lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Register now for 2020 Rome Life Forum: Coronavirus in light of Fatima

May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — LifeSiteNews in conjunction with Voice of the Family is pleased to announce that the 2020 Rome Life Forum will be hosted online as a virtual conference for free starting Wednesday , May 20 and running through Friday , May 22 .
Click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com .
The theme of this year ’ s conference , the seventh such undertaking , is “ Coronavirus in Light of Fatima : A Tragedy and A Source of Hope.
” Speakers will focus on whether the COVID-19 pandemic could be part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Immaculate Heart of Mary , that Our Blessed Mother spoke about in Fatima in 1917 ( talks listed below ) .
The Rome Life Forum was started in 2014 , and has hosted some of the most prominent clergy and lay Catholics in the world .
For LifeSite ’ s coverage of previous Rome Life Forums , click the following : 2019 , 2018 , 2017 , 2016 , 2015 , 2014 .
This year ’ s conference , which will feature a question and answer period with each speaker , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 20th at 12:00pm EST .
For more information and a full conference schedule , and to submit your questions to the speakers , visit www.RomeLifeForum.com .
• Cardinal Raymond Burke , Prefect Emeritus , Apostolic Signatura , “ Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima ” • Bishop Athanasius Schneider , Astana , Kazakhstan , “ Repenting of the sins against the Holy Eucharist ” • John-Henry Westen , Co-founder and editor-in-chief LifeSite News , “ The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Spiritual Director and Chairman , Family Life International , “ Reforming our lives according to Our Lady ’ s call in Fatima.
” • John Smeaton , Society for the Protection of Unborn Children , Moderator • Fr .
Serafino Lanzetta , Catholic author and pastor in the Diocese of Portsmouth , UK , “ Co-redemption and Marian consecration in the light of the Fatima message for our times ” The conference schedule is as follows : • 12:20pm , Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima , Cardinal Burke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the light of the Fatima message for our times , Fr .
Serafino Lanzetta • 12:50pm , The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today ?
, John-Henry Westen • 12:10pm , Reforming our lives according to Our Lady ’ s call in Fatima , Fr .
Linus Clovis • 12:50pm , Repenting of the sins against the Holy Spirit , Bishop Athanasius Schneider To watch the 2020 Rome Life Forum , click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com .
If you ’ d like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and future Rome Life Forum ’ s are able to be held , please click here to donate : https : //give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife

This year's online virtual conference will be held Wednesday, May 20th through Friday, May 22nd.
May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — LifeSiteNews in conjunction with Voice of the Family is hosting the 2020 Rome Life Forum online as a virtual conference for free starting Wednesday, May 20 and running through Friday, May 22. Click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com.
The theme of this year’s conference, the seventh such undertaking, is “Coronavirus in Light of Fatima: A Tragedy and A Source of Hope.” Speakers will focus on whether the COVID-19 pandemic could be part of the chastisement, preceding the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that Our Blessed Mother spoke about in Fatima in 1917 (talks listed below).
The Rome Life Forum was started in 2014, and has hosted some of the most prominent clergy and lay Catholics in the world. For LifeSite’s coverage of previous Rome Life Forums, click the following: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.
This year’s conference, which will feature a question and answer period with each speaker, will be streamed online at no cost beginning May 20th at 12:00pm EST. For more information and a full conference schedule, and to submit your questions to the speakers, visit www.RomeLifeForum.com.
Confirmed speakers include:
Cardinal Raymond Burke , Prefect Emeritus, Apostolic Signatura, “Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima”
, Prefect Emeritus, Apostolic Signatura, “Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima” Bishop Athanasius Schneider , Astana, Kazakhstan, “Repenting of the sins against the Holy Eucharist”
, Astana, Kazakhstan, “Repenting of the sins against the Holy Eucharist” Professor Roberto de Mattei , Lepanto Foundation, “Divine interventions in human history”
, Lepanto Foundation, “Divine interventions in human history” John-Henry Westen , Co-founder and editor-in-chief LifeSite News, “The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today?”
, Co-founder and editor-in-chief LifeSite News, “The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today?” Fr. Linus Clovis, Spiritual Director and Chairman, Family Life International, “Reforming our lives according to Our Lady’s call in Fatima.”
Spiritual Director and Chairman, Family Life International, “Reforming our lives according to Our Lady’s call in Fatima.” John Smeaton , Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Moderator
, Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Moderator Fr. Serafino Lanzetta, Catholic author and pastor in the Diocese of Portsmouth, UK, “Co-redemption and Marian consecration in the light of the Fatima message for our times”
The conference schedule is as follows:
Day 1, Wednesday, May 20
12:00pm, Introduction to Day 1, John Smeaton
12:20pm, Fulfilling the explicit requests of Our Lady of Fatima, Cardinal Burke
1:00pm, Co-redemption and Marian consecration in the light of the Fatima message for our times, Fr. Serafino Lanzetta
1:40pm, Q&A with Cardinal Burke and Fr. Lanzetta
2:00pm, Concluding remarks, John Smeaton
Day 2, Thursday, May 21
12:00pm, Introduction to Day 2, John Smeaton
12:10pm, Divine interventions in human history, Professor Roberto de Mattei
12:50pm, The pontificate of Pope Francis – why should we expect a divine intervention today?, John-Henry Westen
1:30pm, Q&A with Professor de Mattei and John-Henry Westen
1:50pm, Concluding remarks, John Smeaton
Day 3, Friday, May 22
12:00pm, Introduction to Day 3, John Smeaton
12:10pm, Reforming our lives according to Our Lady’s call in Fatima, Fr. Linus Clovis
12:50pm, Repenting of the sins against the Holy Spirit, Bishop Athanasius Schneider
1:30pm, Q&A with Bishop Schneider and Fr. Clovis
1:50pm, Concluding remarks, John Smeaton
2:00 – 3:00pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (tentative)
To watch the 2020 Rome Life Forum, click here to register or go to www.RomeLifeForum.com.
If you’d like to make sure this year’s and future Rome Life Forum’s are able to be held, please click here to donate: https://give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Colorado sees abortions spike while surrounding states halt them for COVID-19

PETITION : Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here .
May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – As numerous states suspend elective abortions as part of their response to the coronavirus , procedures are on the rise in Colorado , which has allowed them to continue as “ essential health care.
” Advice from medical authorities has led many governors to order the temporary suspension of all or most “ non-urgent ” health appointments and elective medical procedures , both to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to free up time and resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have expressly included surgical abortions , to the abortion industry ’ s chagrin .
Colorado , however , still allows abortions .
As a result , Planned Parenthoods in the state aborted 250 babies from other states in April , KDVR reported .
Almost 150 of them came from Texas alone , which suspended abortions until mid-April .
“ The numbers that we ’ ve seen have been pretty extraordinary , ” Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains CEO Vicki Cowart said .
“ Our last fiscal year we saw patients coming for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Literally people just haven ’ t known whether they could get an appointment or not , ” Coward added , “ so a lot of them have said , ‘ That ’ s it — I ’ m just getting in the car and driving.
” The situation offers a preview of what America would look like in the immediate aftermath of overturning Roe v. Wade .
States would be free to set their own abortion laws , but traveling to more permissive states would remain an option for women in pro-life states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue that , while restoring federalism on the subject would be a major step in the right direction , the long-term goal remains a nationwide abortion ban .
Pro-lifers contend that allowing abortions to continue in the midst of a pandemic places additional , unnecessary strain on the healthcare system .
“ Elective abortion , both surgical and drug induced , also generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened emergency rooms , ” the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( AAPLOG ) states .
“ Most abortion providers instruct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they have any concerning symptoms after the abortion .
Approximately five percent of women who undergo medication abortions will require evaluation in an emergency room , most commonly for hemorrhage .
Surgical abortions can also result in hemorrhage .
Emergency room personnel – who are already struggling to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be further strained to provide care to these women.
” Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world .

PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – As numerous states suspend elective abortions as part of their response to the coronavirus, procedures are on the rise in Colorado, which has allowed them to continue as “essential health care.”
Advice from medical authorities has led many governors to order the temporary suspension of all or most “non-urgent” health appointments and elective medical procedures, both to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to free up time and resources to focus on infected patients. Some have expressly included surgical abortions, to the abortion industry’s chagrin.
Colorado, however, still allows abortions. As a result, Planned Parenthoods in the state aborted 250 babies from other states in April, KDVR reported. Almost 150 of them came from Texas alone, which suspended abortions until mid-April.
“The numbers that we’ve seen have been pretty extraordinary,” Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains CEO Vicki Cowart said. “Our last fiscal year we saw patients coming for abortion from 37 different states.”
“Literally people just haven’t known whether they could get an appointment or not,” Coward added, “so a lot of them have said, ‘That’s it — I’m just getting in the car and driving.”
The situation offers a preview of what America would look like in the immediate aftermath of overturning Roe v. Wade. States would be free to set their own abortion laws, but traveling to more permissive states would remain an option for women in pro-life states that want to abort. Most pro-lifers argue that, while restoring federalism on the subject would be a major step in the right direction, the long-term goal remains a nationwide abortion ban.
Pro-lifers contend that allowing abortions to continue in the midst of a pandemic places additional, unnecessary strain on the healthcare system.
“Elective abortion, both surgical and drug induced, also generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened emergency rooms,” the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) states. “Most abortion providers instruct women to go to an emergency room if they have any concerning symptoms after the abortion. Approximately five percent of women who undergo medication abortions will require evaluation in an emergency room, most commonly for hemorrhage. Surgical abortions can also result in hemorrhage. Emergency room personnel – who are already struggling to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be further strained to provide care to these women.”
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Archbishop Viganò: Cardinal Sarah agreed to sign global appeal against virus crackdown

ROME , Italy , May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – An historic appeal of Catholic prelates and lay leaders decrying the crackdown on basic freedoms over coronavirus is embroiled in controversy after one of four Cardinals who was listed as signatory has claimed he did not sign the appeal .
Cardinal Robert Sarah , the head of the Vatican dicastery dealing with liturgy , tweeted after the release of the appeal that he had not signed it .
However , the appeal ’ s organizer , Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò , has released a timeline of their communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicate that the Cardinal did sign on to the appeal before reaching Archbishop Viganò to say that he withdrew his signature after the statement had already gone out .
Viganò also says he has a recording of the conversation with Sarah that verifies that the Cardinal did agree to sign the appeal .
The appeal “ for the Church and the world ” warned that the coronavirus pandemic is being used as a “ pretext ” by world leaders to “ control ” people and strip them of their fundamental rights , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realization of a world government beyond all control.
” It also asserts that the Church has “ the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments , just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction , such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments.
” In a tweet on Thursday evening Eastern time , a few hours after the appeal ’ s release , Cardinal Sarah indicated that he “ may personally share some of the questions or concerns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” But he said , in his view , a high-ranking member of the Roman Curia “ has to observe a certain restriction on political matters .
He shouldn ’ t sign appeals in such areas.
” He added that he had asked the appeal authors “ not to mention my name ” that morning , Rome time .
According to Archbishop Viganò ’ s timeline , the Cardinal had agreed to sign the appeal on Monday , May 4 , several days before its release on Thursday , May 7 at 7:30pm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remove his name via text message on Thursday at 5:48pm Rome time .
Viganò says the appeal had gone out to media hours earlier , at 3:00pm Rome time .
The archbishop says he missed Cardinal Sarah ’ s message in the midst of the busyness of the last hours before the appeal ’ s release .
However , the cardinal telephoned him at 7:37pm Rome time , after the embargo was lifted , to make sure he saw his withdrawal , according to Viganò .
The appeal is signed by three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zen , and Janis Pujats - as well as 8 bishops , 3 priests , 21 journalists , 11 medical doctors , 13 lawyers , 18 teachers and professionals , and 12 various groups and associations .
The organizers have since been collecting additional signatures at a special website .
According to the website , the appeal had garnered an additional 8,300 signatures as of 1:30pm EST .
According to the quotes in Vigano ’ s timeline , Sarah had expressed a different view when he agreed to sign on Monday .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal , “ It seems to me a very serious matter .
I think that this Appeal will do much good , because it will make us reflect and take a position : I agree that it should be published as soon as possible.
” Asked if he would sign the document , according to Viganò , Sarah replied , “ Yes , I agree to put my name to it , because this is a fight that we must engage in together , not only for the Catholic Church but for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to withdraw his name was influenced by advice from friends .
According to Vigano , the text message that the Cardinal sent on Thursday stated : “ Dearest Excellency , as I am still working in the Roman Curia , some friends of mine advised me not to sign your proposed Appeal .
Perhaps it would be better to remove my name this time .
I am very sorry .
You know my friendship and my closeness to you .
Thank you for your understanding.
” At the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately forgave ” Sarah for the Twitter statements “ that cause serious harm to the truth and to my person.
” “ It is my wish to abide by an attitude of deep charity towards my brother in Christ , Cardinal Robert Sarah , ” he wrote .
“ Genuine charity , however , can not disregard the truth , since it has its foundation in it , ” he continued .
“ I therefore have the duty , also for the sake of fraternal correction , to make known the series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Cardinal Sarah ’ s signing of the Appeal.
” “ The cardinal informed me in his telephone call [ on Thursday at 7:37pm Rome time ] that he intended to remove his name from the list of signatories , ” Viganò recounted in his statement .
“ I was terribly sorry and pointed out to His Eminence that the Appeal and the signatures had already been circulated ‘ universally ’ for more than four hours.
” “ The conversation ended without His Eminence requesting or suggesting any solution , ” the archbishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facto situation , to which neither he nor I were able to find a solution , I took the liberty of encouraging His Eminence , pointing out to him how much his support of the Appeal would be of comfort and encouragement to a great many faithful.
” Only later , Viganò found out with “ surprise and deep regret … that His Eminence had used his twitter account , without giving me any notice , to make statements that cause serious harm to the truth and to my person.
” The former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sorry that this matter , which is due to human weakness , and for which I bear no resentment towards the person who caused it , has distracted our attention from what must seriously concern us at this dramatic moment.
” In the afternoon of May 8 , Sarah tweeted , “ I will not speak to this petition , which today seems to occupy a lot of people .
I leave to their conscience those who want to exploit it in one way or another .
I decided not to sign this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” LifeSite asked Archbishop Viganò for the recordings of his conversations with Cardinal Sarah .
The archbishop declined , saying that he does not wish to address the controversy further , especially since it detracts from the importance of the appeal .

ROME, Italy, May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – An historic appeal of Catholic prelates and lay leaders decrying the crackdown on basic freedoms over coronavirus is embroiled in controversy after one of four Cardinals who was listed as signatory has claimed he did not sign the appeal.
Cardinal Robert Sarah, the head of the Vatican dicastery dealing with liturgy, tweeted after the release of the appeal that he had not signed it. However, the appeal’s organizer, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, has released a timeline of their communications, with quotes from the cardinal which indicate that the Cardinal did sign on to the appeal before reaching Archbishop Viganò to say that he withdrew his signature after the statement had already gone out. Viganò also says he has a recording of the conversation with Sarah that verifies that the Cardinal did agree to sign the appeal.
The appeal “for the Church and the world” warned that the coronavirus pandemic is being used as a “pretext” by world leaders to “control” people and strip them of their fundamental rights, while providing a “disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control.” It also asserts that the Church has “the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments, just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction, such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments.”
In a tweet on Thursday evening Eastern time, a few hours after the appeal’s release, Cardinal Sarah indicated that he “may personally share some of the questions or concerns that are raised about restrictions on fundamental freedoms.” But he said, in his view, a high-ranking member of the Roman Curia “has to observe a certain restriction on political matters. He shouldn’t sign appeals in such areas.” He added that he had asked the appeal authors “not to mention my name” that morning, Rome time.
According to Archbishop Viganò’s timeline, the Cardinal had agreed to sign the appeal on Monday, May 4, several days before its release on Thursday, May 7 at 7:30pm Rome time, and he only attempted to remove his name via text message on Thursday at 5:48pm Rome time. Viganò says the appeal had gone out to media hours earlier, at 3:00pm Rome time. The archbishop says he missed Cardinal Sarah’s message in the midst of the busyness of the last hours before the appeal’s release.
However, the cardinal telephoned him at 7:37pm Rome time, after the embargo was lifted, to make sure he saw his withdrawal, according to Viganò.
The appeal is signed by three cardinals – Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, Joseph Zen, and Janis Pujats – as well as 8 bishops, 3 priests, 21 journalists, 11 medical doctors, 13 lawyers, 18 teachers and professionals, and 12 various groups and associations. The organizers have since been collecting additional signatures at a special website. According to the website, the appeal had garnered an additional 8,300 signatures as of 1:30pm EST.
According to the quotes in Vigano’s timeline, Sarah had expressed a different view when he agreed to sign on Monday.
During that call, Sarah said of the appeal, “It seems to me a very serious matter. I think that this Appeal will do much good, because it will make us reflect and take a position: I agree that it should be published as soon as possible.”
Asked if he would sign the document, according to Viganò, Sarah replied, “Yes, I agree to put my name to it, because this is a fight that we must engage in together, not only for the Catholic Church but for all mankind.”
The timeline indicates that Sarah’s decision to withdraw his name was influenced by advice from friends. According to Vigano, the text message that the Cardinal sent on Thursday stated: “Dearest Excellency, as I am still working in the Roman Curia, some friends of mine advised me not to sign your proposed Appeal. Perhaps it would be better to remove my name this time. I am very sorry. You know my friendship and my closeness to you. Thank you for your understanding.”
At the beginning of his statement, Viganò said he “immediately forgave” Sarah for the Twitter statements “that cause serious harm to the truth and to my person.”
“It is my wish to abide by an attitude of deep charity towards my brother in Christ, Cardinal Robert Sarah,” he wrote. “Genuine charity, however, cannot disregard the truth, since it has its foundation in it,” he continued. “I therefore have the duty, also for the sake of fraternal correction, to make known the series of events as they occurred, with regard to Cardinal Sarah’s signing of the Appeal.”
“The cardinal informed me in his telephone call [on Thursday at 7:37pm Rome time] that he intended to remove his name from the list of signatories,” Viganò recounted in his statement. “I was terribly sorry and pointed out to His Eminence that the Appeal and the signatures had already been circulated ‘universally’ for more than four hours.”
“The conversation ended without His Eminence requesting or suggesting any solution,” the archbishop stressed.
“Faced with this de facto situation, to which neither he nor I were able to find a solution, I took the liberty of encouraging His Eminence, pointing out to him how much his support of the Appeal would be of comfort and encouragement to a great many faithful.”
Only later, Viganò found out with “surprise and deep regret … that His Eminence had used his twitter account, without giving me any notice, to make statements that cause serious harm to the truth and to my person.”
The former Apostolic Nuncio said he was “very sorry that this matter, which is due to human weakness, and for which I bear no resentment towards the person who caused it, has distracted our attention from what must seriously concern us at this dramatic moment.”
In the afternoon of May 8, Sarah tweeted, “I will not speak to this petition, which today seems to occupy a lot of people. I leave to their conscience those who want to exploit it in one way or another. I decided not to sign this text. I fully accept my choice.”
LifeSite asked Archbishop Viganò for the recordings of his conversations with Cardinal Sarah. The archbishop declined, saying that he does not wish to address the controversy further, especially since it detracts from the importance of the appeal.


lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Women share why their abortion was ‘beautiful’ in horrifying, cold-blooded accounts

May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In my ten years of pro-life activism , one of the most common tropes I have heard from abortion supporters is that nobody likes abortion .
Pro-life activists , we are often told reproachfully , are simply making people who already feel terrible about a very difficult decision even worse .
In short : Everybody knows that abortion is terrible , and there is no reason for pro-lifers to expend so much energy attempting to explain to people why it is terrible .
That is certainly true for many people that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abortions they have endured or procured , and there are certainly many women who feel that abortion was simply one awful choice in a series of equally terrible options .
Abortion regret is very real , and often very raw .
I have seen more people than I can count break down as they recounted their experience and mourned their lost little ones .
But over the past two decades , the abortion movement has begun to shift .
No longer do they say that abortion is a necessary evil , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been viewed by progressives as a tool of liberation , but many of them did not dare celebrate it for fear of appearing ghoulish .
Those reservations have vanished , and # ShoutYourAbortion campaigns and defiant , you-go-girl testimonials have taken their place .
Even I was taken aback when I attended the 2017 Women ’ s March as a journalist and saw one of the speakers mount the stage wearing a sweater with the phrase “ I [ heart ] Abortion ” all over it .
All of which brings me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News , a pro-choice media website that covers abortion almost exclusively .
In response to a recent article titled “ Abortion Isn ’ t Beautiful , ” writer Paige Alexandria penned a rebuttal : “ 5 People Share Why Their Abortion Was Beautiful , ” beginning with a testimonial from 31-year-old Caitlin Lejarzar-Gaffin of West Virginia .
“ If I made a list of things in my life that were beautiful , ” Lejarzar-Gaffin wrote , “ things that were truly and utterly full of gorgeous light and warmth and love—it would include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Virginia valleys and mountains I call home , and both of my abortions.
” She described the destruction of her two pre-born children this way : My first abortion was a medical abortion .
I was nervous about the process , but the clinic staff were kind and supportive and let me take my time .
I took some pills at the clinic , and brought more pills home .
I cuddled up with blankets and a cat on the couch , and watched music documentaries while waiting for the second round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
I passed a small amount of blood and tissue into the toilet .
I felt so relieved .
It was beautiful .
My second abortion was a procedural abortion .
I remember drifting off to sleep in the feet-holders , and then waking up once it was over .
I didn ’ t feel any of it .
The clinic staff gave me soda to drink and let me rest for a bit .
I remember walking out of the clinic and into the sunshine , feeling elated and relieved once more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was beautiful .
My abortions brought me joy and relief and sanity when I needed it most .
They allowed me to be myself and direct what happens within my own body and life .
I think back on my abortions and related experiences with deep fondness and appreciation .
My abortions were beautiful .
Abortion is beautiful .
It is genuinely difficult to know how to respond to such a cold-blooded recounting of such a horrifying act .
I have held aborted children—one almost perfectly formed , another utterly shredded by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are irrevocably seared into my memory .
These were the broken children of a broken society , and the only tragically beautiful element of it all was the still-discernible features of the babies that offered the faintest glimpse of what they looked like before they had been pulled to pieces .
Another young woman , 23-year-old Jordyn Close of Ohio , also spoke of her abortion as “ an incredibly empowering and beautiful experience , while 25-year-old Holly Bland of Wisconsin noted that the decision to have an abortion “ wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one.
” Not all abortions are beautiful , she stated , but “ mine was.
” She now shares her story publicly so that people can know that “ abortion can still be beautiful.
” The other stories are in a similar vein .
One mother writes that she and her husband opted for abortion because they discovered that their child had Trisomy 13 .
A fifth noted that having the option of getting an abortion was what made her experience beautiful .
What can one offer by way of response to these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are many things I could say , but perhaps the most effective rebuttal is to listen to how abortionists describe the procedure .
Dr. Anthony Levatino , for example , described abortion this way : “ The toughest part of a D & E abortion is extracting the baby 's head .
The head of a baby that age is about the size of a large plum and is now free floating inside the uterine cavity .
You can be pretty sure you have hold of it if the Sopher clamp is spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow .
You will know you have it right when you crush down on the clamp and see white gelatinous material coming through the cervix .
That was the baby 's brains .
You can then extract the skull pieces .
Many times a little face will come out and stare back at you.
” Or consider the testimony of Dr. Ed Jones , who worked as an abortionist at Planned Parenthood : “ This can burn you out very , very quickly ... not so much by the physical labor as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
When you do an ultrasound , particularly if you have children , and you see a fetus there , kicking , moving , living , doing things that your own child does , bringing it ’ s thumb to its mouth , and things like that—it ’ s difficult .
Then , after the procedure , sometimes we have to actually look at the specimen , and you see arms and legs and things like that torn off ...
It does take an emotional toll.
” Dr. “ G , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way : “ This was a perfect little fetus inside , and now it no longer is .
I try not to focus on that too much ... it is upsetting , and it ’ s embarrassing as well .
I always feel uncomfortable if other people are watching me do this .
I don ’ t like to expose them to this , well , carnage ... .because all it does is upset them.
” Or abortion clinic nurse Sally Tisdale , who described the impact of her work in an essay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I have fetus dreams , we all do here : dreams of abortions one after the other ; of buckets of blood splashed on the walls ; trees full of crawling fetuses .
I dreamed that two men grabbed me and began to drag me away , ‘ Let ’ s do an abortion , ’ they said with a sickening leer , and I began to scream , plunged into a vision of sucking , scraping pain , of being spread and torn by impartial instruments that do only what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
There are hundreds of testimonies just like that , from the men and women who have witnessed abortion first-hand .
Their recounting of what goes on within the abortion industry tells a story of demonic darkness , dead children , and desperate evil .
None of this is beautiful .
If it was possible to define the opposite of beauty , surely what those men and women describe must be close : The beautiful face of a perfect child , sliced cruelly from her skull .
The beautiful fingers and toes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his body .
The beautiful eyes of an infant , jarred free from her head during the violent decapitation that killed her .
Abortion is not beautiful , and the abortion industry is a hellhole where beauty goes to die .
No , worse—it is where beauty is murdered .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In his latest episode , he interviews Scott Klusendorf about why he sees a fundamental flaw in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guise of preventing people from getting coronavirus .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In my ten years of pro-life activism, one of the most common tropes I have heard from abortion supporters is that nobody likes abortion.
Pro-life activists, we are often told reproachfully, are simply making people who already feel terrible about a very difficult decision even worse. In short: Everybody knows that abortion is terrible, and there is no reason for pro-lifers to expend so much energy attempting to explain to people why it is terrible.
That is certainly true for many people that we meet. Many women—and men—feel awful about the abortions they have endured or procured, and there are certainly many women who feel that abortion was simply one awful choice in a series of equally terrible options. Abortion regret is very real, and often very raw. I have seen more people than I can count break down as they recounted their experience and mourned their lost little ones.
But over the past two decades, the abortion movement has begun to shift. No longer do they say that abortion is a necessary evil, but an unqualified good. Abortion has always been viewed by progressives as a tool of liberation, but many of them did not dare celebrate it for fear of appearing ghoulish. Those reservations have vanished, and #ShoutYourAbortion campaigns and defiant, you-go-girl testimonials have taken their place. Even I was taken aback when I attended the 2017 Women’s March as a journalist and saw one of the speakers mount the stage wearing a sweater with the phrase “I [heart] Abortion” all over it.
All of which brings me to a truly vile article published by Rewire News, a pro-choice media website that covers abortion almost exclusively. In response to a recent article titled “Abortion Isn’t Beautiful,” writer Paige Alexandria penned a rebuttal: “5 People Share Why Their Abortion Was Beautiful,” beginning with a testimonial from 31-year-old Caitlin Lejarzar-Gaffin of West Virginia. “If I made a list of things in my life that were beautiful,” Lejarzar-Gaffin wrote, “things that were truly and utterly full of gorgeous light and warmth and love—it would include my bisabuela’s home-cooking, the West Virginia valleys and mountains I call home, and both of my abortions.”
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She described the destruction of her two pre-born children this way:
My first abortion was a medical abortion. I was nervous about the process, but the clinic staff were kind and supportive and let me take my time. I took some pills at the clinic, and brought more pills home. I cuddled up with blankets and a cat on the couch, and watched music documentaries while waiting for the second round of pills to work. They did! I passed a small amount of blood and tissue into the toilet. I felt so relieved. It was beautiful. My second abortion was a procedural abortion. I remember drifting off to sleep in the feet-holders, and then waking up once it was over. I didn’t feel any of it. The clinic staff gave me soda to drink and let me rest for a bit. I remember walking out of the clinic and into the sunshine, feeling elated and relieved once more. I felt overwhelmingly free. It was beautiful. My abortions brought me joy and relief and sanity when I needed it most. They allowed me to be myself and direct what happens within my own body and life. I think back on my abortions and related experiences with deep fondness and appreciation. My abortions were beautiful. Abortion is beautiful.
It is genuinely difficult to know how to respond to such a cold-blooded recounting of such a horrifying act. I have held aborted children—one almost perfectly formed, another utterly shredded by the suction aspirator of the abortionist—and those scenes are irrevocably seared into my memory. These were the broken children of a broken society, and the only tragically beautiful element of it all was the still-discernible features of the babies that offered the faintest glimpse of what they looked like before they had been pulled to pieces.
Another young woman, 23-year-old Jordyn Close of Ohio, also spoke of her abortion as “an incredibly empowering and beautiful experience, while 25-year-old Holly Bland of Wisconsin noted that the decision to have an abortion “wasn’t a difficult one…and it was a beautiful one.” Not all abortions are beautiful, she stated, but “mine was.” She now shares her story publicly so that people can know that “abortion can still be beautiful.” The other stories are in a similar vein. One mother writes that she and her husband opted for abortion because they discovered that their child had Trisomy 13. A fifth noted that having the option of getting an abortion was what made her experience beautiful.
What can one offer by way of response to these assertions that abortion is beautiful? There are many things I could say, but perhaps the most effective rebuttal is to listen to how abortionists describe the procedure.
Dr. Anthony Levatino, for example, described abortion this way: “The toughest part of a D&E abortion is extracting the baby's head. The head of a baby that age is about the size of a large plum and is now free floating inside the uterine cavity. You can be pretty sure you have hold of it if the Sopher clamp is spread about as far as your fingers will allow. You will know you have it right when you crush down on the clamp and see white gelatinous material coming through the cervix. That was the baby's brains. You can then extract the skull pieces. Many times a little face will come out and stare back at you.”
Or consider the testimony of Dr. Ed Jones, who worked as an abortionist at Planned Parenthood: “This can burn you out very, very quickly…not so much by the physical labor as the emotional part of what’s going on. When you do an ultrasound, particularly if you have children, and you see a fetus there, kicking, moving, living, doing things that your own child does, bringing it’s thumb to its mouth, and things like that—it’s difficult. Then, after the procedure, sometimes we have to actually look at the specimen, and you see arms and legs and things like that torn off…It does take an emotional toll.”
Dr. “G,” an abortionist, described his work this way: “This was a perfect little fetus inside, and now it no longer is. I try not to focus on that too much…it is upsetting, and it’s embarrassing as well. I always feel uncomfortable if other people are watching me do this. I don’t like to expose them to this, well, carnage….because all it does is upset them.”
Or abortion clinic nurse Sally Tisdale, who described the impact of her work in an essay titled “We Do Abortions Here”: “I have fetus dreams, we all do here: dreams of abortions one after the other; of buckets of blood splashed on the walls; trees full of crawling fetuses. I dreamed that two men grabbed me and began to drag me away, ‘Let’s do an abortion,’ they said with a sickening leer, and I began to scream, plunged into a vision of sucking, scraping pain, of being spread and torn by impartial instruments that do only what they are bidden.”
I could go on. There are hundreds of testimonies just like that, from the men and women who have witnessed abortion first-hand. Their recounting of what goes on within the abortion industry tells a story of demonic darkness, dead children, and desperate evil.
None of this is beautiful.
If it was possible to define the opposite of beauty, surely what those men and women describe must be close: The beautiful face of a perfect child, sliced cruelly from her skull. The beautiful fingers and toes of a tiny baby, torn free of his body. The beautiful eyes of an infant, jarred free from her head during the violent decapitation that killed her.
Abortion is not beautiful, and the abortion industry is a hellhole where beauty goes to die. No, worse—it is where beauty is murdered.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Scott Klusendorf about why he sees a fundamental flaw in the idea that locking down the country under the guise of preventing people from getting coronavirus.
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--After 70 days, public Masses to resume in Italy on May 18, with only Communion in the hand

