lifesitenews--2020-11-14--Embattled Toronto Catholic school trustee fights back against LGBTQ lobby

TORONTO , November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — An embattled Toronto Catholic school trustee who has been under a year-long attack by LGBT activists , their allies on the board , and more recently , members of the provincial legislature , is now fighting back .
Michael Del Grande has lawyered up and is launching an appeal after eight Toronto Catholic District School Board ( TCDSB ) trustees voted during an often rancorous and chaotic seven-hour meeting on Wednesday to revisit code of conduct complaints of which he was cleared in August .
This time , the trustees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a year ago in defense of Catholic teaching and in opposition to gender ideology violated the board ’ s code of conduct and were “ disrespectful to the LGBTQ community as a whole.
” They voted to sanction Del Grande by requesting he make a public apology , attend an equity course , and be banned from representing the board for three months .
They also voted to release a redacted version of the confidential report investigating the complaints against Del Grande , which was leaked to the Toronto Star days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper as “ damning.
” The eight trustees who voted for all this are : Markus de Domenico , board chair Joe Martino , Frank D ’ Amico , Daniel Di Giorgio , Norm Di Pasquale , Angela Kennedy , Ida Li Preti , and Maria Rizzo , with Kennedy switching her vote in August to clear Del Grande .
Campaign Life Coalition has started a crowdfunding campaign , Stand With Michael Del Grande , to finance Del Grande ’ s legal defense .
Pro-LGBT trustee Markus de Domenico , who is running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a driving force behind Wednesday ’ s meeting , which was called specifically to reopen complaints against Del Grande .
The marathon proceedings included the extraordinary spectacles of Catholic trustees objecting to a delegate reading the Catechism section on homosexuality as “ dangerous , ” and Ontario ’ s lesbian ex-premier and current MPP Kathleen Wynne lecturing the board on how to run Catholic schools , and being thanked by several trustees for doing so .
The complaints against Del Grande date back to the now infamous “ slippery slope ” motion he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night the same eight trustees voted to amend the board ’ s code of conduct to include the terms “ family status and marital status , ” and “ gender expression ” and “ gender identity ” as protected categories .
Along with trustees Nancy Crawford , Garry Tanuan , and Teresa Lubinski , Del Grande objected to the amendment as an endorsement of gender ideology in contradiction of Catholic teaching .
His motion asked the board to refer the matter to committee to study whether it should add other aberrant sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as protected categories under the code .
He later said the motion , which was ruled out of order , was “ hyperbolic ” and intended to underscore the consequences of the amendment , but in the relentless attack by LGBT activists that followed he was pilloried in the media and accused of “ comparing homosexuals to violent criminals.
” That ’ s how Wynne described the alleged offence during her delegation , although when asked by trustee Nancy Crawford , she could not coherently explain exactly how she came to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought in a controversial sex-education program that sparked widespread parental protests , also reminisced about “ coming out ” at age 37 when she had “ three little kids.
” ( At that point , her now “ spouse , ” Jane Rounthwaite , moved in with her , and Wynne ’ s husband moved into the basement . )
About a week earlier , Wynne raised the matter at Queen ’ s Park on behalf of LGBT activist and former Catholic student trustee Kyle Iannuzzi , and demanded that Del Grande be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments .
In response , Education Minister Stephen Lecce agreed the comments were “ deeply disturbing , ” and he subsequently contacted the board and requested that it release the confidential report and hold Del Grande accountable .
Wynne assured trustees that while she was taking the “ unusual ” step of delegating , she didn ’ t intend to undermine their authority , nor was she there “ to question or denigrate the Catholic education system.
” She then proceeded to berate them for clearing Del Grande in August .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to thumb his nose at all the years of work ” to advance LGBTQ “ rights , ” said Wynne .
Trustees needed to reverse their decision , find Del Grande guilty , and release the confidential report investigating the complaints against him , she said .
“ None of our schools is exempt from compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code , ” Wynne declared .
Trustees took oath to uphold Catholic teaching , but … This declaration reveals a shocking ignorance — or willful disregard — of Section 19 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly that the constitutionally protected denominational rights of Catholic schools supersede all other rights .
Section 19 says : “ This Act shall not be construed to adversely affect any right or privilege respecting separate schools enjoyed by separate school boards or their supporters under the Constitution Act , 1867 and the Education Act.
” Far more shocking , however , is that the trustees who voted to find Del Grande in violation of the code of conduct also seem to be unaware — or are willfully dismissive — of the constitutionally protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swearing an oath of office to uphold Catholic teaching .
Indeed , this same board voted against reciting the St. Michael ’ s Prayer at the beginning of the meetings , and on November 7 , 2019 , de Domenico appeared to claim that Catholic schools no longer believe homosexuality and transgenderism is wrong .
“ It was an older version of Catholic teaching that is a judgmental teaching , a version of Catholic teaching which didn ’ t accept a child or a young adult for who they are , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegation by aforementioned homosexual activist Iannuzzi .
“ Our system that we have now does not believe in the issues that gave Kyle and the folks like Kyle that kind of bullying problem .
Fundamentally , we don ’ t believe in it , ” de Domenico added .
The situation was not helped when board administration produced a report the night of the vote stating that the archdiocese approved the addition of the gender terms , a statement at least one delegate questioned at the time .
Four days later , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cardinal Thomas Collins , which said , in part : “ Ministry of Education policy , PPM 128 , directs that the prohibited grounds of discrimination found in the Ontario Human Rights Code be included in updated Codes of Conduct for all school boards in Ontario.
” It then added : “ While the archdiocese recognizes that terms such as gender identity are included in the Code , we do not accept the view of the human person which underlies this terminology , since that view is not compatible with our faith.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , abominable ’ : Crawford Longtime TCDSB-watcher Joe Volpe , publisher of the Italian-language daily newspaper Corriere Canadese , denounced Wednesday ’ s proceedings in a stinging critique .
“ I felt the need to take a shower after witnessing their behaviour — a hyena-like pack of predators fighting over their wounded prey .
It was a sad morning — the bloodshed did not end until 2:30 am , ” Volpe commented .
The meeting was marked by “ malice and viciousness oozing from the interventions of trustees like Rizzo , Li Preti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullying misogynist by one delegate ) , Di Pasquale , ” he said .
He underscored trustee Crawford ’ s reaction to the sanctions initially proposed by Di Pasquale ( a six month ’ s suspension , later reduced to three when Martino also protested it was too “ harsh ” ) as “ very extreme ” and far more severe than any others the board had levied .
“ This is , in my opinion , abominable , ” she said .
“ I will not be supporting it.
” But in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martino , Crawford , D ’ Amico , and Di Giorgio — voted against suspending Del Grande from attending all board and committee meeting for three months .
Since sanctions require two-thirds majority of the full board , that part of Di Pasquale ’ s motion failed to pass .
So , it appears that Del Grande , although stripped of his chair and vice chair positions on various committees , is free to attend meetings — including the November 26 caucus meeting where the next board chair will be elected .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a motion to move into private session lost on a tie , with Lubinski citing a legal opinion that revisiting the matter was illegal .
( Di Giorgio , Li Preti , de Domenico , Di Pasquale , and Kennedy voted against going into private session . )
Del Grande likewise refrained from voting .
The meeting began late as the first private session went overtime , and after 90 minutes of fractious procedural squabbling , the board heard from 12 delegations , with six against , and six for Del Grande @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Parents As First Educators , and Josie Luetke , coordinator for Campaign Life Coalition Youth , both of whom noted that Del Grande ’ s ill-starred attempt to defend the Catholicity of TCDSB schools was a standard reductio ad absurdum argument .
“ Essentially , if protecting members of the school community requires listing each and every subgroup they could possibly belong to , logically , that could lead to listing very bizarre , obscure , and , yes , harmful subgroups , ” explained Luetke .
“ Since this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must reject the underlying premise too.
” Moreover , noted Luetke , to suggest that Del Grande ’ s motion compared homosexuality to criminal behavior is at best “ a total misunderstanding of his argument , and , at worst , it ’ s a malicious lie.
” Campaign Life is urging all concerned Catholics to donate to Del Grande ’ s legal defense fund .
To donate , go here : www.wonderwe.com/StandWithMike Concerned Catholics are also urged to contact the following persons to respectfully express their views :

