lifesitenews--2020-12-01--Theology might seem complicated, but it’s really child’s play

December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) -- On December 6 , 1273 , the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra , St. Thomas Aquinas , the greatest intellectual the Catholic Church has ever known , underwent a life-changing mystical experience that left him unable to proceed with his theological projects and , in fact , marked the beginning of the end of his career .
He would die three months later in the company of Cistercian monks at Fossanova on March 7 , which remains his traditional feast day .
Christians who know that every circumstance , great and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Divine Providence may reasonably ask : Why did the Angelic Doctor experience the peak moment of his life on the feast of the saint under whose patronage gifts are given to little children each winter ?
An answer is implicit in the accounts of Thomas ’ s last days , which , remarks Fr .
John Saward , “ are truly moving to read ” : The big , heavy man , as silent and still as a babe asleep ; the scholar at last without his pen .
We can see Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but finally accepting , the saint lost in contemplation of the divine beauty .
By the “ faithful testimony ” of Reginald we are told that the last confession of Thomas was like that of a “ five-year-old boy , ” suggesting not only the purity of infancy but also that childlike trustfulness commended by the Lord , who reveals his mysteries not to the clever but to babies .
In the winter of this life ’ s pilgrimage , the wintry dark from which the eternal summer of heaven seems impossibly distant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to men and women who are , in their hearts , little children , relying upon Him and trusting in Him no matter what the season ’ s weather may bring .
God pours out the riches of His fatherly love most abundantly on the most childlike , who attract His gaze by their open-eyed wonder , their confident trust , their never-ending flood of questions , their innocent joy .
What is more typical of a normal child than a stream of questions that runs dry only when adults grow impatient or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The model of the trusting , inquisitive child who “ asks , seeks , knocks ” is both the point of departure for discovering God and the point of arrival in the heavenly kingdom , where he who asks will be answered , he who seeks will find , and he who knocks will have the door opened unto him .
Fr .
Saward again comments : “ In the exercise of his science , as in the conduct of his life , the theologian must convert and become like a child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astonishment at the grandeur of what God has revealed in His Son.
” The Savior seals His nuptial covenant with the pure of heart who seek the one thing necessary .
To be a theologian is to be in love with the truth of God , to give oneself confidently and humbly to that truth which anticipates us at every step .
Fr .
Thomas Gilby reminds us of the personal presence that gives theology its very meaning : “ The Word and the Spirit of Love are sent to us , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith and all affections within divine friendship are so many echoes and refractions of their presence.
” The exemplar and fulfillment of theology is the beatific vision -- a vision of the infinitely great by the infinitely small , the Creator who is Father by the creature who is His child , the Savior who is bridegroom by the saint who is His bride .
A biographer of St. Thomas , Fr .
Martin Grabmann , attempts to put this “ theology of the blessed ” into words : In his sermons on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defines eternal life as the definitive union of man with God , which means seeing God face to face , giving Him perfect praise , enjoying the superabundant fulfillment of all desire and an inconceivable delight , “ knowing all natures of all things , and all truth , and whatsoever we wish to know , as well as possessing whatsoever we desire to possess.
” It brings with it perfect security , without sorrow , toil , or fear , and the pleasant fellowship of all the blessed , magnifying the joy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is the paradise St. Nicholas of Bari won by practicing the mercy , humility , and faithfulness God had poured into his heart .
This is the paradise St. Thomas of Aquino won by living the same virtues .
Each in due course became a great saint and preacher of wisdom by turning to become a little child and a fool for Christ .
May we , by doing the same here and now , join these two merry men in their eternal rejoicing .

December 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — On December 6, 1273, the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra, St. Thomas Aquinas, the greatest intellectual the Catholic Church has ever known, underwent a life-changing mystical experience that left him unable to proceed with his theological projects and, in fact, marked the beginning of the end of his career. He would die three months later in the company of Cistercian monks at Fossanova on March 7, which remains his traditional feast day. Christians who know that every circumstance, great and small, falls within the plan of Divine Providence may reasonably ask: Why did the Angelic Doctor experience the peak moment of his life on the feast of the saint under whose patronage gifts are given to little children each winter?
An answer is implicit in the accounts of Thomas’s last days, which, remarks Fr. John Saward, “are truly moving to read”:
The big, heavy man, as silent and still as a babe asleep; the scholar at last without his pen. We can see Thomas and Reginald together, the friend anxious but finally accepting, the saint lost in contemplation of the divine beauty. By the “faithful testimony” of Reginald we are told that the last confession of Thomas was like that of a “five-year-old boy,” suggesting not only the purity of infancy but also that childlike trustfulness commended by the Lord, who reveals his mysteries not to the clever but to babies.
In the winter of this life’s pilgrimage, the wintry dark from which the eternal summer of heaven seems impossibly distant, God comes with light and warmth to men and women who are, in their hearts, little children, relying upon Him and trusting in Him no matter what the season’s weather may bring. God pours out the riches of His fatherly love most abundantly on the most childlike, who attract His gaze by their open-eyed wonder, their confident trust, their never-ending flood of questions, their innocent joy.
Fr. Brian Davies writes that St. Thomas
moves from question to question with a breathtaking eagerness. He is always asking “Why?” or “What?” One might even say that Aquinas’s whole system rests on a question. … God, for him, is an answer to puzzlement (admiratio), an answer which leaves us with yet more questions.
What is more typical of a normal child than a stream of questions that runs dry only when adults grow impatient or cannot think of what to say? The model of the trusting, inquisitive child who “asks, seeks, knocks” is both the point of departure for discovering God and the point of arrival in the heavenly kingdom, where he who asks will be answered, he who seeks will find, and he who knocks will have the door opened unto him.
Fr. Saward again comments: “In the exercise of his science, as in the conduct of his life, the theologian must convert and become like a child, recovering and preserving a sense of astonishment at the grandeur of what God has revealed in His Son.”
The Savior seals His nuptial covenant with the pure of heart who seek the one thing necessary. To be a theologian is to be in love with the truth of God, to give oneself confidently and humbly to that truth which anticipates us at every step. Fr. Thomas Gilby reminds us of the personal presence that gives theology its very meaning: “The Word and the Spirit of Love are sent to us, and all the words of the science of faith and all affections within divine friendship are so many echoes and refractions of their presence.” The exemplar and fulfillment of theology is the beatific vision — a vision of the infinitely great by the infinitely small, the Creator who is Father by the creature who is His child, the Savior who is bridegroom by the saint who is His bride.
A biographer of St. Thomas, Fr. Martin Grabmann, attempts to put this “theology of the blessed” into words:
Their total knowledge and love are uninterruptedly ordered in one continuous act toward God, the unveiled divine Love, whom they contemplate face to face. Their whole activity and life are an eternal, ineffably brilliant, glowing, and blessed ecstasy of love in this vision, enjoyment, and embrace of the infinite triune God.
In his sermons on the Apostles’ Creed, St. Thomas defines eternal life as the definitive union of man with God, which means seeing God face to face, giving Him perfect praise, enjoying the superabundant fulfillment of all desire and an inconceivable delight, “knowing all natures of all things, and all truth, and whatsoever we wish to know, as well as possessing whatsoever we desire to possess.” It brings with it perfect security, without sorrow, toil, or fear, and the pleasant fellowship of all the blessed, magnifying the joy of each into the joy of all.
— Article continues below Petition — U.S. Catholic Bishops: Retract premature and offensive statement "congratulating" Biden-Harris Show Petition Text 13406 have signed the petition. Let's get to 15000 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition PETITION UPDATE (12/10/20) Prior to the election on November 3, the U.S. bishops as a whole did not address Joe Biden’s anti-Catholic position regarding faith and morals. The bishops’ lack of clarity is a scandal in itself and probably contributed to the possible election of a pro-abortion “Catholic” to the presidency. The bishops could have spoken out against Biden’s stance collectively, but they were overwhelmingly silent. Because of this, they will be at least partly responsible for the policies advanced by a Biden administration, in the event that Biden is sworn into office. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition today! Since Archbishop José H. Gomez and the USCCB prematurely congratulated Joe Biden as “the second United States president to profess the Catholic faith,” Gomez has announced that Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron will lead a “working group” to deal with a Biden Administration. Although Joe Biden professes to be a Catholic, he supports policies that directly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church, including abortion, homosexual “marriage,” and transgenderism for children. “[Biden has] given us reason to believe that he will support policies that are against some fundamental values that we hold dear as Catholics. These policies include the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and the preservation of Roe v. Wade. Both of these policies undermine our pre-eminent priority of the elimination of abortion,” said Gomez. On November 9, Archbishop Strickland of Tyler, Texas tweeted: “A dark cloud has descended on this nation when the USCCB and Planned Parenthood speak in unison in support of a Biden-Harris administration that supports the slaughter of innocents by abortion for all 9 months of pregnancy.” Additionally, Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver, Colorado and Archbishop Charles Chaput have both declared publicly that Joe Biden “should not receive Holy Communion." Unfortunately, Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C. has said that he will give Holy Communion to Biden because “it’s a matter of the responsibility that I have as the archbishop to be engaged and to be in dialogue with him, even in those areas where we obviously have some differences.” Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Delaware and Bishop McElroy of San Diego also congratulated Biden in statements, but they have not indicated whether or not they would administer Holy Communion to him. The bishops should not congratulate someone who has betrayed his Catholic Faith like Joe Biden has. It's an embarrassment and a scandal. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/us-bishops-concerned-about-pro-abortion-biden-previously-hailed-him-as-second-catholic-president https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/abp-aquila-backs-call-for-pro-abortion-catholic-joe-biden-to-be-denied-holy-communion?utm_source=top_news&utm_campaign=standard https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/former-philly-archbishop-biden-not-in-full-communion-with-the-catholic-church https://www.thesoutherncross.org/news/bishop-mcelroy-offers-prayers-and-congratulations-to-president-elect-biden/ https://www.ncronline.org/news/politics/us-catholics-weigh-mixed-reaction-biden-win _______________________________________________________________________ The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has finally spoken on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.... Not to chastise them for their blatant anti-life, anti-family and anti-Catholic views, but to "congratulate" them on "[being elected]"! BUT, as everyone know, the anti-Catholic Biden-Harris ticket has NOT been elected. Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition to the U.S. Catholic bishops telling them to retract their premature and offensive statement on the media's call of the election in Biden's favor. As of the launch of this petition on November 9, NOT ONE STATE has certified the election results. All of the results are tentative and many are being litigated. So, this is not the time for the bishops to falsely assert that Biden "has received enough votes to be elected the 46th President of the United States." That's just not true, and for the bishops to willingly play along with the media's attempt to sweep allegations of voter fraud under the rug, is shocking behavior. And, while Joe Biden may profess the Catholic Faith, he has also stated his support for abortion, homosexual "marriage," and recently, transgenderism for children. For bishops, therefore, to congratulate a traitor to the Catholic Faith like Joe Biden, it requires a disturbing level of arrogance and pride. That is not to say they should stand in judgement. But to congratulate such a man, rather than chastise him, sends exactly the wrong message to the faithful, 50% of whom are believed to have supported Biden in his election bid. Stop ingratiating yourselves to a person who is advocating mass murder! Stop congratulating this anti-Catholic "Catholic." For goodness' sake, grow a backbone and start defending the Faith! FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'US Bishops hail Biden as second Catholic president, ignoring his pro-abortion record and disputed election outcome' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/us-bishops-hail-biden-as-second-catholic-president-ignoring-his-pro-abortion-record-and-disputed-election-outcome **Photo Credit: Screen grab from USCCB's Twitter feed. Original photo: CNS Photo/Colton Machado/Archdiocese of LA Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
This is the paradise St. Nicholas of Bari won by practicing the mercy, humility, and faithfulness God had poured into his heart. This is the paradise St. Thomas of Aquino won by living the same virtues. Each in due course became a great saint and preacher of wisdom by turning to become a little child and a fool for Christ. May we, by doing the same here and now, join these two merry men in their eternal rejoicing.
Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer, is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College in California (B.A. Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy). He taught at the International Theological Institute in Austria and the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Austria Program, then helped establish Wyoming Catholic College in 2006. There he taught theology, philosophy, music, and art history and directed the choirs until leaving in 2018 to devote himself full-time to writing and lecturing. Today he contributes regularly to many websites and publications, including New Liturgical Movement, OnePeterFive, LifeSiteNews, Rorate Caeli, The Remnant, and Catholic Family News, and has published thirteen books, including four on traditional Catholicism: Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis (Angelico, 2014, also available in Czech, Polish, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Belarusian), Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness (Angelico, 2017), Tradition and Sanity (Angelico, 2018), and Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright: The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass (Angelico, 2020). His work has been translated into at least eighteen languages. Kwasniewski is a scholar of The Aquinas Institute in Green Bay, which is publishing the Opera Omnia of the Angelic Doctor, a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center. He has published over a thousand articles on Thomistic thought, sacramental and liturgical theology, the history and aesthetics of music, and the social doctrine of the Church. For news, information, article links, sacred music, and the home of Os Justi Press, visit his personal website, www.peterkwasniewski.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-12-01--French high court orders govt to change rule capping attendance at public worship to 30 people

