lifesitenews--2020-04-22--US Attorney General warns governors they’re infringing on ‘fundamental rights’ over COVID-19

April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – U.S. Attorney General William Barr had some stern words for governors across the country Tuesday , stating that the actions of some have crossed the line from defensible public-health measures into violations of the Constitution .
COVID-19 lockdown orders 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hugh Hewitt , Barr explained that “ whatever powers the government has , whether it be the president or the state governor , still is bounded by Constitutional rights of the individual .
Our federal Constitutional rights don ’ t go away in an emergency.
” While the law allows for certain “ burdens ” to be placed on the exercise of constitutional rights during a legitimate emergency , he continued , those measures must be “ targeted , ” “ strictly necessary , ” and “ use less intrusive means if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem.
” PETITION : Thank President Trump for halting U.S. funding to pro-abortion World Health Organization Sign the petition here .
Barr went on to note that there are “ potentials for collision ” between federal and state power in the current situation .
“ When a governor acts , especially when a governor does something that intrudes upon or infringes on a fundamental right or a Constitutional right , they ’ re bounded by that , ” he said .
“ And those situations are emerging around the country , to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s issuing of a court filing siding with drive-in worshippers in Mississippi .
Barr explained that “ we did more than put them on notice , ” and as a result the “ government has pulled back from those restrictions at least to some degree , ” but progress remains to be made .
“ I think we have to make a distinction between orders that tell people or principles that say you know , you have to keep your distance of six feet , you should be washing , you should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you ’ re out and about , ” he said , and “ blunter instruments that say everyone has to shelter in place , to stay at home regardless of the situation on the ground , or you know , you shut down a business regardless of the capacity of the business to operate safely for its customers and its employees.
” In a previous statement , Barr reminded state officials that “ government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar non-religious activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship continue to be central to the lives of millions of Americans .
This is true more so than ever during this difficult time.
” He vowed that the Justice Department “ will continue to ensure that religious freedom remains protected if any state or local government , in their response to COVID-19 , singles out , targets , or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions . ''
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world .

April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – U.S. Attorney General William Barr had some stern words for governors across the country Tuesday, stating that the actions of some have crossed the line from defensible public-health measures into violations of the Constitution.
COVID-19 lockdown orders 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.
Speaking to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Barr explained that “whatever powers the government has, whether it be the president or the state governor, still is bounded by Constitutional rights of the individual. Our federal Constitutional rights don’t go away in an emergency.”
While the law allows for certain “burdens” to be placed on the exercise of constitutional rights during a legitimate emergency, he continued, those measures must be “targeted,” “strictly necessary,” and “use less intrusive means if they are equally effective in dealing with the problem.”
PETITION: Thank President Trump for halting U.S. funding to pro-abortion World Health Organization Sign the petition here.
Barr went on to note that there are “potentials for collision” between federal and state power in the current situation. “When a governor acts, especially when a governor does something that intrudes upon or infringes on a fundamental right or a Constitutional right, they’re bounded by that,” he said. “And those situations are emerging around the country, to some extent.”
Hewitt referenced the Justice Department’s issuing of a court filing siding with drive-in worshippers in Mississippi. Barr explained that “we did more than put them on notice,” and as a result the “government has pulled back from those restrictions at least to some degree,” but progress remains to be made.
“I think we have to make a distinction between orders that tell people or principles that say you know, you have to keep your distance of six feet, you should be washing, you should be wearing (personal protective equipment) when you’re out and about,” he said, and “blunter instruments that say everyone has to shelter in place, to stay at home regardless of the situation on the ground, or you know, you shut down a business regardless of the capacity of the business to operate safely for its customers and its employees.”
In a previous statement, Barr reminded state officials that “government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar non-religious activity,” and that “religion and religious worship continue to be central to the lives of millions of Americans. This is true more so than ever during this difficult time.” He vowed that the Justice Department “will continue to ensure that religious freedom remains protected if any state or local government, in their response to COVID-19, singles out, targets, or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions.”
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Netflix subscriptions surge by the millions as churches stay closed: Live coronavirus updates

LifeSite ’ s previous ( and future ) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE .
The Associated Press reports , “ Netflix picked up nearly 16 million global subscribers during the first three months of the year , helping cement its status as one of the world ’ s most essential services in times of isolation or crisis.
” April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – U.S. Attorney General William Barr , who previously asked Congress for the power to suspend certain basic legal rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state governors have gone too far with their shutdown orders .
Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department would support legal action against states that continue to impose strict social distancing rules even after coronavirus cases begin to subside in their respective states .
In a Tuesday interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt , Barr called some current stay-at-home orders “ burdens on civil liberties ” and said that if they continued and lawsuits were brought , his department would side against the state .
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yorkers were urged to text photos of violations of so-called social distancing rules , has apparently backfired .
It was flooded with photos of genitalia , obscene hand gestures , de Blasio dropping the Staten Island groundhog ( it later died of internal injuries ) , and Hitler memes about how turning neighbors in is the “ Reich ” thing to do .
The state of New York also “ just issued a drastic new guideline urging emergency services workers not to bother trying to revive anyone without a pulse when they get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus patients , ” the New York Post reports .
“ Some Catholic churches in Idaho are in the early stages of getting ready to reopen , ” a local news outlet reports .
A spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Boise clarified that parishes are “ opening only for private prayer and devotion not for church services or any kind of liturgy or any sort.
” In the same state , a mom was arrested for “ trespassing ” at a closed playground .
Also in Idaho , a woman faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 fine for holding a “ nonessential ” yard sale .
Iowa is releasing prisoners to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Protesters are convening in Richmond , Virginia , today , demanding the state re-open .
Similar protests are popping up around the U.S. A Wall Street Journal article titled “ The Lockdown Rebellion ” explains the contempt of privileged elites for people who are begging for an end to the draconian lockdowns .
“ Tor the most part , ” people at such protests are “ simply struggling Americans who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is turning out to be worse than the disease.
” “ The do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do behavior of those imposing these rules isn ’ t boosting trust in authorities , either , whether it be Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot going out to get her hair done or New York Mayor Bill de Blasio being driven to his gym even as they were imploring everyone else to stay home , ” the article notes .
• Suit aims to close Texas abortion mills using up protective gear in coronavirus pandemic • YouTube CEO : We ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on COVID-19 • With many having lost their jobs , remember St. Cajetan - patron of those seeking work • Scott Hahn : I ‘ wish ’ pastors could find ‘ creative ’ ways to dispense sacraments ‘ instead of simply shutting the doors ’ • Swiss churches put consecrated hosts in match boxes for faithful to take • California backs down , allows drive-in church services following lawsuit

Live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to pro-life issues, faith, and freedom.
LifeSite’s previous (and future) live updates on the coronavirus crisis and how it relates to issues our readers care about can be viewed HERE.
The Associated Press reports, “Netflix picked up nearly 16 million global subscribers during the first three months of the year, helping cement its status as one of the world’s most essential services in times of isolation or crisis.”
April 23, 2020, 3:25 p.m. EST: Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren’s brother has died from the coronavirus. The former presidential candidate tweeted:
My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader. https://t.co/b8m0xKzAmM — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
April 23, 2020, 8:09 a.m. Below is more recent LifeSiteNews coverage of the coronavirus crisis:
April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – U.S. Attorney General William Barr, who previously asked Congress for the power to suspend certain basic legal rights during the pandemic, now says some state governors have gone too far with their shutdown orders.
NPR reports:
Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department would support legal action against states that continue to impose strict social distancing rules even after coronavirus cases begin to subside in their respective states. In a Tuesday interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Barr called some current stay-at-home orders “burdens on civil liberties” and said that if they continued and lawsuits were brought, his department would side against the state.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s tip line, to which New Yorkers were urged to text photos of violations of so-called social distancing rules, has apparently backfired. It was flooded with photos of genitalia, obscene hand gestures, de Blasio dropping the Staten Island groundhog (it later died of internal injuries), and Hitler memes about how turning neighbors in is the “Reich” thing to do.
The state of New York also “just issued a drastic new guideline urging emergency services workers not to bother trying to revive anyone without a pulse when they get to a scene, amid an overload of coronavirus patients,” the New York Post reports.
“Some Catholic churches in Idaho are in the early stages of getting ready to reopen,” a local news outlet reports. A spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Boise clarified that parishes are “opening only for private prayer and devotion not for church services or any kind of liturgy or any sort.”
In the same state, a mom was arrested for “trespassing” at a closed playground.
Also in Idaho, a woman faces six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for holding a “nonessential” yard sale.
Iowa is releasing prisoners to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Protesters are convening in Richmond, Virginia, today, demanding the state re-open. Similar protests are popping up around the U.S. A Wall Street Journal article titled “The Lockdown Rebellion” explains the contempt of privileged elites for people who are begging for an end to the draconian lockdowns.
“Tor the most part,” people at such protests are “simply struggling Americans who have concluded that—at least for them—the cure is turning out to be worse than the disease.”
“The do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do behavior of those imposing these rules isn’t boosting trust in authorities, either, whether it be Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot going out to get her hair done or New York Mayor Bill de Blasio being driven to his gym even as they were imploring everyone else to stay home,” the article notes.
Recent LifeSiteNews articles on the coronavirus crisis include:
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Suit aims to close Texas abortion mills using up protective gear in coronavirus pandemic