ANALYSIS
TORONTO, November 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — An embattled Toronto Catholic school trustee who has been under a year-long attack by LGBT activists, their allies on the board, and more recently, members of the provincial legislature, is now fighting back.
Michael Del Grande has lawyered up and is launching an appeal after eight Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) trustees voted during an often rancorous and chaotic seven-hour meeting on Wednesday to revisit code of conduct complaints of which he was cleared in August.
This time, the trustees voted that Del Grande’s comments from a year ago in defense of Catholic teaching and in opposition to gender ideology violated the board’s code of conduct and were “disrespectful to the LGBTQ community as a whole.”
They voted to sanction Del Grande by requesting he make a public apology, attend an equity course, and be banned from representing the board for three months.
They also voted to release a redacted version of the confidential report investigating the complaints against Del Grande, which was leaked to the Toronto Star days before the meeting and characterized by that liberal newspaper as “damning.”
The eight trustees who voted for all this are: Markus de Domenico, board chair Joe Martino, Frank D’Amico, Daniel Di Giorgio, Norm Di Pasquale, Angela Kennedy, Ida Li Preti, and Maria Rizzo, with Kennedy switching her vote in August to clear Del Grande.
Campaign Life Coalition has started a crowdfunding campaign, Stand With Michael Del Grande, to finance Del Grande’s legal defense.
Complaints date back to fight over gender ideology
Pro-LGBT trustee Markus de Domenico, who is running for chair of the board, was a driving force behind Wednesday’s meeting, which was called specifically to reopen complaints against Del Grande.
— Article continues below Petition — Canada: Sign the Geneva Consensus Declaration! Show Petition Text 6733 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 On October 22nd, thirty-two nations signed the historic Geneva Consensus Declaration, including the co-sponsoring nations, the United States, Brazil, Hungary, Indonesia, and Uganda. However, Canada was not among the signatories. Please SIGN this joint petition, from LifeSite and Campaign Life Coalition, urging Canada to ratify the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which will put Canada at the forefront in the fight to protect genuine human rights. The Geneva Consensus Declaration takes a firm stance against invented human rights by saying, "there is no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion." The Geneva Consensus Declaration further reaffirms: That "protecting the right to life" is an "essential priority."
The "inherent 'dignity and worth of the human person'" and that "'every human has the inherent right to life.'"
That "'the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and state,'" as the Declaration on the Rights of the Child stated. Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition to Canadian MPs, asking them to restore Canada's reputation as a world leader in human rights, and sign the Geneva Consensus Declaration. In the past, Canada had a reputation for supporting conventions and declarations that promote fundamental and universal principles, including the right to life and the centrality of the natural family in society. To that end, Canada signed declarations and conventions supporting the child and the natural family, like the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1990. However, in recent years, Canada has deviated from its commitments and its historic role in advancing genuine human rights. Instead, Canada has pushed a marginal agenda focused on newly-invented “rights” that are neither based in natural law nor in any international treaty. Among these are a false right to abortion, a false right to choose one’s gender, and a false right to sexual pleasure for children. Indeed, Canada has become a bully on the world stage, imposing its agenda on traditional peoples in developing nations, promoting abortion, gender theory, and radical sex education. It is time for Canada to stand up for genuine human rights like it once did, especially the right to life, and proclaim that the nuclear family is the basis of society. By ratifying the Geneva Consensus Declaration, Canada would join other nations in upholding these very things, and would recommit itself to safeguarding the rights and principles that it formerly promoted and defended. Please SIGN this petition calling on the Members of Parliament to sign the Geneva Consensus Declaration. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Information about the Geneva Consensus Declaration - https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/oga/global-health-diplomacy/protecting-life-global-health-policy/geneva-declaration.html The text of the Geneva Consensus Declaration - https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/geneva-consensus-declaration-english.pdf CLC article, 'Canada Must Join the Geneva Consensus Declaration' - https://www.campaignlifecoalition.com/clc-blog/id/118/title/canada-must-join-the-geneva-consensus LifeSite article, '32 nations, including US, declare ‘no international right to abortion’ at UN' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/32-nations-including-us-declare-no-international-right-to-abortion-at-un Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
The marathon proceedings included the extraordinary spectacles of Catholic trustees objecting to a delegate reading the Catechism section on homosexuality as “dangerous,” and Ontario’s lesbian ex-premier and current MPP Kathleen Wynne lecturing the board on how to run Catholic schools, and being thanked by several trustees for doing so.
The complaints against Del Grande date back to the now infamous “slippery slope” motion he tabled on November 7, 2019, the night the same eight trustees voted to amend the board’s code of conduct to include the terms “family status and marital status,” and “gender expression” and “gender identity” as protected categories.
Along with trustees Nancy Crawford, Garry Tanuan, and Teresa Lubinski, Del Grande objected to the amendment as an endorsement of gender ideology in contradiction of Catholic teaching.
His motion asked the board to refer the matter to committee to study whether it should add other aberrant sexual behaviors, such as pedophilia and bestiality, as protected categories under the code.
He later said the motion, which was ruled out of order, was “hyperbolic” and intended to underscore the consequences of the amendment, but in the relentless attack by LGBT activists that followed he was pilloried in the media and accused of “comparing homosexuals to violent criminals.”
Lesbian ex-premier berates Catholic trustees
That’s how Wynne described the alleged offence during her delegation, although when asked by trustee Nancy Crawford, she could not coherently explain exactly how she came to that conclusion.
Wynne, who as premier brought in a controversial sex-education program that sparked widespread parental protests, also reminisced about “coming out” at age 37 when she had “three little kids.” (At that point, her now “spouse,” Jane Rounthwaite, moved in with her, and Wynne’s husband moved into the basement.)
About a week earlier, Wynne raised the matter at Queen’s Park on behalf of LGBT activist and former Catholic student trustee Kyle Iannuzzi, and demanded that Del Grande be held accountable for his “homophobic” comments.
In response, Education Minister Stephen Lecce agreed the comments were “deeply disturbing,” and he subsequently contacted the board and requested that it release the confidential report and hold Del Grande accountable.
Wynne assured trustees that while she was taking the “unusual” step of delegating, she didn’t intend to undermine their authority, nor was she there “to question or denigrate the Catholic education system.”
She then proceeded to berate them for clearing Del Grande in August.
“You chose to allow one of your members to thumb his nose at all the years of work” to advance LGBTQ “rights,” said Wynne.
Trustees needed to reverse their decision, find Del Grande guilty, and release the confidential report investigating the complaints against him, she said.
“None of our schools is exempt from compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code,” Wynne declared.
Trustees took oath to uphold Catholic teaching, but …
This declaration reveals a shocking ignorance — or willful disregard — of Section 19 of the Ontario Human Rights Act, which states clearly that the constitutionally protected denominational rights of Catholic schools supersede all other rights.
Section 19 says: “This Act shall not be construed to adversely affect any right or privilege respecting separate schools enjoyed by separate school boards or their supporters under the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Education Act.”
Far more shocking, however, is that the trustees who voted to find Del Grande in violation of the code of conduct also seem to be unaware — or are willfully dismissive — of the constitutionally protected denominational rights of Catholic schools, despite swearing an oath of office to uphold Catholic teaching.
Indeed, this same board voted against reciting the St. Michael’s Prayer at the beginning of the meetings, and on November 7, 2019, de Domenico appeared to claim that Catholic schools no longer believe homosexuality and transgenderism is wrong.
“It was an older version of Catholic teaching that is a judgmental teaching, a version of Catholic teaching which didn’t accept a child or a young adult for who they are,” he said then, in response to a delegation by aforementioned homosexual activist Iannuzzi.
“Our system that we have now does not believe in the issues that gave Kyle and the folks like Kyle that kind of bullying problem. Fundamentally, we don’t believe in it,” de Domenico added.
The situation was not helped when board administration produced a report the night of the vote stating that the archdiocese approved the addition of the gender terms, a statement at least one delegate questioned at the time.
Four days later, the archdiocese issued a statement on behalf of Cardinal Thomas Collins, which said, in part: “Ministry of Education policy, PPM 128, directs that the prohibited grounds of discrimination found in the Ontario Human Rights Code be included in updated Codes of Conduct for all school boards in Ontario.”
It then added: “While the archdiocese recognizes that terms such as gender identity are included in the Code, we do not accept the view of the human person which underlies this terminology, since that view is not compatible with our faith.”
‘This is, in my opinion, abominable’: Crawford
Longtime TCDSB-watcher Joe Volpe, publisher of the Italian-language daily newspaper Corriere Canadese, denounced Wednesday’s proceedings in a stinging critique.
“I felt the need to take a shower after witnessing their behaviour — a hyena-like pack of predators fighting over their wounded prey. It was a sad morning — the bloodshed did not end until 2:30 am,” Volpe commented.
The meeting was marked by “malice and viciousness oozing from the interventions of trustees like Rizzo, Li Preti, De Domenico (identified as a bullying misogynist by one delegate), Di Pasquale,” he said.
He underscored trustee Crawford’s reaction to the sanctions initially proposed by Di Pasquale (a six month’s suspension, later reduced to three when Martino also protested it was too “harsh”) as “very extreme” and far more severe than any others the board had levied.
“This is, in my opinion, abominable,” she said. “I will not be supporting it.”
But in a curious twist, four trustees — Martino, Crawford, D’Amico, and Di Giorgio — voted against suspending Del Grande from attending all board and committee meeting for three months.
Since sanctions require two-thirds majority of the full board, that part of Di Pasquale’s motion failed to pass.
So, it appears that Del Grande, although stripped of his chair and vice chair positions on various committees, is free to attend meetings — including the November 26 caucus meeting where the next board chair will be elected.
Meanwhile, trustees Tanuan and Lubinski recused themselves after a motion to move into private session lost on a tie, with Lubinski citing a legal opinion that revisiting the matter was illegal. (Di Giorgio, Li Preti, de Domenico, Di Pasquale, and Kennedy voted against going into private session.) Del Grande likewise refrained from voting.
The meeting began late as the first private session went overtime, and after 90 minutes of fractious procedural squabbling, the board heard from 12 delegations, with six against, and six for Del Grande.
The latter included Teresa Pierre, president of Parents As First Educators, and Josie Luetke, coordinator for Campaign Life Coalition Youth, both of whom noted that Del Grande’s ill-starred attempt to defend the Catholicity of TCDSB schools was a standard reductio ad absurdum argument.
“Essentially, if protecting members of the school community requires listing each and every subgroup they could possibly belong to, logically, that could lead to listing very bizarre, obscure, and, yes, harmful subgroups,” explained Luetke.
“Since this is an absurd and untenable conclusion, we must reject the underlying premise too.”
Moreover, noted Luetke, to suggest that Del Grande’s motion compared homosexuality to criminal behavior is at best “a total misunderstanding of his argument, and, at worst, it’s a malicious lie.”
Campaign Life is urging all concerned Catholics to donate to Del Grande’s legal defense fund. To donate, go here: www.wonderwe.com/StandWithMike
Concerned Catholics are also urged to contact the following persons to respectfully express their views:
Cardinal Thomas Collins
Archdiocese of Toronto
1155 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M4T 1W2
Phone:416-934-0606, ext. 609
Email: [email protected]
TCDSB trustees:
Joseph Martino, Chair
Ward 1: Etobicoke
Phone: 416-512-3401
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Markus de Domenico
Ward 2: Etobicoke
Phone: 416-512-3402
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Ida Li Preti
Ward 3: North York
Phone: 416-512-3403
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: [email protected]
Teresa Lubinski
Ward 4: Parkdale-High Park, Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Phone: 416-512-3404
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Maria Rizzo
Ward 5: North York
Phone: 416-512-3405
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Frank D'Amico
Ward 6: York
Phone: 416-512-3406
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Michael Del Grande
Ward 7: Scarborough/ North York
Phone: 416-512-3407
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Garry Tanuan
Ward 8: Scarborough
Phone: 416-512-3408
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Norm Di Pasquale
Ward 9: Toronto
Phone: 416-512-3409
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Daniel Di Giorgio
Ward 10: Toronto
Phone: 416-512-3410
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]b.org
Angela Kennedy
Ward 11: East York/Toronto
Phone: 416-512-3411
Fax: 416-512-3214
Email: [email protected]
Nancy Crawford
Ward 12: Scarborough
Phone: 416-512-3412
Fax: 416-512-321
Email: [email protected]
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lifesitenews--2020-11-14--Target pulls book critical of transgender craze after leftist complains, then reverses decision