December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — On Sunday morning near noon , the French Council of State declared that a new government rule limiting attendance of public worship in churches to 30 people is disproportionate with regard to the public health objective of present COVID-19 restrictions .
As lockdown measures are slowly being relaxed after a month of administrative nightmare , the continued clamping down on religious rights and liberties has led to the French government being formally disavowed and obliged to redefine the existing measures within three days .
This is the second time that the Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious liberties and freedom of worship during the COVID-19 crisis : the first was in May , when the Christian rights defense league AGRIF and a number of traditional priestly and religious communities as well as other associations and individuals obtained the advanced reopening of public worship during the easing of lockdown period .
The Council of State is France ’ s highest administrative court charged with ensuring that decisions made by the executive comply with laws and regulations , but also fundamental rights and civil liberties , in particular through direct emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal decrees .
This time , it was the Bishops ’ conference joined by Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris in his individual capacity , as well as the largely inactive official defense league of the bishops , “ Croyances et libertés ” ( “ Beliefs and liberties ” ) that seized the administrative high court .
They were joined by the traditionalist Civitas association and the “ Pour la Messe ” association led by a handful of students who had launched a very successful petition for the return of public worship as soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on October 28 made clear that schools , supermarkets and public transport , to name but a few would continue to function , while public worship , often in large churches , was banned .
The AGRIF , representing itself and many traditional priestly and religious institutes , as well as a number of Benedictine communities , the Protestant Evangelical committee for human dignity , the Association of Catholic Families as well as the Archbishop of Strasbourg , Bishop Luc Ravel , were also heard during the procedure .
The strong mobilization of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the victorious effort , but as Bernard Antony , president of the AGRIF , pointed out in a communiqué , that their action “ would probably not have taken place without the initial converging in May 2020 , and then in October 2020 , of the diversity of convinced Catholics.
” The humiliation inflicted on the bishops after president Emmanuel Macron promised that the 30-person rule would be promptly revised , and nothing happened , also spurred them on .
The large number of Catholics of diverse liturgical preferences who took to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a demonstration of peaceful but forceful and even prayerful – thanks to local administrative tribunals ’ decisions – rallies three Sundays running in many French towns of all sizes .
The presiding judge of the Council of State agreed that the case brought before it required an urgent solution and went on to decide : “ Freedom of worship presents the character of a fundamental liberty .
As governed by the law , this liberty is not merely the right of every individual to express the religious convictions of his or her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also carries among its essential components , subject to the same condition , the right freely to participate collectively in ceremonies , in particular in places of worship.
” Judge Aladjidi added that this freedom must be exercised in such a way as to be combined with the constitutional value of protection of health .
His decision underscored the fact that shops and other places allowed to receive the public are not subject to a maximum number of clients or visitors ; the disputed decree merely fixed a proportional rule regarding available space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents with their children should be counted as one person .
He added that the representative of the government had not proved during the hearing that the 30-person rule was justified by any particular circumstances or danger of contagion .
More importantly , he judged that other activities remain prohibited or restricted in the present phase of lockdown , “ but these activities are not of the same nature and the fundamental liberties at stake are not the same.
” From all this he inferred that the 30-person rule was “ disproportionate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health ” and constituted a “ grave and manifestly illegal breach ” of an “ essential component of freedom of worship.
” The government was given three days by the Council of State to change its decree and to relax conditions for faithful to practice their religion during the coming weeks .
New , less strict measures are expected to be announced by December 15 .
The Bishops ’ conference immediately published a statement expressing its satisfaction that “ legality has been restored and reason acknowledged .
It added that it hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the framework of a true dialogue it hopes to see resumed.
” To date , dialogue with the state over the COVID-19 crisis does not appear to have produced significant results .
On Sunday evening , several bishops including the president of the Bishops ’ conference , Eric de Moulins-Beaufort , were received by Prime Minister Jean Castex and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin .
“ It went well , we told the Prime Minister that his decision had been brutal and hurt certain people , he understood this well , ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Reims , this week-end , he had decided to cancel all masses as long as the 30-person rule was applicable .
The bishop added that he agrees that restrictions are necessary , such as a 30 percent occupation rule , but nothing will be decided by the government before it will have met with representatives of other faiths by Tuesday .
This battle may well not yet be over .
On the other hand , many churches received many more faithful than the official of 30 people on Sunday morning , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
In Paris , the large parish church of Saint Francis Xavier opened its doors to 300 faithful at the 10 o ’ clock Mass , according to a tweet by politician and writer Paul-Marie Coûteaux .
It is safe to say that very few parishes respected the government rule : “ The Church of France has disobeyed , ” he wrote .
Its grass-roots mobilization is making it very difficult for the powers that be to impose its will .

