lifesitenews--2020-02-19--Canada is sinking into totalitarianism. The evidence is overwhelming

February 18 , 2020 ( American Thinker ) — To describe Canada as a totalitarian state-in-progress sounds like a gross and indeed absurd exaggeration .
Yet many premonitory signs are present .
In the words of political philosopher William Gairdner , author of The Book of Absolutes , The Great Divide , and The Trouble with Canada , Canada “ has just crossed the red line between soft-socialism and soft-totalitarianism.
” Gairdner has assembled a virtual mountain of evidence for his claim : Bill C-25 seeking to impose “ diversity ” on all corporations ; financial penalties against organizations that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a teeming brigade of government surveillance “ inspectors ” — that is , spies : wage spies , speech spies , feminist spies , pay equity spies , Human Rights spies ; paralegal bodies known as Human Rights Tribunals with the power to levy crippling fines , bankrupt families , and shut down businesses , impose prison time for contempt of court , and compel conformity via “ re-education.
” The list goes on .
Bill C-16 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression , which sounds unexceptionable except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is in the eye of the offended beholder and the government enforcer .
The bill effectively mandates that citizens address others by their preferred pronouns and transgender fantasies — or else !
It ’ s “ zir , ” “ ze , ” “ zem , ” or “ zeir , ” or you ’ re done for .
It ’ s Emily , not Brian , or your job ’ s in peril .
The Ontario Human Rights Code stipulates that “ refusing to refer to a trans person by their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matches their gender identity ... will likely be discrimination ” in social areas like employment , housing , education , and so on .
As Queen ’ s University law professor Bruce Pardy writes , “ human rights have become a weapon to normalize social justice values and delegitimize competing beliefs.
” There are other laws on the books , bills such as C-59 , C-75 , and C-76 , that reduce and even criminalize freedom of expression , infringe on privacy rights , compromise due process , and render government transparency a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against normalcy , common sense , civil rights , and charter freedoms gives no indication of relenting .
Bill S-202 , an act to amend the Criminal Code now before Parliament , would outlaw what the government misleadingly calls “ Conversion Therapy ” — that is , by criminalizing parents , lawyers , physicians , and church leaders who object to state-compelled hormone-drugging and genital mutilation procedures , the bill would effectively prevent minor children undergoing forced transgender operations , surgical and hormonal , from receiving the help they need .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” write the editors of Action4Canada , “ is pure evil and in violation of ... the Charter of Rights and Freedoms , the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , as well as a physician ’ s ethical commitment promising to ‘ First , do no harm.
’ ” In an article for the National Post , columnist Rex Murphy , one of that rare breed of truth-telling Canadian journalists , writes : “ This government , or the agencies of this government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authority of the law.
” Among other instances of official malfeasance , Murphy skewers the Liberal government ’ s fraudulent case against Rebel News founder Ezra Levant for publishing and promoting a book critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , The Librano $ , during the October 2019 election without “ registering ” the book with a government agency .
“ Can anybody name any other book , ever , ” Murphy asks , “ which has been the subject of an investigation by the Commissioner of Canada elections ?
... Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists , take up the banner for Mr. Levant ?
” Rhetorical questions , obviously .
As of this writing , new developments have come to the fore .
Not satisfied with relying on the misapplication of electoral law or conducting dodgy prosecutorial attacks on individuals whom the party wishes to intimidate , silence , or arrest , Trudeau ’ s Liberals are considering a motion requiring all news content–creators to procure a government license for approved content , thus controlling public access to information .
“ These are autocrats that Canada has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Language Fairness Gordon Miller ( personal communication ) .
“ Now we will pay the price.
” Not content with such despotic measures , the CRTC ( Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission ) proposes to identify news sites that are “ accurate , trusted , and reliable ” with the intent to enhance the “ diversity of voices.
” Truth be told , there are precious few “ accurate , trusted , and reliable ” news sites in Canada .
As in the U.S. , they are almost all parabellum outfits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreover , we know that emphasizing “ diversity of voices ” is equivalent to the imposition of the grievance-driven identity-group and social justice model on public broadcasting while constraining factual reporting and bridling the dissemination of genuine news .
It is , in effect , tantamount to a government monopoly on information , which , as Conservative shadow minister for industry and economic development Michele Rempel Garner rightly warns , “ puts us in league with countries that control the media.
” That the warning comes from a Conservative M.P .
who , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has embraced many of the Liberals ’ woke policies and progressivist attitudes shows how far gone we are .
Indeed , the contagion has spread throughout the House .
All of Canada ’ s political parties signed on to Bill C-76 , which received royal assent in December 2018 and imposes further restrictions on third-party speech during extended election periods .
This is to be expected .
Every political party steers to the Left , including , as noted , the Conservatives , who are essentially Liberal Lite .
Trudeau is simply the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political virus infecting the country .
The treatment of Omar Khadr is another case in point .
A Canadian citizen and youngest son of an Al-Qaeda terrorist family who was detained at Guantanamo Bay for “ violations of the laws of war ” in Afghanistan , including killing American combat medic Christopher Speer , Khadr was repatriated to Canada and awarded a $ 10.5-million compensation settlement by Trudeau .
Although the issue is clouded and precise information is difficult to find , it appears likely that he remains on a no-fly list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first class to keynote a panel discussion at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia .
The beleaguered Levant confronted him with a series of questions — was he aware of a no-fly list ?
Did he donate a portion of his cash windfall to the widow of Dr. Speer ?
( Levant did not mention that Khadr has purchased a strip mall in Edmonton for a substantial portion of his payout . )
Khadr is regarded as a Canadian hero who suffered at the hands of the dastardly Americans , while Levant is nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no surprise to see Levant grilled by four policemen and unceremoniously escorted from the airport .
They got the wrong guy , as the expression has it , but that ’ s how things happen in a nascent police state .
Canadian combat veteran Jeremy MacKenzie , who attended the event — or tried to — was livid with righteous fury , recalling his buddies who gave their lives in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban and the likes of the extended Khadr family .
Responding to Trudeau ’ s excuse in reference to military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking for more than the federal government can afford , ” MacKenzie fumes that , that notwithstanding , “ we will make Omar Khadr , the Taliban terrorist , a multi-millionaire.
” Canada , he proclaims , “ is not the country that I signed up to fight for and it is certainly not the country that those men and women died for.
” Like Levant , he was escorted from the premises — an analogy for the dwindling remnant of patriotic Canadians being escorted from their country .
These are developments that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details .
They add up .
As Gairdner points out , soft totalitarianism is a considerable way from hard totalitarianism .
“ But it all starts somewhere , and this week , the road got shorter.
” There is a sort of political Martini curve at work as Canada races to keep up with the Leftist conformity of the modern international elite .
Regrettably , Canada has no Donald Trump or Viktor Orbán or Boris Johnson on the current political horizon .
Nor is there a term limit on the office of prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troll and ideological jamoke like Justin Trudeau may be in power for years to come .
The one party that promised a return to social , political , and fiscal sanity , Maxime Bernier ’ s The People ’ s Party of Canada , was deep-sixed by the media and wiped out at the polls .
That tells us all we need to know .
To say it can ’ t happen here — the title of Sinclair Lewis ’ s 1935 novel , though he targeted the wrong constituency — is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical awareness .
One does not have to think back to the demise of the Weimar Republic in Germany .
A mere glance at the European Union ’ s unelected , bureaucratic authoritarianism , or a recognition of what the Democrat Party is demonstrably planning for the United States , should awaken us to the danger .
To be awakened , we might remark , is the opposite of being woke .
Canada stands as a vivid illustration of what would be in store for the U.S. under a Democrat administration .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening right now , right here , in Canada .
David Solway ’ s latest book is Notes from a Derelict Culture , Black House Publishing , 2019 , London .
A CD of his original songs , Partial to Cain , appeared in 2019 .
Published with permission from the American Thinker .

