submit to a new regime that is decidedly un-American .
The coronavirus pandemic is being exploited to the hilt by the deepstaters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
It 's about bringing down the U.S.A .
The last few weeks have seen well-organized , peaceful protest rallies at state capitals where citizens have begged their governors to reopen their states for business so they can salvage their human dignity and feed their families .
Urban leftists have condescendingly criticized and mocked them .
If stay-at-home restrictions are not relaxed very soon , the peaceful protests will morph into riots , and that will be perfectly fine with leftist elites .
They will have orchestrated an even greater crisis with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Venezuela .
Not long ago , Venezuela was South America ’ s most prosperous nation .
Socialism has pushed it into economic collapse , creating an ugly humanitarian crisis .
The coronavirus pandemic economic lockdown is being exploited to transform America into a socialist – if not Marxist – nation now that a critical mass of people have been made economically vulnerable .
As my LifeSiteNews colleague Steve Jalsevac has pointed out , “ The Wuhan virus appears to be an incredible and suspiciously timely gift for the globalists to push through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have expected .
”

America’s leftist elites are subverting the U.S. from within by means of the ‘Cloward-Piven Strategy.’
PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Amid the government's aggressive response to the coronavirus pandemic, many suggest that much of the United States is under de facto Martial Law. With citizens ordered to stay home, businesses forced to shut down, and even church services banned – with violators subject to onerous fines and jail time – it certainly feels that way.
And with some cities encouraging citizens to snitch on their neighbors suspected of skirting lockdown orders; with scenes of lone surfers and joggers, moms taking their kids to playgrounds, Christians sitting in their cars in church parking lots, and peaceful pro-life abortion protesters being ticketed or arrested and hauled off by police – despite practicing common sense social distancing – the U.S. has begun to feel more like communist East Germany under the Stasi’s reign of terror than the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And with tens of millions thrown out of work – over 25 million as of today – while elites continue their lives of privilege unruffled, the most powerful and prosperous nation in the history of the world has begun to feel more like a third world country.
Some state governors appear giddy with their new found powers to exert what amounts to tyrannical control over their citizens, as if the U.S. Constitution on display in the National Archives had been torn up in the same way House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brazenly ripped apart President Donald Trump’s speech as he wrapped up his 2020 State of the Union Address.
But all of these are merely symptoms pointing to something insidious, meant to fundamentally change the USA forever: The Cloward-Piven Strategy.
What leftist elites couldn't accomplish under Obama, because of the massive pushback of the Tea Party that blocked them, they now hope to accomplish through the coronavirus pandemic. What they could not accomplish after their hopes were dashed, when Donald J. Trump came out of nowhere to beat Hillary Clinton in 2016, they now hope to accomplish by means of this crisis.
That became perfectly clear last week when former President Barack Hussein Obama stepped out of the shadows and announced his support for Democrat Joe Biden’s White House bid.
But Obama did more than that. The man who explicitly promised to “fundamentally transform the United States of America,” who saw his presidency as “the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow, and our planet began to heal,” stated the agenda our nation’s leftist elites now have in store for us:
If I were running today, I wouldn’t run the same race or have the same platform as I did in 2008. The world is different; there’s too much unfinished business for us to just look backwards. We have to look to the future.
Even before the pandemic turned the world upside down, it was already clear that we needed real structural change.
So we need to do more than just tinker around the edges with tax credits or underfunded programs. We have to go further …
The leftist elites, the globalists, desperately need the United States to succumb to their plans and they are exploiting the current pandemic to employ the Cloward-Piven Strategy in order to drag America the Beautiful into line with socialism, with the ultimate goal of establishing a Marxist state.
They are intent on going further than any of us might think possible in pursuit of their dream of making America un-American.
The Cloward-Piven Strategy
The Cloward–Piven strategy was outlined in a 1966 article in The Nation headlined “The Weight of the Poor: A Strategy to End Poverty,” penned by American sociologists and political activists Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven.
Their scheme called for overloading the U.S. public welfare system in order to create a massive political crisis that would force the welfare system to be replaced with a national system of a guaranteed annual income as a means to end poverty.
Simply put, their strategy aimed to force political change through an orchestrated crisis.
David Horowitz/Discover the Networks explained:
The “Cloward-Piven Strategy” seeks to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse.
Tens of millions now unemployed, small businesses –– which have always been the backbone of our nation’s economy – boarded up, and $2 trillion spent by the federal government in the blink of an eye in order to keep the nation afloat, are all due to a manufactured economic crisis in order to avoid, we are told, a greater medical crisis.
The result, predicted Cloward and Piven, would be “a profound financial and political crisis” that would unleash “powerful forces … for major economic reform at the national level.”
Dear reader: Doesn’t that describe exactly what we are now witnessing?
Not just about economics: Molding an anti-Christian America
Over the years, the strategy has clearly been expanded and adapted to also bring about fundamental transformational change concerning important social issues, undermining human dignity.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2015 Obergefell decsion instituted same-sex “marriage” by the thinnest of margins – a 5-4 vote – quickly unleashed the ghastly contagion of transgenderism on our nation, a virus of a different kind that the nation was ill-prepared to battle.
Our children have been its most tragic victims.
We no longer face the single issue of same-sex “marriage.” The nation is being pummeled with a broad spectrum of gender identity issues, not to mention infestations of drag queens in the children’s sections of our public libraries. The rise of surrogacy has altered the sacredness of motherhood.
Bedrock definitions of marriage, of man, of woman, and children have all irrationally been thrown into question, as if nature had had it wrong all along.
“Religious liberty” has gone from our greatest strength and source of pride to being demonized as a code term belonging to “haters.”
In 2016, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued a report titled Peaceful Coexistence: Reconciling Nondiscrimination Principles with Civil Liberties.
When the report was unveiled, the commission’s chairman, Martin Castro, said, “The phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ … remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy, or any form of intolerance.”
Ever since, Christians have been slandered as the “bad guys,” as “haters,” scapegoated for resistance to political correctness, for preventing progress.
Leftist elites have managed to turn America into an anti-Christian state.
Where are we headed? Turning America into Venezuela
All together, American culture is being attacked on myriad fronts in countless ways on multiple levels with the intent of causing our society to completely break down and submit to a new regime that is decidedly un-American.
The coronavirus pandemic is being exploited to the hilt by the deepstaters, but not just to bring down President Trump.
It's about bringing down the U.S.A.
The last few weeks have seen well-organized, peaceful protest rallies at state capitals where citizens have begged their governors to reopen their states for business so they can salvage their human dignity and feed their families. Urban leftists have condescendingly criticized and mocked them.
If stay-at-home restrictions are not relaxed very soon, the peaceful protests will morph into riots, and that will be perfectly fine with leftist elites. They will have orchestrated an even greater crisis with which to justify the re-making of America into Venezuela.
Not long ago, Venezuela was South America’s most prosperous nation. Socialism has pushed it into economic collapse, creating an ugly humanitarian crisis.
The coronavirus pandemic economic lockdown is being exploited to transform America into a socialist – if not Marxist – nation now that a critical mass of people have been made economically vulnerable.
As my LifeSiteNews colleague Steve Jalsevac has pointed out, “The Wuhan virus appears to be an incredible and suspiciously timely gift for the globalists to push through their agenda faster than any of us could have expected.”
Follow Doug Doug Mainwaring is a journalist for LifeSiteNews, an author, and a marriage, family and children's rights activist. He has testified before the United States Congress and state legislative bodies, originated and co-authored amicus briefs for the United States Supreme Court, and has been a guest on numerous TV and radio programs. Doug and his family live in the Washington, DC suburbs.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-25--Trump’s top diplomat says admin may never restore WHO funding over coronavirus