Analysis
December 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — On Sunday morning near noon, the French Council of State declared that a new government rule limiting attendance of public worship in churches to 30 people is disproportionate with regard to the public health objective of present COVID-19 restrictions. As lockdown measures are slowly being relaxed after a month of administrative nightmare, the continued clamping down on religious rights and liberties has led to the French government being formally disavowed and obliged to redefine the existing measures within three days.
This is the second time that the Council of State has ruled in favor of religious liberties and freedom of worship during the COVID-19 crisis: the first was in May, when the Christian rights defense league AGRIF and a number of traditional priestly and religious communities as well as other associations and individuals obtained the advanced reopening of public worship during the easing of lockdown period.
The Council of State is France’s highest administrative court charged with ensuring that decisions made by the executive comply with laws and regulations, but also fundamental rights and civil liberties, in particular through direct emergency procedures that require the suspension of evidently illegal decrees.
This time, it was the Bishops’ conference joined by Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris in his individual capacity, as well as the largely inactive official defense league of the bishops, “Croyances et libertés” (“Beliefs and liberties”) that seized the administrative high court. They were joined by the traditionalist Civitas association and the “Pour la Messe” association led by a handful of students who had launched a very successful petition for the return of public worship as soon as the government’s lockdown plan on October 28 made clear that schools, supermarkets and public transport, to name but a few would continue to function, while public worship, often in large churches, was banned.
The AGRIF, representing itself and many traditional priestly and religious institutes, as well as a number of Benedictine communities, the Protestant Evangelical committee for human dignity, the Association of Catholic Families as well as the Archbishop of Strasbourg, Bishop Luc Ravel, were also heard during the procedure.
The strong mobilization of the bishops certainly played an important role in the victorious effort, but as Bernard Antony, president of the AGRIF, pointed out in a communiqué, that their action “would probably not have taken place without the initial converging in May 2020, and then in October 2020, of the diversity of convinced Catholics.” The humiliation inflicted on the bishops after president Emmanuel Macron promised that the 30-person rule would be promptly revised, and nothing happened, also spurred them on.
The large number of Catholics of diverse liturgical preferences who took to the streets three Sundays running also made for a demonstration of peaceful but forceful and even prayerful – thanks to local administrative tribunals’ decisions – rallies three Sundays running in many French towns of all sizes.
The presiding judge of the Council of State agreed that the case brought before it required an urgent solution and went on to decide:
“Freedom of worship presents the character of a fundamental liberty. As governed by the law, this liberty is not merely the right of every individual to express the religious convictions of his or her choice while respecting public order. It also carries among its essential components, subject to the same condition, the right freely to participate collectively in ceremonies, in particular in places of worship.”
Judge Aladjidi added that this freedom must be exercised in such a way as to be combined with the constitutional value of protection of health.
His decision underscored the fact that shops and other places allowed to receive the public are not subject to a maximum number of clients or visitors; the disputed decree merely fixed a proportional rule regarding available space and also makes clear that couples or parents with their children should be counted as one person. He added that the representative of the government had not proved during the hearing that the 30-person rule was justified by any particular circumstances or danger of contagion.
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: Tell politicians not to discriminate against churches when reopening society Show Petition Text 21121 have signed the petition. Let's get to 22500 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition In many places, society is now "reopening." But, in some states and countries, unacceptable discrimination is being leveled at churches and church-goers. This petition calls on politicians to reject anti-religious discrimination and allow churches to be reopened along with the rest of society. Even as society returns to normal, politicians in various states and countries are imposing discriminatory policies on churches. Here's a short list of some egregious examples: The government of New Zealand has passed new legislation into law that allows only 10 people to attend a religious service while allowing 100 people to gather in other public places such as restaurants, shopping centers, and movie theaters.
In France, the “deconfinement” decree of May 11 prolonged the prohibition of all public religious services, indefinitely, while the partial reopening of shops, businesses, public transport, small museums and primary schools was permitted.
In the province of Alberta, Canada, new guidance seeks to forbid Holy Communion by prohibiting the "sharing of communal items (e.g. communion chalice)."
In the U.S. states of Illinois and California, the governments will continue to restrict church services at the same time as it begins to reopen manufacturing, schools, child care facilities, and offices. When everything else is reopening, this kind of discrimination is wrong! And, it is not clear why churches are being held to a different, more exacting standard than other similar venues where people gather in numbers. But, they are. "The fact that these double standards are being imposed in places with liberal majorities, such as Illinois and California, makes it hard to believe that these could be accidental oversights, and makes it look more like cases of anti-religious discrimination. Either way, the situation needs to change quickly," said Gualberto Garcia Jones, LifeSite's Director of Advocacy. After 9/11 Americans poured into their churches. Now, as society reopens, we must not allow godless elites to discriminate against churches by keeping them closed. As long as safety standards are being adhered to, there is no reason why churches and church-goers should be locked out of their places of worship, even as the bar or the theater next door welcomes a hundred people. Please SIGN this petition which urges politicians to allow churches to reopen at the same time the rest of society reopens. Thank you! FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'New Zealand allows crowds to return to malls, restaurants, but not churches' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/new-zealand-allows-crowds-to-return-to-malls-restaurants-but-not-churches 'France’s highest administrative court to hear Catholics’ case for overturning public Mass ban' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/frances-highest-administrative-court-to-hear-catholic-petition-on-overturning-public-mass-ban 'Canadian province bans Communion distribution, singing as churches reopen' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/canadian-province-bans-communion-distribution-singing-as-churches-reopen 'Illinois gov: Churches can’t fully reopen until corona vaccine or ‘effective treatment’ developed' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/illinois-limits-churches-to-50-people-until-covid-19-vaccine-released-more-than-a-year-away ''California unveils long-term reopening plan, delays churches as ‘higher risk’' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/california-unveils-long-term-reopening-plan-delays-churches-as-higher-risk Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
More importantly, he judged that other activities remain prohibited or restricted in the present phase of lockdown, “but these activities are not of the same nature and the fundamental liberties at stake are not the same.”
From all this he inferred that the 30-person rule was “disproportionate in regard with the objective of preservation of public health” and constituted a “grave and manifestly illegal breach” of an “essential component of freedom of worship.”
The government was given three days by the Council of State to change its decree and to relax conditions for faithful to practice their religion during the coming weeks. New, less strict measures are expected to be announced by December 15.
The Bishops’ conference immediately published a statement expressing its satisfaction that “legality has been restored and reason acknowledged. It added that it hopes that legal procedures will remain the exception in the framework of a true dialogue it hopes to see resumed.”
To date, dialogue with the state over the COVID-19 crisis does not appear to have produced significant results. On Sunday evening, several bishops including the president of the Bishops’ conference, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, were received by Prime Minister Jean Castex and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. “It went well, we told the Prime Minister that his decision had been brutal and hurt certain people, he understood this well,” according to Moulins-Beaufort.
In his own diocese of Reims, this week-end, he had decided to cancel all masses as long as the 30-person rule was applicable.
The bishop added that he agrees that restrictions are necessary, such as a 30 percent occupation rule, but nothing will be decided by the government before it will have met with representatives of other faiths by Tuesday. This battle may well not yet be over.
On the other hand, many churches received many more faithful than the official of 30 people on Sunday morning, before the Council of State had issued its decision. In Paris, the large parish church of Saint Francis Xavier opened its doors to 300 faithful at the 10 o’clock Mass, according to a tweet by politician and writer Paul-Marie Coûteaux. It is safe to say that very few parishes respected the government rule: “The Church of France has disobeyed,” he wrote. Its grass-roots mobilization is making it very difficult for the powers that be to impose its will.
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lifesitenews--2020-12-01--Jesuit parish creates new lay ‘ministry’ to squirt hand sanitizer before Communion

RALEIGH , North Carolina , December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Jesuit pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel parish in Raleigh , N.C. has recruited special “ ministers ” from among the lay faithful to assist him by sanitizing the hands of communicants prior to receiving the Eucharist in the hand .
Father Phil Hurley , S.J .
has instituted a number of “ Ministers of Hand Sanitizer , ” who , following him around the church as he distributes Communion to the faithful , squeeze a dollop of sanitizer into the communicants ’ hands before Fr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again into their hands .
He does this while suited up in a face mask and a visor .
The measures implemented by the pastor are supposedly an attempt to safeguard parishioners from the material threat of COVID-19 , even while the innovations may pose a threat to spiritual devotion and reverence of the Eucharistic Lord .
The Jesuits USA East Province , who posted the above tweet , referred to the newly created “ ministry ” as an adaption to “ the pandemic.
” The idea of sanitizing people ’ s hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fruit of “ months of planning by the church ’ s leadership to reopen for in-person services , ” according to the parish ’ s pastoral associate for liturgy and music , Jeff Rice .
While St. Raphael parish might be unique in offering a new order of sanitizing “ ministers , ” the parish is far from alone in implementing regulations that are innovative and profane .
Bishops and bishops ’ conferences around the globe have been busy handing down proclamations denying the faithful Communion on the tongue and kneeling while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks .
A recent study from Denmark has concluded that wearing a face mask to stop the spread of COVID-19 is , in fact , ineffective .
The study threw up some interesting and unexpected results , including that within the group which wore the mask “ exactly as instructed , ” as opposed to those who did so only “ predominantly as instructed , ” a greater percentage were infected .
This is the exact opposite of what the legacy media have repeatedly reported to expect from “ proper ” use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the effectiveness of face masks stands the much more controversial practice of mandating reception of Communion in the hand .
Prominent figures in the Church , such as Raymond Cardinal Burke and Bishop Athanasius Schneider , have spoken publicly about the gravity of this matter .
According to an instruction of the Congregation for Divine Worship to the USCCB , “ [ t ] he faithful are not to be obliged to adopt the practice of communion in the hand .
Each one is free to communicate in one way or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reception of Communion in the hand is a violation of Church norms regarding the Eucharist .
With the above having been said , Bishop Schneider goes farther , instructing the faithful on the worthiness of receiving Communion on the tongue and the profaneness of receiving in the hand .
Not only is there mounting evidence for why Communion on the tongue is safer and more hygienic than hand reception , contrary to the instructions given by some bishops , but moreover , there is a much greater chance that , by receiving Communion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unwittingly drop ( or otherwise lose ) particles of the precious body of Christ .
In addition to this , the auxiliary bishop of Astana , Kazakhstan warns of the opportunity for malefactors to commit sacrilege against the Eucharist by being more easily able to steal the host .
The occasions of “ irreverence ” and “ sacrilege ” can be greatly mitigated by adopting the universal norm of distributing Communion onto the tongues of the faithful .