FORT WORTH , Texas , April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Thomas More Society has filed a lawsuit against the City of Fort Worth , Mayor Betsy Price , and two abortion vendors , seeking an immediate injunction to prevent abortion providers from consuming the personal protective equipment that is in short supply and desperately needed by the medical personnel on the front lines fighting the ravages of COVID-19 and the spread of the deadly disease .
The complaint charges that Price and the City of Fort Worth are violating Texas law by suspending non-emergency surgeries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elective abortions to continue .
Mayor Price ’ s April 7 , 2020 stay-at-home order prohibits all elective medical , surgical , and dental procedures within city limits .
Meanwhile , abortion clinics in Fort Worth have been continuing to perform drug-induced abortions despite this city-wide ban .
The lawsuit asks the Court to enjoin the city from enforcing its stay-at-home order until it is amended or clarified to disallow abortions “ on the same terms that it prohibits other elective surgeries and procedures.
” The lawsuit accuses the city ’ s abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment on elective and unlawful abortions , at a time when every piece of personal protective equipment must be conserved , to the maximum possible extent , for workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and others who are providing life-saving or essential medical treatments.
” It also alleges that medical professionals who need personal protective equipment for treating COVID-19 patents “ will suffer probable , imminent , and irreparable injury absent a temporary injunction , ” because the defendant abortion clinics are squandering scarce personal protective equipment on elective procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has never repealed its pre–Roe v. Wade statutes that criminalize abortion unless the mother ’ s life is in danger , and it asks the Court to declare that these statutes still exist as the law of Texas even though the federal judiciary is currently unwilling to enforce them on account of Roe v. Wade .
Tom Brejcha , President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society , explained : “ The City of Fort Worth can not order a suspension of all ‘ elective ’ surgeries and procedures and then carve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the city is halting elective procedures to preserve personal protective equipment for the COVID-19 pandemic , then elective abortions must be stopped as well .
That is especially true when the law of Texas continues to define abortion as a criminal offense unless the mother ’ s life is in danger.
” Read the Thomas More Society ’ s complaint filed on behalf of Gregory B. Scheideman , William F. Runyon Jr. , David W. Kostohryz Jr. , John Kelley , Fort Worth Oral Surgery PA , Kelley Orthodontics , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , filed April 17 , 2020 , with the in Tarrant County , Texas , District Court in Scheideman , et al .
v. City of Fort Worth et al.
, here .

The complaint charges that Fort Worth and its mayor are violating Texas law by suspending non-emergency surgeries and procedures while allowing elective abortions to continue.
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Thomas More Society has filed a lawsuit against the City of Fort Worth, Mayor Betsy Price, and two abortion vendors, seeking an immediate injunction to prevent abortion providers from consuming the personal protective equipment that is in short supply and desperately needed by the medical personnel on the front lines fighting the ravages of COVID-19 and the spread of the deadly disease.
The complaint charges that Price and the City of Fort Worth are violating Texas law by suspending non-emergency surgeries and procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic while allowing elective abortions to continue. Mayor Price’s April 7, 2020 stay-at-home order prohibits all elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures within city limits. Meanwhile, abortion clinics in Fort Worth have been continuing to perform drug-induced abortions despite this city-wide ban. The lawsuit asks the Court to enjoin the city from enforcing its stay-at-home order until it is amended or clarified to disallow abortions “on the same terms that it prohibits other elective surgeries and procedures.”
The lawsuit accuses the city’s abortion providers of “selfishly consuming personal protective equipment on elective and unlawful abortions, at a time when every piece of personal protective equipment must be conserved, to the maximum possible extent, for workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and others who are providing life-saving or essential medical treatments.” It also alleges that medical professionals who need personal protective equipment for treating COVID-19 patents “will suffer probable, imminent, and irreparable injury absent a temporary injunction,” because the defendant abortion clinics are squandering scarce personal protective equipment on elective procedures.
The complaint also notes that Texas has never repealed its pre–Roe v. Wade statutes that criminalize abortion unless the mother’s life is in danger, and it asks the Court to declare that these statutes still exist as the law of Texas even though the federal judiciary is currently unwilling to enforce them on account of Roe v. Wade.
Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society, explained: “The City of Fort Worth cannot order a suspension of all ‘elective’ surgeries and procedures and then carve out special dispensations for abortion providers. If the city is halting elective procedures to preserve personal protective equipment for the COVID-19 pandemic, then elective abortions must be stopped as well. That is especially true when the law of Texas continues to define abortion as a criminal offense unless the mother’s life is in danger.”
Read the Thomas More Society’s complaint filed on behalf of Gregory B. Scheideman, William F. Runyon Jr., David W. Kostohryz Jr., John Kelley, Fort Worth Oral Surgery PA, Kelley Orthodontics, and the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, filed April 17, 2020, with the in Tarrant County, Texas, District Court in Scheideman, et al. v. City of Fort Worth et al., here.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Dutch Supreme Court uses forced euthanasia case to expand permission to kill patients

April 22 , 2020 ( National Review ) — More than 20 years ago , the Dutch Supreme Court approved the assisted suicide of a woman in despair because her children had died .
So we shouldn ’ t be surprised that it has now explicitly approved the forced euthanasia of patients with dementia if they asked to be killed before becoming incompetent .
From Reuters : The Dutch Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that doctors could legally carry out euthanasia on people with advanced dementia who had earlier put their wishes in writing even if they could no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ruling is a landmark in Dutch euthanasia legislation which up to now had required patients to confirm euthanasia requests .
This had not been considered possible for mentally incapacitated patients like advanced dementia sufferers .
“ A doctor can carry out an ( earlier ) written request for euthanasia from people with advanced dementia , ” the Supreme Court said in a summary of its decision .
What the Reuters story failed to mention — and apparently the Supreme Court found to be irrelevant — is that the case in question involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nor does the story mention that the doctor had drugged the woman before starting to euthanize her , and that the doctor instructed the family to hold the struggling woman down so that she could administer the lethal injection .
Moreover , the patient had also stated in her instructions that she wanted to decide “ when ” the time for death had come — which she never did .
The termination “ choice ” was made by the doctor and/or family in violation of the patient ’ s advance directive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ let inconvenient facts get in the way of furthering the Netherlands ’ ever-expanding national killing policy that already permits infanticide , joint geriatric euthanasia of married couples , termination of the mentally ill , conjoining euthanasia with organ harvesting , and the lethal injections of people with disabilities ?
Published with permission from the National Review .