February 18, 2020 (American Thinker) — To describe Canada as a totalitarian state-in-progress sounds like a gross and indeed absurd exaggeration. Yet many premonitory signs are present. In the words of political philosopher William Gairdner, author of The Book of Absolutes, The Great Divide, and The Trouble with Canada, Canada “has just crossed the red line between soft-socialism and soft-totalitarianism.”
Gairdner has assembled a virtual mountain of evidence for his claim: Bill C-25 seeking to impose “diversity” on all corporations; financial penalties against organizations that do not comply with government programs; a teeming brigade of government surveillance “inspectors” — that is, spies: wage spies, speech spies, feminist spies, pay equity spies, Human Rights spies; paralegal bodies known as Human Rights Tribunals with the power to levy crippling fines, bankrupt families, and shut down businesses, impose prison time for contempt of court, and compel conformity via “re-education.”
The list goes on. Bill C-16 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression, which sounds unexceptionable except for the obvious fact that “discrimination” is in the eye of the offended beholder and the government enforcer. The bill effectively mandates that citizens address others by their preferred pronouns and transgender fantasies — or else! It’s “zir,” “ze,” “zem,” or “zeir,” or you’re done for. It’s Emily, not Brian, or your job’s in peril. The Ontario Human Rights Code stipulates that “refusing to refer to a trans person by their chosen name and a personal pronoun that matches their gender identity … will likely be discrimination” in social areas like employment, housing, education, and so on. As Queen’s University law professor Bruce Pardy writes, “human rights have become a weapon to normalize social justice values and delegitimize competing beliefs.” There are other laws on the books, bills such as C-59, C-75, and C-76, that reduce and even criminalize freedom of expression, infringe on privacy rights, compromise due process, and render government transparency a thing of the past.
The assault against normalcy, common sense, civil rights, and charter freedoms gives no indication of relenting. Bill S-202, an act to amend the Criminal Code now before Parliament, would outlaw what the government misleadingly calls “Conversion Therapy” — that is, by criminalizing parents, lawyers, physicians, and church leaders who object to state-compelled hormone-drugging and genital mutilation procedures, the bill would effectively prevent minor children undergoing forced transgender operations, surgical and hormonal, from receiving the help they need. “This whole agenda to sterilize and mutilate children,” write the editors of Action4Canada, “is pure evil and in violation of … the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as a physician’s ethical commitment promising to ‘First, do no harm.’”
In an article for the National Post, columnist Rex Murphy, one of that rare breed of truth-telling Canadian journalists, writes: “This government, or the agencies of this government, are establishing a pattern of misusing the authority of the law.” Among other instances of official malfeasance, Murphy skewers the Liberal government’s fraudulent case against Rebel News founder Ezra Levant for publishing and promoting a book critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, The Librano$, during the October 2019 election without “registering” the book with a government agency. “Can anybody name any other book, ever,” Murphy asks, “which has been the subject of an investigation by the Commissioner of Canada elections? … Will PEN Canada, defender of authors and journalists, take up the banner for Mr. Levant?” Rhetorical questions, obviously.
As of this writing, new developments have come to the fore. Not satisfied with relying on the misapplication of electoral law or conducting dodgy prosecutorial attacks on individuals whom the party wishes to intimidate, silence, or arrest, Trudeau’s Liberals are considering a motion requiring all news content–creators to procure a government license for approved content, thus controlling public access to information. “These are autocrats that Canada has empowered,” writes spokesman for Canadians for Language Fairness Gordon Miller (personal communication). “Now we will pay the price.”
Not content with such despotic measures, the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) proposes to identify news sites that are “accurate, trusted, and reliable” with the intent to enhance the “diversity of voices.” Truth be told, there are precious few “accurate, trusted, and reliable” news sites in Canada. As in the U.S., they are almost all parabellum outfits, taking dead aim at honest reporting. Moreover, we know that emphasizing “diversity of voices” is equivalent to the imposition of the grievance-driven identity-group and social justice model on public broadcasting while constraining factual reporting and bridling the dissemination of genuine news. It is, in effect, tantamount to a government monopoly on information, which, as Conservative shadow minister for industry and economic development Michele Rempel Garner rightly warns, “puts us in league with countries that control the media.”
That the warning comes from a Conservative M.P. who, like the majority of her colleagues, has embraced many of the Liberals’ woke policies and progressivist attitudes shows how far gone we are. Indeed, the contagion has spread throughout the House. All of Canada’s political parties signed on to Bill C-76, which received royal assent in December 2018 and imposes further restrictions on third-party speech during extended election periods. This is to be expected. Every political party steers to the Left, including, as noted, the Conservatives, who are essentially Liberal Lite. Trudeau is simply the most visible embodiment and effective bellwether of the political virus infecting the country.
The treatment of Omar Khadr is another case in point. A Canadian citizen and youngest son of an Al-Qaeda terrorist family who was detained at Guantanamo Bay for “violations of the laws of war” in Afghanistan, including killing American combat medic Christopher Speer, Khadr was repatriated to Canada and awarded a $10.5-million compensation settlement by Trudeau. Although the issue is clouded and precise information is difficult to find, it appears likely that he remains on a no-fly list. No matter: Khadr recently flew first class to keynote a panel discussion at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.
The beleaguered Levant confronted him with a series of questions — was he aware of a no-fly list? Did he donate a portion of his cash windfall to the widow of Dr. Speer? (Levant did not mention that Khadr has purchased a strip mall in Edmonton for a substantial portion of his payout.) Khadr is regarded as a Canadian hero who suffered at the hands of the dastardly Americans, while Levant is nothing but a gadfly, so it was no surprise to see Levant grilled by four policemen and unceremoniously escorted from the airport. They got the wrong guy, as the expression has it, but that’s how things happen in a nascent police state.
Canadian combat veteran Jeremy MacKenzie, who attended the event — or tried to — was livid with righteous fury, recalling his buddies who gave their lives in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban and the likes of the extended Khadr family. Responding to Trudeau’s excuse in reference to military veterans’ pensions that veterans “are asking for more than the federal government can afford,” MacKenzie fumes that, that notwithstanding, “we will make Omar Khadr, the Taliban terrorist, a multi-millionaire.” Canada, he proclaims, “is not the country that I signed up to fight for and it is certainly not the country that those men and women died for.” Like Levant, he was escorted from the premises — an analogy for the dwindling remnant of patriotic Canadians being escorted from their country.
These are developments that should not be dismissed as mere desultory details. They add up. As Gairdner points out, soft totalitarianism is a considerable way from hard totalitarianism. “But it all starts somewhere, and this week, the road got shorter.” There is a sort of political Martini curve at work as Canada races to keep up with the Leftist conformity of the modern international elite. Regrettably, Canada has no Donald Trump or Viktor Orbán or Boris Johnson on the current political horizon. Nor is there a term limit on the office of prime minister, which suggests that a socialist troll and ideological jamoke like Justin Trudeau may be in power for years to come. The one party that promised a return to social, political, and fiscal sanity, Maxime Bernier’s The People’s Party of Canada, was deep-sixed by the media and wiped out at the polls. That tells us all we need to know.
To say it can’t happen here — the title of Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel, though he targeted the wrong constituency — is an expression of overweening confidence and lack of historical awareness. One does not have to think back to the demise of the Weimar Republic in Germany. A mere glance at the European Union’s unelected, bureaucratic authoritarianism, or a recognition of what the Democrat Party is demonstrably planning for the United States, should awaken us to the danger. To be awakened, we might remark, is the opposite of being woke. Canada stands as a vivid illustration of what would be in store for the U.S. under a Democrat administration.
It can happen here, and it is happening right now, right here, in Canada.
David Solway’s latest book is Notes from a Derelict Culture, Black House Publishing, 2019, London. A CD of his original songs, Partial to Cain, appeared in 2019.
Published with permission from the American Thinker.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-19--Catholic university opens up ‘LGBT rights’ center, touts ‘Jesuit underpinnings&#82

Catholic university opens up ‘LGBT rights’ center, touts ‘Jesuit underpinnings’

February 18 , 2020 ( Joseph Sciambra ) — On February 14 , 2020 , Gonzaga University opened its new Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic on its Spokane , WA , campus .
According Jacob Rooksby , dean at Gonzaga ’ s School of Law : “ Gonzaga Law School is one of only a handful of institutions of higher education across the nation to launch this kind of initiative.
” From a press release announcing the opening of the LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic : Gonzaga will join law schools at universities such as Harvard , Cornell , Emory , and UCLA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all of which are focused on outreach and promoting reforms that support those who are marginalized and underserved because of their gender identity or expression .
Jason Gillmer , professor and director of Gonzaga ’ s Center for Civil and Human Rights , said : “ The Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic provides a special opportunity for Gonzaga law students to help protect and advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community , both regionally and nationally.
” He continued : “ Through the Center , the clinic will also provide students and faculty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussions about LGBTQ+ rights as we continue to strive for equality.
” The Clinic received a “ significant donation ” from Gonzaga alumnus Joe Lincoln — who also serves as a Regent of the University ; Lincoln also donated $ 100,000 towards Gonzaga ’ s LGBT Center called the Lincoln LGBT Center — the first such center at a Jesuit university .
In 2016 , the Center hosted a drag show , attended by professor of philosophy Fr .
Timothy Clancy , in honor of “ pride ” week .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gonzaga ’ s queer people and queer persons of color to know that your LGBTQ+ resource center is a place you can relax with people who will not only accept you , but also do what we can to help you develop holistically throughout your time at Gonzaga , in the spirit of our university ’ s Jesuit underpinnings .
Several other Jesuit universities in the U.S. have a history of LGBT advocacy ; they include : The University of San Francisco , Fordham , Seattle University , Creighton University , and Georgetown @

February 18, 2020 (Joseph Sciambra) — On February 14, 2020, Gonzaga University opened its new Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic on its Spokane, WA, campus. According Jacob Rooksby, dean at Gonzaga’s School of Law: “Gonzaga Law School is one of only a handful of institutions of higher education across the nation to launch this kind of initiative.”
From a press release announcing the opening of the LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic:
Gonzaga will join law schools at universities such as Harvard, Cornell, Emory, and UCLA in the development of an LGBTQ+ clinic, all of which are focused on outreach and promoting reforms that support those who are marginalized and underserved because of their gender identity or expression.
Jason Gillmer, professor and director of Gonzaga’s Center for Civil and Human Rights, said:
“The Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic provides a special opportunity for Gonzaga law students to help protect and advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, both regionally and nationally.” He continued: “Through the Center, the clinic will also provide students and faculty with opportunities to engage in broader policy discussions about LGBTQ+ rights as we continue to strive for equality.”
The Clinic received a “significant donation” from Gonzaga alumnus Joe Lincoln — who also serves as a Regent of the University; Lincoln also donated $100,000 towards Gonzaga’s LGBT Center called the Lincoln LGBT Center — the first such center at a Jesuit university. In 2016, the Center hosted a drag show, attended by professor of philosophy Fr. Timothy Clancy, in honor of “pride” week.
According to the Center’s web-page:
We want Gonzaga’s queer people and queer persons of color to know that your LGBTQ+ resource center is a place you can relax with people who will not only accept you, but also do what we can to help you develop holistically throughout your time at Gonzaga, in the spirit of our university’s Jesuit underpinnings.
Several other Jesuit universities in the U.S. have a history of LGBT advocacy; they include: The University of San Francisco, Fordham, Seattle University, Creighton University, and Georgetown.
Published with permission from Joseph Sciambra.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-19--Persecution of Christians increasing around the world, and getting uglier