PETITION : Thank President Trump for halting U.S. funding to pro-abortion World Health Organization Sign the petition here .
April 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo said this week the Trump administration may never restore funding to the embattled World Health Organization ( WHO ) and may instead push for changes or even a new alternative to the international body following its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting , having US taxpayer dollars go to the WHO , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News interviews this week , Reuters reports .
He added that the administration would “ take a look at ” whether it ’ s time for a different organization to supplant the WHO ’ s role .
Earlier this month , President Donald Trump announced a temporary suspension of the more than $ 400 million the United States sends the WHO every year , pending a review of its “ role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.
” Critics have faulted the organization for , among other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China that could have limited the virus ’ s reach , and for legitimizing the false claims coming out of the Chinese government , among other offenses .
“ In December , the WHO refused to act on or publicize Taiwan ’ s warning that the new respiratory infection emerging in China could pass from human to human , ” Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-Fla. ) wrote .
“ In mid January , despite accumulating evidence of patients contracting what we now know as COVID-19 from other people , the organization repeated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no evidence of human-to-human transmission .
In January the WHO , at Beijing ’ s behest , also blocked Taiwan from participating in critical meetings to coordinate responses to the coronavirus and even reportedly provided wrong information about the virus ’ s spread in Taiwan.
” Population Research Institute head and China expert Steve Mosher adds that WHO chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus and his senior adviser , Dr. Bruce Aylward , have been “ carrying water ” for the Chinese regime , from backing claims that the virus didn ’ t originate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling of the outbreak .
Further , the global crisis has not been enough to get the WHO to set aside its pro-abortion advocacy , even temporarily , declaring that “ women ’ s choices and rights to sexual reproductive health care should be respected irrespective of [ their ] COVID-19 status.
” Many American medical experts have urged the temporary suspension of all types of non-urgent medical procedures , both to conserve resources and to limit the spread of the virus .
Pompeo made clear that American support for the WHO will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trustworthiness to handle such crises in the future .
“ If the institution works and functions , the United States will always lead and be part of it , ” he said .
“ When it ’ s not delivering , when in fact it ’ s failing to get the outcomes that are desired , we ’ re going to work with partners around the world to deliver a structure , a form , a governance model , that will actually deliver on the intended purposes .
”

Mike Pompeo added that the Trump administration would 'take a look at' whether it's time for a different organization to supplant the WHO's role.
PETITION: Thank President Trump for halting U.S. funding to pro-abortion World Health Organization Sign the petition here.
April 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo said this week the Trump administration may never restore funding to the embattled World Health Organization (WHO) and may instead push for changes or even a new alternative to the international body following its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having US taxpayer dollars go to the WHO,” Pompeo said in one of two Fox News interviews this week, Reuters reports. He added that the administration would “take a look at” whether it’s time for a different organization to supplant the WHO’s role.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced a temporary suspension of the more than $400 million the United States sends the WHO every year, pending a review of its “role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”
Critics have faulted the organization for, among other things, opposing bans on travel from China that could have limited the virus’s reach, and for legitimizing the false claims coming out of the Chinese government, among other offenses.
“In December, the WHO refused to act on or publicize Taiwan’s warning that the new respiratory infection emerging in China could pass from human to human,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote. “In mid January, despite accumulating evidence of patients contracting what we now know as COVID-19 from other people, the organization repeated the CCP’s lie that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. In January the WHO, at Beijing’s behest, also blocked Taiwan from participating in critical meetings to coordinate responses to the coronavirus and even reportedly provided wrong information about the virus’s spread in Taiwan.”
Population Research Institute head and China expert Steve Mosher adds that WHO chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus and his senior adviser, Dr. Bruce Aylward, have been “carrying water” for the Chinese regime, from backing claims that the virus didn’t originate in China to praising the regime’s handling of the outbreak.
Further, the global crisis has not been enough to get the WHO to set aside its pro-abortion advocacy, even temporarily, declaring that “women’s choices and rights to sexual reproductive health care should be respected irrespective of [their] COVID-19 status.” Many American medical experts have urged the temporary suspension of all types of non-urgent medical procedures, both to conserve resources and to limit the spread of the virus.
Pompeo made clear that American support for the WHO will ultimately depend on the institution’s trustworthiness to handle such crises in the future.
“If the institution works and functions, the United States will always lead and be part of it,” he said. “When it’s not delivering, when in fact it’s failing to get the outcomes that are desired, we’re going to work with partners around the world to deliver a structure, a form, a governance model, that will actually deliver on the intended purposes.”
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lifesitenews--2020-04-25--US bishop: We must ‘halt’ development of any coronavirus vaccine derived from aborted babies

PETITION : Pres .
Trump do n't give federal funds to COVID-19 vaccines made from aborted baby cells Sign the petition here .
TYLER , Texas , April 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Bishop Joseph Strickland released a pastoral letter asking faithful Catholics to join him in helping to bring to a “ halt ” any development of a coronavirus vaccine derived from aborted babies .
“ Tragically , people are not aware of or have chosen to turn a blind eye to the advances in medical science which allow vaccines to be developed with the wholesale use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the bishop of Tyler in Northeast Texas wrote on April 23 .
He admitted that “ until recently , I knew very little about ” the use “ of in line stem cells from aborted babies in developing vaccines.
” Strickland stressed that just because “ the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use the dead bodies of these children to cure a global pandemic .
Emphatically , this practice is evil.
” “ As your Shepherd , ” the bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join me , NOW , in passionately but prayerfully speaking out against this practice .
As I said in the beginning of this letter , I will help you navigate this storm as best as I can.
” “ I ask you to join your voices with mine in an effort to bring to a halt [ this ] reality.
” Strickland announced he will “ provide a guide to assist you with speaking the truth to all your elected representatives , the pharmaceutical industry , and your local community.
” “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishes the illegal and immoral nature of any use of the remains of aborted babies for research , ” he added .
“ Further , we must insist that pharmaceutical companies comply with such legislation .
I believe this can be a significant building block in a culture of life which eliminates the taint of economic gain that too easily infects the abortion industry.
” Bishop Strickland explained how the Church “ has long defended the right to life and love owed to our children .
Recent popes have unanimously pointed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our world as a threat that we must address.
” Pope John Paul II , in his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae , described the “ dramatic struggle between the ‘ culture of life ’ and the ‘ culture of death.
’ ” According to Strickland , “ the ugly culture of death is exposing itself in an even more serious way ” during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by looking for a vaccine .
Evangelium Vitae points out that the “ killing of innocent human creatures , even if carried out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act.
” Strickland used this quote in the context of talking about aborted baby body parts to develop a vaccine .
He also proposed a better translation of the term “ human creatures ” — namely , “ human persons.
” “ The child in the womb is more than a creature .
The child in the womb is a HUMAN PERSON .
Just as we are human persons , ” he wrote .
In addition to Evangelium Vitae , the bishop also recalled the 1987 instruction Donum Vitae , approved by Pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joseph Ratzinger , at the time prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith .
“ But what is technically possible is not for that very reason morally admissible , ” the instruction stated .
As Strickland pointed out , “ ethical means are available and can prove to be just as effective in developing vaccines ; umbilical cells , placental cells , adult stem cells — and other sources of cells , including even those of insects , provide completely viable paths to an effective vaccine.
” LifeSiteNews reported on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Life , which focuses on the question of ethical vaccines , showing how one company , Sanofi , is using a platform based on insect cells .
“ Their Sf9 cell line comes from the fall armyworm and is highly effective as a rapid growth medium .
It has been used for several years in producing influenza vaccines.
” Strickland said , “ Scientists I ’ ve spoken with assure me that there is no medical necessity for using aborted children in order to develop the much-needed vaccine to protect us from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April , the bishop of Tyler had already said he “ will refuse ” a potential vaccine for the coronavirus if it is made using tissue from “ aborted children.
” He expressed his sadness over the fact that “ even with Covid-19 we are still debating the use of aborted fetal tissue for medical research.
” Several Catholic bishops and pro-life leaders sent an open letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last Friday , asking the government agency to ensure that Americans will have access to coronavirus vaccines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion.
” “ To be clear , we strongly support efforts to develop an effective , safe , and widely available vaccine as quickly as possible , ” the letter stated .
“ However , we also strongly urge our federal government to ensure that fundamental moral principles are followed in the development of such vaccines , most importantly , the principle that human life is sacred and should never be exploited.
” Among the signers was Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City , chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as laypeople , including Jeanne Mancini , organizer of the yearly March for Life in the nation ’ s capital , Michael Farris of Alliance Defending Freedom , and Lila Rose of pro-life organization Live Action .
Bishop Strickland praised the letter for indicating “ our immediate task ... to demand ethical vaccines for COVID-19.
” “ We must go further , however , and pursue the prevention of future development of vaccines using remnants and available cells of aborted children ’ s bodies and to use only ethically developed vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his April 23 letter by urging the faithful “ to pray with me for God ’ s conversion of hearts which is the ultimate remedy for the culture of death in which we continue to be immersed .
”