We shouldn’t be surprised that the Court has now explicitly approved the forced euthanasia of patients with dementia if they asked to be killed before becoming incompetent.
April 22, 2020 (National Review) — More than 20 years ago, the Dutch Supreme Court approved the assisted suicide of a woman in despair because her children had died. So we shouldn’t be surprised that it has now explicitly approved the forced euthanasia of patients with dementia if they asked to be killed before becoming incompetent. From Reuters:
The Dutch Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that doctors could legally carry out euthanasia on people with advanced dementia who had earlier put their wishes in writing even if they could no longer confirm them because of their illness. The ruling is a landmark in Dutch euthanasia legislation which up to now had required patients to confirm euthanasia requests. This had not been considered possible for mentally incapacitated patients like advanced dementia sufferers. “A doctor can carry out an (earlier) written request for euthanasia from people with advanced dementia,” the Supreme Court said in a summary of its decision.
What the Reuters story failed to mention — and apparently the Supreme Court found to be irrelevant — is that the case in question involved a woman who fought against being killed. Nor does the story mention that the doctor had drugged the woman before starting to euthanize her, and that the doctor instructed the family to hold the struggling woman down so that she could administer the lethal injection. Moreover, the patient had also stated in her instructions that she wanted to decide “when” the time for death had come — which she never did. The termination “choice” was made by the doctor and/or family in violation of the patient’s advance directive.
But why would the Dutch Supreme Court let inconvenient facts get in the way of furthering the Netherlands’ ever-expanding national killing policy that already permits infanticide, joint geriatric euthanasia of married couples, termination of the mentally ill, conjoining euthanasia with organ harvesting, and the lethal injections of people with disabilities?
Published with permission from the National Review.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Scott Hahn: I ‘wish’ pastors could find ‘creative’ ways to dispense sacraments ‘instead of simply sh

Scott Hahn: I ‘wish’ pastors could find ‘creative’ ways to dispense sacraments ‘instead of simply shutting the doors’

Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world : Feed your flock !
Sign the petition here .
April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – During an appearance on The John-Henry Westen Show yesterday , renowned Scripture scholar Scott Hahn said that he wished Catholic clergy “ could be more creative in imagining ways to dispense the sacraments instead of simply shutting the doors.
” Hahn , who just released a book on death titled , “ Hope to Die : The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body , ” was responding to a question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the sacraments during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We were all caught off guard [ by this virus ] , ” Hahn said , “ and we do n't want to jeopardize the lives of our priests or our bishops ... and so we ought to avoid any kind of congregating that would put people at risk.
” “ At the same time , ” he continued , “ I ’ m a father and I long to not only provide for my kids , but to feed them , to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're fed .
And so for me to not have the Holy Eucharist through most of Lent and now through the beginning of Easter is not an easy thing.
” “ I do wish that our spiritual fathers , our priests could be more creative in imagining ways to dispense the sacraments instead of simply shutting the doors .
I 'm not in a position to judge them , you know .
That is not my role .
That 's way beyond my paygrade .
But at the same time , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother in God 's family , I can ask our Father in heaven to give to our shepherds a greater energy to creatively imagine ways to feed the sheep in spite of everything.
” Following the outbreak of the coronavirus , every Catholic diocese in the United States cancelled public masses .
Some bishops went so far as to tell their priests to stop hearing Confessions .
As a result , Catholics started attending outdoor Adoration services as well as “ parking lot ” Masses offered by groups like the Society of St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baldacchino , the Bishop of Las Cruces , New Mexico , lifted the ban on public masses but limited the number of attendees to no more than five , including the priest .
Hahn has two sons in the seminary studying to be priests for the Diocese of Steubenville .
He said that he hopes the coronavirus crisis is not only a “ wakeup call to see what all of us have at times taken for granted ” but that Catholics will “ seize the opportunity and re-appropriate the sacred mysteries.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only the inevitability of our suffering and death , but there is also a sense in which we can recognize what God wants to do with it , ” he said .
“ We have such an inordinate fear of suffering and dying .
And that 's understandable .
But at the same time…there 's another life that is not merely human and natural , but divine and supernatural .
And that is n't less valuable , but infinitely more valuable.
” Hahn is the author of more than 40 books and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Show is available by video on the show ’ s YouTube channel and right here on my LifeSite blog .
It is also available in audio format on platforms such as Spotify , Soundcloud , and ACast .
We are awaiting approval for iTunes and Google Play as well .
To subscribe to the audio version on various channels , visit the ACast webpage here .
We ’ ve created a special email list for the show so that we can notify you every week when we post a new episode .
Please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel , and you ’ ll be notified by YouTube when there is new content .
You can send me feedback , or ideas for show topics by emailing [ email protected ] .

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus, every Catholic diocese in the United States cancelled public masses.
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock! Sign the petition here.
April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – During an appearance on The John-Henry Westen Show yesterday, renowned Scripture scholar Scott Hahn said that he wished Catholic clergy “could be more creative in imagining ways to dispense the sacraments instead of simply shutting the doors.”
Hahn, who just released a book on death titled, “Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body,” was responding to a question about how Catholics have been cut off from the sacraments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were all caught off guard [by this virus],” Hahn said, “and we don't want to jeopardize the lives of our priests or our bishops…and so we ought to avoid any kind of congregating that would put people at risk.”
“At the same time,” he continued, “I’m a father and I long to not only provide for my kids, but to feed them, to protect them, but to make sure that they're fed. And so for me to not have the Holy Eucharist through most of Lent and now through the beginning of Easter is not an easy thing.”
“I do wish that our spiritual fathers, our priests could be more creative in imagining ways to dispense the sacraments instead of simply shutting the doors. I'm not in a position to judge them, you know. That is not my role. That's way beyond my paygrade. But at the same time, as a son of God and as a brother in God's family, I can ask our Father in heaven to give to our shepherds a greater energy to creatively imagine ways to feed the sheep in spite of everything.”
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus, every Catholic diocese in the United States cancelled public masses. Some bishops went so far as to tell their priests to stop hearing Confessions. As a result, Catholics started attending outdoor Adoration services as well as “parking lot” Masses offered by groups like the Society of St. Pius X. Last week, Peter Baldacchino, the Bishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico, lifted the ban on public masses but limited the number of attendees to no more than five, including the priest.
Hahn has two sons in the seminary studying to be priests for the Diocese of Steubenville. He said that he hopes the coronavirus crisis is not only a “wakeup call to see what all of us have at times taken for granted” but that Catholics will “seize the opportunity and re-appropriate the sacred mysteries.”
“It's forcing us to recognize not only the inevitability of our suffering and death, but there is also a sense in which we can recognize what God wants to do with it,” he said.
“We have such an inordinate fear of suffering and dying. And that's understandable. But at the same time…there's another life that is not merely human and natural, but divine and supernatural. And that isn't less valuable, but infinitely more valuable.”
Hahn is the author of more than 40 books and a well-known public speaker.
The John-Henry Westen Show is available by video on the show’s YouTube channel and right here on my LifeSite blog.
It is also available in audio format on platforms such as Spotify, Soundcloud, and ACast. We are awaiting approval for iTunes and Google Play as well. To subscribe to the audio version on various channels, visit the ACast webpage here.
We’ve created a special email list for the show so that we can notify you every week when we post a new episode. Please sign up now by clicking here. You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel, and you’ll be notified by YouTube when there is new content.
You can send me feedback, or ideas for show topics by emailing [email protected].
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

April 22 , 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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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Why more work will be needed even if Roe v Wade is over-turned