PETITION UPDATE (8/27/2020)
Thank you for continuing to SIGN and SHARE this petition, which asks policymakers at all levels of government to reverse mandatory mask orders within their borders.
Facebook has restored the share link for this petition, saying that the decision to block it was a 'mistake...'
Please share with your Facebook friends, but we should all take heed of this warning: when an organization or individuals have to beg, plead and cajole just to express objective truths, it may be time to start looking for other social networking platforms.
Facebook needs to treat its users with respect, no matter their political persuasion. Moreover, Facebook needs to treat objective reality and facts with more respect.
One-size-fits-all oppressive government mask mandates must stop!
Healthy adults and children should not be forced - by the state - to wear masks when the risk of infection is low and the benefit of wearing a mask is highly questionable.
________________________________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (8/25/2020)
Facebook is actively censoring this petition, saying that some people find it 'abusive.'
How anyone could find alternate facts about oppressive mask mandates 'abusive' is incredible...that is, impossible to believe.
This is exactly the kind of censorship which Big Tech is getting a bad reputation for.
The fact that Facebook calls differing opinion and objective reality "abusive" says a lot about Facebook and their agenda to silence reason and logic, not just conservatives and Christians.
But, people are more intelligent than Facebook give them credit for.
And, the more this continues, the more reasonable people will look alternate platforms to share their thoughts and connect with their friends and family. The more that happens, the less revenue Facebook will generate.
All of us have a decision to make, and the time is coming where we might have to tell our Facebook friends that we are moving to another platform.
We are encouraging people to continue SIGNING this petition and SHARING it via other platforms such as Parler and Gab, and to share the link below with your family and friends on Whatsapp, Telegram, Threema and Signal.
Thank you!
________________________________________________________________________________________
One-size-fits-all oppressive government mask mandates must stop!
Healthy adults and children should not be forced - by the state - to wear masks when the risk of infection is low and the benefit of wearing a mask is highly questionable.
Please SIGN this petition which asks policymakers at all levels of government to reverse mandatory mask mandates within their borders.
Public health policies should be based on science and logic, not on the type of political posturing and virtue-signaling which led Joe Biden to recently call for a national mask mandate.
And, public health policies certainly shouldn't lead to a situation where more people could become sick.
But, that is exactly what these mandatory mask mandates are doing.
Here are four inconvenient facts about masks:
1) Masks** are largely ineffective at stopping the transmission of viruses.
The vast majority of masks worn by the public are made from material which cannot filter-out viruses because virus particles are too small to catch or obstruct. Wearing cloth masks to stop a virus is like putting a bee in a bird cage to keep it from flying away.
Wearing a mask for long periods of time ensures that the wearer has a warm and moist receptacle around his or her mouth, on which viruses and bacteria can land and accumulate.
Thus, masks are actually likely to have little effect in stopping the spread of COVID-19 acting as a barrier, but could actually make things worse acting as a receptacle.
2) Mandates which call for masks to be worn outdoors are both absurd and oppressive.
3) There are clearly documented hazards of wearing masks for long periods of time.
4) And, since school is on everyone's mind...
Notwithstanding the above information on the ineffectiveness of most masks against viruses, we don't know if asymptomatic children can even transmit the virus.
But, it was a reported in an article in the July 21, 2020 Uk Times that: "There has been no recorded case of a teacher catching the coronavirus from a pupil anywhere in the world, according to one of the UK government's leading scientific advisers."
And, we also know that children are extremely unlikely to get seriously ill or die from COVID infections. In any case, children cannot possibly be expected to wear a mask properly in a way that would cut transmission.
There are still a lot of unknowns about COVID-19, but we have grown in our understanding of this disease since the beginning of the crisis.
The knowledge we have gained should allow government and health authorities to make more nuanced policies than the current one-size-fits-all mask mandates.
Where are the legislative hearings in county commissions, and state, provincial or federal legislatures before these drastic actions are mandated? Where are the open and transparent debates among experts that provide our representatives with the necessary information to make good policy decisions?
The real pandemic is the panic and the resulting tyranny that is being caused by dictatorial governors, corporate media and the monopolistic Big Tech.
The truth is that COVID-19 is like a bad cold for most people; this is not ebola or the plague.
Of course, the very elderly and those with serious health conditions should take precautions or be quarantined, but the rest of society should begin the long process of returning to normality.
The frenzy to force everyone to wear a mask, at all times, has gone beyond all comprehension, and goes against science and logic.
Please SIGN this petition which asks policymakers at all levels of government to reverse any mandatory mask order within the borders of their county, state, province, or country.
Thank you!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'Explosion in mandatory masking isn’t driven by science, but fear', PART I - https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear
'Explosion in mandatory masking isn’t driven by science, but fear', PART II - https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear-part-ii
OSHA Document on Surgical Masks and Respirators stating that surgical masks do NOT prevent airborne particles (e.g. viruses) from being inhaled - https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3219.pdf
'PETER HITCHENS: Face masks turn us into voiceless submissives - and it’s not science forcing us to wear them, it’s politics' - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8537489/PETER-HITCHENS-Face-masks-turn-voiceless-submissives.html
**Here, we are referring to the masks worn by the vast majority of the public, not to specialist masks or respirator-type masks.
***Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com


lifesitenews--2020-12-01--Major companies with China ties lobbying Congress to undermine anti–forced labor bill

UNITED STATES , December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Major international companies , including Nike , Apple , and Coca-Cola , have been lobbying the U.S. Congress in an attempt to undermine a bill against Chinese forced labor , which would possibly disrupt their own supply lines .
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act ( UFLPA ) is concerned particularly with the human rights abuses occurring in Xinjiang , saying it would be prohibiting “ certain imports from Xinjiang and imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations there.
” Earlier in the summer , President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Policy Act .
More than a million Uyghurs , most of whom are Muslim , are believed to be held in concentration camps by the Chinese government .
A 2018 U.N. report found that human rights abuses in such camps include brainwashing , beatings , torture , rape , forced abortions , forced sterilizations , and summary executions .
Under the UFLPA , companies importing goods made in Xinjiang would have to prove to U.S. Customs and Border Protection that “ the goods were not manufactured by convict labor , forced labor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” with the findings being reported to Congress and the American public .
A list is to be drawn up of “ foreign entities and individuals knowingly facilitating ” forced labor in Xinjiang and those who seek to “ contravene ” the relevant laws regarding goods of forced labor .
The president is to “ impose property-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals and entities and impose visa-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals.
” Now the New York Times reports that major companies have in fact been lobbying Congress in order to “ weaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act .
The report ’ s authors write that lobbyists have been seeking to “ water down ” the bill , “ arguing that while they strongly condemn forced labor and current atrocities in Xinjiang , the act ’ s ambitious requirements could wreak havoc on supply chains that are deeply embedded in China.
” The Congressional Executive Commission on China released a report in March , which implicated well known international companies such as “ Adidas , Calvin Klein , Coca-Cola , Costco , H & M , Nike , Patagonia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ suspected of directly employing forced labor or sourcing from suppliers that are suspected of using forced labor.
” Another study , conducted by an Australian think-tank , found “ 82 foreign and Chinese companies potentially directly or indirectly benefiting from the use of Uyghur workers outside Xinjiang through abusive labour transfer programs.
” The list contains many major companies , such as “ Amazon , Apple , ASUS ... BMW ... HTC , Huawei … Jaguar … L.L.Bean , Lacoste , Land Rover , Lenovo , LG … Mercedes-Benz , MG , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nike.
” An additional “ 54 companies are implicated in what could be forced labour schemes within Xinjiang itself.
” One of the case studies shows that “ a factory in eastern China that manufactures shoes for US company Nike is equipped with watchtowers , barbed-wire fences and police guard boxes.
” Another implicates Adidas , while the third in-depth study relates to Apple , as “ several Chinese factories ” supplying Apple or their suppliers were found using “ Uyghur labor.
” In a March statement , Nike denied the links to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaccurate and insisting that Nike “ has not found evidence of employment of Uyghurs , or other ethnic minorities from XUAR , elsewhere in our supply chain in China.
” The company also denied having employees at a particular factory , which the Australian report had found to have produced “ seven million pairs of shoes ” for Nike annually , at the close of 2019 .
With the supply chains of such major companies potentially threatened by the new bill , it seems the companies are taking action to protect profits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding the bill , with a supporter of the bill saying , “ What Apple would like is we all just sit and talk and not have any real consequences.
” The Family Research Council wrote about Apple ’ s actions : “ Rolling in the cash that slave labor has saved them , tech brands like Apple are working behind the scenes to keep their supply chains open.
” Nike is reported to have spent “ $ 920,000 on in-house lobbying of Congress and other federal agencies ” in the first three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different causes are not available , but the New York Times notes that the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was one of the causes Nike lobbied about .
A further $ 400,000 was spent by Nike , hiring “ outside firms ” to “ lobby on issues including the act.
” The soft drink giant Coca-Cola has also been found to be lobbying regarding the act .
For the first three quarters of the year , it has spent $ 4.68 million on lobbying , including regarding the act .
Despite the Congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company said it “ strictly prohibits any type of forced labor in our supply chain.
” Coca-Cola also told the New York Times it has “ adopted best-in-class disclosures practices ” and is in compliance with the relevant laws regarding its “ political activities .
”