Joseph Strickland stressed that just because 'the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use the dead bodies of these children to cure a global pandemic.'
PETITION: Pres. Trump don't give federal funds to COVID-19 vaccines made from aborted baby cells Sign the petition here.
TYLER, Texas, April 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Joseph Strickland released a pastoral letter asking faithful Catholics to join him in helping to bring to a “halt” any development of a coronavirus vaccine derived from aborted babies.
“Tragically, people are not aware of or have chosen to turn a blind eye to the advances in medical science which allow vaccines to be developed with the wholesale use of aborted children’s bodies,” the bishop of Tyler in Northeast Texas wrote on April 23.
He admitted that “until recently, I knew very little about” the use “of in line stem cells from aborted babies in developing vaccines.”
Strickland stressed that just because “the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use the dead bodies of these children to cure a global pandemic. Emphatically, this practice is evil.”
“As your Shepherd,” the bishop wrote, “I urge you to join me, NOW, in passionately but prayerfully speaking out against this practice. As I said in the beginning of this letter, I will help you navigate this storm as best as I can.”
“I ask you to join your voices with mine in an effort to bring to a halt [this] reality.”
Strickland announced he will “provide a guide to assist you with speaking the truth to all your elected representatives, the pharmaceutical industry, and your local community.”
“We must insist that legislators create legislation which establishes the illegal and immoral nature of any use of the remains of aborted babies for research,” he added. “Further, we must insist that pharmaceutical companies comply with such legislation. I believe this can be a significant building block in a culture of life which eliminates the taint of economic gain that too easily infects the abortion industry.”
Bishop Strickland explained how the Church “has long defended the right to life and love owed to our children. Recent popes have unanimously pointed to the culture of death that is rampant in our world as a threat that we must address.”
Pope John Paul II, in his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae, described the “dramatic struggle between the ‘culture of life’ and the ‘culture of death.’” According to Strickland, “the ugly culture of death is exposing itself in an even more serious way” during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by looking for a vaccine.
Evangelium Vitae points out that the “killing of innocent human creatures, even if carried out to help others, constitutes an absolutely unacceptable act.” Strickland used this quote in the context of talking about aborted baby body parts to develop a vaccine.
He also proposed a better translation of the term “human creatures” — namely, “human persons.”
“The child in the womb is more than a creature. The child in the womb is a HUMAN PERSON. Just as we are human persons,” he wrote.
In addition to Evangelium Vitae, the bishop also recalled the 1987 instruction Donum Vitae, approved by Pope John Paul II and published by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, at the time prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. “But what is technically possible is not for that very reason morally admissible,” the instruction stated.
As Strickland pointed out, “ethical means are available and can prove to be just as effective in developing vaccines; umbilical cells, placental cells, adult stem cells — and other sources of cells, including even those of insects, provide completely viable paths to an effective vaccine.”
LifeSiteNews reported on research by pro-life group Children of God for Life, which focuses on the question of ethical vaccines, showing how one company, Sanofi, is using a platform based on insect cells. “Their Sf9 cell line comes from the fall armyworm and is highly effective as a rapid growth medium. It has been used for several years in producing influenza vaccines.”
Strickland said, “Scientists I’ve spoken with assure me that there is no medical necessity for using aborted children in order to develop the much-needed vaccine to protect us from this particular strain of Coronavirus.”
Earlier in April, the bishop of Tyler had already said he “will refuse” a potential vaccine for the coronavirus if it is made using tissue from “aborted children.” He expressed his sadness over the fact that “even with Covid-19 we are still debating the use of aborted fetal tissue for medical research.”
So sad…even with Covid-19 we are still debating the use of aborted fetal tissue for medical research…let me go on record…if a vaccine for this virus is only attainable if we use body parts of aborted children then I will refuse the vaccine…I will not kill children to live — Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) April 8, 2020
Several Catholic bishops and pro-life leaders sent an open letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last Friday, asking the government agency to ensure that Americans will have access to coronavirus vaccines that are “free from any connection to abortion.”
“To be clear, we strongly support efforts to develop an effective, safe, and widely available vaccine as quickly as possible,” the letter stated. “However, we also strongly urge our federal government to ensure that fundamental moral principles are followed in the development of such vaccines, most importantly, the principle that human life is sacred and should never be exploited.”
Among the signers was Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, as well as laypeople, including Jeanne Mancini, organizer of the yearly March for Life in the nation’s capital, Michael Farris of Alliance Defending Freedom, and Lila Rose of pro-life organization Live Action.
Bishop Strickland praised the letter for indicating “our immediate task … to demand ethical vaccines for COVID-19.”
“We must go further, however, and pursue the prevention of future development of vaccines using remnants and available cells of aborted children’s bodies and to use only ethically developed vaccines,” he added.
Strickland concluded his April 23 letter by urging the faithful “to pray with me for God’s conversion of hearts which is the ultimate remedy for the culture of death in which we continue to be immersed.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-04-25--Pagan-influenced ordination of indigenous deacon shows Church with ‘Amazonian face’

PETITION : Join faithful German Catholics in resisting bishops ’ plan to ‘ Protestantize ’ Church Sign the petition here .
April 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — For the first time , a member of the Ticuna tribe in the Brazilian diocese of Alto Solimões in the Western province of Amazonia was ordained a permanent deacon of the Catholic Church on March 15 , in a ceremony fraught with indigenous symbols .
The event received international attention when the Holy See ’ s official news service , Vatican News , published a short report on Monday under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an indigenous deacon in a diocese in western Brazil.
” Local media underscored that the ordination is clearly a part of the process of building the Church with an “ Amazonian face.
” It was presented as an implementation of the recent Amazon Synod .
Pope Francis ’ s apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia called for “ many more ” deacons in the Amazon region and the “ inculturation of the liturgy.
” The diaconal ordination took place in the church of St. Francis of Assisi in Belem do Solimões , a village that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the local Ticuna tribe , according to Vatican News .
Adolfo Zon Pereira , named to the see of Alto Solimões in 2015 , was the ordaining bishop .
He is known for having said the abolition of priestly celibacy would not in his opinion solve the problem of the lack of priests in the region : “ Today we have a problem with vocations , and our celibacy allows us to accomplish pastoral work turned only towards the people , ” he told a Brazilian newspaper in 2017 .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 permanent officials in Alto Solimões , of whom 18 were priests , while 11 permanent deacons were being trained in order to take up large responsibilities within the diocese .
Permanent deacons are allowed to be married and have children , and they also have professional jobs outside the Church .
The new deacon is no exception .
Antelmo Pereira Angelo was accompanied to the altar by his wife and nine children .
The numbers of married deacons are increasing in many countries where priestly ordinations are rare ; their wives must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible and are expected to follow their husbands ’ training to some extent .
What made the ordination of Pereira Angelo particularly significant was the effort made to include native customs and traditions in the celebration .
Vatican News underscored local missionaries ’ efforts to maintain these traditions as a cultural heritage .
But the effort went far beyond that in including many of the symbols in the diaconal consecration itself : songs , dances , bead necklaces , and traditional headwear , as well as the use of animals ’ teeth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vegetable fibers .
The Brazilian bishops ’ conference published a lengthy and admiring report of the occasion , including pictures that show several of the celebrants sporting traditional face-painting during the ordination Mass .
The chalice and ciborium were made of non-precious materials : black bowls and globes reminiscent of the impedimenta surrounding the Pachamama statuettes during the pagan ceremonies in Rome at the Amazon Synod .
The local population came to the church singing and dancing and wearing face paint proper to the 12 clans of the ethnicity of the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are locally associated with the 12 tribes of Israel .
The celebration started alongside a stream that runs near the church with indigenous musical instruments and a dance traditionally used for young girls ’ rite of passage to adulthood .
Descriptions of these traditional rites are harrowing .
At the time of their first menstruation , girls are isolated from the rest of the tribe for anything from two weeks up to six months or even several years in a secluded area of a small room , learning the arts of womanhood from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passage itself .
The girls are considered vulnerable to the evil spirits of the forest during their puberty .
At the end of their isolation , they have their bodies painted black and are given intoxicating drinks and have all their hair removed .
Traditionally , it would be pulled out by their fathers to show that they were ready for childbirth ; in modern times , scissors are sometimes used .
The ceremony involves four days without sleep during the final fertility rites , during which their eyes are covered and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the obsessive beating of drums .
Masked young men dressed as demons then dance around the girls with drums and carved wooden penises .
During the new deacon ’ s ordination , other specifically indigenous gestures took place .
A mat prepared by women of the tribe with the bark of the Capinuri palm — a substance called tururi by the Indians — played a special role .
Tururi is also used to make circular garments considered a symbol of protection against all the forces of nature — a clearly pagan use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to fight off the evil spirits .
Lying flat on his face on the floor of the church as a sign of obedience and humility , Pereira Angelo prostrated himself on the mat , which is of the type used for the rite of passage described above .
Another circular mat bearing indigenous symbols — a parrot , a snake , and a leopard with signs of the sun and moon — was also brandished at that moment as a sign of protection from all the forces of nature .
Green leaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor behind the new deacon , also reminiscent of the decorations used in Rome at the Pachamama ceremonies .
Before the ordination ceremony began , Bishop Adolfo Zon Pereira made clear that he specifically wanted to answer Pope Francis ’ s call to make a church with an Amazonian face .
In his post-synodal exaltation , Francis spoke about at the Amazonian liturgy he was hoping for : It is apparently not a problem that these rituals should be associated with cruel and violent traditions in which the cult of spirits plays a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the diocese of Alto Solimões has “ at last recently reaped one of the first fruits of the evangelisation that has been going on for more than a hundred years.
” This would appear to suggest that the sum of conversions , baptisms , marriages and religious observance since the diocese was created in 1910 by Saint Pius X count for nothing .
The Catholic history of the region goes back much farther : Jesuit missionaries were active in the territory from 1542 , to be replaced by Carmelite fathers once Portugal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1749 .
From that time onward , under the authority of the king of Portugal , parishes were created and organized and churches were built , but the regular presence of priests occurred only from 1892 , when the diocese of Amazonas was created .
From 1909 , the Capuchins of Umbria have taken over as missionaries in the enormous diocese : as large as Greece or Nicaragua , its population is only 216,000 strong .
38 percent of the inhabitants are indigenous , and most are members of the Ticuna ethnicity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2000 , over 70 percent of the population were Catholic ; in 2010 , that percentage dropped to 59.5 percent , while 31 percent were Evangelicals ( as compared with 21 percent in 2000 ) .