February 18 , 2020 ( FRC Action ) — `` We will cut you .
We will kill you .
We will do anything we want to you . ''
The threat , Arjun and Neha knew , was real .
Banished from the village well — the only source of water — the family left , carrying what they could hold .
They had just become Christians , and like a lot of places in India , the decision to follow Jesus was a dangerous one .
`` God did n't call me to a life of comfort , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But He does promise to walk with me . ''
Mohan points to a field of wheat .
`` I loved my village , '' he says .
`` It was my favorite place .
We worked the farm . ''
Then , one terrifying day , people broke down his door and destroyed everything in his home .
`` We made a small hut by the church and live there .
We have nothing . ''
For people watching from the West , the stories are more and more alarming .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent attacks against Christians in India is rising — and fast .
`` By all accounts , 2019 was a very difficult year for Christians living in India ... and 2020 promises to be as bad if not worse , '' Breitbart warns .
In the first quarter of 2019 , hate crimes and targeted violence against Christians in India [ jumped ] 57 percent . ''
More than 100 churches closed in 2018 alone , Aid to the Christians in Need ( ACN ) notes , either `` because of extremist attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meantime , Hindu radicals have sent some believers into hiding , while others — like Arjun and Neha — are determined to witness , no matter the price .
Horrifying photos have emerged of the victims — people like 68-year-old Lakhpati Devi , who was covered in bloody bandages after being beaten with an ax .
Pastors like Eswara Rao Appalabattula describe being surrounded by angry mobs , punched and whipped by poles until their hands are broken .
`` I was lying there on the floor screaming for help , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My wife came running and begged them to stop beating me — it was traumatic . ''
Other Christians say they live in constant fear , some even renouncing their faith to stop the abuse .
President Trump will have an opportunity to address the crisis when he meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in late February .
And it wo n't be a moment too soon .
Religious freedom conditions in India have been deteriorating , especially with the passage of the Citizenship ( Amendment ) Act ( CAA ) at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CAA , Muslims are almost entirely excluded from naturalizing to India , sparking a huge protest and deadly police crackdown in response .
`` Close to two million long-time residents ... may soon be deemed stateless , '' my fellow USCIRF commissioner , Anurima Bhargava , explained .
Just east , the Rohingya are n't faring much better .
More disturbing reports from Bangladesh confirm that attackers did beat , loot , and vandalize innocent people in the refugee camps .
A Christian school and church were destroyed , and the whereabouts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unknown .
`` No one can give me any clear information , '' the girl 's mother cries , `` but my relatives told me that my daughter has been forced to convert to Islam and marry . ''
As for her husband , the widespread concern is that he 's dead , killed by armed militants .
The news does n't get any brighter for Christians in Hong Kong either , where a hardline political chief is about to replace Zhang Xiaoming .
Xia Baolong , a fierce ally of the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reins in a city roiled by democratic protests .
For men and women of faith , `` If the central authorities want a crackdown , he would not spare any efforts , '' a divinity professor warns .
`` This would definitely have an impact on Hong Kong 's civil society . ''
Baolong , `` who is known for removing hundreds of crosses from churches , '' will be an enemy of religious freedom at a time when the region desperately needs a champion .
According to the Christian Post , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not named due to security concerns , told the U.S.-based group International Christian Concern , 'This shift [ from Zhang to Xia ] is not a good situation .
It is possible that Xia will oppress the churches in Hong Kong . '
'' The situation is a powder keg — not just in Hong Kong , but India and Myanmar as well .
Join me in praying that the Lord would use the United States to bring hope and help to our brothers and sisters in dark places .
`` He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footsteps , '' Arjun says humbly .
Thousands of miles away , may we follow those footsteps to our knees .

February 18, 2020 (FRC Action) — “We will cut you. We will kill you. We will do anything we want to you.” The threat, Arjun and Neha knew, was real. Banished from the village well — the only source of water — the family left, carrying what they could hold. They had just become Christians, and like a lot of places in India, the decision to follow Jesus was a dangerous one. “God didn't call me to a life of comfort,” one of the persecuted said. “But He does promise to walk with me.”
Mohan points to a field of wheat. “I loved my village,” he says. “It was my favorite place. We worked the farm.” Then, one terrifying day, people broke down his door and destroyed everything in his home. “We made a small hut by the church and live there. We have nothing.” For people watching from the West, the stories are more and more alarming. New reports show a record number of violent attacks against Christians in India is rising — and fast.
“By all accounts, 2019 was a very difficult year for Christians living in India… and 2020 promises to be as bad if not worse,” Breitbart warns. In the first quarter of 2019, hate crimes and targeted violence against Christians in India [jumped] 57 percent.” More than 100 churches closed in 2018 alone, Aid to the Christians in Need (ACN) notes, either “because of extremist attacks or intervention by authorities.” In the meantime, Hindu radicals have sent some believers into hiding, while others — like Arjun and Neha — are determined to witness, no matter the price.
Horrifying photos have emerged of the victims — people like 68-year-old Lakhpati Devi, who was covered in bloody bandages after being beaten with an ax. Pastors like Eswara Rao Appalabattula describe being surrounded by angry mobs, punched and whipped by poles until their hands are broken. “I was lying there on the floor screaming for help,” Appalabattula told Morning Star News. “My wife came running and begged them to stop beating me — it was traumatic.” Other Christians say they live in constant fear, some even renouncing their faith to stop the abuse.
President Trump will have an opportunity to address the crisis when he meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in late February. And it won't be a moment too soon. Religious freedom conditions in India have been deteriorating, especially with the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) at the end of last year. Under the CAA, Muslims are almost entirely excluded from naturalizing to India, sparking a huge protest and deadly police crackdown in response. “Close to two million long-time residents… may soon be deemed stateless,” my fellow USCIRF commissioner, Anurima Bhargava, explained.
Just east, the Rohingya aren't faring much better. More disturbing reports from Bangladesh confirm that attackers did beat, loot, and vandalize innocent people in the refugee camps. A Christian school and church were destroyed, and the whereabouts of a father and 14-year-old daughter are still unknown. “No one can give me any clear information,” the girl's mother cries, “but my relatives told me that my daughter has been forced to convert to Islam and marry.” As for her husband, the widespread concern is that he's dead, killed by armed militants.
The news doesn't get any brighter for Christians in Hong Kong either, where a hardline political chief is about to replace Zhang Xiaoming. Xia Baolong, a fierce ally of the Chinese president, is set to take the reins in a city roiled by democratic protests. For men and women of faith, “If the central authorities want a crackdown, he would not spare any efforts,” a divinity professor warns. “This would definitely have an impact on Hong Kong's civil society.”
Baolong, “who is known for removing hundreds of crosses from churches,” will be an enemy of religious freedom at a time when the region desperately needs a champion. According to the Christian Post, “A pastor in Zhejiang, who was not named due to security concerns, told the U.S.-based group International Christian Concern, 'This shift [from Zhang to Xia] is not a good situation. It is possible that Xia will oppress the churches in Hong Kong.'”
The situation is a powder keg — not just in Hong Kong, but India and Myanmar as well. Join me in praying that the Lord would use the United States to bring hope and help to our brothers and sisters in dark places. “He is simply asking us to follow in His footsteps,” Arjun says humbly. Thousands of miles away, may we follow those footsteps to our knees.
Published with permission from FRC Action.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-19--Mentally handicapped woman forced to have abortion after pregnancy from rape

February 18 , 2020 ( Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ) — SPUC has condemned the exploitation of a vulnerable woman with the mental capacity of a toddler who was forced to undergo an abortion after being raped by her carer in Leeds .
Margaret Akers , SPUC Campaign Research Officer said : “ A woman understood to have the mental capacity of a toddler can not consent to sex and therefore can not consent to abortion .
This vulnerable woman should never have been placed in this situation.
”  The victim , who can not communicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edson Munyikwa when he raped her .
 A blood sample taken after a missed period revealed that the victim was three months pregnant .
Despite being unable to communicate , the victim was made to undergo a surgical abortion .
Munyikwa was identified as the biological father following a DNA test from a police investigation launched to trace any men who had been in contact with the victim .
Munyikwa pleaded guilty to rape at Leeds Crown Court and will serve a custodial term of 12 years followed by an extended three-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a tragic case in which we have witnessed a double violation of a very vulnerable woman with severe learning disability .
The pregnancy revealed the horrifying truth of the rape , but it is very troubling that authorities see forced abortion as an acceptable solution , compounding the violence against her.
” The United Kingdom has seen a number of forced abortion cases involving vulnerable women in recent years .
 In October 2019 , a Court of Protection judge ruled that doctors were to perform a surgical abortion on a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medics were given permission to physically restrain the vulnerable woman , if necessary , in order to administer a general anaesthetic and perform the abortion .
 Similarly , in 2019 , SPUC reported on how a judge ordered an abortion to be forcibly carried out on a 22-week pregnant woman with learning difficulties .
Following mass public outrage , the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal and the baby was born in October 2019 .
Published with permission from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children .