November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Target temporarily removed a book detailing the harm gender confusion poses to children from online sale this week in response to left-wing pressure on social media , only to reverse itself when conservatives pushed back .
Irreversible Damage : The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters , by The Wall Street Journal ’ s Abigail Shrier , explores the phenomenon of rapid-onset gender dysphoria ( ROGD ) , a term coined in 2018 by Brown University behavioral scientist Lisa Littman .
She found that a significant percentage of gender dysphoria among minors came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ’ s true sex but from outside influence .
For her book , Shrier “ dug deep into the trans epidemic , talking to the girls , their agonized parents , and the counselors and doctors who enable gender transitions , as well as to ‘ detransitioners ’ — young women who bitterly regret what they have done to themselves , ” according to the product description .
“ Coming out as transgender immediately boosts these girls ’ social status , Shrier found , but once they take the first steps of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk back.
” Target announced on Twitter Thursday that it “ removed this book from our assortment ” following a viral tweet asking why the store was carrying such alleged ‘ transphobia ” : The next day , following objections and inquiries from conservatives including Shrier herself , the company reversed itself : The book ’ s publisher , Regnery Publishing , was thankful for the victory but objected to Target ’ s framing of the story .
This is neither the first time a major retailer attempted to quash Irreversible Damage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the social-justice Left .
In June , Amazon suspended advertising for the book on the grounds that it “ contains elements that may not be appropriate for all audiences , ” while Target has drawn conservative ire for years for its transgender bathroom policy and line of LGBT “ pride ” products .

PETITION UPDATE (12/14/2020) -
The vaccine roll out is beginning in the United States, and first responders have been tagged as those likely to be among the first to receive a vaccine.
President Trump needs to ensure that this is entirely voluntary.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition, today!
_______________________________________________________________________
Early reports suggest that the U.S. military could be first on the list of those ordered to take a COVID vaccine.
But, no one should be forced to be vaccinated against his or her will, especially members of the U.S. military!
Military men and women, and their families, already sacrifice enough for the safety of our country. Forcing them to take an untested and unproven vaccine, against their will, would violate the spirit of their contract with America.
This petition says 'No' to treating our servicemen and women like guinea pigs with an unproven and insufficiently-tested vaccine.
Please SIGN this petition to President Trump asking him to declare, as Commander-in-Chief, that members of the armed forces will not be forced to take any COVID vaccine.
So far, big pharmaceutical companies have reported casualties and halted trials for a COVID vaccine on numerous occasions:
An AstraZeneca COVID trial participant died over the summer.
On October 12, Eli Lilly stopped a COVID antibody trial because of safety concerns.
Johnson and Johnson paused their vaccine trials on October 11 because one participant had an "unexplained" illness.
And, other AstraZeneca trials in the UK were put on hold both in July and September after participants developed a "serious neurological condition that might have been caused by the vaccine."
No one, especially in the U.S. military, should be used as a guinea pig for proving the "effectiveness" of any COVID vaccine.
Apart from these real health concerns, many military men and women object to vaccines made from aborted fetal cell lines and to other unethical testing, and these ethical considerations should also be honored.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition which calls on President Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, to issue a declaration protecting the right of servicemen and women to exercise conscientious objection in relation to a mandate for them to take a COVID vaccine.
Just like it was essential for President Trump to nominate a new Supreme Court justice before the election, it is now essential that the President declare any vaccine to be voluntary for the military before January, just in case there is a transition to a new administration.
Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this urgent petition to President Trump, today!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'Why rushing a COVID vaccine will likely fail to provide a safe and effective immunity' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/why-rushing-a-covid-vaccine-will-likely-fail-to-provide-a-safe-and-effective-immunity
'Coronavirus vaccine trial volunteer dies in Brazil' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/covid-vaccine-trial-volunteer-dies-in-brazil
**Photo Credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images


lifesitenews--2020-11-14--Biden says advocate of federal ‘hate speech’ law would oversee government media transition