PETITION UPDATE (12/16/2020) -
Operation Warp Speed—the HHS’s program to accelerate the development, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 therapeutics—has spent billions of our tax dollars to bring a COVID vaccine to market.
Now, the FDA has granted emergency approval to roll out the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and people in the UK and the US are already receiving it.
Though the Pfizer vaccine was not designed or produced using aborted fetal cells, it was tested using the HEK293 fetal cell line to create humanized mice.
And, more unethical vaccines are reaching the finish line and are being funded and promoted by the HHS with our tax dollars.
We must continue to demand that this stop and that a fully ethical vaccine be brought to market instead!
SIGN and SHARE our petition with the Personhood Alliance to demand that the HHS stop using our money to support the grisly connection between abortion and biomedical science.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Operation Warp Speed—the HHS’s program to accelerate the development, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 therapeutics—is spending billions of our tax dollars to bring a COVID vaccine to market as quickly as possible.
Now, two of the Operation Warp Speed vaccines (one created by Pfizer/BioNTech and one created by Moderna/NIH) are nearing the finish line, soon to be applying for emergency FDA approval for mass distribution.
And, while LifeSite neither advocates for or against voluntary vaccination, there are several apparent problems with the vaccines being fast-tracked by HHS’ Operation Warp Speed.
First among the vaccines’ major problems: they were tested using aborted fetal cells .
Please SIGN and SHARE LifeSite’s urgent petition with the Personhood Alliance to demand that the HHS stop funding and promoting this unethical practice, and bring a fully ethical vaccine to market instead.
The production and testing of vaccines that use the remains of aborted children, regardless of when they were killed and at what point they were used in the process, is morally unacceptable and must be consistently opposed by the whole pro-life movement.
And, although the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were not designed or produced using aborted fetal cells, the Personhood Alliance recently reported that the vaccines’ testing phases used the HEK293 aborted fetal cell line to create humanized mice.
This stomach-churning practice transferred immortalized cells from a child killed in 1973 into mouse embryos, so that when the mice were born, they had tiny human lungs that researchers infected with COVID to test the vaccines.
This type of Frankenscience has no place in a civilized society, certainly not one whose citizens are forced to fund it!
Sign our petition with the Personhood Alliance to demand that the HHS stop supporting the grisly connection between abortion and biomedical science.
We can make a difference if we raise our voices together, but we’re running out of time!
Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this urgent petition today!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
See LifeSite articles on the Coronavirus vaccine
**Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com


lifesitenews--2020-12-01--Support for mandatory COVID vaccine down from 72% to 59% in Canada

December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — With several different coronavirus vaccines just weeks away from being delivered to the public , only 59 percent of Canadians still support the idea of making such a vaccine mandatory , according to an Ipsos poll conducted online for Global News .
In May , an Ipsos survey indicated that 72 percent supported mandatory vaccinations .
The poll also asked respondents to give their opinions on the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development .
The vast majority , 71 percent , said taking a vaccine that was approved so fast makes them nervous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns for potential harmful long-term effects of the vaccine .
When respondents were given detailed conditions under which they would agree to take a COVID-19 vaccine “ without hesitation once approved , ” only 19 percent said they would be willing to do so .
Specifically , 32 percent of respondents said that before taking a COVID-19 vaccine , they would need “ some kind of reassurance from government first , ” with 21 percent saying they would only do so on the “ advice ” of their family doctor .
A total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would take the vaccine after a waiting period of six months to see “ if there are adverse side-effects that develop in those who have receive ( sic ) the vaccine.
” Only 18 percent of respondents would take the COVID-19 vaccine if it were made “ mandatory by the government.
” A total of 13 percent would not take it under any circumstances .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he needed time to “ reflect ” on the possibility of making a coronavirus vaccine mandatory in Canada .
Canada has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Novovax , Johnson & Johnson , Pfizer , Medicago and Moderna to quickly deliver up to “ 358 million doses ” of various COVID-19 vaccines .
Some of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates are being developed using cell lines developed from tissue from aborted babies .
Moderna and AstraZeneca use the HEK-293 cell line , which was derived from kidney tissue taken from a healthy baby aborted in the Netherlands in the 1970s .
Johnson & Johnson is using the PER.C6 cell line , which was developed from retinal tissue from a baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novovax , Sanofi , Pfizer , and Medicago apparently are not using such cell lines in the development of their vaccines , although they might use them for their trials .
Apart from the use of fetal cells , some vaccine critics have also pointed out that vaccines should be tested even more thoroughly than any other medication , not the other way around .
“ It ’ s a medical intervention that is being given to perfectly healthy people to prevent somebody else from getting sick , ” said Robert F. Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And it ’ s the only medicine that ’ s given to healthy people … and particularly to children who have a whole lifetime in front of them .
So you would expect that we would want that particular intervention to have particularly rigorous guarantees that it ’ s safe.
” And yet , the pharmaceutical companies who develop vaccines are each “ a convicted serial felon , ” Kennedy said .
“ In the past 10 years , just in the last decade , ( GlaxoSmithKline , Sanofi , Pfizer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars in criminal penalties , damages , fines , for lying to doctors , for defrauding science , for falsifying science , for killing hundreds of thousands of Americans knowingly.
” No COVID-19 vaccine has yet been approved by Health Canada .
Vaccine Choice Canada ( VCC ) , a national non-profit that educates parents and consumers about current and developing vaccines in Canada , has a petition that people can sign to ask the government to make COVID-19 vaccines voluntary .

Only 18 percent of respondents would take the COVID-19 vaccine if it were made ‘mandatory by the government.’
December 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — With several different coronavirus vaccines just weeks away from being delivered to the public, only 59 percent of Canadians still support the idea of making such a vaccine mandatory, according to an Ipsos poll conducted online for Global News. In May, an Ipsos survey indicated that 72 percent supported mandatory vaccinations.
The poll also asked respondents to give their opinions on the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development. The vast majority, 71 percent, said taking a vaccine that was approved so fast makes them nervous, with 69 percent saying they have concerns for potential harmful long-term effects of the vaccine.
When respondents were given detailed conditions under which they would agree to take a COVID-19 vaccine “without hesitation once approved,” only 19 percent said they would be willing to do so.
Specifically, 32 percent of respondents said that before taking a COVID-19 vaccine, they would need “some kind of reassurance from government first,” with 21 percent saying they would only do so on the “advice” of their family doctor.
A total of 36 percent of respondents said they would take the vaccine after a waiting period of six months to see “if there are adverse side-effects that develop in those who have receive (sic) the vaccine.”
Only 18 percent of respondents would take the COVID-19 vaccine if it were made “mandatory by the government.” A total of 13 percent would not take it under any circumstances.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he needed time to “reflect” on the possibility of making a coronavirus vaccine mandatory in Canada.
Canada has agreements with AstraZeneca, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, Novovax, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Medicago and Moderna to quickly deliver up to “358 million doses” of various COVID-19 vaccines.
Some of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates are being developed using cell lines developed from tissue from aborted babies.
Moderna and AstraZeneca use the HEK-293 cell line, which was derived from kidney tissue taken from a healthy baby aborted in the Netherlands in the 1970s. Johnson & Johnson is using the PER.C6 cell line, which was developed from retinal tissue from a baby aborted in the 1980s.
GlaxoSmithKline, Novovax, Sanofi, Pfizer, and Medicago apparently are not using such cell lines in the development of their vaccines, although they might use them for their trials.
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine Show Petition Text 103183 have signed the petition. Let's get to 125000 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition **Photo credit: Shutterstock.com Mainstream media sources are promoting offensive suggestions by some doctors that people who refuse a vaccine for COVID-19 should be "punished" by the government and by business - effectively coercing them into taking the vaccine. One group of doctors writing in 'USA Today' suggested that the government impose special taxes (i.e., fines) on people who refuse the vaccination and that business simply refuse to serve them. [see story below]
Another doctor writing in an online publication called 'The Conversation' shamelessly suggested that people who refuse a vaccine should be given a psychoactive drug to induce compliance. [see story below] But, these suggestions are plain political posturing, and have nothing to do with science or with the recent trends of the disease. And, in case they haven't noticed, we live in a democracy not a medical dictatorship! Please SIGN this urgent petition which asks policy-makers and business people, at all levels, to pledge to respect the rights of those who, in good conscience, decide not to vaccinate themselves or their children. People should not have to live in fear of governmental or corporate retribution for refusing a vaccine which is being rushed to market by Big Pharma and their fellow-travelers in NGOs, like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It would be intolerable and immoral for the government or business to coerce someone, and their family, to take a COVID vaccine against their will to avoid a fine, or just so they can do their weekly grocery shopping. Medical freedom must be respected in principle and also in practice. So, it is now time that our policy-makers listen to all voices involved in this vital conversation, and start to represent those who will not tolerate being punished for refusing a vaccine. Simply put, legislatures must begin to act as legislatures again. Questions must be asked. Hearings and investigations must be held. And, the legislatures of each state and country must return to the business of representing the people who voted for them, assuming their rightful place as the originator of legislation. We can no longer accept the dictates of executive branches without question, especially now that, statistically speaking, the initial brunt of the COVID crisis has passed. Neither can we accept the dictates of doctors who seem detached from reality and from science, and who only seem to be attached to the idea of promoting ideas which contribute to the agrandizement of power and control of political interests, and wealth of those who stand to make a lot of money from the sale of a COVID vaccine. Please SIGN this urgent petition which asks government and business leaders to pledge to respect the rights of those who refuse a COVID vaccine, and not seek to punish them for doing so. FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'Doctors lay out plan to ‘punish’ people who refuse coronavirus vaccine: ‘There is no alternative’' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/doctors-lay-out-plan-to-punish-people-who-refuse-coronavirus-vaccine-there-is-no-alternative 'US professor: ‘Psychoactive pill’ should be covertly administered to ensure lockdown compliance' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/us-professor-ensure-lockdown-compliance-by-drugging-dissenters-with-psychoactive-pill Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
Apart from the use of fetal cells, some vaccine critics have also pointed out that vaccines should be tested even more thoroughly than any other medication, not the other way around.
“It’s a medical intervention that is being given to perfectly healthy people to prevent somebody else from getting sick,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a debate in July. “And it’s the only medicine that’s given to healthy people … and particularly to children who have a whole lifetime in front of them. So you would expect that we would want that particular intervention to have particularly rigorous guarantees that it’s safe.”
And yet, the pharmaceutical companies who develop vaccines are each “a convicted serial felon,” Kennedy said. “In the past 10 years, just in the last decade, (GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Pfizer, and Merck) have paid 35 billion dollars in criminal penalties, damages, fines, for lying to doctors, for defrauding science, for falsifying science, for killing hundreds of thousands of Americans knowingly.”
No COVID-19 vaccine has yet been approved by Health Canada.
Vaccine Choice Canada (VCC), a national non-profit that educates parents and consumers about current and developing vaccines in Canada, has a petition that people can sign to ask the government to make COVID-19 vaccines voluntary.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-12-01--6 years in jail for offering women alternatives to abortion… and I’d do it again