The ordination included indigenous songs, dances, bead necklaces, and traditional headwear, as well as the use of animals’ teeth, shells and snails, and bracelets made of vegetable fibres.
PETITION: Catholics call on the Vatican to affirm all salvation comes through Jesus Sign the petition here.
April 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — For the first time, a member of the Ticuna tribe in the Brazilian diocese of Alto Solimões in the Western province of Amazonia was ordained a permanent deacon of the Catholic Church on March 15, in a ceremony fraught with indigenous symbols.
The event received international attention when the Holy See’s official news service, Vatican News, published a short report on Monday under the title: “First ever ordination of an indigenous deacon in a diocese in western Brazil.”
Local media underscored that the ordination is clearly a part of the process of building the Church with an “Amazonian face.”
It was presented as an implementation of the recent Amazon Synod. Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia called for “many more” deacons in the Amazon region and the “inculturation of the liturgy.”
The diaconal ordination took place in the church of St. Francis of Assisi in Belem do Solimões, a village that is considered the “spiritual center” of the local Ticuna tribe, according to Vatican News. Adolfo Zon Pereira, named to the see of Alto Solimões in 2015, was the ordaining bishop. He is known for having said the abolition of priestly celibacy would not in his opinion solve the problem of the lack of priests in the region: “Today we have a problem with vocations, and our celibacy allows us to accomplish pastoral work turned only towards the people,” he told a Brazilian newspaper in 2017.
At the time, the Catholic Church had only 40 permanent officials in Alto Solimões, of whom 18 were priests, while 11 permanent deacons were being trained in order to take up large responsibilities within the diocese. Permanent deacons are allowed to be married and have children, and they also have professional jobs outside the Church.
The new deacon is no exception. Antelmo Pereira Angelo was accompanied to the altar by his wife and nine children. The numbers of married deacons are increasing in many countries where priestly ordinations are rare; their wives must give consent for the ordination to be possible and are expected to follow their husbands’ training to some extent.
What made the ordination of Pereira Angelo particularly significant was the effort made to include native customs and traditions in the celebration. Vatican News underscored local missionaries’ efforts to maintain these traditions as a cultural heritage.
But the effort went far beyond that in including many of the symbols in the diaconal consecration itself: songs, dances, bead necklaces, and traditional headwear, as well as the use of animals’ teeth, shells and snails, and bracelets made of vegetable fibers.
The Brazilian bishops’ conference published a lengthy and admiring report of the occasion, including pictures that show several of the celebrants sporting traditional face-painting during the ordination Mass.
The chalice and ciborium were made of non-precious materials: black bowls and globes reminiscent of the impedimenta surrounding the Pachamama statuettes during the pagan ceremonies in Rome at the Amazon Synod.
The local population came to the church singing and dancing and wearing face paint proper to the 12 clans of the ethnicity of the “Sacred Earth of Eware,” which are locally associated with the 12 tribes of Israel.
The celebration started alongside a stream that runs near the church with indigenous musical instruments and a dance traditionally used for young girls’ rite of passage to adulthood. Descriptions of these traditional rites are harrowing. At the time of their first menstruation, girls are isolated from the rest of the tribe for anything from two weeks up to six months or even several years in a secluded area of a small room, learning the arts of womanhood from female relatives, until the rite of passage itself. The girls are considered vulnerable to the evil spirits of the forest during their puberty.
At the end of their isolation, they have their bodies painted black and are given intoxicating drinks and have all their hair removed. Traditionally, it would be pulled out by their fathers to show that they were ready for childbirth; in modern times, scissors are sometimes used. The ceremony involves four days without sleep during the final fertility rites, during which their eyes are covered and they repeatedly have to jump over a fire to the obsessive beating of drums.
Masked young men dressed as demons then dance around the girls with drums and carved wooden penises.
Later, an arranged marriage takes place.
During the new deacon’s ordination, other specifically indigenous gestures took place.
A mat prepared by women of the tribe with the bark of the Capinuri palm — a substance called tururi by the Indians — played a special role. Tururi is also used to make circular garments considered a symbol of protection against all the forces of nature — a clearly pagan use that traditionally has recourse to certain substances supposed to fight off the evil spirits.
Lying flat on his face on the floor of the church as a sign of obedience and humility, Pereira Angelo prostrated himself on the mat, which is of the type used for the rite of passage described above.
Another circular mat bearing indigenous symbols — a parrot, a snake, and a leopard with signs of the sun and moon — was also brandished at that moment as a sign of protection from all the forces of nature. Green leaves and red flowers were placed on the floor behind the new deacon, also reminiscent of the decorations used in Rome at the Pachamama ceremonies.
Before the ordination ceremony began, Bishop Adolfo Zon Pereira made clear that he specifically wanted to answer Pope Francis’s call to make a church with an Amazonian face.
In his post-synodal exaltation, Francis spoke about at the Amazonian liturgy he was hoping for:
The inculturation of Christian spirituality in the cultures of the original peoples can benefit in a particular way from the sacraments, since they unite the divine and the cosmic, grace and creation. In the Amazon region, the sacraments should not be viewed in discontinuity with creation. They “are a privileged way in which nature is taken up by God to become a means of mediating supernatural life.” They are the fulfillment of creation, in which nature is elevated to become a locus and instrument of grace, enabling us “to embrace the world on a different plane.”
Pope Francis also said:
In this sense, encountering God does not mean fleeing from this world or turning our back on nature. It means that we can take up into the liturgy many elements proper to the experience of indigenous peoples in their contact with nature, and respect native forms of expression in song, dance, rituals, gestures and symbols.
It is apparently not a problem that these rituals should be associated with cruel and violent traditions in which the cult of spirits plays a large role.
According to Vatican News, the diocese of Alto Solimões has “at last recently reaped one of the first fruits of the evangelisation that has been going on for more than a hundred years.” This would appear to suggest that the sum of conversions, baptisms, marriages and religious observance since the diocese was created in 1910 by Saint Pius X count for nothing. The Catholic history of the region goes back much farther: Jesuit missionaries were active in the territory from 1542, to be replaced by Carmelite fathers once Portugal took definitive control of the region in 1749.
From that time onward, under the authority of the king of Portugal, parishes were created and organized and churches were built, but the regular presence of priests occurred only from 1892, when the diocese of Amazonas was created. From 1909, the Capuchins of Umbria have taken over as missionaries in the enormous diocese: as large as Greece or Nicaragua, its population is only 216,000 strong. 38 percent of the inhabitants are indigenous, and most are members of the Ticuna ethnicity, the largest native group in Brazil.
In 2000, over 70 percent of the population were Catholic; in 2010, that percentage dropped to 59.5 percent, while 31 percent were Evangelicals (as compared with 21 percent in 2000).
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lifesitenews--2020-04-25--‘The Chosen’: An amazing series about Jesus that even your Christian-snubbing friends will watch