November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s selection of a transition chief for government-owned media entities is raising concerns over a potential Biden administration ’ s commitment to free speech , in light of Richard Stengel ’ s past calls for new laws recognizing that “ all speech is not equal.
” Biden ’ s presidential transition website – which has been launched despite the presidential election having yet to be certified in his favor – identifies Stengel as leading his team that will “ reflect the values and priorities of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States Agency for Global Media ( USAGM ) from President Donald Trump ’ s hands .
USAGM oversees Voice of America , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , the Office of Cuba Broadcasting , Radio Free Asia , Middle-East Broadcasting Networks , and the Open Technology Fund .
Stengel , a journalist , former Obama administration official , and former head of the National Constitution Center , is an alarming choice to critics due to a Washington Post op-ed he wrote in October 2019 calling for a federal “ hate speech ” law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ America ’ s broad protections for even hateful speech are a global outlier , and that protecting “ hateful speech that can cause violence by one group against another ... seems like a design flaw.
” He declared that “ it ’ s time to consider ” emulating laws other countries have passed since World War II to “ curb the incitement of racial and religious hatred , ” defining “ hate speech ” as “ speech that attacks and insults people on the basis of race , religion , ethnic origin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not equal , ” Stengel concludes .
“ And where truth can not drive out lies , we must add new guardrails .
I ’ m all for protecting ‘ thought that we hate , ’ but not speech that incites hate.
” At the time , Brookings Institution visiting fellow James Kirchick responded with his own Post op-ed , noting that “ you ’ d think that a man who worked so closely with the most famous political prisoner in the world [ Nelson Mandela ] would be the last person to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their expression.
” “ Stengel never adequately defines what constitutes ‘ hate speech , ’ because he can ’ t .
The concept is inherently subjective , ” Kirchick argues .
“ Investing government bureaucrats with the power to determine what constitutes legally proscribed ‘ hate speech ’ presents many problems , foremost among them the lack of a neutral arbiter.
” “ Stengel offers post-World War II European hate speech laws as positive examples that the United States should emulate , ” he writes .
“ Yet there is no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political violence and extremism , maladies that contemporary Europe boasts in abundance .
On the contrary , one could argue that , by rendering certain views and expressions criminally taboo , hate speech laws only encourage the very phenomena they are designed to combat.
” Regardless , Stengel ’ s selection appears to signal a dramatic shift in how government-owned media outlets like VOA will be operated and supervised .
The New York Post notes that President Donald Trump ’ s USAGM head , Michael Pack , fired several bureaucrats at the outlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of a pro-Biden video appealing to Muslim voters and for neglecting security procedures in hiring foreign workers .
The pick also hints at a continuation and worsening of free speech issues that persisted under the Trump administration , such as the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) holding a hearing in August to promote a greater role for tech companies in policing “ hate speech ” worldwide .
Several Biden picks have shed light on what a Biden administration would look like recently , from prospective White House Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared himself a “ soldier ” for abortion-on-demand , to coronavirus strategy advisor Michael Osterholm , who claimed America “ could lock down for four to six weeks ” to “ drive the numbers down , ” during which the federal government “ could pay for a package right now to cover all of the lost wages for individual workers.
” Help stop voter fraud : The Trump Campaign has created “ Defend Your Ballot ” to report election issues .
Report fraud here or call 888-630-1776 .
Project Veritas is also accepting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says to report suspected instances of voter suppression/fraud to your local FBI field office or at tips.fbi.gov .

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--2020-11-14--Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trials showed ‘severe’ side effects, ‘fever and aches’

November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Mere days after Pfizer announced its new “ 90 % effective ” coronavirus vaccine , reports have emerged about “ severe ” side effects volunteers for the vaccine trial experienced , including fevers and headaches .
According to the British Daily Mail , Carrie , one of the 43,538 participants in Pfizer ’ s vaccine trial , “ said she suffered a headache , fever and aches all over her body , comparable to the flu jab , with the first one .
But after the second these became ‘ more severe.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ administered in two doses three weeks apart .
Glenn Deshields , another participant , “ said he suffered side effects not dissimilar to a ‘ severe hangover.
’ ” The man from Texas said he believes “ he received the vaccine because when he had an antibody test with doctors it came back positive.
” “ Bryan , 42 , an engineer from Georgia , believes he was one of the individuals that did not receive the vaccine , ” but a placebo .
“ He felt no immune response to the jabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two shots he contracted [ COVID-19 ] after his daughter caught it last month.
” A placebo is a shot not containing the vaccine , given to half of the participants in the trial to show if the vaccine actually works .
Stanley Wang from Los Angeles also thought he received a placebo , saying “ he went for his first injection on August 31 and did not experience any pain from the jab nor coronavirus symptoms.
” Wang added that side effects experienced by other participants “ included fever and migraines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ similar to having a hangover.
’ ” It is unclear whether Wang was merely referring to the Daily Mail report , or to his own conversations with participants in the trial .
Pfizer didn ’ t mention any of the side effects experienced by participants in the vaccine trial .
The New York Times emphasized on Monday , “ The data released by Pfizer … was delivered in a news release , not a peer-reviewed medical journal .
It is not conclusive evidence that the vaccine is safe and effective , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent efficacy could change as the trial goes on.
” In fact , Pfizer ’ s press release mentioned 43,538 participants enrolled in the study , with only “ 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in trial participants.
” This means that only 0.2 percent of participants were tested positive for the coronavirus .
As only 94 participants were tested positive , it also appears difficult to generalize the vaccine is “ more than 90 % effective , ” since some people might have been exposed to the virus more frequently , or for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release did not explain if participants were wearing masks , practicing so-called social distancing , or staying at home , for the most part .
The pharmaceutical company cautioned that it will continue “ to accumulate safety data , ” estimating “ that a median of two months of safety data following the second ( and final ) dose of the vaccine candidate — the amount of safety data specified by the FDA in its guidance for potential Emergency Use Authorization — will be available by the third week of November.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be monitored for long-term protection and safety for an additional two years after their second dose , ” the press release pointed out , implying that side effects could still occur , and that the vaccine could lose its alleged efficacy .
In a July debate , Robert F. Kennedy , Jr. , the nephew of John F. Kennedy and an environmental attorney , referred to Pfizer as one of several vaccine producers with a record of incurring criminal penalties for their products .
Kennedy noted that four of the leading developers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer , Merck , are “ convicted serial felon [ s ] .
” “ In the past 10 years , just in the last decade , those companies 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 , ” Kennedy said .
“ It requires a cognitive dissonance for people who understand the criminal corporate cultures of these four companies to believe that they ’ re doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have , but they ’ re not doing it with vaccines.
” Pfizer alone accounted for more than $ 4.7 billion in penalties since the year 2000 .
In turn , the Trump administration in July announced “ one of the largest investments yet , … a nearly $ 2 billion contract with Pfizer and a German biotechnology company for 100 million doses by December.
” Dr. Helen Watt of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre in Oxford , England , told the Catholic Herald last Monday that the Pfizer vaccine “ makes no use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process itself , and no use in the design , ” but “ [ o ] ne of the confirmatory lab tests on the vaccine did sadly involve an old foetal cell-line.
” The Children of God for Life organization says that the Pfizer vaccine is tested using the HEK 293 cell line , which is derived from kidney tissue taken from a healthy baby who was aborted in the Netherlands in the 1970s .
Infectious diseases specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto Dr. Andrew Morris told the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions still to be answered about the Pfizer vaccine .
“ Does [ the Pfizer vaccine ] attenuate the disease ?
Does it reduce spread to other people ?
” Morris asked .
“ Those are equally important things .
”