John-Henry interviews some of the most well-known clergy and laity in the Church while offering commentary on the most important @ @ @ @ @ around the world .

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lifesitenews--2020-12-01--Los Angeles supervisor eats at restaurant just before dining ban she supported kicks in

SANTA MONICA , California , December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Another government official faces charges of COVID-19 hypocrisy this week after violating a ban on outdoor dining she voted for in Los Angeles County , California .
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was one of the 3-2 majority that voted to ban outdoor dining on the grounds that it is , in her words , a “ most dangerous situation , ” Fox 11 reported .
“ The servers are not protected from us , and they ’ re not protected from their other tables that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , plus all the hours in which they ’ re working , ” she said .
However , the night of the vote Kuehl was seen dining outdoors herself at Italian restaurant Forno Trattoria , with the ban set to take effect the next day .
“ She did dine al fresco at Il Forno on the very last day it was permissible , ” a spokesperson admitted in a statement .
“ She loves Il Forno , has been saddened to see it , like so many restaurants , suffer from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , taking appropriate precautions , and sadly will not dine there again until our Public Health Orders permit.
” “ That sends a message that we ’ re getting direction from people that aren ’ t really believing in messages they ’ re making , '' commented area restaurant owner Michael Voltaggio .
`` We have to remember that we who are in public office are held to a very high standard as we should be , ” responded Supervisor Janice Hahn , who opposed the ban , “ and one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of these new restrictions is if we can ’ t garner the trust of the public to be with us in this fight against the virus , then we ’ ve lost a big battle and I ’ m feeling that now nine months into this is we ’ re beginning to lose the trust of the public.
” Kuehl joins a long list of Democrat politicians , liberal personalities , and left-wing activists who have flouted their own coronavirus rules to enjoy fine dining ( California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter activists ) ; get their hair done ( Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ) ; disregard masks ( CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo ) ; commit adultery ( UK researcher and early lockdown proponent Neil Ferguson ) ; hold political celebrations ( Joe Biden supporters ) ; mourn the dead ( attendees of the funeral of Rep. John Lewis , D-Georgia ) , or engage in “ nonessential ” holiday travel ( Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ) .

'That sends a message that we’re getting direction from people that aren’t really believing in messages they’re making,' the restaurant owner commented.
SANTA MONICA, California, December 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Another government official faces charges of COVID-19 hypocrisy this week after violating a ban on outdoor dining she voted for in Los Angeles County, California.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was one of the 3-2 majority that voted to ban outdoor dining on the grounds that it is, in her words, a “most dangerous situation,” Fox 11 reported. “The servers are not protected from us, and they’re not protected from their other tables that they’re serving at that particular time, plus all the hours in which they’re working,” she said.
However, the night of the vote Kuehl was seen dining outdoors herself at Italian restaurant Forno Trattoria, with the ban set to take effect the next day.
“She did dine al fresco at Il Forno on the very last day it was permissible,” a spokesperson admitted in a statement. “She loves Il Forno, has been saddened to see it, like so many restaurants, suffer from a decline in revenue. She ate there, taking appropriate precautions, and sadly will not dine there again until our Public Health Orders permit.”
“That sends a message that we’re getting direction from people that aren’t really believing in messages they’re making,” commented area restaurant owner Michael Voltaggio.
“We have to remember that we who are in public office are held to a very high standard as we should be,” responded Supervisor Janice Hahn, who opposed the ban, “and one of the things I’m realizing with some of these new restrictions is if we can’t garner the trust of the public to be with us in this fight against the virus, then we’ve lost a big battle and I’m feeling that now nine months into this is we’re beginning to lose the trust of the public.”
Kuehl joins a long list of Democrat politicians, liberal personalities, and left-wing activists who have flouted their own coronavirus rules to enjoy fine dining (California Gov. Gavin Newsom); riot and/or protest (Black Lives Matter activists); get their hair done (Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi); disregard masks (CNN’s Chris Cuomo); commit adultery (UK researcher and early lockdown proponent Neil Ferguson); hold political celebrations (Joe Biden supporters); mourn the dead (attendees of the funeral of Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia), or engage in “nonessential” holiday travel (Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker).
— Article continues below Petition — STATES: Stop election certification while fraud investigations continue Show Petition Text 30673 have signed the petition. Let's get to 35000 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition In a bombshell press conference, President Trump's legal team has revealed evidence of alleged massive voter fraud in several constituencies key to election victory in 2020. Appealing to every American, Rudy Giuliani, Team Trump's lead counsel, said: "Joe Biden is in the lead because of invalid and illegal ballots. Give us an opportunity to prove it in court, and we will." Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition asking state legislators, IN EVERY U.S. STATE, not to allow election certification of their state until all of the evidence has been ruled on and every legal challenge exhausted. This is not about President Trump or former Vice President Biden...at this stage, our republic and the integrity of our elections literally hang in the balance. The claims of voter fraud made by Team Trump were very alarming, but here are some of the worst: The lack of oversight and security of mail-in ballots;
Direction by some election officials to election workers to violate election statutes;
The eviction of Republican observers who were kept away from inspecting ballots in some cities;
Instances of 'overvoting', where more ballots were cast in some precincts than registered voters;
The arrival of thousands of ballots - all marked for Biden - at one count center, in the middle of the night And, all of the these claims are backed-up by sworn affidavits of people who allegedly witnessed these fraudulent actions take place. Please CLICK HERE to read LifeSiteNews' article detailing the evidence of alleged voter fraud brought to light by Team Trump. And please CLICK HERE to see an example of overvoting, also alluded to by Giuiliani as having occurred in Michigan. Then, please SIGN and SHARE this petition asking ALL 50 STATE LEGISLATURES to wait till all claims of voter fraud have been investigated and litigated before certifying the election results for their states. Thank you for helping to see that justice is served and that all alleged wrongdoing can be brought to light. Thank you for helping to secure our republic. **Photo Credit: Screen capture from live press conference streamed on LifeSite Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
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lifesitenews--2020-12-01--Project Veritas will publish recorded CNN editorial calls showing lack of independence

December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — This morning , James O ’ Keefe , founder of Project Veritas , announced that he and his colleagues have been recording editorial conference calls between top CNN executives and producers for months .
The recordings , showing lack of independence among CNN ’ s leaders , will be released starting tonight .
The independent investigative group obtained clips of CNN leadership “ describing their motives , describing their political philosophy , describing how they don ’ t cover certain things and certain political parties tell them to cover things in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Keefe .
“ We ’ re going to release those recordings today a 7 o ’ clock , so stayed tuned , ” he added .
O ’ Keefe ’ s announcement came as he livestreamed CNN ’ s 9 a.m. editorial call earlier today , which he appeared to have joined unbeknownst to CNN .
He told CNN president Jeff Zucker , “ We ’ ve been listening to your CNN calls for basically two months , recording everything.
” “ We got a lot of recordings that indicate that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a journalist , ” O ’ Keefe said .
Zucker , clearly flustered , abruptly cut the call short , telling participants that CNN will “ set up a new system.
” O ’ Keefe credited Project Veritas ’ access to the editorial conference calls to “ brave insiders , ” telling followers that the recordings will “ take us into the hearts and minds ” of the liberal news giant .
Project Veritas will start posting the clips at 7 p.m. EST on exposecnn.com .