The woman, who has the mental capacity of a toddler, was forced to undergo an abortion after being raped by her carer.
February 18, 2020 (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) — SPUC has condemned the exploitation of a vulnerable woman with the mental capacity of a toddler who was forced to undergo an abortion after being raped by her carer in Leeds. Margaret Akers, SPUC Campaign Research Officer said: “A woman understood to have the mental capacity of a toddler cannot consent to sex and therefore cannot consent to abortion. This vulnerable woman should never have been placed in this situation.”
The victim, who cannot communicate verbally, was being cared for by Edson Munyikwa when he raped her.
A blood sample taken after a missed period revealed that the victim was three months pregnant. Despite being unable to communicate, the victim was made to undergo a surgical abortion.
Munyikwa was identified as the biological father following a DNA test from a police investigation launched to trace any men who had been in contact with the victim. Munyikwa pleaded guilty to rape at Leeds Crown Court and will serve a custodial term of 12 years followed by an extended three-year period.
Mrs Akers said: “This is a tragic case in which we have witnessed a double violation of a very vulnerable woman with severe learning disability. The pregnancy revealed the horrifying truth of the rape, but it is very troubling that authorities see forced abortion as an acceptable solution, compounding the violence against her.”
UK forced abortion on the rise
The United Kingdom has seen a number of forced abortion cases involving vulnerable women in recent years.
In October 2019, a Court of Protection judge ruled that doctors were to perform a surgical abortion on a woman with learning difficulties without her consent. Medics were given permission to physically restrain the vulnerable woman, if necessary, in order to administer a general anaesthetic and perform the abortion.
Similarly, in 2019, SPUC reported on how a judge ordered an abortion to be forcibly carried out on a 22-week pregnant woman with learning difficulties. Following mass public outrage, the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal and the baby was born in October 2019.
Published with permission from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-19--Faithful Catholics are condemned for being too rigid. They should wear the label proudly

February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The readings at the Mass I attended this past Sunday , February 16 , 2020 , which focused on keeping the commandments , led me to contemplate : “ What does it mean to be too rigid ?
” It is clear that for our Lord and His disciples , keeping the commandments was not an option ; it was required for anyone who claimed to love God and sought to avoid Hell ( Sir .
15:15–20 ; Ps .
119 ; 1 Cor .
2:6-10 ; Matt .
5:17–37 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent years that conservative Catholics , including those who attend the Latin Mass , are “ too rigid.
” It has been reported that masculine and devout men who attended seminaries in years past , and who complained about the prevalence of homosexual practices there were also accused of being “ too rigid ” and were therefore asked to leave .
It appears that for the liberals in the Church , “ rigidity ” is synonymous with orthodoxy .
Therefore , anyone who advocates for strict adherence to Catholic doctrine , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ too rigid.
” Yet Our Lord , who said in recent Mass readings that a man who even looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery with her in his heart — went beyond the strict dictates of the law .
That would obviously make Him “ too rigid ” by the standards of modern liberal morality .
Of course , while keeping faithful to the law , our Lord never elevated form over substance .
So he had no problem healing people on the Sabbath .
But that is because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to honor the Sabbath to interpret it to prohibit acts of charity .
Therefore , when liberals in the Church seek to misuse the manifest mercy of Christ as an excuse for their moral laxity , they are undermining His commandments .
Our Lord said that “ if you love me you will keep my commandments ” ( Jn .
14:15 ) .
So where does that leave those like Fr .
James Martin who advocate to change the teachings of the Church with respect to homosexuality ?
And what do our Lord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Gehenna in the Gospel say about those who question whether anyone goes to Hell , if Hell exists at all ?
How can they square those beliefs with the teachings of Jesus and his disciplines ?
The answer is that they can not .
Liberal clerics have abdicated the moral authority of their office by rejecting the magisterial teachings of the Church that it is their job to honor .
They have sought to replace fidelity to the commandments with a false fidelity to “ social justice ” issues like climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even downplayed the pre-eminent importance of human life itself and the intrinsic evils of abortion and same-sex “ marriage.
” Issues like climate change are merely a smokescreen for liberal Catholics who are shills for the Democratic party — the party of death and sexual anarchy .
These turncoat Catholics have aligned themselves with the political party that categorically rejects the sanctity of pre-born life and the institution of marriage as ordained by God the Father and proclaimed by His Son , Our Lord Jesus Christ .
The cultural elites of all stripes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to downplay , and even deny , the existence of God Himself .
But that does not stop the liberal Catholics in the Church hierarchy from embracing their anti-Christian-socialist-globalist agenda .
They are not “ rigid ” because they reject God and His commandments .
Those of us who love God and His commandments are proud to consider ourselves “ rigid , ” especially since , by the depraved standards of liberal Catholics , so would have been our Lord and His disciples .
Charles LiMandri is the chief counsel of the Freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which specializes in religious liberty cases .
He is double–board certified in pre-trial practice and trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy , and he is admitted to practice law in California ; in New York ; in Washington , D.C. ; and before the United States Supreme Court .
The FCDF website is www.FCDFlegal.org .

February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The readings at the Mass I attended this past Sunday, February 16, 2020, which focused on keeping the commandments, led me to contemplate: “What does it mean to be too rigid?” It is clear that for our Lord and His disciples, keeping the commandments was not an option; it was required for anyone who claimed to love God and sought to avoid Hell (Sir. 15:15–20; Ps. 119; 1 Cor. 2:6-10; Matt. 5:17–37).
Yet we have heard all too often in recent years that conservative Catholics, including those who attend the Latin Mass, are “too rigid.” It has been reported that masculine and devout men who attended seminaries in years past,and who complained about the prevalence of homosexual practices there were also accused of being “too rigid” and were therefore asked to leave.
It appears that for the liberals in the Church, “rigidity” is synonymous with orthodoxy. Therefore, anyone who advocates for strict adherence to Catholic doctrine, particularly on matters of sexual morality, is “too rigid.” Yet Our Lord, who said in recent Mass readings that a man who even looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery with her in his heart — went beyond the strict dictates of the law. That would obviously make Him “too rigid” by the standards of modern liberal morality.
Of course, while keeping faithful to the law, our Lord never elevated form over substance. So he had no problem healing people on the Sabbath. But that is because it was always a distortion of the commandment to honor the Sabbath to interpret it to prohibit acts of charity. Therefore, when liberals in the Church seek to misuse the manifest mercy of Christ as an excuse for their moral laxity, they are undermining His commandments.
Our Lord said that “if you love me you will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). So where does that leave those like Fr. James Martin who advocate to change the teachings of the Church with respect to homosexuality? And what do our Lord’s statements about the harsh reality of Gehenna in the Gospel say about those who question whether anyone goes to Hell, if Hell exists at all? How can they square those beliefs with the teachings of Jesus and his disciplines? The answer is that they cannot.
Liberal clerics have abdicated the moral authority of their office by rejecting the magisterial teachings of the Church that it is their job to honor. They have sought to replace fidelity to the commandments with a false fidelity to “social justice” issues like climate change. In doing so, they have even downplayed the pre-eminent importance of human life itself and the intrinsic evils of abortion and same-sex “marriage.”
Issues like climate change are merely a smokescreen for liberal Catholics who are shills for the Democratic party — the party of death and sexual anarchy. These turncoat Catholics have aligned themselves with the political party that categorically rejects the sanctity of pre-born life and the institution of marriage as ordained by God the Father and proclaimed by His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The cultural elites of all stripes that support the Democratic Party have sought to downplay, and even deny, the existence of God Himself. But that does not stop the liberal Catholics in the Church hierarchy from embracing their anti-Christian-socialist-globalist agenda. They are not “rigid” because they reject God and His commandments. Those of us who love God and His commandments are proud to consider ourselves “rigid,” especially since, by the depraved standards of liberal Catholics, so would have been our Lord and His disciples.
Charles LiMandri is the chief counsel of the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund (FCDF), which specializes in religious liberty cases. He is double–board certified in pre-trial practice and trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and he is admitted to practice law in California; in New York; in Washington, D.C.; and before the United States Supreme Court. The FCDF website is www.FCDFlegal.org.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-19--Prominent Polish archbishop: European ‘gender’ charter threatens families, parental righ

Prominent Polish archbishop: European ‘gender’ charter threatens families, parental rights

POZNAŃ , Poland , February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A Polish archbishop has sounded the alarm over a gender “ equality ” charter adopted by a Polish city council .
Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki , who is both the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Poznań and the leader of the Polish bishops ’ conference , has published a statement warning Catholics that the “ European Charter for Equality of Men and Women in Local Life , ” adopted on February 11 by the Poznań City Council , threatens families .
“ In a spirit of responsibility for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people as well as care for the good of future generations and the flourishing of our region , I express my deep unease at the adoption of European Charter of Equality by the Poznań City Council , ” Gądecki wrote .
“ In the opinion of many Poznanian families , NGOs and experts , it interferes in a serious way with the constitutional right of parents to raise their children according to their beliefs , ” he continued .
“ New ideological meanings are given to such words as family , equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the family in the life of society and interfering in an erroneous manner in the area of human sexuality and its development.
” The metropolitan archbishop added that the statement is also an “ ideological interference ” in the development of businesses and could be a threat to economic freedom because it advocates promoting people for advancement for reasons other than their qualifications , which is not an effective practice in management .
“ This document ― apart from its worthy response to the question of inequality between women and men in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasion for the promotion of gender ideology , and Pope Francis recognizes this ideology as one of the chief manifestations of evil in the world today.
” Gądecki stated that it was also worrisome that the document , which will regulate the business of the entire city , was adopted with insufficient public consultation and without acknowledgment that thousands of Poznanians were opposed to it .
He asked for the prayers of the entire archdiocese for the city of Poznań and for those in power so that their actions “ do not lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truth.
” A Polish student from Poznań told LifeSiteNews that he agrees with Archbishop Gądecki .
“ I share his feelings and fears about the European Charter of Equality , a term that always reminds me of the French Revolution , which wanted to destroy the Church , ” Bartosz Skrzypczak , 19 , told LifeSiteNews .
“ Reading this statement of the European Union , I find it very dangerous , ” he continued .
“ The archbishop is right in saying that the document seriously interferes with the constitutional right of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their beliefs.
” But the Poznań native also said he was not surprised that the mayor of his city , Jacek Jaśkowiak , was “ more than happy ” to receive the document because of his record on LGBT issues .
“ He is famous , or rather infamous , for supporting the LGBT+ community , attending Pride marches , and his aversion to anything that the Church says or does , ” Skrzypczak said .
“ When he was invited to attend the Mass for the 1,050th anniversary of the establishment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t even respond saying he [ wasn ’ t ] coming .
He just ignored it.
” Mayor Jaśkowiak , known to his critics as “ Rainbow Jacek , ” replied to opponents of the adoption of the charter in Poznań by misappropriating a famous phrase of St. John Paul II .
“ Jaśkowiak quoted St. John Paul II ’ s famous words ‘ Nie lękajcie się ’ ― ‘ Do not fear ’ — and continued to speak about the importance of tolerance and equality of genders , ” the student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgotten what the pope-saint said later on in his speech ― ‘ Open your doors for Christ , ’ ” he continued .
“ Opening the doors of our city for this document is not opening the doors for Christ , but rather for the father of all lies , who is trying to destroy the traditional family through [ it ] .
” Like the archbishop , Skrzypczak recognized that the document does address one glaring inequality between men and women in Poland .
“ To be honest , in Poland there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexes in [ terms of ] salaries and pensions , ” the student said .
“ But the politicians forget about all the other things stated in the document , such as [ regarding ] the social roles of men and women.
” He continued , “ The document says that these are only a social construct and children can not be raised like that , there can not be anything that is only male or only female .
The European Charter of Equality is against even simple ideas like ‘ boys play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ because they are against the equality of genders.
” It stipulates that the “ [ s ] ignatory commits itself to counter and , so far as possible , prevent prejudices , practices and use of language and images which are based on the idea of the superiority or inferiority of either of the sexes , or on stereotyped roles for women and men.
” The Charter also orders that “ [ l ] ocal and regional authorities must promote the elimination of the stereotypes and obstacles upon which the inequalities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and which give rise to the unequal evaluation of the roles of women and men in political , economic , social and cultural terms .
”