The company claims its shot is ‘90% effective’ and will be available to the public soon, but serious questions about the vaccine's safety remain
November 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Mere days after Pfizer announced its new “90% effective” coronavirus vaccine, reports have emerged about “severe” side effects volunteers for the vaccine trial experienced, including fevers and headaches.
According to the British Daily Mail, Carrie, one of the 43,538 participants in Pfizer’s vaccine trial, “said she suffered a headache, fever and aches all over her body, comparable to the flu jab, with the first one. But after the second these became ‘more severe.’”
The Pfizer vaccine will be administered in two doses three weeks apart.
Glenn Deshields, another participant, “said he suffered side effects not dissimilar to a ‘severe hangover.’” The man from Texas said he believes “he received the vaccine because when he had an antibody test with doctors it came back positive.”
“Bryan, 42, an engineer from Georgia, believes he was one of the individuals that did not receive the vaccine,” but a placebo. “He felt no immune response to the jabs, he said, and after having two shots he contracted [COVID-19] after his daughter caught it last month.”
A placebo is a shot not containing the vaccine, given to half of the participants in the trial to show if the vaccine actually works.
Stanley Wang from Los Angeles also thought he received a placebo, saying “he went for his first injection on August 31 and did not experience any pain from the jab nor coronavirus symptoms.”
Wang added that side effects experienced by other participants “included fever and migraines, and another complained of having a reaction ‘similar to having a hangover.’” It is unclear whether Wang was merely referring to the Daily Mail report, or to his own conversations with participants in the trial.
Pfizer didn’t mention any of the side effects experienced by participants in the vaccine trial.
The New York Times emphasized on Monday, “The data released by Pfizer … was delivered in a news release, not a peer-reviewed medical journal. It is not conclusive evidence that the vaccine is safe and effective, and the initial finding of more than 90 percent efficacy could change as the trial goes on.”
In fact, Pfizer’s press release mentioned 43,538 participants enrolled in the study, with only “94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in trial participants.” This means that only 0.2 percent of participants were tested positive for the coronavirus.
As only 94 participants were tested positive, it also appears difficult to generalize the vaccine is “more than 90% effective,” since some people might have been exposed to the virus more frequently, or for a longer time.
Pfizer’s press release did not explain if participants were wearing masks, practicing so-called social distancing, or staying at home, for the most part.
The pharmaceutical company cautioned that it will continue “to accumulate safety data,” estimating “that a median of two months of safety data following the second (and final) dose of the vaccine candidate — the amount of safety data specified by the FDA in its guidance for potential Emergency Use Authorization — will be available by the third week of November.”
“Additionally, participants will continue to be monitored for long-term protection and safety for an additional two years after their second dose,” the press release pointed out, implying that side effects could still occur, and that the vaccine could lose its alleged efficacy.
In a July debate, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the nephew of John F. Kennedy and an environmental attorney, referred to Pfizer as one of several vaccine producers with a record of incurring criminal penalties for their products.
Kennedy noted that four of the leading developers of coronavirus vaccines, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Pfizer, Merck, are “convicted serial felon[s].”
“In the past 10 years, just in the last decade, those companies 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,” Kennedy said.
“It requires a cognitive dissonance for people who understand the criminal corporate cultures of these four companies to believe that they’re doing this in every other product that they have, but they’re not doing it with vaccines.”
Pfizer alone accounted for more than $4.7 billion in penalties since the year 2000.
In turn, the Trump administration in July announced “one of the largest investments yet, … a nearly $2 billion contract with Pfizer and a German biotechnology company for 100 million doses by December.”
Dr. Helen Watt of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre in Oxford, England, told the Catholic Herald last Monday that the Pfizer vaccine “makes no use of a foetal cell-line in the production process itself, and no use in the design,” but “[o]ne of the confirmatory lab tests on the vaccine did sadly involve an old foetal cell-line.”
The Children of God for Life organization says that the Pfizer vaccine is tested using the HEK 293 cell line, which is derived from kidney tissue taken from a healthy baby who was aborted in the Netherlands in the 1970s.
Infectious diseases specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto Dr. Andrew Morris told the National Post that there are a number of questions still to be answered about the Pfizer vaccine.
“Does [the Pfizer vaccine] attenuate the disease? Does it reduce spread to other people?” Morris asked. “Those are equally important things.”
RELATED:
World leaders laud progress of Gates-backed COVID vaccine by Pfizer
Coronavirus vaccine trial volunteer dies in Brazil
Australian state law empowers officials to forcibly remove underwear to administer vaccine
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lifesitenews--2020-11-14--Justice Alito unloads on coronavirus restrictions in bombshell Federalist Society speech

November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Supreme Justice Samuel Alito has warned that “ the pandemic has resulted in previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty ” and that freedom of speech is at risk of “ becoming a second-tier Constitutional right.
” Speaking to the Federalist Society ’ s National Lawyers Convention , which was hosted online this year , Alito said , “ it is an indisputable statement of fact : we have never before seen restrictions as severe , extensive and prolonged as those experienced , for most of 2020.
” “ Think of all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the right to freedom of speech , live speeches , conferences , lectures , meetings , think of worship services , churches closed on Easter Sunday , synagogues closed for Passover on Yom Kippur War.
” “ Think about access to the courts , or the constitutional right to a speedy trial , ” said Alito .
“ Trials in federal courts have virtually disappeared in many places who could have imagined that the COVID crisis has served as a sort of constitutional stress test .
And in doing so it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the virus struck.
” Alito shared his concern about the growing “ dominance of lawmaking by executive fiat rather than legislation.
” Under the umbrella of emergency and disaster declarations , non-elected experts as opposed to elected representatives have pushed for sweeping restrictions which “ confer enormous executive discretion ” at the expense of fundamental rights .
Alito discussed Jacobson v. Massachusetts , a 1905 case in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld forced vaccinations related to a smallpox outbreak .
“ It would be good if what originates in Cambridge stayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the Massachusetts city of that case : So what are the courts doing in this crisis , when the constitutionality of COVID restrictions has been challenged in court , the leading authority cited in their defense is a 1905 Supreme Court decision called Jacobson versus Massachusetts .
The case concerned an outbreak of smallpox in Cambridge , and the Court upheld the constitutionality of an ordinance that required vaccinations to prevent the disease from spreading .
Now I 'm all in favor of preventing dangerous things from issuing out of Cambridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the world .
It would be good if what originates in Cambridge stayed in Cambridge .
But to return to the serious point , it 's important to keep Jacobson in perspective , its primary holding rejected a substantive due process challenge to a local measure that targeted a problem of limited scope .
It did not involve sweeping restrictions imposed across the country for an extended period .
And it does not mean that whenever there is an emergency , executive officials have unlimited unreviewable discretion .
Alito said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the case of Nevada ’ s draconian coronavirus measures that explicitly targeted churches sent the message that : ... if you go to Nevada , you can gamble , drank and attend all sorts of shows .
But here 's what you ca n't do .
If you want to worship and you 're the 51st person in line , sorry , you are out of luck .
Houses of worship are limited to 50 attendees .
The size of the building does n't matter .
Nor does it matter if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six feet away from everybody else .
And it does n't matter if the building is carefully sanitized before and after a service .
The state 's message [ is ] this : forget about worship and head for the slot machines , or maybe a Cirque du Soleil show .
Now deciding whether to allow this disparate treatment should not have been a very tough call .
Take a quick look at the Constitution .
You will see the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment which protects religious liberty ; you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blackjack clause or a slot machine clause .
Nevada was unable to provide any plausible justification for treating casinos more favorably than houses of worship .
But the [ Supreme ] Court nevertheless deferred to the governor 's judgment , which just so happened to favor the state 's biggest industry and the many voters it employs .
Alito also warned that “ in certain quarters , religious liberty is fast becoming a disfavored , right.
” He noted that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ( RFRA ) “ had almost universal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the U.S. House voting it into law unanimously and the Senate supporting it 97 to 3 .
But the Little Sisters of the Poor “ have been under unrelenting attack for the better part of a decade ” since the Obama administration tried to get them to participate in the provision of contraception and life-ending drugs and devices.
” The justice then turned his attention to Washington state , which “ adopted a rule requiring every pharmacy to carry every form of contraceptive approved by the Food and Drug Administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which destroy an embryo after fertilization.
” “ A pharmacy called Ralph ’ s was owned by a Christian family opposed to abortion ; they refuse to carry abortifacients .
If a woman came to the store with a prescription for such a drug , the pharmacy referred her to a nearby store that was happy to provide it , ” Alito explained .
“ And there were 30 such stores within five miles of Ralph ’ s .
But to the state of Washington , that was not good enough – Ralph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get out of the state.
” He also discussed the devastating effect of Obergefell v. Hodges , which imposed same-sex “ marriage ” on all 50 states , on freedom of speech and freedom for those who uphold the real definition of marriage .
Alito ’ s speech provoked the ire of leftists , with Slate ’ s Mark Joseph Stern calling it a “ grievance-laden tirade against Democrats.
” “ Flouting his ethical obligations , Alito waded into fierce political debates over public health during a pandemic , reproductive rights , LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come before his court .
It is wildly inappropriate for a justice to assume the role of Fox News commentators , and unwise in light of progressives ’ mounting doubt about the Supreme Court ’ s legitimacy , ” Stern claimed .
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg frequently made comments in support of leftist causes that many considered “ partisan.
” “ In the end , there is only so much that the judiciary can do to preserve our Constitution , and the Liberty it was adopted to protect , ” Alito @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , ‘ Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women when it dies there .
No constitution , no law , no court can do much to help it.
’ For all Americans , standing up for our Constitution and our freedom is work that lies ahead .
It will not be easy work .
But when we meet next year , I hope we will be able to say that progress was made .
At that time I trust we will be back together in the flesh .
”