‘We got a lot of recordings that indicate that you’re not really that independent of a journalist,’ James O’Keefe told CNN president Jeff Zucker.
December 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — This morning, James O’Keefe, founder of Project Veritas, announced that he and his colleagues have been recording editorial conference calls between top CNN executives and producers for months. The recordings, showing lack of independence among CNN’s leaders, will be released starting tonight.
The independent investigative group obtained clips of CNN leadership “describing their motives, describing their political philosophy, describing how they don’t cover certain things and certain political parties tell them to cover things in a certain way,” according to O’Keefe.
“We’re going to release those recordings today a 7 o’clock, so stayed tuned,” he added.
O’Keefe’s announcement came as he livestreamed CNN’s 9 a.m. editorial call earlier today, which he appeared to have joined unbeknownst to CNN. He told CNN president Jeff Zucker, “We’ve been listening to your CNN calls for basically two months, recording everything.”
“We got a lot of recordings that indicate that you’re not really that independent of a journalist,” O’Keefe said. Zucker, clearly flustered, abruptly cut the call short, telling participants that CNN will “set up a new system.”
O’Keefe credited Project Veritas’ access to the editorial conference calls to “brave insiders,” telling followers that the recordings will “take us into the hearts and minds” of the liberal news giant.
Project Veritas will start posting the clips at 7 p.m. EST on exposecnn.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-12-01--Dem Georgia Senate candidate mocks need for self-defense inside churches

December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Rev .
Raphael Warnock , the Georgia Democrat running against Republican Kelly Loeffler in next month ’ s Senate runoff election , is under fire for a resurfaced video of a past sermon in which he mocked the idea of allowing Christians to carry guns into churches for self-defense .
In the 2014 remarks , Warnock took aim at the “ bright idea ” of legislation to increase the number of establishments in which Georgians would be allowed to carry concealed weapons , including churches .
“ Have you ever been to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That ’ s the last place … ” he trailed off and smiled as the audience laughed .
“ Whoever thought of that had never been to a church meeting !
” Bearing Arms noted that recent history demonstrates the rationale for such legislation .
In 2017 , a man walked into First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs , Texas and opened fire .
Stephen Willeford , who was asleep in his home nearby , woke up to the sound of gunfire and used his AR-15 to stop the attacker from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gunman who entered West Freeway Church of Christ , also in Texas , was stopped by armed security guard Jack Wilson .
The National Rifle Association ( NRA ) quickly responded with an ad contrasting Warnock ’ s remarks with the Wilson and Willeford cases .
“ Law-abiding Americans defending themselves is no laughing matter , ” it said .
Warnock , who has the support of Black Lives Matter ( along with Jon Ossoff , the Democrat running for Georgia ’ s other Senate seat against Republican David Perdue ) , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he calls “ reproductive justice , ” is “ consistent with my view as a Christian minister .
And I will fight for it.
” Appointed last year to fill the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson , Loeffler has repeatedly supported conservative causes since taking office , allaying initial concerns from some pro-lifers .
In January , she co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlining a proposal to further strengthen the pro-life Mexico City Policy , and in September introduced legislation to target the federal funding of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against gender-confused males .
The Georgia runoffs will decide which party controls the Senate for the next two years , and with it the ability of a Biden administration to enact longtime Democrat goals with far-reaching consequences like court-packing , elimination of the legislative filibuster , and granting statehood to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia .

PETITION UPDATE (1/15/2021) -
The events of the past month, and especially the past 10 days, have shaken the faith Americans have in their elected and appoint officials.
We continue to call for investigations to be made into allegations of election fraud. Texas is in the process of prosecuting one political operative for illegal ballot harvesting, and multiple state legislatures have called for investigations, too.
However, the judiciary has severely let down the American electorate.
As we have said all along, the integrity of the election is much bigger than President Trump. Election integrity is at the heart of republican democracy, and if we don't have it, we no longer have a functioning republic.
Therefore, we continue to seek the truth for the election outcome. Perhaps that will only be known in the future when state or federal commissions are established to investigate the instances of election fraud which were witnessed and sworn to, by thousands of Americans of all political persuasions.
In the meantime, you may still sign this petition. Thank you!
___________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (12/10/20) -
On Wednesday, President Trump tweeted: "We will be INTERVENING in the Texas (plus many other states) case. This is the big one. Our Country needs a victory!"
He is referring to the lawsuit which the state of Texas has filed against Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia in the Supreme Court over changes those states made to their election rules, claiming they violated the U.S. Constitution in the process.
Here is the central part of the argument: if Texas were to allow possible voter fraud to go unchecked in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia, it would be akin to committing fraud upon the people of Texas, who cast their ballots within the framework of the law.
Indeed, this would apply equally to all citizens who voted within the framework of the law across the United States!
President Trump also tweeted that this case is, "very strong...ALL CRITERIA MET."
Please continue to SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition, now.
____________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (12/7/20) - Since this petition was launched, President Trump's legal team, as well as other concerned citizens, have discovered what appears to be irrefutable evidence of voter fraud in several of the key battleground states, and have initiated legal challenges in six states.
While the situation continues to evolve, this remains a hugely important petition which we encourage you to SIGN and SHARE.
Below, please WATCH and READ about the mounting evidence of voter fraud and how the mainstream media seem determined to ignore even the most egregious instances of vote tampering. Then, please SIGN and SHARE this petition.
'Trump: ‘Our election system is now under assault and siege’ and as president I must defend it'
'Tens of thousands 2020 election votes illegally scanned in Detroit, says Dominion IT contractor'
'Trump campaign files lawsuit demanding ‘a new statewide election for president’ in Georgia'
'Experts flag over 500k ballots in PA with new evidence of major 2020 election voter fraud'
''Smoking gun'? Pennsylvania vote fraud hearing gets gasps from audience'
'FBI and Justice Department have dragged their feet investigating 2020 vote fraud'
''CNN top brass in leaked tape: We won't give Trump 'too much of a platform on his not conceding'
'Twitter censored Trump 63 times over Thanksgiving holiday, Biden untouched'
LifeSite supports President Trump with this petition because we believe he is trying to defend the Constitution, ensuring that electoral fraud does not taint the result of the 2020 general election.
But, since starting this petition, we have launched a separate petition related to the disputed election outcome, calling on the Department of Justice to 'do their job' and engage in meaningful investigations of the mounting evidence of voter fraud.
We believe that conducting forensic audits of ballots and voting machines, as well as issuing subpoenas to collect more evidence, would be a good start.
Thankfully, some of the state started to demand investigations independent of federal agencies. But we still believe that the DoJ needs to use its enormous fact-finding resources to help resolve allegations of election fraud.
Thank you for continuing to SIGN and SHARE all our election-related petitions.
_____________________________________________________________________
Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition which calls on all Americans to Stand With President Trump as he uses every legitimate means to find out if voter fraud played any role in the election outcome.
Amid allegations of voter fraud, and at a time when the situation with COVID has been used by many of the states to facilitate the use of mail-in ballots on a massive scale, we need to be very careful in dismissing the possibility of voter fraud.
The fact is, the possibility of wide-spread fraud with mail-in ballots is significant.
But, this is not about Donald Trump or Joe Biden! This about whether or not the sanctity of the ballot box has been tampered with!
Please Stand With President Trump as he attempts to defend the integrity of this election, as well as well as the right to vote itself!
Indeed, this is so important, not so much because one election hangs in the balance, but because our democracy, itself, hangs in the balance.
Americans not only have a right to know, but should demand that every legitimate means be used to discover the truth about these elections!
Please SIGN this petition and Stand With President Trump to ensure that these elections were conducted freely and fairly!
While most all Americans believe in playing by the rules, we also know that some very devious, politically-motivated operatives have been trying to harm the Trump administration from before he even took the oath of office.
This fact should lead us to question how some allegations of voter fraud can be so easily dismissed by state election authorities.
We demand to know the truth, and, for the sake of our democracy, we demand that President Trump keep fighting to learn the truth.
Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this petition today!
**Photo Credit: Shealah Craighead / White House / Flickr


lifesitenews--2020-12-01--UK Court: Children under 16 are too young to consent to transgender ‘transition’