The charter 'interferes in a serious way' with parents' right to raise their own children as they see fit, said Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki.
POZNAŃ, Poland, February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A Polish archbishop has sounded the alarm over a gender “equality” charter adopted by a Polish city council.
Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, who is both the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Poznań and the leader of the Polish bishops’ conference, has published a statement warning Catholics that the “European Charter for Equality of Men and Women in Local Life,” adopted on February 11 by the Poznań City Council, threatens families.
“In a spirit of responsibility for the safety of families, children, and young people as well as care for the good of future generations and the flourishing of our region, I express my deep unease at the adoption of European Charter of Equality by the Poznań City Council,” Gądecki wrote.
“In the opinion of many Poznanian families, NGOs and experts, it interferes in a serious way with the constitutional right of parents to raise their children according to their beliefs,” he continued.
“New ideological meanings are given to such words as family, equality and tolerance, questioning the fundamental role of the family in the life of society and interfering in an erroneous manner in the area of human sexuality and its development.”
The metropolitan archbishop added that the statement is also an “ideological interference” in the development of businesses and could be a threat to economic freedom because it advocates promoting people for advancement for reasons other than their qualifications, which is not an effective practice in management.
“This document ― apart from its worthy response to the question of inequality between women and men in public life ― in practice creates an occasion for the promotion of gender ideology, and Pope Francis recognizes this ideology as one of the chief manifestations of evil in the world today.”
Gądecki stated that it was also worrisome that the document, which will regulate the business of the entire city, was adopted with insufficient public consultation and without acknowledgment that thousands of Poznanians were opposed to it. He asked for the prayers of the entire archdiocese for the city of Poznań and for those in power so that their actions “do not lead to the questioning of God’s Truth.”
A Polish student from Poznań told LifeSiteNews that he agrees with Archbishop Gądecki.
“I share his feelings and fears about the European Charter of Equality, a term that always reminds me of the French Revolution, which wanted to destroy the Church,” Bartosz Skrzypczak, 19, told LifeSiteNews.
“Reading this statement of the European Union, I find it very dangerous,” he continued.
“The archbishop is right in saying that the document seriously interferes with the constitutional right of parents to raise their children according to their beliefs.”
But the Poznań native also said he was not surprised that the mayor of his city, Jacek Jaśkowiak, was “more than happy” to receive the document because of his record on LGBT issues.
“He is famous, or rather infamous, for supporting the LGBT+ community, attending Pride marches, and his aversion to anything that the Church says or does,” Skrzypczak said.
“When he was invited to attend the Mass for the 1,050th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Poznań, he didn’t even respond saying he [wasn’t] coming. He just ignored it.”
Mayor Jaśkowiak, known to his critics as “Rainbow Jacek,” replied to opponents of the adoption of the charter in Poznań by misappropriating a famous phrase of St. John Paul II.
“Jaśkowiak quoted St. John Paul II’s famous words ‘Nie lękajcie się’ ― ‘Do not fear’ — and continued to speak about the importance of tolerance and equality of genders,” the student recalled.
“But obviously he has forgotten what the pope-saint said later on in his speech ― ‘Open your doors for Christ,’” he continued.
“Opening the doors of our city for this document is not opening the doors for Christ, but rather for the father of all lies, who is trying to destroy the traditional family through [it].”
Like the archbishop, Skrzypczak recognized that the document does address one glaring inequality between men and women in Poland.
“To be honest, in Poland there is still a huge difference between the sexes in [terms of] salaries and pensions,” the student said. “But the politicians forget about all the other things stated in the document, such as [regarding] the social roles of men and women.”
He continued, “The document says that these are only a social construct and children cannot be raised like that, there cannot be anything that is only male or only female. The European Charter of Equality is against even simple ideas like ‘boys play with toy soldiers, girls with dolls’ because they are against the equality of genders.”
The Charter states:
Despite numerous instances of formal recognition and progress made, equality of women and men in daily life is still not a reality. Women and men do not enjoy the same rights in practice. Social, political, economic and cultural inequalities persist — for example, salary disparities and political under-representation. These inequalities are the results of social constructs built upon numerous stereotypes present in the family, education, culture, the media, the world of work, the organisation of society[.] … So many domains in which it is possible to act, adopting a new approach and making structural changes.
It stipulates that the “[s]ignatory commits itself to counter and, so far as possible, prevent prejudices, practices and use of language and images which are based on the idea of the superiority or inferiority of either of the sexes, or on stereotyped roles for women and men.”
The Charter also orders that “[l]ocal and regional authorities must promote the elimination of the stereotypes and obstacles upon which the inequalities in status and condition of women are based, and which give rise to the unequal evaluation of the roles of women and men in political, economic, social and cultural terms.”
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lifesitenews--2020-02-19--New Marvel superhero film to feature ‘beautiful,’ ‘moving’ homosexual kiss

February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The next superhero movie made by Marvel , called The Eternals , will feature a kiss between two men .
Actor Haaz Sleiman mentioned that it is important “ to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be.
” Sleiman , who came to the United States from Lebanon when he was 21 , boasted of the kiss between two men : “ It ’ s a beautiful , very moving kiss .
Everyone cried on set.
” “ I just shot a Marvel film with the first openly gay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m married to the gay superhero Phastos , played by Atlanta ’ s Brian Tyree Henry , and we represent a gay family and have a child , ” he explained .
In addition to playing a homosexual character , Sleiman identifies as a homosexual himself .
As LifeSiteNews reported last year , Marvel specifically sought out an actor who is same-sex attracted .
In a petition related to the movie , LifeSiteNews demanded , “ Let children be children without sexualizing them !
” According to an article published by MSN , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in The Eternals comes after Marvel has been criticized for touting LGBTQ representation in past films without delivering more than a brief , negligible scene.
” The directors of Avengers : Endgame , a Marvel movie grossing $ 2.8 billion worldwide , had indicated that one of the characters in the 2019 movie would be a homosexual .
In the end , Joe Russo , one of the directors , had a brief cameo appearance as a same-sex attracted character .
“ The character is an average guy who is part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on from the grief of losing loved ones who vanished at the end of Avengers : Infinity War at the hands of Thanos .
He talks about going on his first date since losing his male partner .
It ’ s as simple as that , a blink-and-you ’ ll-miss-it moment , ” Deadline wrote .
In March 2019 , Marvel ’ s production chief , Victoria Alonso , said the world “ is ready ” for a homosexual superhero .
Alonso emphasized that Marvel , which is owned by Disney , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t we be ?
Why wouldn ’ t we be ?
” she asked , according to Variety .
“ I ’ m so passionate about this , I ’ ve got to tell you .
Our entire success is based on people that are incredibly different .
Why wouldn ’ t we ?
Why would we only want to be recognized by only one type of person ?
Our audience is global , is diverse , is inclusive .
If we don ’ t do it that way for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to indicate an acceleration and strengthening of Marvel ’ s efforts to portray homosexual behavior as normal .
“ If we don ’ t put pedal to the metal on the diversity and the inclusivity , we will not have continued success .
Our determination is to have that for all of the people out there watching our movies , ” she said .
A wide range of openly homosexual superheroes has been established in recent years .
One of the most famous is Batwoman .
According to Looper , “ One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other superhero TV shows and movies is that , in a crowded field , Ruby Rose is playing the first openly lesbian superhero in a leading role.
” Marvel ’ s first homosexual character , Northstar , came out in 1992 .
“ Same-sex marriage became legal in the New York of Marvel and the real world in 2011 , and Northstar and his partner Kyle were wed in Marvel ’ s first same-sex superhero nuptials in 2012 , ” reported Looper .
Earlier this month , observers speculated that Sony might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie could feature a trio of Spidermen , portrayed by Tom Holland , Tobey Maguire , and Andrew Garfield , all of whom have played the role before .
“ We Got This Covered claims to have heard that Sony is particularly keen on starring Garfield in the movie because they want to portray his version of the hero as bisexual and give him a boyfriend in the film , ” LifeSiteNews wrote .