April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Abortion has been a controversial topic for decades , but how much do you really know about the history of abortion ?
In today ’ s episode of The Van Maren Show Marvin Olasky , editor-in-chief of WORLD magazine and author of pro-life books , joins Jonathon to discuss the true history of the pro-life movement and what it can teach us about winning the culture war .
Olasky has written one of the greatest collections of abortion history in America , but he wasn ’ t always pro-life .
In college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the Soviet Union , and planned to become a Soviet agent after finishing his graduate work .
Through numerous small experiences , Olasky came to realize there was a God and moved on from the communist party .
Olasky eventually became an Orthodox Presbyterian and began to realize the importance of every single life .
Olasky ’ s wife started volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center and they both grew in their pro-life convictions .
It was these building blocks that laid the foundation for Abortion Rites : A Social History of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years later and is considered a great historical account .
One of the most important things Olasky reminds listeners is that the war on abortion is , at its core , a cultural war , not a political one .
Although many people attempt to place most of the blame for widespread abortion on Roe v. Wade , this isn ’ t accurate .
Abortion was prevalent long before Roe v. Wade , rearing its evil head in fits and spurts based on the cultural landscape at the time .
Abortion was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prostitution circles long after that .
The separatist movement from the 1850s was also very pro-abortion , but by the 1870s , the media was exposing the abortion industry and abortion started to decrease .
During the urbanization of America , abortion resurged as women moved from farms and family to big cities all alone and were seduced and then abandoned by young men .
Olasky highlights the importance the media plays in swaying public sentiment about abortion .
When the New York Times ran an undercover piece about abortion facilities in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as people started to understand it better .
For decades now , the media has reported mostly positively about abortion , largely ignoring the facts .
Even as hard as we fight , there is no denying that abortion is widely accepted in the US .
Roe v. Wade didn ’ t start the abortion issue and it won ’ t end it .
In order to truly defeat abortion , we must work from the ground up , by changing the culture .
Olasky points to the power of compassionate Christians who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times when abortion was at its lowest .
Christians would help women who had gotten pregnant by providing them with a place to stay and resources to get on their feet .
They would also help prevent pregnancies by providing single young women with a safe place to stay and community support .
Listen to the full interview here : Olasky dedicated years to researching the history of abortion as well as poverty .
His book on poverty highlights the same basic principle , the government or laws don ’ t help people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps people get out of poverty .
By providing people with the compassionate help centered around what is truly best for them in their dignity as human beings helps make long lasting changes that laws , and governmental programs can ’ t achieve .
Community compassion assists and teaches the poor and encourages them to improve ; governmental program provides people with handouts that teach them nothing and only lock them tighter into the cycle of poverty .
Compassionate communities ‘ teach a man to fish , ’ while government programs ‘ give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s books on abortion and on poverty show that they were both at their lowest levels not when the laws were geared at reducing abortion or poverty , but when communities were .
Olasky was a friend of President George W. Bush and met with him many times to discuss abortion and poverty .
He advised Bush ’ s administration on the importance of encouraging compassionate communities , but with the 9.11 attacks , was unable to truly help achieve some of his ideas about poverty or abortion .
Olasky finishes the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on changing the law that they lose sight of changing the culture .
He warns that despite President Trump ’ s pro-life policy changes , his acerbic personality may be turning many off of the pro-life movement .
The long-term impact of souring millions against the pro-life movement could be more detrimental than stacking the courts in the hope of overturning Roe v. Wade .
The Van Maren Show is hosted on numerous platforms , including Spotify , SoundCloud , YouTube , iTunes , and Google Play .
For a full listing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channels , visit our Acast webpage here .
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded , subscribe below :

Author of Abortion Rites: A Social History of Abortion in America, Marvin Olasky reminds pro-lifers this is a cultural issue, not just a legal one.
April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Abortion has been a controversial topic for decades, but how much do you really know about the history of abortion?
In today’s episode of The Van Maren Show Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of WORLD magazine and author of pro-life books, joins Jonathon to discuss the true history of the pro-life movement and what it can teach us about winning the culture war.
Olasky has written one of the greatest collections of abortion history in America, but he wasn’t always pro-life. In college he joined the communist party, traveled across the Soviet Union, and planned to become a Soviet agent after finishing his graduate work. Through numerous small experiences, Olasky came to realize there was a God and moved on from the communist party.
Olasky eventually became an Orthodox Presbyterian and began to realize the importance of every single life. Olasky’s wife started volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center and they both grew in their pro-life convictions. It was these building blocks that laid the foundation for Abortion Rites: A Social History of Abortion in America that was published many years later and is considered a great historical account.
Watch the full interview here:
One of the most important things Olasky reminds listeners is that the war on abortion is, at its core, a cultural war, not a political one. Although many people attempt to place most of the blame for widespread abortion on Roe v. Wade, this isn’t accurate.
Abortion was prevalent long before Roe v. Wade, rearing its evil head in fits and spurts based on the cultural landscape at the time. Abortion was an issue in colonial times and continued in prostitution circles long after that. The separatist movement from the 1850s was also very pro-abortion, but by the 1870s, the media was exposing the abortion industry and abortion started to decrease.
During the urbanization of America, abortion resurged as women moved from farms and family to big cities all alone and were seduced and then abandoned by young men.
Olasky highlights the importance the media plays in swaying public sentiment about abortion. When the New York Times ran an undercover piece about abortion facilities in the late 1800s, abortion began to decrease as people started to understand it better.
For decades now, the media has reported mostly positively about abortion, largely ignoring the facts. Even as hard as we fight, there is no denying that abortion is widely accepted in the US.
Roe v. Wade didn’t start the abortion issue and it won’t end it. In order to truly defeat abortion, we must work from the ground up, by changing the culture. Olasky points to the power of compassionate Christians who helped pregnant women throughout history during the times when abortion was at its lowest.
Christians would help women who had gotten pregnant by providing them with a place to stay and resources to get on their feet. They would also help prevent pregnancies by providing single young women with a safe place to stay and community support.
Listen to the full interview here:
Olasky dedicated years to researching the history of abortion as well as poverty. His book on poverty highlights the same basic principle, the government or laws don’t help people get out of poverty, community compassion helps people get out of poverty.
By providing people with the compassionate help centered around what is truly best for them in their dignity as human beings helps make long lasting changes that laws, and governmental programs can’t achieve. Community compassion assists and teaches the poor and encourages them to improve; governmental program provides people with handouts that teach them nothing and only lock them tighter into the cycle of poverty.
Compassionate communities ‘teach a man to fish,’ while government programs ‘give a man a fish.’ Olasky’s books on abortion and on poverty show that they were both at their lowest levels not when the laws were geared at reducing abortion or poverty, but when communities were.
Olasky was a friend of President George W. Bush and met with him many times to discuss abortion and poverty. He advised Bush’s administration on the importance of encouraging compassionate communities, but with the 9.11 attacks, was unable to truly help achieve some of his ideas about poverty or abortion.
Olasky finishes the show by warning people about getting so focused on changing the law that they lose sight of changing the culture. He warns that despite President Trump’s pro-life policy changes, his acerbic personality may be turning many off of the pro-life movement. The long-term impact of souring millions against the pro-life movement could be more detrimental than stacking the courts in the hope of overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Van Maren Show is hosted on numerous platforms, including Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play.
For a full listing of episodes, and to subscribe to various channels, visit our Acast webpage here.
To receive weekly emails when a new episode is uploaded, subscribe below:
Email Address *
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Last Name *


lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Digital rights group publishes index of govt coronavirus phone surveillance programs

April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A digital rights group is warning that governments worldwide are working with big tech firms to develop software that uses people ’ s smartphones as a tracking application for health authorities .
Samuel Woodhams , digital rights lead for the United Kingdom-based Top10VPN , a site that reviews Virtual Private Network ( VPN ) applications worldwide , gave the warning in a recent Business Insider report .
Woodhams created a live index to track the various security measures put in place in the name of fighting the coronavirus .
This list includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the index , there are currently 23 countries using contact tracking applications , with “ alternative digital tracking measures ” being active in 22 countries .
The live index also shows that “ physical surveillance technologies ” are being used in ten countries , and that coronavirus related censorship has been “ imposed by 12 governments.
” Lastly , the live index shows that internet shutdowns continue in four countries “ despite the outbreak.
” Woodhams said that unless these “ highly invasive ” measures are not tracked , increased surveillance measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracking , there is a danger that these new , often highly invasive , measures will become the norm around the world , ” Woodhams said in the Business Insider report .
“ Although some may appear entirely legitimate , many pose a risk to citizens ’ right to privacy and freedom of expression , ” adding “ documenting the new measures is the first step to challenging potential overreach , providing scrutiny and holding corporations and governments to account.
” PRAYER PLEDGE : Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is software that anyone can install on his computer or smartphone and is designed to encrypt one ’ s data , hiding his Internet Protocol ( IP ) address .
It acts as a “ private tunnel ” one can use to surf the internet without regional restrictions imposed by governments .
A recent Top10VPN investigation found that a total of 59 percent of free VPN apps available for download are “ run by secretive companies with hidden Chinese ownership.
” Top10VPN says this shows that people need to do their due diligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China is a nation with very strict internet censorship measures and is known for its “ Great Firewall of China.
” The internet firewall was built through legislative actions and technologies by the Chinese regime and serves to restrict or ban content from sites such as Google , Facebook , Twitter , and Wikipedia .
Recently , a former contractor for the CIA now exiled , Edward Snowden , warned that surveillance measures many governments are using , or at least proposing to use in the name of combatting the coronavirus , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Insider article says the Wall Street Journal has reported that all levels of government in the United States are studying people 's geolocation with data gathered from the advertising industry .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control was recently allotted $ 500 million to build a ” surveillance and data collection system ” as part of the U.S. government coronavirus legislation .
In the U.S. , health care workers in a handful of American states are sharing with police the addresses of those who test positive for the virus .
Police are obtaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the name of “ safety.
” Recently , MSNBC reported that 22 U.S. states are using drones to enforce lockdowns .
In Canada , it was reported that the federal government has not ruled out using Canadians ’ cell phone location data to track people 's movements during the coronavirus epidemic .
Some Canadian provinces such as Alberta said they are planning to use people ’ s cell phones to track their whereabouts .
In the Wuhan area of China , where the coronavirus is reported to have started , the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow only those with a government surveillance app on their phones to enter or exit .
A more extreme example of surveillance laws being put in place includes those in Israel , whose security agency no longer needs to have a court order to track one 's phone .
Austria ’ s biggest telecommunications network operator said in mid-March that it was sharing people ’ s data locations , which had been scrubbed of users ’ identity , with the government .
The Wall Street Journal posted an article this week titled “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which raises questions about how the virus has caused an erosion of people ’ s data privacy .
In early April , Alphabet ’ s Google division released location data for 131 countries that could be used by authorities to determine if people are obeying quarantine rules .
Also , it was reported that China continues to crack down on live-streamed services of underground churches during the coronavirus lockdown .