LONDON , December 1 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The English High Court of Justice ruled that puberty blockers are “ experimental ” treatments and that for the most part they can not be given to children attempting to “ transition ” to become a member of the opposite sex without the clinician having recourse to the courts .
The court issued the ruling in the case brought by Miss Keira “ Quincy ” Bell and Mrs. A , the mother of an autistic child .
Now 23 , Bell had begun taking “ puberty blockers when she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 and had a mastectomy aged 20.
” The Daily Mail reported , “ She claimed she was treated like a ‘ guinea pig ’ at the clinic , and said doctors failed to carry out a proper psychiatric assessment and should have challenged her more over her decision to transition to a male as a teenager.
” Bell is now “ transitioning back to a woman.
” Commenting on the process , Bell said , “ I was allowed to run with this idea that I had , almost like a fantasy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has affected me in the long run as an adult.
” “ It was heartbreaking to realise I ’ d gone down the wrong path , ” Bell said , in reference to her medical treatments attempting to change her into a man .
Both Bell and Mrs. A brought the case against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust , “ which runs the UK ’ s only gender identity development service for children.
” The ruling decreed that in order for children to give consent to being treated with puberty blockers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate and long-term effects , including the correlation between “ puberty blocking drugs ” and “ cross-sex hormones , ” potential “ loss of fertility , ” as well as the “ unknown physical consequences of taking puberty blocking drugs ; and the fact that the evidence base for this treatment is as yet highly uncertain.
” The court ruled it “ highly unlikely that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers , ” adding that it was “ doubtful ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand and appreciate the gravity of the process .
Children age 16 or older are legally recognized to “ have the ability to consent to medical treatment.
” Consequently , due to the “ long-term consequences of the clinical interventions at issue in this case , ” and since the process is “ innovative and experimental , the court recognised that clinicians may well regard these as cases where the authorisation of the court should be sought before starting treatment with puberty blocking drugs.
” “ We consider that it would be appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any case where there may be any doubt as to whether the long-term best interests of a 16- or 17-year-old would be served by the clinical interventions at issue in this case , ” continued the High Court .
Speaking to the gathered press after the ruling , Bell said , “ This judgment is not political , it ’ s about protecting vulnerable children .
I ’ m delighted to see that common sense has prevailed.
” “ It exposes a complacent and dangerous culture at the heart of the national centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with gender dysphoria , ” she added .
Bell was joined in the case by Mrs. A , a mother of a “ 16-year-old autistic girl who is currently on the waiting list for treatment.
” Before the ruling , she spoke to the BBC , saying , “ My fear is — it ’ s not that she transitions — it ’ s that she gets it wrong.
” Sky News reported that the Gender Identity Development Service ( GIDS ) at Tavistock had “ 2,590 ” children referred to the center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees some children as “ young as three , ” as “ around half of children are put on drugs to pause their puberty , known as hormone blockers.
” In a statement after the court decision , the GIDS website stated that the trust was “ disappointed ” and “ is seeking permission to appeal the judgment.
” “ Our first duty is to our patients , ” the statement said , although in contrast , the solicitor for Bell and Mrs. A commented that “ as matter of serious concern -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , this judgment powerfully shows that a culture of unreality has become embedded in the Tavistock.
” Pro-LGBT group Stonewall called the court decision “ deeply concerning and shocking.
” However , Transgender Trend , a U.K. organization “ concerned about the current trend to diagnose children as transgender , ” welcomed the ruling , saying , “ We are delighted.
” The organization had become involved in the case , submitting evidence that “ GIDS operates within a core illogicality : a belief that biological sex is irrelevant to being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing a service that is predicated on the existence of , and ability to define , a ‘ boy body ’ and a ‘ girl body ’ that children might move between through medication and subsequent surgery .
This is of course an impossibility , but it is an outcome that children are led to believe is possible.
” Transgender Trend also said that GIDS “ colludes in beliefs that depend on the rejection of biological facts , giving greater weight to a subjective , self-declared identity over the material fact of biological @ @ @

In order for children to give consent to being treated with puberty blockers, they would have to properly understand the immediate and long-term effects, the court argued.
LONDON, December 1, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The English High Court of Justice ruled that puberty blockers are “experimental” treatments and that for the most part they cannot be given to children attempting to “transition” to become a member of the opposite sex without the clinician having recourse to the courts.
The court issued the ruling in the case brought by Miss Keira “Quincy” Bell and Mrs. A, the mother of an autistic child. Now 23, Bell had begun taking “puberty blockers when she was 16, was injected with testosterone at 17 and had a mastectomy aged 20.”
The Daily Mail reported, “She claimed she was treated like a ‘guinea pig’ at the clinic, and said doctors failed to carry out a proper psychiatric assessment and should have challenged her more over her decision to transition to a male as a teenager.”
Bell is now “transitioning back to a woman.” Commenting on the process, Bell said, “I was allowed to run with this idea that I had, almost like a fantasy, as a teenager … and it has affected me in the long run as an adult.”
“It was heartbreaking to realise I’d gone down the wrong path,” Bell said, in reference to her medical treatments attempting to change her into a man.
Both Bell and Mrs. A brought the case against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, “which runs the UK’s only gender identity development service for children.”
The ruling decreed that in order for children to give consent to being treated with puberty blockers, they would have to properly understand the immediate and long-term effects, including the correlation between “puberty blocking drugs” and “cross-sex hormones,” potential “loss of fertility,” as well as the “unknown physical consequences of taking puberty blocking drugs; and the fact that the evidence base for this treatment is as yet highly uncertain.”
The court ruled it “highly unlikely that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers,” adding that it was “doubtful” that children age 14 or 15 could properly understand and appreciate the gravity of the process.
Children age 16 or older are legally recognized to “have the ability to consent to medical treatment.” Consequently, due to the “long-term consequences of the clinical interventions at issue in this case,” and since the process is “innovative and experimental, the court recognised that clinicians may well regard these as cases where the authorisation of the court should be sought before starting treatment with puberty blocking drugs.”
“We consider that it would be appropriate for clinicians to involve the court in any case where there may be any doubt as to whether the long-term best interests of a 16- or 17-year-old would be served by the clinical interventions at issue in this case,” continued the High Court.
Speaking to the gathered press after the ruling, Bell said, “This judgment is not political, it’s about protecting vulnerable children. I’m delighted to see that common sense has prevailed.”
“It exposes a complacent and dangerous culture at the heart of the national centre responsible for treating children and young people with gender dysphoria,” she added.
Bell was joined in the case by Mrs. A, a mother of a “16-year-old autistic girl who is currently on the waiting list for treatment.” Before the ruling, she spoke to the BBC, saying, “My fear is — it’s not that she transitions — it’s that she gets it wrong.”
Sky News reported that the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at Tavistock had “2,590” children referred to the center in 2018-19, while the London clinic sees some children as “young as three,” as “around half of children are put on drugs to pause their puberty, known as hormone blockers.”
In a statement after the court decision, the GIDS website stated that the trust was “disappointed” and “is seeking permission to appeal the judgment.”
“Our first duty is to our patients,” the statement said, although in contrast, the solicitor for Bell and Mrs. A commented that “as matter of serious concern — despite its international reputation for mental health work, this judgment powerfully shows that a culture of unreality has become embedded in the Tavistock.”
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: Puberty is not a disease! Ban transgender drugs and surgeries for minors. Show Petition Text 6696 have signed the petition. Let's get to 7500 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition This petition asks the South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem, to support the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, which seeks to protect gender-confused children from medical treatment which would wrongly treat puberty as a disease and cause permanent physical and mental problems. Studies show that 85% of gender confused children eventually become comfortable with the sex of their bodies. Puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones have not been proven safe. For example, the FDA has NOT approved Lupron and GnRH analogues for use in blocking puberty. Risks associated with these pharmaceuticals include: low bone density, high blood pressure, weight gain, abnormal glucose tolerance, breast cancer, liver disease, thrombosis, and cardiovascular disease. Additional risks and potential harms include: For Males: Stunting of penile and testicular growth, sexual dysfunction, prevention of spermatogenesis, and disruption of normal brain and bone development. For Females: A menopause-like state, blockade of normal breast development, decreased blood flow to vagina and vulva, sexual dysfunction, thinning of vaginal epithelium, vaginal atrophy, prevention of menses/ovulation, and disruption of normal brain and bone development. In other words, these medications can sterilize and cause medical harm to vulnerable, confused children. The Vulnerable Child Protection Act prohibits the following interventions on minor children: Surgeries including castration, vasectomy, hysterectomy, and vaginoplasty and mastectomies. The Act also prohibits: prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications that block normal puberty; giving testosterone to females; giving estrogen to males; and, removing a healthy or non-diseased body part or tissue. The Vulnerable Child Protection Act protects minors from medical professionals who would treat puberty as a disease. Support HB 1057. The Ruth Institute and LifeSite are standing together on this petition, for children and against corrupt medical professionals. Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this important petition, today! FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/south-dakota-bill-would-make-it-a-felony-to-give-kids-puberty-blockers-medical-gender-transition
About HB1057: https://hb1057.com/
About the medical risks associated with medical interventions to attempt to change the sex of the body: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2020/01/59422/
About some of the unconscionable practices some medical professionals are engaged in:
https://www.christianpost.com/news/testosterone-being-given-to-8-y-o-girls-age-lowered-from-13-doctors.html
https://www.christianpost.com/news/parents-of-gender-confused-kids-demand-investigation-govt-funded-study-puberty-blockers.html
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Pro-LGBT group Stonewall called the court decision “deeply concerning and shocking.”
However, Transgender Trend, a U.K. organization “concerned about the current trend to diagnose children as transgender,” welcomed the ruling, saying, “We are delighted.” The organization had become involved in the case, submitting evidence that “GIDS operates within a core illogicality: a belief that biological sex is irrelevant to being a boy or being a girl, while providing a service that is predicated on the existence of, and ability to define, a ‘boy body’ and a ‘girl body’ that children might move between through medication and subsequent surgery. This is of course an impossibility, but it is an outcome that children are led to believe is possible.”
Transgender Trend also said that GIDS “colludes in beliefs that depend on the rejection of biological facts, giving greater weight to a subjective, self-declared identity over the material fact of biological sex.”
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