One of the actors involved in the film insisted that 'everyone cried on set' when the two men kissed each other during filming.
February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The next superhero movie made by Marvel, called The Eternals, will feature a kiss between two men.
Actor Haaz Sleiman mentioned that it is important “to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be.” Sleiman, who came to the United States from Lebanon when he was 21, boasted of the kiss between two men: “It’s a beautiful, very moving kiss. Everyone cried on set.”
“I just shot a Marvel film with the first openly gay superhero, The Eternals. I’m married to the gay superhero Phastos, played by Atlanta’s Brian Tyree Henry, and we represent a gay family and have a child,” he explained.
In addition to playing a homosexual character, Sleiman identifies as a homosexual himself. As LifeSiteNews reported last year, Marvel specifically sought out an actor who is same-sex attracted. In a petition related to the movie, LifeSiteNews demanded, “Let children be children without sexualizing them!”
According to an article published by MSN, “Inclusion of a same-sex romance storyline in The Eternals comes after Marvel has been criticized for touting LGBTQ representation in past films without delivering more than a brief, negligible scene.”
The directors of Avengers: Endgame, a Marvel movie grossing $2.8 billion worldwide, had indicated that one of the characters in the 2019 movie would be a homosexual. In the end, Joe Russo, one of the directors, had a brief cameo appearance as a same-sex attracted character.
“The character is an average guy who is part of a support group of people trying to move on from the grief of losing loved ones who vanished at the end of Avengers: Infinity War at the hands of Thanos. He talks about going on his first date since losing his male partner. It’s as simple as that, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment,” Deadline wrote.
In March 2019, Marvel’s production chief, Victoria Alonso, said the world “is ready” for a homosexual superhero.
Alonso emphasized that Marvel, which is owned by Disney, is very dedicated to diversity. “Why wouldn’t we be? Why wouldn’t we be?” she asked, according to Variety.
“I’m so passionate about this, I’ve got to tell you. Our entire success is based on people that are incredibly different. Why wouldn’t we? Why would we only want to be recognized by only one type of person? Our audience is global, is diverse, is inclusive. If we don’t do it that way for them, we will fail.”
Alonso went on to indicate an acceleration and strengthening of Marvel’s efforts to portray homosexual behavior as normal.
“If we don’t put pedal to the metal on the diversity and the inclusivity, we will not have continued success. Our determination is to have that for all of the people out there watching our movies,” she said.
A wide range of openly homosexual superheroes has been established in recent years.
One of the most famous is Batwoman. According to Looper, “One of the more noteworthy differences between Batwoman and other superhero TV shows and movies is that, in a crowded field, Ruby Rose is playing the first openly lesbian superhero in a leading role.”
Marvel’s first homosexual character, Northstar, came out in 1992. “Same-sex marriage became legal in the New York of Marvel and the real world in 2011, and Northstar and his partner Kyle were wed in Marvel’s first same-sex superhero nuptials in 2012,” reported Looper.
Earlier this month, observers speculated that Sony might introduce a homosexual Spiderman. A new movie could feature a trio of Spidermen, portrayed by Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield, all of whom have played the role before.
“We Got This Covered claims to have heard that Sony is particularly keen on starring Garfield in the movie because they want to portray his version of the hero as bisexual and give him a boyfriend in the film,” LifeSiteNews wrote.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Dem 2020 candidate Bloomberg: Deny treatment to old people with health issues

February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A video has surfaced of Michael Bloomberg — now a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination — suggesting that the U.S. needs to rethink how it allocates medical resources to elderly Americans in need of major medical interventions .
“ If you show up with prostate cancer , and you ’ re ninety-five years old , we should say , ‘ Go and enjoy , have a nice day , live a long life .
There ’ s no cure , and we can ’ t do anything , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a young person , we should do something about it , ” he said , but “ [ s ] ociety is not willing to do that yet , ” hinting that American attitudes toward caring for the aged need to evolve to match his own .
The video was taken while Bloomberg was sitting Shiva with a Jewish family in 2011 , engaging in a discussion about how the government should approach dealing with geriatric health issues .
“ If you ’ re bleeding , they ’ ll stop the bleeding ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to have to wait , ” Bloomberg can be heard saying .
“ All of these costs keep going up , ” continued the then–New York City mayor .
“ Nobody wants to pay any more money , and at the rate we ’ re going , health care is going to bankrupt us .
We need to sit here and say which things we ’ re going to do and which things we ’ re not.
” Resurrecting what Americans feared most about Obamacare : Bigotry against the aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those of Zeke Emanuel , architect of the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) , better known as “ Obamacare.
” In an article titled , “ Why I Hope to Die at 75 , ” published in The Atlantic , Emanuel said : Here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist : Living too long is also a loss .
It renders many of us , if not disabled , then faltering and declining , a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ability to contribute to work , society , the world .
It transforms how people experience us , relate to us , and , most important , remember us .
We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble , ineffectual , even pathetic .
By the time I reach 75 , I will have lived a complete life .
I will have loved and been loved .
My children will be grown and in the midst of their own rich lives .
I will have seen my grandchildren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have pursued my life ’ s projects and made whatever contributions , important or not , I am going to make .
And hopefully , I will not have too many mental and physical limitations .
Dying at 75 will not be a tragedy .
Indeed , I plan to have my memorial service before I die .
And I don ’ t want any crying or wailing , but a warm gathering filled with fun reminiscences , stories of my awkwardness , and celebrations of a good life .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action , ” wrote Wesley J. Smith at the time .
“ It is an expression of the increasing bigotry we are witnessing against the aged.
” “ The more we learn about Bloomberg , the scarier he gets .
Actually , he ’ s a nightmare , ” tweeted James Zogby , managing director of Zogby Research .
“ This is like the 1,275th thing that Bloomberg said that ’ s disqualifying , ” said one Bernie Sanders–supporter on Twitter .
“ I ’ m Jewish , and I have to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” tweeted thinkthere4am1 .
“ These optics are so bad and will increase antisemitic hatred.
” Another liberal Twitter user commented , “ So Bloomberg wants to actualize the bogus ‘ death panels ’ Republicans used to say would come with Obamacare .
”

'...at the rate we’re going,' the former NYC mayor said, 'health care is going to bankrupt us. We need to sit here and say which things we're going to do and which things we're not.'
PETITION: Final 2020 Democratic debates must include questions about abortion-infanticide” Sign the petition here.
February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A video has surfaced of Michael Bloomberg — now a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination — suggesting that the U.S. needs to rethink how it allocates medical resources to elderly Americans in need of major medical interventions.
“If you show up with prostate cancer, and you’re ninety-five years old, we should say, ‘Go and enjoy, have a nice day, live a long life. There’s no cure, and we can’t do anything,” said Bloomberg.
“If you’re a young person, we should do something about it,” he said, but “[s]ociety is not willing to do that yet,” hinting that American attitudes toward caring for the aged need to evolve to match his own.
The video was taken while Bloomberg was sitting Shiva with a Jewish family in 2011, engaging in a discussion about how the government should approach dealing with geriatric health issues.
“If you’re bleeding, they’ll stop the bleeding; if you need an X-ray, you’re going to have to wait,” Bloomberg can be heard saying.
“All of these costs keep going up,” continued the then–New York City mayor. “Nobody wants to pay any more money, and at the rate we’re going, health care is going to bankrupt us. We need to sit here and say which things we’re going to do and which things we’re not.”
Bloomberg explaining how healthcare will “bankrupt us,” unless we deny care to the elderly. “If you show up with cancer & you’re 95 years old, we should say…there’s no cure, we can’t do anything. A young person, we should do something. Society’s not willing to do that, yet.” pic.twitter.com/7E5UFHXLue — Samuel D. Finkelstein II (@CANCEL_SAM) February 16, 2020
Resurrecting what Americans feared most about Obamacare: Bigotry against the aged
Bloomberg’s remarks are reminiscent of those of Zeke Emanuel, architect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as “Obamacare.”
In an article titled, “Why I Hope to Die at 75,” published in The Atlantic, Emanuel said:
Here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: Living too long is also a loss. It renders many of us, if not disabled, then faltering and declining, a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived. It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us, and, most important, remember us. We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic. By the time I reach 75, I will have lived a complete life. I will have loved and been loved. My children will be grown and in the midst of their own rich lives. I will have seen my grandchildren born and beginning their lives. I will have pursued my life’s projects and made whatever contributions, important or not, I am going to make. And hopefully, I will not have too many mental and physical limitations. Dying at 75 will not be a tragedy. Indeed, I plan to have my memorial service before I die. And I don’t want any crying or wailing, but a warm gathering filled with fun reminiscences, stories of my awkwardness, and celebrations of a good life.
“This is the quality of life ethic in action,” wrote Wesley J. Smith at the time. “It is an expression of the increasing bigotry we are witnessing against the aged.”
Actualizing the Obamacare ‘death panels’
“The more we learn about Bloomberg, the scarier he gets. Actually, he’s a nightmare,” tweeted James Zogby, managing director of Zogby Research.
The more we learn about Bloomberg, the scarier he gets. Actually, he’s a nightmare. — James J. Zogby (@jjz1600) February 16, 2020
“This is like the 1,275th thing that Bloomberg said that’s disqualifying,” said one Bernie Sanders–supporter on Twitter.
This is like the 1,275th thing that Bloomberg said that's disqualifying — Ilhan Omar is an American Hero (@FlyThaiMMA) February 16, 2020
“I’m Jewish, and I have to say, Bloomberg cannot be president,” tweeted thinkthere4am1. “These optics are so bad and will increase antisemitic hatred.”
I'm Jewish, and I have to say, Bloomberg cannot be president. These optics are so bad and will increase antisemitic hatred. — thinkthere4am (@thinkthere4am1) February 16, 2020
Another liberal Twitter user commented, “So Bloomberg wants to actualize the bogus ‘death panels’ Republicans used to say would come with Obamacare.”
So Bloomberg wants to actualize the bogus “death panels” Republicans used to say would come with Obamacare. — KSav (@Myshkin57) February 16, 2020
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Priest defends ‘real Catholicism,’ traditional liturgy as best tools to restore Europe at conference