America's response to the coronavirus outbreak has resulted in 'previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty,' warned Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. He also explained ongoing threats to religious liberty and freedom of speech.
November 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Supreme Justice Samuel Alito has warned that “the pandemic has resulted in previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty” and that freedom of speech is at risk of “becoming a second-tier Constitutional right.”
Speaking to the Federalist Society’s National Lawyers Convention, which was hosted online this year, Alito said, “it is an indisputable statement of fact: we have never before seen restrictions as severe, extensive and prolonged as those experienced, for most of 2020.”
“Think of all the live events that would otherwise be protected by the right to freedom of speech, live speeches, conferences, lectures, meetings, think of worship services, churches closed on Easter Sunday, synagogues closed for Passover on Yom Kippur War.”
“Think about access to the courts, or the constitutional right to a speedy trial,” said Alito. “Trials in federal courts have virtually disappeared in many places who could have imagined that the COVID crisis has served as a sort of constitutional stress test. And in doing so it has highlighted disturbing trends that were already present before the virus struck.”
Alito shared his concern about the growing “dominance of lawmaking by executive fiat rather than legislation.” Under the umbrella of emergency and disaster declarations, non-elected experts as opposed to elected representatives have pushed for sweeping restrictions which “confer enormous executive discretion” at the expense of fundamental rights.
Alito discussed Jacobson v. Massachusetts, a 1905 case in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld forced vaccinations related to a smallpox outbreak:
So what are the courts doing in this crisis, when the constitutionality of COVID restrictions has been challenged in court, the leading authority cited in their defense is a 1905 Supreme Court decision called Jacobson versus Massachusetts. The case concerned an outbreak of smallpox in Cambridge, and the Court upheld the constitutionality of an ordinance that required vaccinations to prevent the disease from spreading. Now I'm all in favor of preventing dangerous things from issuing out of Cambridge and infecting the rest of the country and the world. It would be good if what originates in Cambridge stayed in Cambridge. But to return to the serious point, it's important to keep Jacobson in perspective, its primary holding rejected a substantive due process challenge to a local measure that targeted a problem of limited scope. It did not involve sweeping restrictions imposed across the country for an extended period. And it does not mean that whenever there is an emergency, executive officials have unlimited unreviewable discretion.
Alito said that the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene in the case of Nevada’s draconian coronavirus measures that explicitly targeted churches sent the message that:
…if you go to Nevada, you can gamble, drank and attend all sorts of shows. But here's what you can't do. If you want to worship and you're the 51st person in line, sorry, you are out of luck. Houses of worship are limited to 50 attendees. The size of the building doesn't matter. Nor does it matter if you wear a mask and keep more than six feet away from everybody else. And it doesn't matter if the building is carefully sanitized before and after a service. The state's message [is] this: forget about worship and head for the slot machines, or maybe a Cirque du Soleil show. Now deciding whether to allow this disparate treatment should not have been a very tough call. Take a quick look at the Constitution. You will see the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment which protects religious liberty; you will not find a craps clause or a blackjack clause or a slot machine clause. Nevada was unable to provide any plausible justification for treating casinos more favorably than houses of worship. But the [Supreme] Court nevertheless deferred to the governor's judgment, which just so happened to favor the state's biggest industry and the many voters it employs.
Alito also warned that “in certain quarters, religious liberty is fast becoming a disfavored, right.” He noted that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) “had almost universal support” in Congress in the 1990s, with the U.S. House voting it into law unanimously and the Senate supporting it 97 to 3.
But the Little Sisters of the Poor “have been under unrelenting attack for the better part of a decade” since the Obama administration tried to get them to participate in the provision of contraception and life-ending drugs and devices.”
The justice then turned his attention to Washington state, which “adopted a rule requiring every pharmacy to carry every form of contraceptive approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including so called morning after pills, which destroy an embryo after fertilization.”
“A pharmacy called Ralph’s was owned by a Christian family opposed to abortion; they refuse to carry abortifacients. If a woman came to the store with a prescription for such a drug, the pharmacy referred her to a nearby store that was happy to provide it,” Alito explained. “And there were 30 such stores within five miles of Ralph’s. But to the state of Washington, that was not good enough – Ralph had to provide the drugs itself or get out of the state.”
He also discussed the devastating effect of Obergefell v. Hodges, which imposed same-sex “marriage” on all 50 states, on freedom of speech and freedom for those who uphold the real definition of marriage.
And here is Justice Alito defending Masterpiece Cakeshop’s Jacks Phillips for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex couple. Alito notes that the couple was offered a free cake elsewhere, then supported by “celebrity chefs.” pic.twitter.com/hZxdFJHyEI — Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) November 13, 2020
Alito’s speech provoked the ire of leftists, with Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern calling it a “grievance-laden tirade against Democrats.”
“Flouting his ethical obligations, Alito waded into fierce political debates over public health during a pandemic, reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, and other issues that routinely come before his court. It is wildly inappropriate for a justice to assume the role of Fox News commentators, and unwise in light of progressives’ mounting doubt about the Supreme Court’s legitimacy,” Stern claimed.
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg frequently made comments in support of leftist causes that many considered “partisan.”
“In the end, there is only so much that the judiciary can do to preserve our Constitution, and the Liberty it was adopted to protect,” Alito concluded. “As Learned Hand famously wrote, ‘Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women when it dies there. No constitution, no law, no court can do much to help it.’ For all Americans, standing up for our Constitution and our freedom is work that lies ahead. It will not be easy work. But when we meet next year, I hope we will be able to say that progress was made. At that time I trust we will be back together in the flesh.”
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lifesitenews--2020-11-14--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united daily in prayer , in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade .
Catholics from all over the world—from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , Pakistan , Singapore , the Philippines , India , Indonesia , Australia , New Zealand , Thailand , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Brazil , and other countries—are gathering daily to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our goal is , by means of this daily rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima , the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
To help obtain that goal , Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide rosary crusade : O Immaculate Heart of Mary , you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother .
Look upon the distress in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church .
In Fatima you warned against these errors , as you spoke about the errors of Russia .
You are the Mediatrix of all graces .
Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope : that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart , so that Russia will be converted , a period of peace will be granted to the world , and your Immaculate Heart will triumph , through an authentic renewal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purity of the Catholic Faith , of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life .
O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother , turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer .
Amen .
+ Athanasius Schneider , Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady ’ s message at Fatima , and about what you can do , please read Cardinal Burke ’ s 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
As St. Padre Pio once said , “ The rosary is the weapon for these times.
” Through prayer , God can shape history , change the world , and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world , through the triumph of Our Lady ’ s Immaculate Heart .
Join us today !
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this rosary , you can access them via this PDF .
This document also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily rosary on LifeSite led by Fr .
Pillari .