ROME , Italy , May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Public Masses in Italy are set to resume on May 18 , according to a deal signed yesterday by Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti , President of the Italian Bishops ’ Conference , and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte .
It appears Holy Communion will only be distributed only in the hand , not on the tongue , and priests will wear disposable gloves while doing so .
While “ wearing the mask , taking care to cover their nose and mouth , and maintaining an adequate safety distance , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offer the host without coming into contact with the hands of the faithful.
” “ The distribution of Communion will take place after the celebrant and , perhaps , the extraordinary minister have taken care of the hygiene of their hands and put on disposable gloves , ” the decree stated .
Guidelines from the Thomistic Institute , which have been embraced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops , say the “ priest celebrant and other ministers should wear masks or gloves during the celebration of Mass .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the congregation during the entirety of the Mass .
In such circumstances , there is no substantial risk of infection ” ( emphasis in original ) .
The guidelines , which we made by theologians in consultation with doctors and health experts , continue : The Italian bishops announced , “ In compliance with the health regulations for the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency from SARS-CoV-2 , the decree indicates some measures to be carefully observed.
” As the Italian Bishops ’ Conference summarized on its website , those measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship during liturgical celebrations , the sanitation of places and objects , the precautions to be observed during liturgical and sacramental celebrations , the communication to be prepared for the faithful , as well as some general suggestions.
” “ The decree is the result of a deep collaboration and synergy between the Government , the Technical-Scientific Committee , and the Italian Bishops ’ Conference , where everyone has done their part responsibly , ” said Cardinal Bassetti .
Prime Minister Conte added the security measures “ express the provisions and modalities most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liturgical celebrations with the people takes place in the safest way.
” He thanked the Italian bishops “ for the moral and material support it is giving to the entire national community at this difficult time for the country.
” May 18 , the first day of public Masses in Italy , will be a Monday .
The feast of the Ascension will be celebrated in Italy not on a Thursday , but on Sunday , May 24 .
Public Masses in Italy were cancelled on March 8 .
Thus , by May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without any public Masses in the entire country .
In late April , Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò encouraged the bishops in Italy “ to decide how to act , with prudence and wisdom , in order to guarantee the Sacraments and the celebration of the Mass to the faithful.
” The Pope ’ s call for “ obedience ” to Italian “ phase 2 ” restrictions that continued a ban on public Masses was not only “ undue , but is also a violation of conscience and harmful to the health of souls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked , “ Do we think that Our Lord will judge us on having been obedient to Caesar , when this means disobeying God ?
Is the Christian not bound to conscientious objection , even at work , when that which is asked of him violates the Divine Law ?
” At the same time , Viganò said the newest decree of the Italian government violates a concordat between Italy and the Vatican , and thus international law , by keeping public Masses banned .
“ The Concordat between the Holy See and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has , as its ‘ native right , ’ full freedom and autonomy in carrying out her ministry , which is given proper social and public expression in the celebration of Holy Mass and the administration of the Sacraments , ” the former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States told Marco Tosatti .
“ No authority may interfere in this ministry , ” Viganò added , “ not even with the consent of Church authority , which is not the master of the Sacraments but rather the administrator of the grace conveyed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual bishop of a diocese , he said , to decide “ with full autonomy , for the good of the souls entrusted to him as Pastor , which functions may be celebrated there and by whom they may be celebrated.
” As LifeSiteNews reported , the Italian Bishops ’ Conference had criticized the Italian government on Sunday night for extending the ban on public worship into “ Phase 2 ” of its strategy against the COVID-19 coronavirus .
Following the statement of the Italian Bishops ’ Conference , Pope Francis asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of … obedience ” regarding “ Phase 2 ” of the country ’ s lockdown regulations .
“ At this time when measures for leaving the quarantine are beginning , let us pray to the Lord that He will give his people , to all of us , the grace of prudence and obedience , so that the pandemic does not return , ” the Pope said .