According to the index, there are currently 23 countries tracking their citizens through cell phones, with 'alternative digital tracking measures' being active in 22 countries.
April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A digital rights group is warning that governments worldwide are working with big tech firms to develop software that uses people’s smartphones as a tracking application for health authorities.
Samuel Woodhams, digital rights lead for the United Kingdom-based Top10VPN, a site that reviews Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications worldwide, gave the warning in a recent Business Insider report.
Woodhams created a live index to track the various security measures put in place in the name of fighting the coronavirus. This list includes government and private-sector tracking methods.
According to the index, there are currently 23 countries using contact tracking applications, with “alternative digital tracking measures” being active in 22 countries.
The live index also shows that “physical surveillance technologies” are being used in ten countries, and that coronavirus related censorship has been “imposed by 12 governments.” Lastly, the live index shows that internet shutdowns continue in four countries “despite the outbreak.”
Woodhams said that unless these “highly invasive” measures are not tracked, increased surveillance measures will become normalized.
“Without adequate tracking, there is a danger that these new, often highly invasive, measures will become the norm around the world,” Woodhams said in the Business Insider report.
“Although some may appear entirely legitimate, many pose a risk to citizens’ right to privacy and freedom of expression,” adding “documenting the new measures is the first step to challenging potential overreach, providing scrutiny and holding corporations and governments to account.”
PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
A VPN is software that anyone can install on his computer or smartphone and is designed to encrypt one’s data, hiding his Internet Protocol (IP) address. It acts as a “private tunnel” one can use to surf the internet without regional restrictions imposed by governments.
A recent Top10VPN investigation found that a total of 59 percent of free VPN apps available for download are “run by secretive companies with hidden Chinese ownership.” Top10VPN says this shows that people need to do their due diligence when choosing which apps to use.
China is a nation with very strict internet censorship measures and is known for its “Great Firewall of China.” The internet firewall was built through legislative actions and technologies by the Chinese regime and serves to restrict or ban content from sites such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Wikipedia.
Recently, a former contractor for the CIA now exiled, Edward Snowden, warned that surveillance measures many governments are using, or at least proposing to use in the name of combatting the coronavirus, could end up becoming permanent.
The Business Insider article says the Wall Street Journal has reported that all levels of government in the United States are studying people's geolocation with data gathered from the advertising industry.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control was recently allotted $500 million to build a ”surveillance and data collection system” as part of the U.S. government coronavirus legislation.
In the U.S., health care workers in a handful of American states are sharing with police the addresses of those who test positive for the virus. Police are obtaining coronavirus patient addresses in four U.S. states in the name of “safety.”
Recently, MSNBC reported that 22 U.S. states are using drones to enforce lockdowns.
In Canada, it was reported that the federal government has not ruled out using Canadians’ cell phone location data to track people's movements during the coronavirus epidemic. Some Canadian provinces such as Alberta said they are planning to use people’s cell phones to track their whereabouts.
In the Wuhan area of China, where the coronavirus is reported to have started, the Chinese government recently lifted travel restrictions but will allow only those with a government surveillance app on their phones to enter or exit.
A more extreme example of surveillance laws being put in place includes those in Israel, whose security agency no longer needs to have a court order to track one's phone.
Austria’s biggest telecommunications network operator said in mid-March that it was sharing people’s data locations, which had been scrubbed of users’ identity, with the government.
The Wall Street Journal posted an article this week titled “How Coronavirus Is Eroding Privacy,” which raises questions about how the virus has caused an erosion of people’s data privacy.
In early April, Alphabet’s Google division released location data for 131 countries that could be used by authorities to determine if people are obeying quarantine rules.
Also, it was reported that China continues to crack down on live-streamed services of underground churches during the coronavirus lockdown.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Justice Clarence Thomas calls Roe v. Wade, gay ‘marriage’ ‘incorrect decisions’ in new opinion

PETITION : Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis .
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – During a recent Supreme Court ruling , Justice Clarence Thomas referred to Roe v. Wade as one of many “ incorrect decisions ” in relation to the Fourteenth Amendment .
Roe v. Wade , the 1973 landmark decision , imposed abortion on demand across the United States .
In the same context of “ incorrect decisions , ” Thomas also mentioned the 2015 ruling Obergefell v. Hodges , which guaranteed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The final decision Thomas classified as “ incorrect ” was Dred Scott v. Sandford , according to which the Constitution of the United States was not meant to include American citizenship for black people .
The 1857 ruling was directly overturned by the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868 .
The Justice ’ s concurring opinion comes as part of a ruling concerning the rights of criminal defendants at trial , Ramos v. Louisiana , which was issued last Monday .
In the same ruling , President Donald Trump ’ s second nominee to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Brett Kavanaugh , talked about “ erroneous precedents.
” As LifeSiteNews reported , Kavanaugh elaborated on his thought process for when longstanding precedent should be left alone or overturned , using abortion precedent as his example .
“ In [ Planned Parenthood v. ] Casey , the Court reaffirmed what it described as the ‘ central holding ’ of Roe v. Wade , ” while at the same time “ expressly reject [ ing ] Roe ’ s trimester framework , ” Kavanaugh wrote .
This , he continued , shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deference to precedent , “ is not an ‘ inexorable command.
’ ” At the same time , Kavanaugh argued that a mere “ belief that the precedent was wrongly decided ” would not be enough to justify overturning it .
Instead , he said , justices should make that decision based on criteria such as whether a precedent is “ not just wrong , but grievously or egregiously wrong , ” whether it “ caused significant negative jurisprudential or real-world consequences ” for both the legal system and the citizenry , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” people ’ s reliance on it .
Last year , Justice Clarence Thomas , who has been on the Supreme Court since 1991 , explained how the Supreme Court ’ s “ abortion jurisprudence has spiraled out of control.
” “ Earlier this Term , we were confronted with lower court decisions requiring States to allow abortions based solely on the race , sex , or disability of the child , ” he wrote .
“ Today , we are confronted with decisions requiring States to allow abortion via live dismemberment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the text of the Constitution.
” “ Although this case does not present the opportunity to address our demonstrably erroneous ‘ undue burden ’ standard , we can not continue blinking the reality of what this court has wrought , ” Thomas added .
On another occasion in 2019 , Thomas argued that the Supreme Court ’ s “ typical formulation of the stare decisis standard does not comport with our judicial duty under Article III because it elevates demonstrably erroneous decisions—meaning decisions outside the realm of permissible interpretation—over the text of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He pointed out that the modern understanding of stare decisis exacerbates judges ’ temptation to substitute their personal desires for the law “ by giving the venire [ ! ]
of respectability to our continued application of demonstrably incorrect precedents.
” During the 2018 commencement address at Christendom College , a small Catholic school in Virginia , Thomas spoke about his faith .
“ This is a decidedly Catholic college , and I am decidedly and unapologetically Catholic , ” he exclaimed .
“ Even as I had the bad judgment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too far and helped me to learn from those experiences , ” Thomas said .
“ I spent 25 years of my life in the wilderness away from the Church , and yet , the clarion call of Sunday Church bells never went away .
Something restrained me.
” “ In those days of the 1960s and ’ 70s , this inner restraint was called a ‘ hangup ’ or an ‘ inhibition , ’ ” the Supreme Court Justice explained .
“ In fact , it was a conscience .
”

PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis. Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – During a recent Supreme Court ruling, Justice Clarence Thomas referred to Roe v. Wade as one of many “incorrect decisions” in relation to the Fourteenth Amendment. Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision, imposed abortion on demand across the United States.
In the same context of “incorrect decisions,” Thomas also mentioned the 2015 ruling Obergefell v. Hodges, which guaranteed a “right” to homosexual “marriage.”
The final decision Thomas classified as “incorrect” was Dred Scott v. Sandford, according to which the Constitution of the United States was not meant to include American citizenship for black people. The 1857 ruling was directly overturned by the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868.
The Justice’s concurring opinion comes as part of a ruling concerning the rights of criminal defendants at trial, Ramos v. Louisiana, which was issued last Monday.
In the same ruling, President Donald Trump’s second nominee to the nation’s highest court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, talked about “erroneous precedents.”
As LifeSiteNews reported, Kavanaugh elaborated on his thought process for when longstanding precedent should be left alone or overturned, using abortion precedent as his example.
“In [Planned Parenthood v.] Casey, the Court reaffirmed what it described as the ‘central holding’ of Roe v. Wade,” while at the same time “expressly reject[ing] Roe’s trimester framework,” Kavanaugh wrote. This, he continued, shows that the doctrine of stare decisis, or deference to precedent, “is not an ‘inexorable command.’”
At the same time, Kavanaugh argued that a mere “belief that the precedent was wrongly decided” would not be enough to justify overturning it.
Instead, he said, justices should make that decision based on criteria such as whether a precedent is “not just wrong, but grievously or egregiously wrong,” whether it “caused significant negative jurisprudential or real-world consequences” for both the legal system and the citizenry, and whether overturning it would “unduly upset” people’s reliance on it.
Last year, Justice Clarence Thomas, who has been on the Supreme Court since 1991, explained how the Supreme Court’s “abortion jurisprudence has spiraled out of control.”
“Earlier this Term, we were confronted with lower court decisions requiring States to allow abortions based solely on the race, sex, or disability of the child,” he wrote. “Today, we are confronted with decisions requiring States to allow abortion via live dismemberment. None of these decisions is supported by the text of the Constitution.”
“Although this case does not present the opportunity to address our demonstrably erroneous ‘undue burden’ standard, we cannot continue blinking the reality of what this court has wrought,” Thomas added.
On another occasion in 2019, Thomas argued that the Supreme Court’s “typical formulation of the stare decisis standard does not comport with our judicial duty under Article III because it elevates demonstrably erroneous decisions—meaning decisions outside the realm of permissible interpretation—over the text of the Constitution and other duly enacted federal law.”
He pointed out that the modern understanding of stare decisis exacerbates judges’ temptation to substitute their personal desires for the law “by giving the venire [!] of respectability to our continued application of demonstrably incorrect precedents.”
During the 2018 commencement address at Christendom College, a small Catholic school in Virginia, Thomas spoke about his faith. “This is a decidedly Catholic college, and I am decidedly and unapologetically Catholic,” he exclaimed.
“Even as I had the bad judgment of youth, something kept me from going too far and helped me to learn from those experiences,” Thomas said. “I spent 25 years of my life in the wilderness away from the Church, and yet, the clarion call of Sunday Church bells never went away. Something restrained me.”
“In those days of the 1960s and ’70s, this inner restraint was called a ‘hangup’ or an ‘inhibition,’” the Supreme Court Justice explained. “In fact, it was a conscience.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-04-22--YouTube CEO: We’ll delete anything that contradicts Word Health Organization on COVID-19

April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Susan Wojcicki , the CEO of YouTube , announced that all content contradicting the Word Health Organization ( WHO ) on the coronavirus pandemic will be removed from the video platform .
During a CNN interview last Sunday , Wojcicki explained there was “ a 75 percent increase in the news coming from authoritative sources since the beginning of 2020 .
So , we have seen a lot of demand there.
” “ But then we also talk about removing information that is problematic , ” she continued .
“ Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So people saying , like , take vitamin C , you know , take turmeric , like , those are — will cure you .
Those are the examples of things that would be a violation of our policy.
” She then specified that “ [ a ] nything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy .
And so remove is another really important part of our policy.
” One example of content removed from YouTube was the claim that 5G , the new generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing coronavirus symptoms , ” Wojcicki said .
Senator Marsha Blackburn tweeted that “ [ i ] t is alarming that [ YouTube ] now relies on the [ WHO ] ’ s biased recommendations to decide what video content to take down.
” “ The [ WHO ] gave inaccurate information about the spread of the virus , still parrots Chinese propaganda , and fought [ President Donald Trump ] ’ s China travel ban , ” the junior senator from Tennessee pointed out .
“ If Big Tech companies plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rely on honest and objective experts .
History repeats itself and [ WHO ] has proven to be untrustworthy promoters of Chinese propaganda.
” The World Health Organization has come under severe criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
President Donald Trump even instructed his administration to halt funding “ while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization ’ s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.
” “ American taxpayers provide between $ 400 million and $ 500 million per year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China contributes roughly $ 40 million , ” Trump said .
“ As the organization ’ s leading sponsor , the United States has a duty to insist on full accountability .
One of the most dangerous and costly decisions from the WHO was its disastrous decision to oppose travel restrictions from China and other nations , ” he explained .
“ They were very much opposed to what we did .
Fortunately , I was not convinced and suspended travel from China , ” Trump added .
“ The WHO ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above lifesaving measures.
” Steven Mosher , an expert on relations between China and the United States , condemned the WHO for its subservience to China .
“ I think they ought to change their name from the World Health Organization to , let ’ s see , maybe the China Health Organization because they ’ re serving China ’ s interests , ” Mosher told The Van Maren Show .
PRAYER PLEDGE : Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here .
“ Dr .
Tedros [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical doctor — who heads the World Health Organization — is from Ethiopia , which has received billions of dollars in investment from China .
He ’ s their guy .
He was promoted to be the director of the World Health Organization by China .
And he has been carrying China ’ s water ever since , ” Mosher pointed out .
Pro-lifers have long opposed the WHO over its support of abortion .
They praised Trump for his suspension of funding for the organization that is a part of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and brave move from President Trump , ” said John Smeaton , director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children .
“ Not only has the World Health Organisation been planning for years to promote abortion in a COVID-19-type pandemic , it has become abundantly clear even to the secular world that the WHO is serving the world ’ s most corrupt power structures rather than the common good , ” he commented .
Fr .
Frank Pavone , national director of Priests for Life , said the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is yet another in a long series of decisive , courageous decisions in dealing with [ COVID-19 ] and in protecting Americans and their families , in sharp contrast to the failed leadership of Joe Biden.
” YouTube is not the only social media giant using its position of power to censor unwelcome content .
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced earlier this week that he considers protests against stay-at-home orders , which are often planned via Facebook , to be “ harmful misinformation ” that must be deleted .
While claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people can debate policies , ” Zuckerberg indicated that there is a limit to how much freedom he will allow Facebook ’ s users to do this .
“ But , you know , more than normal political discourse , I think a lot of the stuff that people are saying that is false around a health emergency like this can be classified as harmful misinformation that has a risk of leading to imminent physical danger and we ’ ll just take that kind of content down , ” he said .