February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – “ Real Catholicism ” and traditional liturgy are the best tools to bring Europe back to Christianity , a priest said last month at a Catholic conference in Ireland .
Fr .
William Slattery , author of a highly acclaimed book on how priests built Western Civilization , pointed out that what held “ so many men and women ‘ captive ” for 2,000 years in Catholicism was the “ thing ” we now call the Traditional Latin Mass and liturgy.
” The theme of the January 18 conference put on by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Restoration of Europe : By the Liturgy and the Saints.
” The goal of the Roundtower Association , established in 2018 , is to promote the study of the Church ’ s perennial teachings while focusing on the re-Christianization of Ireland .
Beginning in the ninth century , round towers were built in Catholic Ireland .
Experts explain that round towers allowed one of the monks , who otherwise lived in community , to withdraw and live as a hermit for a specific time , helping them to advance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference were Alan Fimister , assistant professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver , Colorado , and Alexander O ’ Hara , a research fellow at the National University of Ireland .
“ Two thousand years of history have handed in their verdict .
The Traditional Latin Mass and liturgy is where Catholic vanguards are born .
Men and women with a clear sense of identity .
The vast , deep , and lasting effects of the ancient Mass on Western Civilization ’ s movers and shakers over 2,000 years up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolution proves that what it did once , it can do again , ” Slattery emphasized in his talk .
He called for the restoration of Europe through “ real Catholicism as distinct from fake Catholicism.
” Using numerous examples , he explained how for centuries there was a pattern of men and women who had left the faith returning to the Church on their deathbeds .
“ Clearly , even after their departure , something of her had remained inside them , whether as nostalgia or rancor or a mixture of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by historians and sociologists shows that conversions to Catholicism “ all point to the powerful and decisive impact of the same thing : the traditional Latin Mass and liturgy , ” Slattery said .
He also stressed that architects , sculptors , painters , composers , and members of many other professions were inspired in their work by the Traditional Latin Mass .
It was the simple people who built the faith in Europe , including its monuments still admired today .
According to one remarkable episode recounted by Slattery that demonstrates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by sinners , historical records show how , in the middle ages , the bishop of Paris quietly accepted a gift from a guild of prostitutes for the new cathedral – “ although only after consulting a moral theologian.
” In his first talk at the conference in Ireland , Slattery said Catholics today need to learn from their ancestors in the faith .
Just as Catholics built Western Civilization in an age of “ relative darkness , ” they are called to do so again in our time .
The dark ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually saw many excellent bishops , Slattery said , referring to “ some 9,000 place names in France , 4,500 in Spain , 2,500 in Italy ” bearing witness to their influence .
“ Only a civilization founded on the truths of Catholicism has the intellectual clarity and supernatural guts to confront , combat , and overcome the fatalist ideology of Hegelian-derived cultural Marxism with its revolutionary lie that truth is measured by the changing events of history , that the new is always the standard , and that Catholicism must be silenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Genius argued .
“ Never , never , never , never forget that the Catholic by being truly Catholic changes himself , society , and civilization , ” Slattery concluded his talk , which demonstrated how inspiring the study of Church history is .
Fimister focused on the Catholic roots of the European Union ( EU ) .
One of the founding fathers of the EU after World War II was Robert Schuman , a French politician , who was supported by Christian Democrats in various other European countries , including Konrad Adenauer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy .
“ Schuman ’ s real preoccupation , the subject of his maiden speech in the French Legislature in 1919 , and the focus of his entire life was ( to put it more frankly than he would have done then ) the restoration of Christendom , ” Fimister explained .
However , in his political philosophy , Schuman was heavily influenced by French thinker Jacques Maritain , which Fimister identified as the root problem of the EU .
“ The fallacy at the heart of Maritain ’ s Integral Humanism has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought to build his anonymous Christendom into the dominion and power of the evil one , ” he said .
By simply allowing all men and women to vote and enshrining inalienable human rights , “ one has already implicitly adhered to the Gospel and created an anonymously Christian civil order that is naturally harmonious with the Church without any need for the formal profession of the Gospel by the public law , ” Fimister explained Maritain ’ s position of Integral Humanism .
“ Because the Gospel would only be implied , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this secular Christendom , individuals of all creeds and none would be able to cooperate in and be united under its banner without having to repudiate their own convictions .
But because only Christianity could afford a fully coherent account of the reason for these institutions the Church would flourish in the context of this new regime , ” the theology professor added .
Fimister pointed out a logical fallacy in Maritain ’ s reasoning .
“ Just because the ideas of universal franchise and inviolable human rights follow from Christian revelation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implied by these political ideals , ” he said .
The professor illustrated the fallacy by pointing to the history of the European Convention on Human Rights .
The states that signed the convention in the 1950s practiced capital punishment and considered abortion and homosexuality illegal .
“ Within half a century , not only were all these positions reversed , but it was being successfully argued that their reversal was a requirement of conformity to the convention itself , ” Fimister told the audience .
O ’ Hara unfolded the connections between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 615 , and Schuman , who launched the EU project in the 20th century .
“ Despite the vast chronological gap that separates both men , what connects them was their idea of Europe : Columbanus was one of the first to voice the idea of Europe as a distinct community , while Schuman sought to build a new supranational community in Europe after the Second World War that was inspired by the same heritage and thought that had motivated Columbanus , ” O ’ Hara stated .
In 1950 , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed into the EU , Schuman had invited politicians and members of the clergy to a conference on the Irish saint .
He praised Columbanus as “ the patron saint of all those who seek to construct a united Europe.
” O ’ Hara explained the importance of Columbanus for properly understanding Europe , even today .
“ Columbanus transcended the petty factionalism and ethnic myopia of his environment by appealing to a supranational sense of unity grounded in scriptural authority : the message , most fully expressed by St. Paul , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the research fellow at the National University of Ireland said .

February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – “Real Catholicism” and traditional liturgy are the best tools to bring Europe back to Christianity, a priest said last month at a Catholic conference in Ireland.
Fr. William Slattery, author of a highly acclaimed book on how priests built Western Civilization, pointed out that what held “so many men and women ‘captive” for 2,000 years in Catholicism was the “thing” we now call the Traditional Latin Mass and liturgy.”
The theme of the January 18 conference put on by the Roundtower Association in Galway City was “The Restoration of Europe: By the Liturgy and the Saints.”
The goal of the Roundtower Association, established in 2018, is to promote the study of the Church’s perennial teachings while focusing on the re-Christianization of Ireland. Beginning in the ninth century, round towers were built in Catholic Ireland. Experts explain that round towers allowed one of the monks, who otherwise lived in community, to withdraw and live as a hermit for a specific time, helping them to advance in the spiritual life.
Other speakers at the conference were Alan Fimister, assistant professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and Alexander O’Hara, a research fellow at the National University of Ireland.
“Two thousand years of history have handed in their verdict. The Traditional Latin Mass and liturgy is where Catholic vanguards are born. Men and women with a clear sense of identity. The vast, deep, and lasting effects of the ancient Mass on Western Civilization’s movers and shakers over 2,000 years up as far as the 1960s’ cultural revolution proves that what it did once, it can do again,” Slattery emphasized in his talk.
He called for the restoration of Europe through “real Catholicism as distinct from fake Catholicism.”
Using numerous examples, he explained how for centuries there was a pattern of men and women who had left the faith returning to the Church on their deathbeds. “Clearly, even after their departure, something of her had remained inside them, whether as nostalgia or rancor or a mixture of both,” the priest said.
Research by historians and sociologists shows that conversions to Catholicism “all point to the powerful and decisive impact of the same thing: the traditional Latin Mass and liturgy,” Slattery said.
He also stressed that architects, sculptors, painters, composers, and members of many other professions were inspired in their work by the Traditional Latin Mass. It was the simple people who built the faith in Europe, including its monuments still admired today.
According to one remarkable episode recounted by Slattery that demonstrates the high regard for the Catholic Church even by sinners, historical records show how, in the middle ages, the bishop of Paris quietly accepted a gift from a guild of prostitutes for the new cathedral – “although only after consulting a moral theologian.”
In his first talk at the conference in Ireland, Slattery said Catholics today need to learn from their ancestors in the faith. Just as Catholics built Western Civilization in an age of “relative darkness,” they are called to do so again in our time.
The dark ages, as they are often called, actually saw many excellent bishops, Slattery said, referring to “some 9,000 place names in France, 4,500 in Spain, 2,500 in Italy” bearing witness to their influence.
“Only a civilization founded on the truths of Catholicism has the intellectual clarity and supernatural guts to confront, combat, and overcome the fatalist ideology of Hegelian-derived cultural Marxism with its revolutionary lie that truth is measured by the changing events of history, that the new is always the standard, and that Catholicism must be silenced,” the author of Heroism and Genius argued.
“Never, never, never, never forget that the Catholic by being truly Catholic changes himself, society, and civilization,” Slattery concluded his talk, which demonstrated how inspiring the study of Church history is.
Fimister focused on the Catholic roots of the European Union (EU). One of the founding fathers of the EU after World War II was Robert Schuman, a French politician, who was supported by Christian Democrats in various other European countries, including Konrad Adenauer in Germany and Alcide De Gasperi in Italy.
“Schuman’s real preoccupation, the subject of his maiden speech in the French Legislature in 1919, and the focus of his entire life was (to put it more frankly than he would have done then) the restoration of Christendom,” Fimister explained.
However, in his political philosophy, Schuman was heavily influenced by French thinker Jacques Maritain, which Fimister identified as the root problem of the EU.
“The fallacy at the heart of Maritain’s Integral Humanism has delivered the continent under whose name he sought to build his anonymous Christendom into the dominion and power of the evil one,” he said.
By simply allowing all men and women to vote and enshrining inalienable human rights, “one has already implicitly adhered to the Gospel and created an anonymously Christian civil order that is naturally harmonious with the Church without any need for the formal profession of the Gospel by the public law,” Fimister explained Maritain’s position of Integral Humanism.
“Because the Gospel would only be implied, not asserted, by the institutions of this secular Christendom, individuals of all creeds and none would be able to cooperate in and be united under its banner without having to repudiate their own convictions. But because only Christianity could afford a fully coherent account of the reason for these institutions the Church would flourish in the context of this new regime,” the theology professor added.
Fimister pointed out a logical fallacy in Maritain’s reasoning. “Just because the ideas of universal franchise and inviolable human rights follow from Christian revelation, this does not mean Christian revelation is implied by these political ideals,” he said.
The professor illustrated the fallacy by pointing to the history of the European Convention on Human Rights. The states that signed the convention in the 1950s practiced capital punishment and considered abortion and homosexuality illegal.
“Within half a century, not only were all these positions reversed, but it was being successfully argued that their reversal was a requirement of conformity to the convention itself,” Fimister told the audience.
O’Hara unfolded the connections between Columbanus, an Irish missionary who died in 615, and Schuman, who launched the EU project in the 20th century.
“Despite the vast chronological gap that separates both men, what connects them was their idea of Europe: Columbanus was one of the first to voice the idea of Europe as a distinct community, while Schuman sought to build a new supranational community in Europe after the Second World War that was inspired by the same heritage and thought that had motivated Columbanus,” O’Hara stated.
In 1950, just before embarking on the European project that developed into the EU, Schuman had invited politicians and members of the clergy to a conference on the Irish saint. He praised Columbanus as “the patron saint of all those who seek to construct a united Europe.”
O’Hara explained the importance of Columbanus for properly understanding Europe, even today.
“Columbanus transcended the petty factionalism and ethnic myopia of his environment by appealing to a supranational sense of unity grounded in scriptural authority: the message, most fully expressed by St. Paul, that we are all one in Christ,” the research fellow at the National University of Ireland said.
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Creation v. Evolution: Science and the Catholicism agree on the winner