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world : Feed your flock Sign the petition here .
EDINBURGH , Scotland , April 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― There ’ s an addictive new show online , but you won ’ t find it on Netflix .
In fact , you can watch the first eight episodes for free , and that ’ s not even the best news .
The best news is that it is a miniseries about Jesus of Nazareth and it is really very good .
“ The Chosen ” is that very rare bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends who snub Christian films will watch ( Alan Ng sums up the problem very well here ) .
The brainchild of filmmaker Dallas Jenkins , “ The Chosen ” has original ideas , gripping storylines , good actors , convincing sets , and an engaging , contemporary quality , even though its first season is set in 28 AD .
I ’ ve seen four episodes , and I ’ m completely hooked .
This is a show for anyone who has ever wondered where Jesus was staying before he met the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Jenkins imagines a clever , carpenter-worthy lean-to ) , or what it was like to live in Capernaum during the Roman Occupation ( crushed by the heavy tax bill ) .
It also fleshes out saints whom Christians alive today know best from Scripture , traditions and paintings .
The results are life-like and convincing .
Two brilliant examples of Jenkins ’ ability to make old friends new are Mary Magdalene ( Elizabeth Tabish ) and Nicodemus ( Erick Avari ) .
We meet Mary when she is known as “ Lilith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s smelly “ Red District , ” subject to possession by , yes , seven devils .
The viewer is treated to flashbacks of Mary ’ s happy Jewish childhood and a visual explanation of how she fell on such hard times .
Without the filmmakers intruding anything unsuitable for Christian viewing , we can also guess how Mary scrapes together her living .
Nicodemus , by contrast , lives a highly respectable life as a famous rabbi with an elegant wife .
Forced by the Romans to attend to the peace-breaking Mary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t work .
Despite his scholarship , piety and real concern for the woman , he can ’ t drive out the demons .
“ We ’ re not afraid of you , ” they snarl .
As Mary struggled to end her misery one way or another , I found myself praying in the direction of my computer screen .
“ Oh , Lord , when are You coming ?
” I wailed .
My deeply emotional response to Jenkins ’ filmmaking was not new .
Brothers Jeff and Neil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cried when they watched Jenkins ’ 2017 pilot episode for a proposed new show about a shepherd in Bethlehem .
The story had the same creativity and conviction Jenkins would bring to “ The Chosen.
” Posted to social media , it got 15 million views .
“ I felt my heart shout for joy , ” Neal Harmon said in an interview .
“ It was done in such a fresh and new way.
” To raise money for what would become “ The Chosen , ” the growing production team took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a form of online funding in which people interested in a project can buy shares .
They raised more than $ 10 million from more than 15,000 shareholders by the end of their first fundraising round in 2019 .
When you see the pilot episode , you ’ ll understand why .
To put my discovery of “ The Chosen ” into a spiritual context , I had grown very sick of my lockdown Hollywood fare ― sick of the violence , sick of the sex scenes , sick of going to bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after watching the first two episodes of “ The Chosen , ” I woke up thinking about Jesus .
Last night , I took the Bible to bed with me and reread the verses I had seen brought to life in the fourth episode .
I woke up wondering what will happen next .
This can only be good .
The makers of “ The Chosen hope to raise enough money to shoot seven seasons and beat what Fox News called “ ‘ Game of Thrones ’ billion-viewer record.
” Given the heartfelt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is clearly not for the cash but to introduce millions of people to Jesus of Nazareth in a fresh new way .
I sincerely hope they succeed , and meanwhile , I foresee a problem : what to watch between Episode 8 and the start of Season 2 ?

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock Sign the petition here.
EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― There’s an addictive new show online, but you won’t find it on Netflix. In fact, you can watch the first eight episodes for free, and that’s not even the best news.
The best news is that it is a miniseries about Jesus of Nazareth and it is really very good.
“The Chosen” is that very rare bird: a Christian film that even your friends who snub Christian films will watch (Alan Ng sums up the problem very well here). The brainchild of filmmaker Dallas Jenkins, “The Chosen” has original ideas, gripping storylines, good actors, convincing sets, and an engaging, contemporary quality, even though its first season is set in 28 AD.
I’ve seen four episodes, and I’m completely hooked. This is a show for anyone who has ever wondered where Jesus was staying before he met the first apostles by the Sea of Galilee (Jenkins imagines a clever, carpenter-worthy lean-to), or what it was like to live in Capernaum during the Roman Occupation (crushed by the heavy tax bill). It also fleshes out saints whom Christians alive today know best from Scripture, traditions and paintings. The results are life-like and convincing.
Two brilliant examples of Jenkins’ ability to make old friends new are Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish) and Nicodemus (Erick Avari). We meet Mary when she is known as “Lilith,” an unfortunate in Capernaum’s smelly “Red District,” subject to possession by, yes, seven devils. The viewer is treated to flashbacks of Mary’s happy Jewish childhood and a visual explanation of how she fell on such hard times. Without the filmmakers intruding anything unsuitable for Christian viewing, we can also guess how Mary scrapes together her living.
Nicodemus, by contrast, lives a highly respectable life as a famous rabbi with an elegant wife. Forced by the Romans to attend to the peace-breaking Mary, Nicodemus is troubled when his exorcism doesn’t work. Despite his scholarship, piety and real concern for the woman, he can’t drive out the demons. “We’re not afraid of you,” they snarl.
As Mary struggled to end her misery one way or another, I found myself praying in the direction of my computer screen.
“Oh, Lord, when are You coming?” I wailed.
My deeply emotional response to Jenkins’ filmmaking was not new. Brothers Jeff and Neil Harmon, co-founders of VidAngel Studios, cried when they watched Jenkins’ 2017 pilot episode for a proposed new show about a shepherd in Bethlehem. The story had the same creativity and conviction Jenkins would bring to “The Chosen.” Posted to social media, it got 15 million views.
“I felt my heart shout for joy,” Neal Harmon said in an interview. “It was done in such a fresh and new way.”
To raise money for what would become “The Chosen,” the growing production team took advantage of “equity crowdfunding,” a form of online funding in which people interested in a project can buy shares. They raised more than $10 million from more than 15,000 shareholders by the end of their first fundraising round in 2019. When you see the pilot episode, you’ll understand why.
To put my discovery of “The Chosen” into a spiritual context, I had grown very sick of my lockdown Hollywood fare ― sick of the violence, sick of the sex scenes, sick of going to bed in a bad temper. The morning after watching the first two episodes of “The Chosen,” I woke up thinking about Jesus. Last night, I took the Bible to bed with me and reread the verses I had seen brought to life in the fourth episode. I woke up wondering what will happen next. This can only be good.
The makers of “The Chosen hope to raise enough money to shoot seven seasons and beat what Fox News called “‘Game of Thrones’ billion-viewer record.” Given the heartfelt beliefs of Jenkins and his team, this is clearly not for the cash but to introduce millions of people to Jesus of Nazareth in a fresh new way. I sincerely hope they succeed, and meanwhile, I foresee a problem: what to watch between Episode 8 and the start of Season 2?
Follow Dorothy Dorothy Cummings McLean is a Canadian journalist, essayist, and novelist. She earned an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Toronto and an M.Div./S.T.B. from Toronto’s Regis College. She was a columnist for the Toronto Catholic Register for nine years and has contributed to Catholic World Report. Her first book, Seraphic Singles, was published by Novalis (2010) in Canada, Liguori in the USA, and Homo Dei in Poland. Her second, Ceremony of Innocence, was published by Ignatius Press (2013). Dorothy lives near Edinburgh, Scotland with her husband.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-24--Two California doctors may start revolution with calm, science/data-based questioning of extreme mea