'Anything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy,' Susan Wojcicki insisted, garnering alarm from one U.S. senator.
April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, announced that all content contradicting the Word Health Organization (WHO) on the coronavirus pandemic will be removed from the video platform.
During a CNN interview last Sunday, Wojcicki explained there was “a 75 percent increase in the news coming from authoritative sources since the beginning of 2020. So, we have seen a lot of demand there.”
“But then we also talk about removing information that is problematic,” she continued. “Of course, anything that is medically unsubstantiated. So people saying, like, take vitamin C, you know, take turmeric, like, those are — will cure you. Those are the examples of things that would be a violation of our policy.”
She then specified that “[a]nything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy. And so remove is another really important part of our policy.”
One example of content removed from YouTube was the claim that 5G, the new generation of wireless communication technologies, “was causing coronavirus symptoms,” Wojcicki said.
Senator Marsha Blackburn tweeted that “[i]t is alarming that [YouTube] now relies on the [WHO]’s biased recommendations to decide what video content to take down.”
“The [WHO] gave inaccurate information about the spread of the virus, still parrots Chinese propaganda, and fought [President Donald Trump]’s China travel ban,” the junior senator from Tennessee pointed out.
“If Big Tech companies plan to police speech surrounding COVID-19, they need to rely on honest and objective experts. History repeats itself and [WHO] has proven to be untrustworthy promoters of Chinese propaganda.”
It is alarming that @YouTube now relies on the @WHO’s biased recommendations to decide what video content to take down. The @WHO gave inaccurate information about the spread of the virus, still parrots Chinese propaganda, and fought @realDonaldTrump’s China travel ban. pic.twitter.com/eTG9JG2eRs — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 22, 2020
If Big Tech companies plan to police speech surrounding COVID-19, they need to rely on honest and objective experts. History repeats itself and @WHO has proven to be untrustworthy promoters of Chinese propaganda. — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 22, 2020
The World Health Organization has come under severe criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Donald Trump even instructed his administration to halt funding “while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”
“American taxpayers provide between $400 million and $500 million per year to the WHO. In contrast, China contributes roughly $40 million,” Trump said.
“As the organization’s leading sponsor, the United States has a duty to insist on full accountability. One of the most dangerous and costly decisions from the WHO was its disastrous decision to oppose travel restrictions from China and other nations,” he explained.
“They were very much opposed to what we did. Fortunately, I was not convinced and suspended travel from China,” Trump added. “The WHO’s attack on travel restrictions put political correctness above lifesaving measures.”
Steven Mosher, an expert on relations between China and the United States, condemned the WHO for its subservience to China. “I think they ought to change their name from the World Health Organization to, let’s see, maybe the China Health Organization because they’re serving China’s interests,” Mosher told The Van Maren Show.
PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
“Dr. Tedros [Ghebreyesus], who is not a medical doctor — who heads the World Health Organization — is from Ethiopia, which has received billions of dollars in investment from China. He’s their guy. He was promoted to be the director of the World Health Organization by China. And he has been carrying China’s water ever since,” Mosher pointed out.
Pro-lifers have long opposed the WHO over its support of abortion. They praised Trump for his suspension of funding for the organization that is a part of the United Nations.
“This is a brilliant and brave move from President Trump,” said John Smeaton, director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.
“Not only has the World Health Organisation been planning for years to promote abortion in a COVID-19-type pandemic, it has become abundantly clear even to the secular world that the WHO is serving the world’s most corrupt power structures rather than the common good,” he commented.
Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, said the president’s “withholding of funds from the WHO is yet another in a long series of decisive, courageous decisions in dealing with [COVID-19] and in protecting Americans and their families, in sharp contrast to the failed leadership of Joe Biden.”
YouTube is not the only social media giant using its position of power to censor unwelcome content. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced earlier this week that he considers protests against stay-at-home orders, which are often planned via Facebook, to be “harmful misinformation” that must be deleted.
While claiming that “it’s important that people can debate policies,” Zuckerberg indicated that there is a limit to how much freedom he will allow Facebook’s users to do this.
“But, you know, more than normal political discourse, I think a lot of the stuff that people are saying that is false around a health emergency like this can be classified as harmful misinformation that has a risk of leading to imminent physical danger and we’ll just take that kind of content down,” he said.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Vimeo shuts down Christian group accused of ‘hate’ by far-left radical org

April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Video platform Vimeo has deleted the account of the American Family Association ( AFA ) , characterizing the pro-family organization as a hate group .
According to a report by OneNewsNow.com , which is affiliated with AFA , “ Vimeo told the American Family Association ( AFA ) it will not host an account if the owner is a member of a terror or hate group.
” “ In recent weeks they ’ ve taken action against our account , ” AFA president Walker Wildmon recounted .
“ They ’ ve officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video account with no in-depth explanation and no recourse , no way to defend our credibility.
” “ Vimeo ’ s done great harm to American Family Association by limiting our free speech and basically targeting us based on our religious beliefs , ” he added .
Vimeo ’ s actions , Wildmon explained , were “ based on the Southern Poverty Law Center ’ s reckless labeling of AFA.
” The far-left Southern Poverty Law Center had categorized AFA as a hate group .
The summary of AFA ’ s mission provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its website is rather harmless .
The group “ says it promotes ‘ traditional moral values ’ in media .
A large part of that work involves ‘ combating the homosexual agenda ’ through various means , including publicizing companies that have pro-gay policies and organizing boycotts against them.
” AFA , on its own website , says “ [ t ] he mission of American Family Association is to inform , equip , and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Commission.
” Ed Vitagliano , executive vice president of AFA , said , “ Vimeo has essentially characterized the Christian faith as ‘ hateful ’ because the Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sinful .
Yes , that includes homosexual activity.
” “ This has been Christian teaching for 2,000 years , ” he pointed out .
“ Vimeo ’ s religious bigotry is appalling , and we reject the company ’ s heavy-handed censorship.
” Vimeo is not the only large company basing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poverty Law Center .
“ Amazon has excluded SPLC-accused ‘ hate groups ’ from its charity platform , ” PJ Media wrote .
“ Apple has partnered with the SPLC in fighting ‘ hate.
’ Hyatt Hotels has blacklisted SPLC-accused ‘ hate groups , ’ as has the event-hosting platform Eventbrite.
” In 2019 , major newspapers , including The New York Times , “ repeated SPLC talking points and successfully pressured Mar-a-Lago to cancel a gala with the conservative group ACT for America.
” As reported by LifeSiteNews , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of merely “ ripping off ” its wealthy donors for decades .
Morris Dees asked , “ Were we complicit , by taking our paychecks and staying silent , in ripping off donors on behalf of an organization that never lived up to the values it espoused ?
Did we enable racial discrimination and sexual harassment by failing to speak out ?
” Several major social media platforms have used their position of power to censor positions they disagree with .
On Monday , Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are frequently planned via Facebook , to be “ harmful misinformation ” that must be deleted .
“ But , you know , more than normal political discourse , I think a lot of the stuff that people are saying that is false around a health emergency like this can be classified as harmful misinformation that has a risk of leading to imminent physical danger and we ’ ll just take that kind of content down , ” he said .
LifeSiteNews ’ s own Twitter account was locked after tweeting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transgender activist by his real name , Jonathan Yaniv .
While Twitter didn ’ t explain which rule the tweet supposedly violated , the social media giant declared earlier last year that “ misgendering ” someone , which means referring to individuals by their actual sex instead of what they call their “ gender identity , ” automatically constitutes “ hateful conduct .
”