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-11-14--NOW: Tens of thousands rally for Trump in Washington, DC

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WASHINGTON , D.C. , November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Tens of thousands of Trump supporters are gathering today in the nation ’ s capital , following numerous allegations of election fraud raised in battleground states that were called for Joe Biden by the mainstream media .
President Donald Trump has so far refused to concede , instead launching legal challenges to the vote count .
The website of the “ March for Trump ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disenfranchise and nullify Republican votes .
It ’ s up to the American people to stop it .
Along with President Trump , we will NOT back down to ensure the integrity of this election for the good of the nation .
This is a coalition/team effort .
We need boots on the ground to protect the integrity of the vote.
” Among the scheduled speakers are members of Congress , as well as representatives of organizations that have supported Trump ’ s presidency .
The official website lists Reps. Mike Kelly ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , as well as Congresswoman-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene ( R-GA ) .
Other speakers include Amy Kremer of Women for America First , Penny Nance of Concerned Women for America , and Matt Schlapp of the American Conservative Union .
Schlapp is also co-chair of Catholics for Trump .
The president tweeted yesterday , “ Heartwarming to see all of the tremendous support out there , especially the organic Rallies that are springing up all over the Country , including a big one on Saturday in D.C. ” Trump even suggested he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic activist and YouTuber Dr. Taylor Marshall , who will be at the march , told his followers , “ Bring your Rosaries to the Washington DC Rally March for Trump and America !
” “ I ’ ll be relating Archbishop Vigano ’ s Message of encouragement and His Excellency ’ s prayer for President Trump and USA at 1:45pm at the stage in front of Supreme Court building , ” Marshall wrote on Parler this morning .
LifeSiteNews has correspondents on the ground at the March for Trump and will provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as on our social media channels .
Trump supporters to assemble in Washington , D.C. for rallies on Saturday Help stop voter fraud : The Trump Campaign has created “ Defend Your Ballot ” to report election issues .
Report fraud here or call 888-630-1776 .
Project Veritas is also accepting voter fraud tips here .
The FBI says to report suspected instances of voter suppression/fraud to your local FBI field office or at tips.fbi.gov .


lifesitenews--2020-11-14--Pro-abortion ‘soldier’ would be Biden’s Chief of Staff if he takes the White House

November 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Hopes that Democrat Joe Biden would be be a moderate President of the United States were dashed yet again this week with the former vice president ’ s announcement of the vocally pro-abortion Ron Klain to serve as his White House Chief of Staff , should the presidential election be ultimately certified in his favor .
Biden announced the pick Wednesday , saying Klain “ has been invaluable to me over the many years that we have worked together.
” Klain was previously a senior adviser to the Biden campaign , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous vice president , and Ebola Response Coordinator for the Obama administration .
He also served various Democrat officeholders before Biden , including former President Bill Clinton .
Klain has also made his pro-abortion views abundantly clear , Live Action notes , citing past tweets in which he hails NARAL president Ilyse Hogue as a “ great leader , ” tells Hogue he ’ s “ just a soldier in your army , ” and swears fealty to so-called “ reproductive freedom , ” a euphemism for abortion : With the Senate likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome of Georgia ’ s two runoff elections in January ) , Biden would be unable to sign pro-abortion legislation into law , such as a repeal of the Hyde Amendment .
But he could still implement other aspects of his agenda , such as restoring foreign aid to abortion groups , making federal agencies more hostile to religious and conscience rights on issues of abortion and contraception , and directing the Justice Department to “ do everything in its power ” to block state pro-life laws .
As Chief of Staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that Biden prioritizes such items , as well as help a potential Biden administration translate campaign promises to policy action .
Most national news networks have called the race for Biden , though recounts are pending in Georgia and likely in Wisconsin and potentially additional states , and the Trump campaign is pursuing challenges based on evidence of possible fraud in several other states , including Michigan , Nevada , and Pennsylvania .


lifesitenews--2020-11-17--Russia became first country to legalize abortion 100 years ago, beginning greatest genocide in histo

Russia became first country to legalize abortion 100 years ago, beginning greatest genocide in history

MOSCOW , Russia , November 16 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Out of the many news headlines that have dominated the year 2020 so far , there is one somber event that is in danger of being forgotten : November 18 , 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the first-ever legalization of abortion .
Researchers estimate that legal abortion has resulted in about one billion abortions worldwide in the past 100 years , making it what they call the “ greatest genocide in history.
” On this date 100 years ago , Soviet Russia announced the legalization of abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explanation , to combat the growing numbers of women who were having adverse health effects as a result of illegal abortions .
In doing so , the country became the first in the world to legalize the killing of preborn children .
In contrast , a few months earlier , in July 1920 , France had passed a law forbidding the sale or promotion of contraceptives .
Russia ’ s new ruling predated any other legalization of abortion in the world by more than a decade , for it was not until 1931 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rape .
In an archived article in the New England Journal of Medicine ( NEJM ) , Dr. Mark Field presented a history of the legality of abortion in Russia , until his present day era of 1956 .
The Soviet decree accompanying Russia ’ s 1920 legalization of abortion mentioned that the new law came about to do away with “ underground ” abortions in which “ up to 50 percent of such women are infected in the course of the operation , and up to 4 percent of them die.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions to occur for free , providing they were performed by a doctor .
Among other conditions , the woman must remain in bed for three days after and then be rested for a further two weeks after the abortion .
The NEJM records that doctors were supposed to “ discourage a woman from abortion if there were no social , economic , or medical reasons for it.
” In tandem with this “ was the dissemination of birth-control information and contraceptives.
” In Moscow in 1922 , there were 7,969 abortions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22.56 abortions to births .
By 1925 , the number of abortions had risen to 18,071 and births numbered 57,537 , giving a ratio of 31.41 abortions to births .
The article noted that in 1926 abortion numbers had shot up to 31,986 , but no figures on births are available .
Toward the end of the 1920s , living conditions became more cramped as “ urban housing became extremely scarce , and families most often had to content themselves with one room , sharing bathing toilet and cooking facilities with other families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change was a natural effect of the Soviet regime , which “ under Stalin ’ s direction , embarked on a massive program of industrialisation and collectivisation of agriculture.
” Combined with the fact that “ more women were being drawn into the labor force ” , Dr. Field states that “ it is fairly safe to assume that the rate of abortions significantly increased above the figures of the twenties.
” However , the rise in abortion swiftly led to “ increased family instability , ” which meant that children raised in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable , hard-working and conscientious workers required for an industrial society , ” and for the Society regime .
Thus , new laws were proposed in 1936 that would restrict abortion laws .
The public response to the proposed laws provide an insight into the realities of life in the Soviet Union .
Among the many objections to possible restrictions on abortion were found those such as “ we all want to be working women , ” and that “ shortages in nurseries , kindergartens , dining halls , housing and equipment ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A so-called “ research worker ” commented that “ the tribe of ‘ housewives ’ is dying out and should … become extinct.
” Nevertheless , under Stalin in 1936 , abortions were widely forbidden once more .
In the accompanying document to the legislation , the state wrote that “ Nowhere … did woman , as a mother and citizen who bore the great and responsible duty of giving birth and bringing up citizens , enjoy such respect and protection as in the U.S.S.R. ” The note went further to claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that exploitation of man by man does not exist , woman is an equal member of society … and it is seriously possible to organise the struggle against abortions by prohibitive laws as well as by other means.
” Any “ underground ” abortions were attributed to “ a remnant of capitalistic consciousness among the less enlightened members of society.
” Abortion was not completely forbidden , for the law stipulated that it would be permitted “ when the continuation of pregnancy endanger the life or threatens serious injury to the health of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious disease of the parents can be inherited.
” In such situations , abortion was allowed , provided it was “ under hospital and maternity home conditions.
” But in 1955 , the Societyviet Union performed a u-turn once more on its abortion laws , and on November 23 1955 , passed the decree “ The Repeal of the Prohibition of Abortions.
” The commentary with the decree said that due to “ the measures enacted by the Society state to encourage motherhood and protect infancy … cultural and social life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifting of the prohibition on abortions in the legal sense . '
” Continuing , the note said “ ( t ) he repeal of the prohibition on abortions will permit the limitation of the harm caused to the health of women by abortions carried out outside of hospitals.
” Hence , the new law abrogated the prohibitions enforced in 1936 , and permitted abortions to take place , providing they occurred in permitted institutions .
Dr. Field noted that as result of a private investigation , he had been informed that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roubles , married or unmarried , no questions asked.
” Field also observed that by February 1956 , there had been no publicity at all regarding the change in law .
A later report made in 1997 found that “ Abortion has long been the traditional method of family planning ( FP ) in Russia.
” Studies have indicated that Soviet officials did not publish their abortion statistics , but medical estimates place the figure between 6 million to 7 million each year from 1955 until the mid 1980s .
Russia currently has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a recent article re-published on LifeSiteNews , Father Richard Heilman commented on the 100- year anniversary of the first legalization of abortion in the world .
“ What if this opened a gigantic satanic portal , and the ticking clock of Satan ’ s 100-year unbinding started when Russia was the first to legalize abortion in 1920 ?
” suggested Fr .
Heilman .
“ Abortion is the worst genocide in human history , ” reminded Fr .
Heilman , “ this horror unto God all began just three years after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ‘ open this demonic portal ’ in 1920.
” “ Maybe this points to the “ errors of Russia ? ''
Maybe , because Russia opened the portal , this is why Russia was singled out for Consecration ?
”