Two California doctors may start revolution with calm, science/data-based questioning of extreme measures

April 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Two California doctors may have started a revolution against the Wuhan virus extreme mitigation policies with their calm , very sincere , caring , scientific-based and statistics-emphasizing presentation in a press conference two days ago .
Dr. Artin Masihi and Dr. dan Erikson are with Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield California .
The comments from viewers at the bottom of this article give you an idea about what they revealed – for the good of the nation and their many patients – and how credible and worth listening to these two men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt , from the beginning of this pandemic , that there are many things that do not add up about the extreme , unprecedented and devastating measures that have been put in place to try to stop this novel flu from causing the high numbers of model-estimated deaths that have clearly all proven to be dramatically wrong .
The doctors note that the scientific and statistical evidence does not at all justify the public becoming as terrified of this virus as they are and as the media continues to make them feel every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the evidence they present , that the chance of the general public dying from this virus is actually very low and that , overall , it does not seem much worse than the seasonal flu .
However , it is known that for persons with the frequently noted pre-existing health conditions , the virus has been very dangerous and that is where a large portion of the recorded deaths have come from .
One of the crucial things they highlight is that we normally do not isolate healthy people during a disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sick and the healthy or otherwise vulnerable are being forced to endure substantial isolation that results in many negative and even life-threatening outcomes , such as increased suicides and dangerous addictions .
They also warn this extended indoors isolation out of the sun and fresh air will weaken the immune systems of healthy people to the point that they will be more susceptible to the Wuhan virus and other communicable diseases after the isolation is ended .
This could cause an unexpected flood of otherwise avoidable , seriously ill patients into hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more people are asking “ why are we doing all of this ?
, ” “ What has been the real benefit of it , if any , ” and “ can we keep going on like this for much longer without causing massive social , economic and even health damage that could take years to recover from ?
” These two doctors have taken a heroic risk in being publicly honest about what they have been seeing , experiencing and asking themselves , as they have seen too many people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unwarranted fear of infection , while far fewer people are dying from the virus than they realize .
Read the comments below that were posted under the first of the two videos .
The Part 2 Video is much shorter than Part 1 .
The comments will help you understand , better than anything I can write , what you are about to see .
And then watch both parts .
Then contact your elected representatives and , for Americans , also contact the president at WhiteHouse.gov .
• These are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors we are seeing right here .
No other doctors are speaking truths like these two fine examples of boldness and professionalism .
Facts !
!
• Huge respect to these 2 doctors speaking out and exposing this nonsense .
I 'm seeing more and more medical professionals speaking up .
• Unfortunately the masses are n't really interested in the facts .
• Brilliant Doctors who actually care about the truth instead of just a paycheck .
This exposes the PLANdemic and needs to be shared worldwide !
• The reporters love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the science doesn ’ t match up with their agenda .
Love that the truth finally seems to be coming out .
• The job of the journalists is to keep the COVID scare going .
• You know what 's sad about this.. ?
In the current state of people 's minds , they probably wo n't believe it .
• Now u see why they wanted only people with symptoms to test .
So it would manipulate the real numbers • Medicare pays hospitals more when a patient dies of covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressuring doc to add it to the cause of death .
• The condescending tone and rudeness of the first reporter show how angry they are with real science and immunology !
• As a retired Neurosurgeon , my hat 's off to these two physicians !
They are spot on !
• These two should be around Trump .
Not the completely corrupt Fauci and Brix .
• So proud of MY ER Doctors in this video !
!
May God watch over them , as exposing the lies can be detrimental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone is talking BS to you it leaves a bad feeling .
When someone is speaking the truth it leaves a good feeling .
These guys should be on national tv for all .
• reporters are thinking.
`` this does not fit the narrative we are going with `` • We all need to ask just what the hell is going on here .
• If something needs to go viral , I guess this is it .
• Those of us out there , with common sense and are not wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the ones taking care and helping those that cowered in the irrational fear that the media , and the WHO and CDC has spread everywhere .
Kudos to those of you that did n't cower in fear .
• Love `` not science '' disarming the Big Lie of Fauci , Scarf lady , Bill Gates .
• Dr. Massishi is a brilliant man too as well as Dr. Erikson , they 're both heroes .
This video is a gamechanger , we should share it as much as possible and listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and content from it to share with others .
I 'm glad that that the two doctors are so calm and well able to explain it even with these aggressive reporters trying to catch them out .
• Thanks for making and uploading this fantastic video .

These two doctors have taken a heroic risk being publicly honest about what they have been seeing, experiencing and asking themselves why we are isolating healthy people and imposing "risks from social isolation that are too high."
April 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Two California doctors may have started a revolution against the Wuhan virus extreme mitigation policies with their calm, very sincere, scientific-based and statistics-emphasizing presentation in a press conference two days ago. Dr. Artin Massihi and Dr. Dan Erickson are with Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield California.
The comments from viewers at the bottom of this article were taken from underneath the Facebook page under which their video was posted. They give you an idea about what they revealed and how many are responding to their presentation.
The video has been taken down by YouTube for “violating community standards”, but it can still be viewed (The first video discusses Facebook taking down the original video. Click the middle, right side arrow on that video to load the original press conference. Click again at the end of that video to see their second video) on the website of the television station that recorded the presentation and posted it to Facebook.
I have constantly felt, from the beginning of this pandemic, that there are many things that do not add up about the unprecedented and devastating measures that have been put in place to try to stop this novel virus. They were all based on trying to prevent the high numbers of model-estimated deaths that have clearly all proven to be dramatically wrong.
Because of this I recently wrote the article, “Are globalists using coronavirus crisis as battering ram to destroy, remake world order?” The article has received far more Facebook likes and readership than any article I have written in over 20 years for LifeSite. Many are clearly sensing the same things.
The doctors note that the scientific and statistical evidence does not at all justify the general public becoming as terrified of this virus as they are and as the media continues to make them feel every day.
These two men note, from the evidence they present, that the chance of most of the public dying from the Wujan virus is actually very low and that, overall, it does not seem much worse than the seasonal flu. However, it is definitely now known that for persons with the frequently noted pre-existing health conditions, the virus has been very dangerous and that is where the majority of the greater than normal number of recorded deaths for an annually occurring virus has come from.
One of the crucial things they highlight is that we normally do not isolate healthy people during a disease outbreak. During this pandemic, both the sick and the healthy or otherwise vulnerable are being forced to endure substantial isolation that results in many negative and even life-threatening outcomes, such as increased suicides, child molestations, and dangerous addictions.
They also warn this extended indoors isolation out of the sun and fresh air will weaken the immune systems of healthy people to the point that they will be more susceptible to the Wuhan virus and other communicable diseases after the isolation is ended. This could cause an unexpected flood of otherwise avoidable, seriously ill patients into hospitals when the isolation period is ended.
More people are asking “why are we doing all of this?,” “What has been the real benefit of it, if any,” and “can we keep going on like this for much longer without causing massive social, economic, and even health damage that could take years to recover from?”
These two doctors have taken a heroic risk in being publicly honest about what they have been seeing, experiencing, and asking themselves, as they have seen too many people with serious health issues dangerously avoiding hospitals because of unwarranted fear of infection, while far fewer people are dying from the virus than they realize.
Read the comments below that were posted under the first of the two videos. The Part 2 Video is much shorter than Part 1. And then watch both parts. (See note above indicating the videos have been removed by Facebook but can be viewed on the television statin website)
There is a new, May 1st video of the two doctors clarifying their original remarks and adding new information. Like the original two videos, this one has also gone viral on the Internet.
Then contact your elected representatives and, for Americans, also contact the president at WhiteHouse.gov.
Viewer comments posted under the video
These are the smartest, most logical and most professional doctors we are seeing right here. No other doctors are speaking truths like these two fine examples of boldness and professionalism. Facts!!
Huge respect to these 2 doctors speaking out and exposing this nonsense. I'm seeing more and more medical professionals speaking up.
Unfortunately, the masses aren't really interested in the facts.
Brilliant Doctors who actually care about the truth instead of just a paycheck. This exposes the PLANdemic and needs to be shared worldwide!
The reporters love saying, trust the science, until the science doesn’t match up with their agenda. Love that the truth finally seems to be coming out.
The job of the journalists is to keep the COVID scare going.
You know what's sad about this..? In the current state of people's minds, they probably won't believe it.
Now u see why they wanted only people with symptoms to test. So it would manipulate the real numbers
Medicare pays hospitals more when a patient dies of COVID-19! That's why the hospital admin is pressuring doc to add it to the cause of death.
The condescending tone and rudeness of the first reporter show how angry they are with real science and immunology!
As a retired Neurosurgeon, my hat's off to these two physicians! They are spot on!
These two should be around Trump. Not the completely corrupt Fauci and Brix.
So proud of MY ER Doctors in this video!! May God watch over them, as exposing the lies can be detrimental to one's well-being.
When someone is talking BS to you it leaves a bad feeling. When someone is speaking the truth it leaves a good feeling. These guys should be on national tv for all.
reporters are thinking. ” this does not fit the narrative we are going with “
We all need to ask just what the hell is going on here.
If something needs to go viral, I guess this is it.
Those of us out there, with common sense and are not wearing masks, going out often, will be the ones taking care and helping those that cowered in the irrational fear that the media, and the WHO and CDC have spread everywhere. Kudos to those of you that didn't cower in fear.
Love “not science” disarming the Big Lie of Fauci, Scarf lady, Bill Gates.
Dr. Massishi is a brilliant man too as well as Dr. Erikson, they're both heroes. This video is a gamechanger, we should share it as much as possible and listen twice to be able to memorize quotes and content from it to share with others. I'm glad that the two doctors are so calm and well able to explain it even with these aggressive reporters trying to catch them out.
Thanks for making and uploading this fantastic video.
Follow Steve Steve is the co-founder and managing director of LifeSiteNews.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-24--How porn industry uses Disney characters, innocent-looking pop-up ads to get your kids