ROME, Italy, May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Public Masses in Italy are set to resume on May 18, according to a deal signed yesterday by Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
It appears Holy Communion will only be distributed only in the hand, not on the tongue, and priests will wear disposable gloves while doing so.
While “wearing the mask, taking care to cover their nose and mouth, and maintaining an adequate safety distance,” the priest has to “take care to offer the host without coming into contact with the hands of the faithful.”
“The distribution of Communion will take place after the celebrant and, perhaps, the extraordinary minister have taken care of the hygiene of their hands and put on disposable gloves,” the decree stated.
Guidelines from the Thomistic Institute, which have been embraced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, say the “priest celebrant and other ministers should not wear masks or gloves during the celebration of Mass. Instead, they should remain more than 6 feet from the congregation during the entirety of the Mass. In such circumstances, there is no substantial risk of infection” (emphasis in original).
The guidelines, which we made by theologians in consultation with doctors and health experts, continue:
A further consideration: the Mass is imbued with powerful sacramental and liturgical symbolism. Wearing a mask and gloves would be a detrimental counter-sign in this context, and it is not warranted by considerations of hygiene if the priest remains a proper distance from the congregation. (An analogy: public health officials do not wear masks during press conferences, given the nature of those public appearances and the distance between the officials and the audience/press, although they do wear them in private meetings.)
The Italian bishops announced, “In compliance with the health regulations for the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency from SARS-CoV-2, the decree indicates some measures to be carefully observed.”
As the Italian Bishops’ Conference summarized on its website, those measures include “the access to places of worship during liturgical celebrations, the sanitation of places and objects, the precautions to be observed during liturgical and sacramental celebrations, the communication to be prepared for the faithful, as well as some general suggestions.”
“The decree is the result of a deep collaboration and synergy between the Government, the Technical-Scientific Committee, and the Italian Bishops’ Conference, where everyone has done their part responsibly,” said Cardinal Bassetti.
Prime Minister Conte added the security measures “express the provisions and modalities most appropriate to ensure that the resumption of liturgical celebrations with the people takes place in the safest way.” He thanked the Italian bishops “for the moral and material support it is giving to the entire national community at this difficult time for the country.”
May 18, the first day of public Masses in Italy, will be a Monday. The feast of the Ascension will be celebrated in Italy not on a Thursday, but on Sunday, May 24.
Public Masses in Italy were cancelled on March 8. Thus, by May 18, 70 days will have passed without any public Masses in the entire country.
In late April, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò encouraged the bishops in Italy “to decide how to act, with prudence and wisdom, in order to guarantee the Sacraments and the celebration of the Mass to the faithful.”
The Pope’s call for “obedience” to Italian “phase 2” restrictions that continued a ban on public Masses was not only “undue, but is also a violation of conscience and harmful to the health of souls,” the archbishop said.
He asked, “Do we think that Our Lord will judge us on having been obedient to Caesar, when this means disobeying God? Is the Christian not bound to conscientious objection, even at work, when that which is asked of him violates the Divine Law?”
At the same time, Viganò said the newest decree of the Italian government violates a concordat between Italy and the Vatican, and thus international law, by keeping public Masses banned.
“The Concordat between the Holy See and the Italian State recognizes that the Church has, as its ‘native right,’ full freedom and autonomy in carrying out her ministry, which is given proper social and public expression in the celebration of Holy Mass and the administration of the Sacraments,” the former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States told Marco Tosatti.
“No authority may interfere in this ministry,” Viganò added, “not even with the consent of Church authority, which is not the master of the Sacraments but rather the administrator of the grace conveyed by them.”
It is the task of the individual bishop of a diocese, he said, to decide “with full autonomy, for the good of the souls entrusted to him as Pastor, which functions may be celebrated there and by whom they may be celebrated.”
As LifeSiteNews reported, the Italian Bishops’ Conference had criticized the Italian government on Sunday night for extending the ban on public worship into “Phase 2” of its strategy against the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Following the statement of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Pope Francis asked Catholics to pray for the “grace of … obedience” regarding “Phase 2” of the country’s lockdown regulations.
“At this time when measures for leaving the quarantine are beginning, let us pray to the Lord that He will give his people, to all of us, the grace of prudence and obedience, so that the pandemic does not return,” the Pope said.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Trump admin rejects CDC reopening guidelines over religious, economic, liberty concerns

PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Trump administration is pushing back against the US Centers for Disease Control ’ s ( CDC ) guidelines for lifting COVID-19 restrictions across the United States , arguing on multiple grounds including poteential infringement on religious liberty .
The CDC ’ s interim guidance document covers a range of areas , including schools , mass transit , restaurants , and more , with suggestions such as moving toward disposable utensils and closing bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ communities of faith ” is currently blank , with a note stating that it will be added later in consultation with the White House , Health and Human Services ’ Office for Civil Rights , and Office of Management and Budget ’ s Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs .
“ But White House and other administration officials rejected the recommendations over concerns that they were overly prescriptive , infringed on religious rights and risked further damaging an economy that Mr. Trump was banking on to recover quickly , ” the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently under consideration include encouraging facemasks inside churches , and considering “ suspending use of a choir or musical ensemble ” and “ temporarily limiting the sharing of frequently touched objects , ” such as prayer books or collection baskets .
The Times adds that another draft of the document clarifies that its recommendations are “ not intended to infringe on First Amendment rights as provided in the U.S. Constitution , ” and that the “ federal government may not prescribe standards for interactions of faith communities in houses of worship .
C.D.C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may consider and accept or reject.
” “ Protections against religious discrimination aren ’ t suspended during an emergency , ” HHS Office for Civil Rights director Roger Severino said .
“ This means the federal government can not single out religious conduct as somehow being more dangerous or worthy of scrutiny than comparable secular behavior.
” COVID-19 lockdown orders across the country have forced the suspension of many public gatherings and activities across the country for fear of spreading the virus .
Many such actions have been controversial , from ticketing pro-lifers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while maintaining recommended “ social distance ” from one another ) to prohibiting even drive-in church services .
A number of states have either either prohibited in-person services outright or severely limited the number of people who can be in a church at the same time .
US Attorney General William Barr has repeatedly warned states that the Bill of Rights remains in effect during this crisis , and that the Justice Department is willing to intervene if they infringe on religious freedoms .
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the world .

PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Trump administration is pushing back against the US Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines for lifting COVID-19 restrictions across the United States, arguing on multiple grounds including potential infringement on religious liberty.
The CDC’s interim guidance document covers a range of areas, including schools, mass transit, restaurants, and more, with suggestions such as moving toward disposable utensils and closing bus or subway routes. Its section for “communities of faith” is currently blank, with a note stating that it will be added later in consultation with the White House, Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights, and Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs.
“But White House and other administration officials rejected the recommendations over concerns that they were overly prescriptive, infringed on religious rights and risked further damaging an economy that Mr. Trump was banking on to recover quickly,” the New York Times reports.
The religious recommendations currently under consideration include encouraging facemasks inside churches, and considering “suspending use of a choir or musical ensemble” and “temporarily limiting the sharing of frequently touched objects,” such as prayer books or collection baskets.
The Times adds that another draft of the document clarifies that its recommendations are “not intended to infringe on First Amendment rights as provided in the U.S. Constitution,” and that the “federal government may not prescribe standards for interactions of faith communities in houses of worship. C.D.C. offers these suggestions that faith communities may consider and accept or reject.”
“Protections against religious discrimination aren’t suspended during an emergency,” HHS Office for Civil Rights director Roger Severino said. “This means the federal government cannot single out religious conduct as somehow being more dangerous or worthy of scrutiny than comparable secular behavior.”
COVID-19 lockdown orders across the country have forced the suspension of many public gatherings and activities across the country for fear of spreading the virus. Many such actions have been controversial, from ticketing pro-lifers for standing outside abortion centers (even while maintaining recommended “social distance” from one another) to prohibiting even drive-in church services. A number of states have either prohibited in-person services outright or severely limited the number of people who can be in a church at the same time.
US Attorney General William Barr has repeatedly warned states that the Bill of Rights remains in effect during this crisis, and that the Justice Department is willing to intervene if they infringe on religious freedoms.
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Prelates call out coronavirus shutdowns as “pretext” for government to gain control

Formerly Heart to Heart with Mother Miriam , Mother Miriam Live brings you inspiration and solutions for life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Miriam is a Catholic nun on a mission to bring hope to a world that @ @ @ @ @ let her share that hope and joy with you !
To tune into Mother Miriam @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page here every Monday to Friday at 10am .

To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate here.
Watch Mother Miriam's Live show from 5.8.2020. In today's show, Mother reads the petition signed by multiple cardinal, laity, and other prelates, “for the Church and the world” that warns that the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a “pretext” by world leaders to “control” people, strip them of their fundamental rights, while providing a “disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control.”
You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page.
Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live here.


lifesitenews--2020-05-08--First Canadian province launches govt tracing app for coronavirus, over 10K voluntarily download

EDMONTON , Alberta , May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Alberta is the first Canadian province to launch a coronavirus contact tracing application .
Since launching a week ago , the app has been reportedly downloaded by voluntary users more than 120,000 times , which would amount to about 3 percent of the province ’ s population of four million .
Alberta Health Services ( AHS ) ABTraceTogether app was created from open-source software called BlueTrace which comes from Singapore .
According to the government of Alberta ’ s website , “ [ i ] f you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( AHS ) will use information from ABTraceTogether to contact you on the number you used to register your account .
AHS contact tracers will tell you about your risk of exposure and the actions you should take.
” “ If you get COVID-19 , you 'll be asked to volunteer your ABTraceTogether logs so other users that you 've had close contact with can be notified , ” the website states .
“ The more Albertans who voluntarily download and use the app , the safer we 'll be , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the website adds .
In early April , the premier of Alberta , Jason Kenney , stated that quarantine orders would be strongly enforced with the help of contact tracing apps in the name of combating the coronavirus .
PETITION : Urge your premier to reject mandatory government surveillance post COVID-19 Sign the petition here .
Kenney said his government would model its new app after similar contact tracing apps used in South Korea , Taiwan , and Singapore .
“ We want to know if that person ’ s actually going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if not , we can deal with that individual before they spread the virus , ” Kenney said on April 8 in the Alberta Legislature .
Jay Cameron , a lawyer for the Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( JCCF ) , told LifeSiteNews that the legal group is closely keeping an eye on government-issued contact tracing apps .
“ We are watching carefully and remain concerned about the slippery slope and government comfort with accessing and utilizing personal data , ” said Cameron .
Earlier in the month , Cameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smartphone app constitutes a search .
“ Monitoring someone ’ s whereabouts using their cell phones is , of course , a search , ” said Cameron .
Although Alberta is the only province with a contact tracing app thus far , Manitoba , New Brunswick , Newfoundland and Labrador , and Saskatchewan are in the planning stages of potentially launching their own .
Quebec has said it will not use such technology , despite being the province hardest hit by the coronavirus .
British Columbia says they are not launching a contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy .
Ontario officials also say they are not looking into a contact tracing app yet , but the premier of Ontario , Doug Ford , said this past Monday that “ [ w ] e need a national plan for contact tracing.
” He did not say if this would include an app .
Contact tracing in Canada is mainly being done through public health officials who manually contact a coronavirus patient ’ s recent whereabouts individually .
A contact tracing app , on the other hand , uses the Bluetooth signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or other devices with the app installed , to track whom its user has been in close contact with .
The ABTraceTogether app works by storing information from users of the app on each other ’ s phones if they have been in the proximity of one another ( around two meters ) for more than 15 minutes .
Data are stored for 21 days .
Although the app is voluntary and does not store a person ’ s exact location as it does not use GPS , a user still needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to register for an account .
If a user of the app tests positive for coronavirus , AHS will contact that person and ask him to voluntarily share his app data with AHS .
AHS will then contact anyone who has the app installed on his phone and was close to that user in a certain time frame and urge any such people to get tested .
Canada ’ s privacy commissioner , Daniel Therrien , has given the federal government a framework to use regarding contact tracing apps but said earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from the government regarding his framework .
In a clip from a 2010 National Film Board documentary called Outbreak , Dr. Theresa Tam , Canada ’ s chief medical officer , said that to enforce quarantine orders you “ could track people , put bracelets on their arms.
” Tam has direct ties to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
She is one of seven people who sit on the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme ( IOAC ) .
Recently , pro-life Conservative M.P @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying in a letter and video that Tam should be fired for her coronavirus response .
Many demanded that he should apologize , but Sloan refused and stood by his comments .
Last week , the JCCF launched a constitutional legal challenge against the Alberta government over the constitutionality of Bill 10 , the Alberta Public Health ( Emergency Powers ) Amendment Act , 2020 .
The group filed this challenge this past Friday .
Bill 10 gives Alberta government ministers complete authority to enforce public health orders put in place to combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s approval .
John Carpay , president of the JCCF , said Bill 10 takes away the electorates ’ constitutional right to have their elected representatives be involved in the law-making process .
“ Bill 10 is a betrayal of the electorate and of the rule of law , ” said Carpay in the JCCF news release regarding the legal action .
Cameron told LifeSiteNews two weeks ago about his concerns regarding Bill 10 .
“ Because there is no limit on this power apart from prohibiting the unilateral creation of new taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near limitless use of power and therefore widespread abuse of civilians , ” said Cameron .
A JCCF analysis of Bill 10 says it gives the Alberta government and its ministers too much power .
Kenney recently said he hopes to revise the “ concerning ” parts of Bill 10 , but he has not yet done so .
Whistleblower Edward Snowden warned that authorities around the world are exploiting the pandemic to increase surveillance and track individuals .
Digital rights group Top10VPN recently warned that governments worldwide are working with big tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s smartphones as a tracking application for health authorities .