Since November 1920, it's estimated that one billion babies has been aborted in the world.
MOSCOW, Russia, November 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Out of the many news headlines that have dominated the year 2020 so far, there is one somber event that is in danger of being forgotten: November 18, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the first-ever legalization of abortion.
Researchers estimate that legal abortion has resulted in about one billion abortions worldwide in the past 100 years, making it what they call the “greatest genocide in history.”
On this date 100 years ago, Soviet Russia announced the legalization of abortion in order, according to the state explanation, to combat the growing numbers of women who were having adverse health effects as a result of illegal abortions.
In doing so, the country became the first in the world to legalize the killing of preborn children.
In contrast, a few months earlier, in July 1920, France had passed a law forbidding the sale or promotion of contraceptives.
Russia’s new ruling predated any other legalization of abortion in the world by more than a decade, for it was not until 1931 that Mexico legalized abortion in case of rape.
In an archived article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Dr. Mark Field presented a history of the legality of abortion in Russia, until his present day era of 1956.
The Soviet decree accompanying Russia’s 1920 legalization of abortion mentioned that the new law came about to do away with “underground” abortions in which “up to 50 percent of such women are infected in the course of the operation, and up to 4 percent of them die.”
Consequently, the 1920 decree allowed for abortions to occur for free, providing they were performed by a doctor. Among other conditions, the woman must remain in bed for three days after and then be rested for a further two weeks after the abortion. The NEJM records that doctors were supposed to “discourage a woman from abortion if there were no social, economic, or medical reasons for it.” In tandem with this “was the dissemination of birth-control information and contraceptives.”
In Moscow in 1922, there were 7,969 abortions and 35,320 births, giving a ratio of 22.56 abortions to births. By 1925, the number of abortions had risen to 18,071 and births numbered 57,537, giving a ratio of 31.41 abortions to births. The article noted that in 1926 abortion numbers had shot up to 31,986, but no figures on births are available.
Toward the end of the 1920s, living conditions became more cramped as “urban housing became extremely scarce, and families most often had to content themselves with one room, sharing bathing toilet and cooking facilities with other families in the same apartment.”
The social change was a natural effect of the Soviet regime, which “under Stalin’s direction, embarked on a massive program of industrialisation and collectivisation of agriculture.”
Combined with the fact that “more women were being drawn into the labor force”, Dr. Field states that “it is fairly safe to assume that the rate of abortions significantly increased above the figures of the twenties.”
1936 abortion prohibition
However, the rise in abortion swiftly led to “increased family instability,” which meant that children raised in such families “would hardly become the stable, hard-working and conscientious workers required for an industrial society,” and for the Society regime. Thus, new laws were proposed in 1936 that would restrict abortion laws.
The public response to the proposed laws provide an insight into the realities of life in the Soviet Union. Among the many objections to possible restrictions on abortion were found those such as “we all want to be working women,” and that “shortages in nurseries, kindergartens, dining halls, housing and equipment” made abortion a necessity of life.
A so-called “research worker” commented that “the tribe of ‘housewives’ is dying out and should … become extinct.”
Nevertheless, under Stalin in 1936, abortions were widely forbidden once more. In the accompanying document to the legislation, the state wrote that “Nowhere … did woman, as a mother and citizen who bore the great and responsible duty of giving birth and bringing up citizens, enjoy such respect and protection as in the U.S.S.R.”
The note went further to claim that “It is only under socialism … that exploitation of man by man does not exist, woman is an equal member of society … and it is seriously possible to organise the struggle against abortions by prohibitive laws as well as by other means.”
Any “underground” abortions were attributed to “a remnant of capitalistic consciousness among the less enlightened members of society.”
Abortion was not completely forbidden, for the law stipulated that it would be permitted “when the continuation of pregnancy endanger the life or threatens serious injury to the health of the pregnant women, and equally when a serious disease of the parents can be inherited.”
In such situations, abortion was allowed, provided it was “under hospital and maternity home conditions.”
1955 abortion permission
But in 1955, the Societyviet Union performed a u-turn once more on its abortion laws, and on November 23 1955, passed the decree “The Repeal of the Prohibition of Abortions.” The commentary with the decree said that due to “the measures enacted by the Society state to encourage motherhood and protect infancy … cultural and social life, permits ‘at the present time the lifting of the prohibition on abortions in the legal sense.'”
Continuing, the note said “(t)he repeal of the prohibition on abortions will permit the limitation of the harm caused to the health of women by abortions carried out outside of hospitals.”
Hence, the new law abrogated the prohibitions enforced in 1936, and permitted abortions to take place, providing they occurred in permitted institutions.
Dr. Field noted that as result of a private investigation, he had been informed that “the price for an abortion is 50 roubles, married or unmarried, no questions asked.”
Field also observed that by February 1956, there had been no publicity at all regarding the change in law.
A later report made in 1997 found that “Abortion has long been the traditional method of family planning (FP) in Russia.”
Studies have indicated that Soviet officials did not publish their abortion statistics, but medical estimates place the figure between 6 million to 7 million each year from 1955 until the mid 1980s.
Russia currently has around 412 abortions per 1,000 live births.
In a recent article re-published on LifeSiteNews, Father Richard Heilman commented on the 100-year anniversary of the first legalization of abortion in the world. “What if this opened a gigantic satanic portal, and the ticking clock of Satan’s 100-year unbinding started when Russia was the first to legalize abortion in 1920?” suggested Fr. Heilman.
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: Stand with Poland for defending the unborn and churches against leftist aggression! Show Petition Text 3555 have signed the petition. Let's get to 4000 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition Young Poles defending their church against pro-abortion aggression stemming from the decision of the country's Constitutional Court to protect the lives of sick unborn babies. Photo Credit: Polonia Christiana Since the Constitutional Court of Poland's decision on October 22nd to protect and vindicate the right to life of sick preborn children, leftist pro-abort feminists have been attacking churches, government officials and pro-lifers across Poland in a foul display of bloody-minded vulgarity. But, we STAND with Poland. And, we PRAY for Poland. Please WATCH this video which congratulates faithful Catholics in Poland for their pro-life example and for standing up to rioters trying to vandalize statues, churches. We now call on all pro-lifers, faithful Christians (especially in the Polish diaspora) and pro-life organizations to SIGN this petition to encourage pro-lifers in Poland, the Polish Constitutional Court, and especially the Polish Government to remain steadfastly pro-life right now. And we call on all faithful Polish Catholics to defend their churches and patriotic monuments! This is the time to keep faith with generations of Polish heroes and "Be not afraid!" This is not the time for the Government to give-in to demands from the opposition. Stand up against the people who are attacking your churches while baying for the blood of innocent preborn children! And, explain to your people how the Court was RIGHT to have challenged the abortion law allowing the barbaric practice of eugenic abortion. Poland is a republican democracy, and in such a democracy, the Constitutional Court has the last say on matters of national importance. The Polish Court has spoken, and its ruling should be respected and implemented. And, under no circumstances should the Polish Government promise to reverse this decision in law or by granting a referendum on the same. Poland, be courageous and stand fast for Life. Don't give in to the Culture of Death! Thank you for your example, Poland. Now, remain strong! And, thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this petition of support and solidarity with the Constitutional Court of Poland's decision to disallow eugenic abortion. Thank you also for standing with and praying for Polish pro-lifers and government officials to remain steadfastly pro-life during time of leftist, pro-abortion aggression. After you sign and share, could you also take the time to congratulate the Polish pro-life movement for their historic victory in defense of human life, and to offer emotional and spiritual support? Please contact: The Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture Jerzy Kwaśniewski, Esq., President
Zielna 39
00-108 Warszawa
Poland
Tel: +48 22 404 38 50
Fax +48 22 127 91 25
[email protected] AND Fundacja Pro-Prawo do Życia ul. J. I. Kraszewskiego 27/22 05-800 Pruszków
Poland
Tel: +48 608 594 158
[email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'Poland bans eugenic abortion, possibly saving over 1K babies per year' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/poland-bans-eugenic-abortion-possibly-saving-over-1k-babies-per-year Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
“Abortion is the worst genocide in human history,” reminded Fr. Heilman, “this horror unto God all began just three years after Fatima, as Russia was the first to ‘open this demonic portal’ in 1920.”
“Maybe this points to the ‘errors of Russia?’ Maybe, because Russia opened the portal, this is why Russia was singled out for Consecration?”
Share