April 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Over and over again , I ’ ve had parents tell me that their children would never search for pornography online .
Teenagers ?
Maybe .
Children ?
No .
They are simply too innocent .
They aren ’ t thinking about sexual things yet .
They haven ’ t been exposed to material that would pique their interest in sexual matters yet , and thus children can be children and there is no need to mar their innocence by broaching topics like porn .
Many mothers and fathers strive to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by innocence , and one in which they can simply enjoy the simple things in life without having their small minds clouded with information about the omnipresent digital content that is not adult so much as evil .
But it is essential that parents realize something : Your children may not be looking for pornography .
But the porn industry is most certainly looking for your kids .
Many parents are under the mistaken belief that so long as kids are not looking for porn , or so long as the Internet in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe .
It might surprise them to know that most children stumble across porn first by accident .
I ’ ve heard that same story hundreds of times while speaking to young audiences about porn , and a recent study confirmed not only that many children first see porn by accident , but that the vast majority of those wished they had not seen it .
This is not about whether your children have a desire to see porn .
It is about whether they will see it anyways .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predatory companies like PornHub have actually taken to tagging hardcore porn videos with the names of children ’ s cartoon characters like “ Dora the Explorer ” or “ Paw Patrol ” so that children searching the Internet for innocent subjects will end up on their websites filled with degradation and rape .
The earlier children get addicted , the more porn they ’ ll watch—and the more porn they ’ ll watch , the better it is for companies like PornHub .
Their bank accounts bulge with stolen innocence .
They even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instagram account shared an image of Baby Yoda with the PornHub logo reflected in his pupils with the phrase “ 10 seconds after my parents leave the house.
” PornHub not only does not verify age or consent , and they not only do nothing to keep children away from their vile material—they actively joke about the fact that children are also targeted customers .
Exodus Cry , which has been running a brilliant campaign exposing PornHub ’ s complicity in rape , sex trafficking , and exploitation , explained how PornHub preys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even have a click-through warning button , asking the visitor if they are at least 18 years old .
Why ?
Age is nothing but a number to Pornhub .
The organization hunts on popular social media outlets like Tik Tok , Twitch , Snapchat , Periscope , and so many others—using models and videos as bait to lure innocent kids into their sadistic clutches .
Some of these sites and apps have inadequate protections for scrolling kids or lack restrictions on predatory practices .
Then there are the categories .
In 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top search terms on the site , along with “ cartoon , ” “ revenge , ” and many more .
Make no mistake , Pornhub is setting and exploiting the sexual appetites of young kids and minors .
And again , it gets worse .
Collective Shout and Exodus Cry revealed that in addition to hosting videos of rape , child sexual abuse , and sex trafficking ( and consider for a moment the fact that people go onto this platform for sexual satisfaction ) , PornHub has a collection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ featuring children ’ s favourite Disney characters in hardcore porn sex acts including multiple penetrations , BDSM , and what appears to be gang rape.
” Figures like Rapunzel from Tangled are shown bound and gagged , with other children ’ s favourites being abused and violated .
Children ’ s cartoon characters .
WATCH : Interview with Protect Young Minds explaining how to talk to kids about porn Porn sites also place popup ads on Internet gaming sites frequented by children and young teens .
I ’ ve often asked audiences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of them have played an Internet game—and how many of them have been exposed to an explicit popup while doing so .
In answer to both questions , nearly every hand goes up .
As children become more and more frequent Internet users , the porn industry is utilizing the time they spend online to lure them onto porn sites .
Once they are there , their innocence can be destroyed , and they can be hooked .
This is the story of nearly an entire generation .
I write all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , please monitor any time your children spend online .
Please talk to them about pornography in an age-appropriate way .
Millions of children have been exposed to porn without their parents ’ desire or consent , and many parents are ignorant of the fact that their children have already been exposed to this material .
It is an ugly and awful fact of the culture we now live in that discussions which were unnecessary a few decades ago are absolutely necessary now .
Yes , they are .

'Your children may not be looking for pornography. But the porn industry is most certainly looking for your kids.'
PETITION: Authorities must shut down Pornhub after showing videos of 15-year-old trafficking victim Sign the petition here.
April 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Over and over again, I’ve had parents tell me that their children would never search for pornography online. Teenagers? Maybe. Children? No. They are simply too innocent. They aren’t thinking about sexual things yet. They haven’t been exposed to material that would pique their interest in sexual matters yet, and thus children can be children and there is no need to mar their innocence by broaching topics like porn.
I believe those parents.
Many mothers and fathers strive to give their sons and daughters a childhood defined by innocence, and one in which they can simply enjoy the simple things in life without having their small minds clouded with information about the omnipresent digital content that is not adult so much as evil.
But it is essential that parents realize something: Your children may not be looking for pornography. But the porn industry is most certainly looking for your kids.
Many parents are under the mistaken belief that so long as kids are not looking for porn, or so long as the Internet in the home is filtered, everything is safe. It might surprise them to know that most children stumble across porn first by accident. I’ve heard that same story hundreds of times while speaking to young audiences about porn, and a recent study confirmed not only that many children first see porn by accident, but that the vast majority of those wished they had not seen it. This is not about whether your children have a desire to see porn. It is about whether they will see it anyways.
In fact, as I’ve noted before, predatory companies like PornHub have actually taken to tagging hardcore porn videos with the names of children’s cartoon characters like “Dora the Explorer” or “Paw Patrol” so that children searching the Internet for innocent subjects will end up on their websites filled with degradation and rape. The earlier children get addicted, the more porn they’ll watch—and the more porn they’ll watch, the better it is for companies like PornHub. Their bank accounts bulge with stolen innocence.
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
They even joke about it: PornHub’s Instagram account shared an image of Baby Yoda with the PornHub logo reflected in his pupils with the phrase “10 seconds after my parents leave the house.” PornHub not only does not verify age or consent, and they not only do nothing to keep children away from their vile material—they actively joke about the fact that children are also targeted customers.
Exodus Cry, which has been running a brilliant campaign exposing PornHub’s complicity in rape, sex trafficking, and exploitation, explained how PornHub preys on children:
Pornhub doesn’t even have a click-through warning button, asking the visitor if they are at least 18 years old. Why? Age is nothing but a number to Pornhub. The organization hunts on popular social media outlets like Tik Tok, Twitch, Snapchat, Periscope, and so many others—using models and videos as bait to lure innocent kids into their sadistic clutches. Some of these sites and apps have inadequate protections for scrolling kids or lack restrictions on predatory practices. Then there are the categories. In 2019, “teen” was one of the top search terms on the site, along with “cartoon,” “revenge,” and many more. Make no mistake, Pornhub is setting and exploiting the sexual appetites of young kids and minors.
And again, it gets worse. Collective Shout and Exodus Cry revealed that in addition to hosting videos of rape, child sexual abuse, and sex trafficking (and consider for a moment the fact that people go onto this platform for sexual satisfaction), PornHub has a collection of “Disney cartoon porn—virtual or animated content featuring children’s favourite Disney characters in hardcore porn sex acts including multiple penetrations, BDSM, and what appears to be gang rape.” Figures like Rapunzel from Tangled are shown bound and gagged, with other children’s favourites being abused and violated. Children’s cartoon characters.
WATCH: Interview with Protect Young Minds explaining how to talk to kids about porn
Porn sites also place popup ads on Internet gaming sites frequented by children and young teens. I’ve often asked audiences of kids I’m speaking with how many of them have played an Internet game—and how many of them have been exposed to an explicit popup while doing so. In answer to both questions, nearly every hand goes up. As children become more and more frequent Internet users, the porn industry is utilizing the time they spend online to lure them onto porn sites. Once they are there, their innocence can be destroyed, and they can be hooked. This is the story of nearly an entire generation.
I write all of this to plead with parents: Please, please monitor any time your children spend online. Please talk to them about pornography in an age-appropriate way. Millions of children have been exposed to porn without their parents’ desire or consent, and many parents are ignorant of the fact that their children have already been exposed to this material.
It is an ugly and awful fact of the culture we now live in that discussions which were unnecessary a few decades ago are absolutely necessary now. Yes, they are.
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, Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of WORLD magazine and author of pro-life books, discusses the true history of the pro-life movement and what it can teach us about winning the culture war. Olasky points to the long history of abortion before Roe v. Wade to highlight the fact that fighting abortion on a strictly legal front will only get us so far since it is truly a cultural issue. You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-27--‘Give us back our Mass!’: Young Catholics around the world plead with bishops