“ In the beginning God created heaven , and earth , ” Genesis 1:1 .
The first words of the @ @ @ @ @ two chapters of the Bible focus on God ’ s creation of the Earth , @ @ @ @ @ and of man himself .
Yet , today , many Catholic are rejecting the teaching @ @ @ @ @ in favor of the idea that man evolved from molecules .
Join John-Henry and Hugh @ @ @ @ @ the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation as they discuss evolution and creation , @ @ @ @ @ to Catholic dogma about creation .
To dive even deeper into the scientific , philosophical @ @ @ @ @ creation , get the new 17 part series from the Kolbe Center , Foundations Restored @ @ @ @ @ email notifications when new episode of The John-Henry Westen Show are published :

“In the beginning God created heaven, and earth,” Genesis 1:1. The first words of the Bible, and the first two chapters of the Bible focus on God’s creation of the Earth, its creatures, and of man himself. Yet, today many Catholic are rejecting the teaching of God’s creation in favor of the idea that man evolved from molecules.
Join John-Henry and Hugh Owen, the founder of the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation as they discuss evolution and creation, and why Catholics must hold to Catholic dogma about creation.
To dive even deeper into the scientific, philosophical, and theological basis supporting creation, get the new 17 part series from the Kolbe Center, Foundations Restored.
Sign up to receive email notifications when new episode of The John-Henry Westen Show are published:
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lifesitenews--2020-02-18--Ohio GOP introducing bill to punish doctors for children’s gender ‘transition’ tre

Ohio GOP introducing bill to punish doctors for children’s gender ‘transition’ treatments, surgeries

COLUMBUS , Ohio , February 18 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Republicans in the Ohio Legislature announced their intentions this week to introduce legislation that would punish doctors who subject minors to gender “ transition ” treatments , to the chagrin of LGBT activists .
Under Reps. Ron Hood and Bill Dean ’ s Protect Vulnerable Children Act , it would become a third-degree felony ( generally punishable by nine months to three years in prison and/or fines up to $ 10,000 ) for a physician to perform any sort of gender-alteration treatment on anyone under 18 , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring civil suits against physicians for doing so .
`` What we are concerned about here is that Ohio 's most vulnerable children are being subjected to experimental , unproven and expensive treatments and surgeries , '' Hood argued at a press conference last week .
`` This bill is dealing with children under 18 , who would be subjected to these procedures which are irreversible , and these decisions are obviously being made by children .
The best suicide prevention is to cure and guide , not to sterilize . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group Citizens for Community Values ( CCV ) , which brought a woman identified as Maria to the statehouse to share her experiences with doctors who claimed her child was transgendered .
She believes doctors are forcing parents to keep quiet .
“ They are afraid they will lose their jobs , ” she said , WKSU reported .
“ They are afraid of trans activists that will find them and threaten them into silence .
And we are afraid for our lives , '' Maria said .
`` But we are terrified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , we will be part of a medical catastrophe that this world has never seen . ''
`` The problem is these are children , '' said Dr. John Wells , a pediatrician and neonatologist at Nationwide Children ’ s Hospital ( NCH ) .
`` And they 're being coerced by medical providers who 've been influenced by the political climate to make decisions that can be life altering . ''
On the other side , the pro-LGBT group Equality Ohio has already announced its intentions to fight the bill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who also directs the hospital ’ s THRIVE Gender Development Program , went so far as to claim the bill conflicts with doctors ’ Hippocratic Oath to “ do no harm.
” '' These are fear-mongering tactics to prevent youth from receiving the evidence-based care they so desperately need and time and time again has proven to lead to positive emotional and psychological well being for an under-served population , '' he charged .
In fact , a range of medical literature suggests that exposing gender-confused children to “ transition ” treatment is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oath , in no small part because fixating on “ gender affirmation ” tends to distract from exploring other issues that may be at the root of a patient ’ s mental or emotional unrest .
In 2017 , the University of Cambridge ’ s Stonewall report found that 96 percent of trans students in Scotland attempted self-harm through actions such as cutting themselves , and 40 percent attempted suicide .
Forty percent in the United States have attempted suicide , as well , according to a 2016 survey from the National Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to a 2011 study out of Sweden , trans people remain 19 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population , even after sex-reassignment surgery .

Physicians could face up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine for subjecting minors to irreversible procedures.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, February 18, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Republicans in the Ohio Legislature announced their intentions this week to introduce legislation that would punish doctors who subject minors to gender “transition” treatments, to the chagrin of LGBT activists.
Under Reps. Ron Hood and Bill Dean’s Protect Vulnerable Children Act, it would become a third-degree felony (generally punishable by nine months to three years in prison and/or fines up to $10,000) for a physician to perform any sort of gender-alteration treatment on anyone under 18, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Parents could also bring civil suits against physicians for doing so.
“What we are concerned about here is that Ohio's most vulnerable children are being subjected to experimental, unproven and expensive treatments and surgeries,” Hood argued at a press conference last week. “This bill is dealing with children under 18, who would be subjected to these procedures which are irreversible, and these decisions are obviously being made by children. The best suicide prevention is to cure and guide, not to sterilize.”
The proposal has the support of the Ohio group Citizens for Community Values (CCV), which brought a woman identified as Maria to the statehouse to share her experiences with doctors who claimed her child was transgendered. She believes doctors are forcing parents to keep quiet.
“They are afraid they will lose their jobs,” she said, WKSU reported. “They are afraid of trans activists that will find them and threaten them into silence. And we are afraid for our lives,” Maria said. “But we are terrified that if this treatment continues as it is, we will be part of a medical catastrophe that this world has never seen.”
“The problem is these are children,” said Dr. John Wells, a pediatrician and neonatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH). “And they're being coerced by medical providers who've been influenced by the political climate to make decisions that can be life altering.”
On the other side, the pro-LGBT group Equality Ohio has already announced its intentions to fight the bill. Dr. Scott Leibowitz, a NCH psychiatrist who also directs the hospital’s THRIVE Gender Development Program, went so far as to claim the bill conflicts with doctors’ Hippocratic Oath to “do no harm.”
“These are fear-mongering tactics to prevent youth from receiving the evidence-based care they so desperately need and time and time again has proven to lead to positive emotional and psychological well being for an under-served population,” he charged.
In fact, a range of medical literature suggests that exposing gender-confused children to “transition” treatment is what’s incompatible with the Hippocratic Oath, in no small part because fixating on “gender affirmation” tends to distract from exploring other issues that may be at the root of a patient’s mental or emotional unrest.
In 2017, the University of Cambridge’s Stonewall report found that 96 percent of trans students in Scotland attempted self-harm through actions such as cutting themselves, and 40 percent attempted suicide. Forty percent in the United States have attempted suicide, as well, according to a 2016 survey from the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE). According to a 2011 study out of Sweden, trans people remain 19 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population, even after sex-reassignment surgery.
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