According to the government of Alberta’s website, '[i]f you're exposed to COVID-19, Alberta Health Services (AHS) will use information from ABTraceTogether to contact you.'
EDMONTON, Alberta, May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Alberta is the first Canadian province to launch a coronavirus contact tracing application. Since launching a week ago, the app has been reportedly downloaded by voluntary users more than 120,000 times, which would amount to about 3 percent of the province’s population of four million.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) ABTraceTogether app was created from open-source software called BlueTrace which comes from Singapore.
According to the government of Alberta’s website, “[i]f you're exposed to COVID-19, Alberta Health Services (AHS) will use information from ABTraceTogether to contact you on the number you used to register your account. AHS contact tracers will tell you about your risk of exposure and the actions you should take.”
“If you get COVID-19, you'll be asked to volunteer your ABTraceTogether logs so other users that you've had close contact with can be notified,” the website states.
“The more Albertans who voluntarily download and use the app, the safer we'll be, and the faster we can reopen the economy,” the website adds.
In early April, the premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney, stated that quarantine orders would be strongly enforced with the help of contact tracing apps in the name of combating the coronavirus.
PETITION: Urge your premier to reject mandatory government surveillance post COVID-19 Sign the petition here.
Kenney said his government would model its new app after similar contact tracing apps used in South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.
“We want to know if that person’s actually going to go home, and stay home and if not, we can deal with that individual before they spread the virus,” Kenney said on April 8 in the Alberta Legislature.
Jay Cameron, a lawyer for the Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), told LifeSiteNews that the legal group is closely keeping an eye on government-issued contact tracing apps.
“We are watching carefully and remain concerned about the slippery slope and government comfort with accessing and utilizing personal data,” said Cameron.
Earlier in the month, Cameron told LifeSiteNews that observing people via a smartphone app constitutes a search.
“Monitoring someone’s whereabouts using their cell phones is, of course, a search,” said Cameron.
Although Alberta is the only province with a contact tracing app thus far, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan are in the planning stages of potentially launching their own.
Quebec has said it will not use such technology, despite being the province hardest hit by the coronavirus. British Columbia says they are not launching a contact tracing app as part of their coronavirus strategy.
Ontario officials also say they are not looking into a contact tracing app yet, but the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, said this past Monday that “[w]e need a national plan for contact tracing.” He did not say if this would include an app.
Contact tracing in Canada is mainly being done through public health officials who manually contact a coronavirus patient’s recent whereabouts individually.
A contact tracing app, on the other hand, uses the Bluetooth signal from a person’s cell phone, or other devices with the app installed, to track whom its user has been in close contact with.
The ABTraceTogether app works by storing information from users of the app on each other’s phones if they have been in the proximity of one another (around two meters) for more than 15 minutes. Data are stored for 21 days.
Although the app is voluntary and does not store a person’s exact location as it does not use GPS, a user still needs to provide AHS with his phone number to register for an account.
If a user of the app tests positive for coronavirus, AHS will contact that person and ask him to voluntarily share his app data with AHS. AHS will then contact anyone who has the app installed on his phone and was close to that user in a certain time frame and urge any such people to get tested.
Canada’s privacy commissioner, Daniel Therrien, has given the federal government a framework to use regarding contact tracing apps but said earlier this week that he has yet to hear back from the government regarding his framework.
In a clip from a 2010 National Film Board documentary called Outbreak, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief medical officer, said that to enforce quarantine orders you “could track people, put bracelets on their arms.”
Tam has direct ties to the World Health Organization (WHO). She is one of seven people who sit on the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (IOAC).
Recently, pro-life Conservative M.P. Sloan sparked a media frenzy for saying in a letter and video that Tam should be fired for her coronavirus response. Many demanded that he should apologize, but Sloan refused and stood by his comments.
A recent multi-national intelligence report has validated Sloan’s criticism of Tam.
Last week, the JCCF launched a constitutional legal challenge against the Alberta government over the constitutionality of Bill 10, the Alberta Public Health (Emergency Powers) Amendment Act, 2020. The group filed this challenge this past Friday.
Bill 10 gives Alberta government ministers complete authority to enforce public health orders put in place to combat the coronavirus, without the legislature’s approval.
John Carpay, president of the JCCF, said Bill 10 takes away the electorates’ constitutional right to have their elected representatives be involved in the law-making process.
“Bill 10 is a betrayal of the electorate and of the rule of law,” said Carpay in the JCCF news release regarding the legal action.
Cameron told LifeSiteNews two weeks ago about his concerns regarding Bill 10.
“Because there is no limit on this power apart from prohibiting the unilateral creation of new taxes, it opens the door to the near limitless use of power and therefore widespread abuse of civilians,” said Cameron.
A JCCF analysis of Bill 10 says it gives the Alberta government and its ministers too much power.
Kenney recently said he hopes to revise the “concerning” parts of Bill 10, but he has not yet done so.
Whistleblower Edward Snowden warned that authorities around the world are exploiting the pandemic to increase surveillance and track individuals. Digital rights group Top10VPN recently warned that governments worldwide are working with big tech firms to develop software that uses people’s smartphones as a tracking application for health authorities.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Petition against mandatory coronavirus vaccination goes viral

May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — LifeSite ’ s petition rejecting mandatory coronavirus vaccination has gone viral — already attracting close to 100,000 signatures since its launch about 24 hours ago .
“ This global petition is growing massively , ” said Gualberto Garcia Jones , LifeSite ’ s director of advocacy .
“ The fact that so many people have signed shows there is deep unease about this around the world.
” Addressed to policymakers at all levels of government , the petition makes it clear that the government does not have the authority to force an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the coronavirus .
This petition is necessary because of the recent suggestions made by a variety of policymakers and “ influencers ” around the world supporting coronavirus vaccination .
• California ’ s Democratic governor , Gavin Newsom , just yesterday , said he thinks society can fully re-open only after a vaccine for the coronavirus has been produced .
• In Canada , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also been “ reflecting on ” the implications of a protocol forcing all Canadians to be vaccinated .
• Arch-globalist Bill Gates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaire somehow confers expertise in a vast array of topics , has also asserted that society will not return to “ normal ” until widespread vaccination for the coronavirus has taken place .
“ Of course , we believe that people of good will can disagree about the safety , efficacy and religious implications of vaccination against the coronavirus , ” said Garcia Jones .
“ But , we can not and will not permit the government to make that decision for us.
” PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fact that there is now a rush by “ Big Pharma ” to produce a new coronavirus vaccine .
“ Unwitting citizens must not be used as guinea pigs for new world order ideologues , or ‘ Big Pharma , ’ in pursuit of a vaccine ( and , profits ) which may not even protect against future mutated strains of the coronavirus , ” states the petition .
This petition calls on policymakers to be cool-headed in this regard , not allowing the rush to produce a new vaccine to itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program .
CLICK HERE to read and sign the petition .
** While LifeSite opposes immorally produced vaccines using aborted fetal cell lines , we do not have a position on any particular coronavirus vaccines produced without such moral problems .
We realize that many have general concerns about vaccines but also recognize that millions of lives have been saved due to vaccines .
The position that we take is that government absolutely does not possess that authority to force adults and their children to take a coronavirus vaccine .

May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — LifeSite’s petition rejecting mandatory coronavirus vaccination has gone viral — already attracting close to 100,000 signatures since its launch about 24 hours ago.
“This global petition is growing massively,” said Gualberto Garcia Jones, LifeSite’s director of advocacy. “The fact that so many people have signed shows there is deep unease about this around the world.”
Addressed to policymakers at all levels of government, the petition makes it clear that the government does not have the authority to force an adult or his children to be vaccinated** against the coronavirus.
This petition is necessary because of the recent suggestions made by a variety of policymakers and “influencers” around the world supporting coronavirus vaccination.
For example:
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, just yesterday, said he thinks society can fully re-open only after a vaccine for the coronavirus has been produced.
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also been “reflecting on” the implications of a protocol forcing all Canadians to be vaccinated.
Arch-globalist Bill Gates, who seems to believe that being a billionaire somehow confers expertise in a vast array of topics, has also asserted that society will not return to “normal” until widespread vaccination for the coronavirus has taken place.
“Of course, we believe that people of good will can disagree about the safety, efficacy and religious implications of vaccination against the coronavirus,” said Garcia Jones. “But, we cannot and will not permit the government to make that decision for us.”
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
It is a fact that there is now a rush by “Big Pharma” to produce a new coronavirus vaccine.
“Unwitting citizens must not be used as guinea pigs for new world order ideologues, or ‘Big Pharma,’ in pursuit of a vaccine (and, profits) which may not even protect against future mutated strains of the coronavirus,” states the petition.
This petition calls on policymakers to be cool-headed in this regard, not allowing the rush to produce a new vaccine to itself become the driving force behind a vaccination program.
CLICK HERE to read and sign the petition.
** While LifeSite opposes immorally produced vaccines using aborted fetal cell lines, we do not have a position on any particular coronavirus vaccines produced without such moral problems. We realize that many have general concerns about vaccines but also recognize that millions of lives have been saved due to vaccines. The position that we take is that government absolutely does not possess that authority to force adults and their children to take a coronavirus vaccine.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--California gov: State ‘not going back to normal’ until coronavirus vaccine developed

PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
SACRAMENTO , California , May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – California Gov .
Gavin Newsom , a Democrat , has claimed that his state will only get back to normal once a coronavirus vaccine has been developed .
As reported by SFGATE , Newsom said during a press conference on Tuesday that the Golden State was “ not going back to normal ” anytime soon .
“ It ’ s a new normal with adaptations and modifications , until we get to immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years for a vaccine to be fully developed and produced in the quantities needed within the United States .
Following Newsom ’ s logic , the state of emergency would have to continue for that amount of time , as well .
Bill Gates , whose foundation is heavily involved in funding the research to create a coronavirus vaccine , said a vaccine would be ready next year , at the earliest .
“ Like America ’ s top public health officials , I say that it is likely to be 18 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short as nine months or closer to two years , ” he wrote .
Pro-life and conservative activists have raised concerns about the pro-abortion , pro-contraception Gates Foundation ’ s role in the coronavirus response .
Bill Gates has also said he thinks life won ’ t go back to “ normal ” until the population is “ widely vaccinated ” and that “ eventually we will have some digital certificates to show who has recovered or been tested recently or when we have a vaccine who has received it.
” Gates has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MIT ) research that floated the idea of embedding vaccine records “ directly into the skin ” of children .
“ Along with the vaccine , a child would be injected with a bit of dye that is invisible to the naked eye but easily seen with a special cell-phone filter , combined with an app that shines near-infrared light onto the skin , ” an article in Scientific American explained .
“ The dye would be expected to last up to five years , according to tests on pig and rat skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The idea was “ funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , ” Scientific American explained , and it “ came about because of a direct request from Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates himself , who has been supporting efforts to wipe out diseases such as polio and measles across the world.
” Concerns about vaccines made using cells from aborted babies Some Catholic leaders and pro-life activists have raised concerns about any potential vaccines made using cell lines from aborted babies .
In March , Janssen Pharmaceuticals , Inc. ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 456 million in federal funding for their vaccine project using the PER C6 cell line , which comes from retinal tissue from an aborted baby .
On April 17 , Archbishop of Kansas City and U.S. bishops ’ head of pro-life activities Joseph Naumann , Bishop John Doerfler of Marquette , and Archbishop of Oklahoma City Paul Coakley , along with pro-life leaders from around the United States , sent an open letter to the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) about this issue .
“ To be clear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective , safe , and widely available vaccine as quickly as possible , ” they wrote .
“ However , we also strongly urge our federal government to ensure that fundamental moral principles are followed in the development of such vaccines , most importantly , the principle that human life is sacred and should never be exploited.
” Bishop Joseph Strickland released a pastoral letter asking faithful Catholics to join him in helping to bring to a “ halt ” any development of a coronavirus vaccine derived from aborted babies .
“ Tragically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have chosen to turn a blind eye to the advances in medical science which allow vaccines to be developed with the wholesale use of aborted children ’ s bodies , ” the bishop of Tyler in Northeast Texas wrote on April 23 .
He admitted that “ until recently , I knew very little about ” the use “ stem cells from aborted babies in developing vaccines.
” Strickland stressed that just because “ the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cure a global pandemic .
Emphatically , this practice is evil.
” “ As your Shepherd , ” the bishop wrote , “ I urge you to join me , NOW , in passionately but prayerfully speaking out against this practice .
As I said in the beginning of this letter , I will help you navigate this storm as best as I can.
” “ I ask you to join your voices with mine in an effort to bring to a halt [ this ] reality.
” “ We must insist that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and immoral nature of any use of the remains of aborted babies for research , ” he added .
“ Further , we must insist that pharmaceutical companies comply with such legislation .
I believe this can be a significant building block in a culture of life which eliminates the taint of economic gain that too easily infects the abortion industry.
” People all across California have protested Newsom ’ s stay-at-home orders .
“ Hundreds of people – likely more than 1,000 – crowded around the California State Capitol ” in Sacramento @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out , protesters were comprised of “ a wide swath of political factions , including struggling business owners , flag-waving supporters of President Trump and religious conservatives .
Still , for all the movement ’ s array of supporters , its organizing muscle has been activists against mandatory childhood vaccinations.
” Christian groups within the Golden State have been suing the government for not being able to gather for religious purposes .
Pastor Jon Duncan of Cross Culture Christian Center in Lodi , California , just south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasized that “ [ w ] e can ’ t allow urgency to suspend liberty – otherwise freedom is a false promise .
This is not the America that I know .
This is authoritarian overreach.
” “ Fundamental and unalienable rights are , by their very nature , ‘ essential , ’ ” the complaint filed by the pastor explained .
“ Yet the State of California has , in a sweeping abuse of its power , criminalized all religious assembly and communal religious worship while allowing citizens to gather at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Walmart , CVS , Costco , Home Depot , and many other locations which are deemed ‘ essential.
’ ” So far , just over 60,000 people in California tested positive for the coronavirus .
The state is reporting about 2,500 deaths , almost 80 percent of which were men and women older than 65 years .

'It’s a new normal with adaptations and modifications, until we get to immunity and a vaccine,' Governor Newsom said.
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
SACRAMENTO, California, May 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has claimed that his state will only get back to normal once a coronavirus vaccine has been developed.
As reported by SFGATE, Newsom said during a press conference on Tuesday that the Golden State was “not going back to normal” anytime soon. “It’s a new normal with adaptations and modifications, until we get to immunity and a vaccine.”
It could take years for a vaccine to be fully developed and produced in the quantities needed within the United States. Following Newsom’s logic, the state of emergency would have to continue for that amount of time, as well.
Bill Gates, whose foundation is heavily involved in funding the research to create a coronavirus vaccine, said a vaccine would be ready next year, at the earliest. “Like America’s top public health officials, I say that it is likely to be 18 months, even though it could be as short as nine months or closer to two years,” he wrote.
Pro-life and conservative activists have raised concerns about the pro-abortion, pro-contraception Gates Foundation’s role in the coronavirus response. Bill Gates has also said he thinks life won’t go back to “normal” until the population is “widely vaccinated” and that “eventually we will have some digital certificates to show who has recovered or been tested recently or when we have a vaccine who has received it.”
Gates has also funded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) research that floated the idea of embedding vaccine records “directly into the skin” of children.
“Along with the vaccine, a child would be injected with a bit of dye that is invisible to the naked eye but easily seen with a special cell-phone filter, combined with an app that shines near-infrared light onto the skin,” an article in Scientific American explained. “The dye would be expected to last up to five years, according to tests on pig and rat skin and human skin in a dish.”
The idea was “funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Scientific American explained, and it “came about because of a direct request from Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates himself, who has been supporting efforts to wipe out diseases such as polio and measles across the world.”
Concerns about vaccines made using cells from aborted babies
Some Catholic leaders and pro-life activists have raised concerns about any potential vaccines made using cell lines from aborted babies.
In March, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) was granted more than $456 million in federal funding for their vaccine project using the PER C6 cell line, which comes from retinal tissue from an aborted baby.
On April 17, Archbishop of Kansas City and U.S. bishops’ head of pro-life activities Joseph Naumann, Bishop John Doerfler of Marquette, and Archbishop of Oklahoma City Paul Coakley, along with pro-life leaders from around the United States, sent an open letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about this issue.
“To be clear, we strongly support efforts to develop an effective, safe, and widely available vaccine as quickly as possible,” they wrote. “However, we also strongly urge our federal government to ensure that fundamental moral principles are followed in the development of such vaccines, most importantly, the principle that human life is sacred and should never be exploited.”
Bishop Joseph Strickland released a pastoral letter asking faithful Catholics to join him in helping to bring to a “halt” any development of a coronavirus vaccine derived from aborted babies.
“Tragically, people are not aware of or have chosen to turn a blind eye to the advances in medical science which allow vaccines to be developed with the wholesale use of aborted children’s bodies,” the bishop of Tyler in Northeast Texas wrote on April 23.
He admitted that “until recently, I knew very little about” the use “stem cells from aborted babies in developing vaccines.”
Strickland stressed that just because “the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use the dead bodies of these children to cure a global pandemic. Emphatically, this practice is evil.”
“As your Shepherd,” the bishop wrote, “I urge you to join me, NOW, in passionately but prayerfully speaking out against this practice. As I said in the beginning of this letter, I will help you navigate this storm as best as I can.”
“I ask you to join your voices with mine in an effort to bring to a halt [this] reality.”
“We must insist that legislators create legislation which establishes the illegal and immoral nature of any use of the remains of aborted babies for research,” he added. “Further, we must insist that pharmaceutical companies comply with such legislation. I believe this can be a significant building block in a culture of life which eliminates the taint of economic gain that too easily infects the abortion industry.”
Californians say they’re facing ‘authoritarian overreach’
People all across California have protested Newsom’s stay-at-home orders.
“Hundreds of people – likely more than 1,000 – crowded around the California State Capitol” in Sacramento, reported the Los Angeles Times.
As the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, protesters were comprised of “a wide swath of political factions, including struggling business owners, flag-waving supporters of President Trump and religious conservatives. Still, for all the movement’s array of supporters, its organizing muscle has been activists against mandatory childhood vaccinations.”
Christian groups within the Golden State have been suing the government for not being able to gather for religious purposes.
Pastor Jon Duncan of Cross Culture Christian Center in Lodi, California, just south of the state’s capital, emphasized that “[w]e can’t allow urgency to suspend liberty – otherwise freedom is a false promise. This is not the America that I know. This is authoritarian overreach.”
“Fundamental and unalienable rights are, by their very nature, ‘essential,’” the complaint filed by the pastor explained. “Yet the State of California has, in a sweeping abuse of its power, criminalized all religious assembly and communal religious worship while allowing citizens to gather at a liquor store, pot-dispensary, Planned Parenthood, Walmart, CVS, Costco, Home Depot, and many other locations which are deemed ‘essential.’”
So far, just over 60,000 people in California tested positive for the coronavirus. The state is reporting about 2,500 deaths, almost 80 percent of which were men and women older than 65 years.
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lifesitenews--2020-05-08--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

May 8 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united in praying the rosary together , at the same time , every day at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
To date , Catholics from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as other countries , have been joining in .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we can shape history , change the world , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

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