April 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Over the course of the last couple of days , there have emerged in the world videos made by mostly young Catholics asking their local bishops to “ give us back our Mass !
” It all started with a video made by Austrian young Catholics .
Soon , Catholics in Spain , France , Argentine , Germany , Sweden , England , Wales and Scotland , as well as the United States made similar pleas .
As LifeSite reported , the Austrian youth published a video on April 19 .
LifeSiteNews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student from Vienna , Austria , who started this project .
Theresa , the 22-year-old organizer , told LifeSite , “ I had the idea for the video after small businesses were allowed again to open and I realized that one could also apply the same safety standards in churches , and perhaps even better.
” She says that she then spoke with some friends “ and all immediately said that they were willing to volunteer for such a service !
” On the one hand , this video by Catholic youth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer on the part of young Catholics to help the bishops and priests to re-introduce the Holy Mass as soon and as safely possible.
” In addition , Theresa explains , the video was also meant “ as a sign for everybody who sometimes loses hope when seeing the empty churches ( even before the times of the coronavirus ) or when thinking that young people are not interested in the Faith.
” “ We wanted to show the world that we are here , that we yearn for the Holy Mass and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service of our bishops in these difficult times , ” the young student concludes .
In the original Austrian video – which was published also with English , Spanish , and French subtitles , the young Catholics state , “ We want to support our shepherds and offer our help ” and “ we will be there during the Mass to make sure nobody is less than six feet apart.
” Since that first April 19 video , there have been numerous videos made with similarly touching words and scenes .
In many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen young Catholic families with several small children , asking for the Holy Mass .
Little children ask to have back the Mass and tell their bishops , “ we are praying for you !
” One young German says : “ Dear bishops , you are our shepherds , ” and a young woman continues the sentence : “ why do n't you do something that we may go again to Mass ?
” Another young woman adds : “ We do not need a [ live-streamed Jesus ] , we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boy offers his services as an altar boy , promising to “ make the church corona-free ” after each Mass .
A little boy , standing before an altar , says with a sweet voice : “ Please give us back the Holy Mass.
” The French video shows different kinds of shops ( such as grocery stores , post offices , chocolate shops ) which are open , while the Mass is not accessible .
They quote St. Padre Pio , who once said : “ It would be easier for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the Holy Mass.
” American youth in their video say that “ essential businesses are open , ” adding “ but what can be more essential to us than the Mass ?
” They , too , offer their bishops their help , to sanitize the churches , help maintain social distancing standards , and organize lists for limited groups of participants so that they can be opened again .
Here , too , little children ask : “ Please give us back the Holy Mass !
” These videos are an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith , and especially the Holy Mass , and who are willing to do extra efforts to be able to have it back again .
Other initiatives have now been taken , as well .
An Irish petition with so far 1,400 signatures addresses Archbishop Eamon Martin , the Primate of All Ireland , and ask him to “ restore the sacramental life of the People of God , ” and some 130 French priests have written an open letter to the French President Emmanuel Macron asking for the reinstatement of public Masses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – whose Mass was recently interrupted by policemen carrying weapons – calls for the reopening of public Masses by May 11 , as well .
Please see here the different videos from Catholic youths in different languages :

'What can be more essential to us than the Mass?'
April 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Over the course of the last couple of days, there have emerged in the world videos made by mostly young Catholics asking their local bishops to “give us back our Mass!” It all started with a video made by Austrian young Catholics. Soon, Catholics in Spain, France, Argentine, Germany, Sweden, England, Wales and Scotland, as well as the United States made similar pleas.
As LifeSite reported, the Austrian youth published a video on April 19. LifeSiteNews has now learned it was a 22-year-old student from Vienna, Austria, who started this project.
Theresa, the 22-year-old organizer, told LifeSite, “I had the idea for the video after small businesses were allowed again to open and I realized that one could also apply the same safety standards in churches, and perhaps even better.” She says that she then spoke with some friends “and all immediately said that they were willing to volunteer for such a service!”
On the one hand, this video by Catholic youth in Austria was meant as “a serious offer on the part of young Catholics to help the bishops and priests to re-introduce the Holy Mass as soon and as safely possible.” In addition, Theresa explains, the video was also meant “as a sign for everybody who sometimes loses hope when seeing the empty churches (even before the times of the coronavirus) or when thinking that young people are not interested in the Faith.”
“We wanted to show the world that we are here, that we yearn for the Holy Mass and that we wish to be at the service of our bishops in these difficult times,” the young student concludes.
In the original Austrian video – which was published also with English, Spanish, and French subtitles, the young Catholics state, “We want to support our shepherds and offer our help” and “we will be there during the Mass to make sure nobody is less than six feet apart.”
Since that first April 19 video, there have been numerous videos made with similarly touching words and scenes. In many of the videos, there can be seen young Catholic families with several small children, asking for the Holy Mass. Little children ask to have back the Mass and tell their bishops, “we are praying for you!”
One young German says: “Dear bishops, you are our shepherds,” and a young woman continues the sentence: “why don't you do something that we may go again to Mass?” Another young woman adds: “We do not need a [live-streamed Jesus], we need His Real Presence!” A young boy offers his services as an altar boy, promising to “make the church corona-free” after each Mass. A little boy, standing before an altar, says with a sweet voice: “Please give us back the Holy Mass.”
The French video shows different kinds of shops (such as grocery stores, post offices, chocolate shops) which are open, while the Mass is not accessible. They quote St. Padre Pio, who once said: “It would be easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the Holy Mass.”
American youth in their video say that “essential businesses are open,” adding “but what can be more essential to us than the Mass?” They, too, offer their bishops their help, to sanitize the churches, help maintain social distancing standards, and organize lists for limited groups of participants so that they can be opened again. Here, too, little children ask: “Please give us back the Holy Mass!”
These videos are an inspiring example of Catholics who love their faith, and especially the Holy Mass, and who are willing to do extra efforts to be able to have it back again.
Other initiatives have now been taken, as well. An Irish petition with so far 1,400 signatures addresses Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Primate of All Ireland, and ask him to “restore the sacramental life of the People of God,” and some 130 French priests have written an open letter to the French President Emmanuel Macron asking for the reinstatement of public Masses on May 11. A French priest – whose Mass was recently interrupted by policemen carrying weapons – calls for the reopening of public Masses by May 11, as well.
Please see here the different videos from Catholic youths in different languages:
Austria:
USA:
France:
Spain:
Germany:
England, Wales, and Scotland:
Argentina:
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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