According to a report by OneNewsNow.com, which is affiliated with AFA, 'Vimeo told the American Family Association (AFA) it will not host an account if the owner is a member of a terror or hate group.'
April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Video platform Vimeo has deleted the account of the American Family Association (AFA), characterizing the pro-family organization as a hate group.
According to a report by OneNewsNow.com, which is affiliated with AFA, “Vimeo told the American Family Association (AFA) it will not host an account if the owner is a member of a terror or hate group.”
“In recent weeks they’ve taken action against our account,” AFA president Walker Wildmon recounted. “They’ve officially shut down American Family Association’s video account with no in-depth explanation and no recourse, no way to defend our credibility.”
“Vimeo’s done great harm to American Family Association by limiting our free speech and basically targeting us based on our religious beliefs,” he added.
Vimeo’s actions, Wildmon explained, were “based on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s reckless labeling of AFA.” The far-left Southern Poverty Law Center had categorized AFA as a hate group.
The summary of AFA’s mission provided by the Southern Poverty Law Center on its website is rather harmless. The group “says it promotes ‘traditional moral values’ in media. A large part of that work involves ‘combating the homosexual agenda’ through various means, including publicizing companies that have pro-gay policies and organizing boycotts against them.”
AFA, on its own website, says “[t]he mission of American Family Association is to inform, equip, and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and abroad in its task of fulfilling the Great Commission.”
Ed Vitagliano, executive vice president of AFA, said, “Vimeo has essentially characterized the Christian faith as ‘hateful’ because the Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sinful. Yes, that includes homosexual activity.”
“This has been Christian teaching for 2,000 years,” he pointed out. “Vimeo’s religious bigotry is appalling, and we reject the company’s heavy-handed censorship.”
Vimeo is not the only large company basing its decisions on campaigns of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
TELL VIMEO: Stop silencing conservatives and Christians! Sign the petition here.
“Amazon has excluded SPLC-accused ‘hate groups’ from its charity platform,” PJ Media wrote. “Apple has partnered with the SPLC in fighting ‘hate.’ Hyatt Hotels has blacklisted SPLC-accused ‘hate groups,’ as has the event-hosting platform Eventbrite.”
In 2019, major newspapers, including The New York Times, “repeated SPLC talking points and successfully pressured Mar-a-Lago to cancel a gala with the conservative group ACT for America.”
As reported by LifeSiteNews, one of the co-founders of the SPLC accused the group of merely “ripping off” its wealthy donors for decades.
Morris Dees asked, “Were we complicit, by taking our paychecks and staying silent, in ripping off donors on behalf of an organization that never lived up to the values it espoused? Did we enable racial discrimination and sexual harassment by failing to speak out?”
Several major social media platforms have used their position of power to censor positions they disagree with.
On Monday, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that he considers protests against regional stay-at-home orders, which are frequently planned via Facebook, to be “harmful misinformation” that must be deleted.
“But, you know, more than normal political discourse, I think a lot of the stuff that people are saying that is false around a health emergency like this can be classified as harmful misinformation that has a risk of leading to imminent physical danger and we’ll just take that kind of content down,” he said.
LifeSiteNews’s own Twitter account was locked after tweeting a link to a piece referring to a transgender activist by his real name, Jonathan Yaniv.
While Twitter didn’t explain which rule the tweet supposedly violated, the social media giant declared earlier last year that “misgendering” someone, which means referring to individuals by their actual sex instead of what they call their “gender identity,” automatically constitutes “hateful conduct.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-04-21--‘I’d rather be locked in than locked out’: Priest celebrates Triduum secretly with faithful despite

‘I’d rather be locked in than locked out’: Priest celebrates Triduum secretly with faithful despite pandemic

April 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― As faithful Catholics long to return to public worship , a lucky few are permitted to be present at churches where Mass is celebrated .
Most , of course , are priests and deacons .
Others are altar servers , readers , and cameramen .
However , some ordinary Catholic congregations have been blessed with priests who are willing to risk their health or the ire of civil authority to say Mass for people whose consciences also permit them to run these risks .
LifeSiteNews has been in communication with two of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his testimony .
I am from a country in the far East , and therefore the ban should be seen in light of real concern for the health of its citizens : forced closures are placed even on mosques .
The narrative we often hear from conservative and traditional circles in the West about the farce of COVID-19 being an indirect affront to Christ and His Church does not apply in my context , at least as far as the secular authorities are concerned .
The background of my story is a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us neither because diocesan priests were saying their private Masses , nor because they were secretly inviting faithful to their private Masses : it is because we have a pious priest from the [ Society of Saint Pius X ] , who has such great apostolic zeal that he decided to get into our country the day before the nationwide lockdown .
In his very own words , “ I 'd rather be locked in than locked out to be available to those who need the Sacraments.
” SSPX priests who minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ] .
They fly in every weekend and then fly out to their next destination either on the Sunday itself or on Monday .
Father Dex ( not his real name ) left one Sunday , and when the government confirmed when the lockdown was to take effect , he came back immediately on Tuesday to be with us .
Since the government is placing heavy penalties on those who defy the ban , many are unable to make it to Mass for fear of exposing themselves , the priest , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular faithful , only 13 of us come regularly for Mass .
Despite the fact that we are only 13 , we had Sung Masses every Sunday and the entire Easter Triduum ceremonies .
These were also fully sung .
Since Easter Vigil ends at about 2 a.m. there was no way we could leave the chapel without drawing attention to ourselves because restaurants , supermarkets and grocery shops are closed by 8 p.m .
Therefore , we all slept in the chapel and stayed on for Easter Day Mass .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as I now can say “ I slept with Jesus by my side.
” This was literally so , as I was sleeping on the pew facing the Blessed Sacrament .
Why did I decide to go ?
How can I not , when the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered ?
Could I , having the opportunity ( with proper safety measures ) to go to it , refuse ?
Going to Mass is by no means done out of disrespect to the authorities , nor is it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Personal health and hygiene are always kept and adhered to .
Furthermore , apart from going to the chapel , we are always at home , hence the risk of inter-infection is very low , if not non-existent .
Fortunately for us , we have plenty of cover as several restaurants [ … ] are open for take-out .
If we were to be stopped by the authorities , we could always say that we were out to buy food , rations , and necessary household items .
I have been sure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into my neighbourhood is through a police roadblock where they stop every vehicle to conduct a search and briefly question us on our whereabouts .
Even in a private capacity , diocesan priests here won ’ t say Requiem Masses Every day after Mass there is Benediction .
At every Benediction , the prayer for the Pope is prayed .
Nay , rather , sung !
I am not sure if the prayer for the Pope is said at Benediction in the diocesan Churches , but in the traditional Benediction , this prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every Mass the name of the local ordinary is mentioned .
I understand that many Catholics can not agree with the SSPX position , but it is now 2020 and with all the developments ( good and bad ) happening in the Church , and in light of the momentum of the Traditional Catholic movement globally , I hope that regardless of the disagreements about the SSPX , Catholics can at least try to be thankful and appreciate that an additional Mass a day is offered for the benefit of the local ordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SSPX priest says his Mass .
[ Local diocesan priests ] are telling us that confessions can be done [ only ] after the ban is lifted , and no concessions have been given regarding emergency cases like extreme unction and viaticum .
Yet here we have a foreign priest who has heroically offered himself and cooperates in the work of Christ 's redemption for the salvation of souls .
A family friend of one of our faithful passed away during the lockdown .
The deceased was [ a Catholic but ] not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died without the sacraments and the last rites .
The local diocesan priest was contacted to say a Requiem Mass for her , but he said he would do it only after the ban was lifted .
This goes to show that , even in their private capacity , diocesan priests do n't say their Masses .
At last resort , our community was contacted , and so in the end it was Fr .
Dex who said the Requiem Mass .
The woman died without any loved ones beside her as all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was held for her at one of the parishes with no one attending , and no one was present at her cremation .
In your charity , please pray for her soul .
If supermarkets are still open for the natural needs and sustenance of mankind , certainly and all the more should Churches be opened for the supernatural needs and sustenance for our immortal souls .
Needless to say , we ought to take safety precautions , too .
Instead of being the first to close churches , the Episcopate should come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sacraments are available and spiritual health is provided for , just as the secular authorities came up with ways to keep the supermarkets open and certain sectors of the economy afloat .
At the very least , they should give it a thought and fight for it .
As the saying goes , justice must not only be done but be seen to be done .
This testimony has been edited for clarity and to preserve anonymity .

How can I not go, when the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered? The anonymous testimony of a Catholic blessed to have access to Mass.
April 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― As faithful Catholics long to return to public worship, a lucky few are permitted to be present at churches where Mass is celebrated. Most, of course, are priests and deacons. Others are altar servers, readers, and cameramen.
However, some ordinary Catholic congregations have been blessed with priests who are willing to risk their health or the ire of civil authority to say Mass for people whose consciences also permit them to run these risks. LifeSiteNews has been in communication with two of these Catholics, and one has written his testimony.
I am from a country in the far East, and therefore the ban should be seen in light of real concern for the health of its citizens: forced closures are placed even on mosques. The narrative we often hear from conservative and traditional circles in the West about the farce of COVID-19 being an indirect affront to Christ and His Church does not apply in my context, at least as far as the secular authorities are concerned.
The background of my story is a little unique. We faithful had Masses available to us neither because diocesan priests were saying their private Masses, nor because they were secretly inviting faithful to their private Masses: it is because we have a pious priest from the [Society of Saint Pius X], who has such great apostolic zeal that he decided to get into our country the day before the nationwide lockdown.
In his very own words, “I'd rather be locked in than locked out to be available to those who need the Sacraments.”
SSPX priests who minister to us are based in [another country]. They fly in every weekend and then fly out to their next destination either on the Sunday itself or on Monday. Father Dex (not his real name) left one Sunday, and when the government confirmed when the lockdown was to take effect, he came back immediately on Tuesday to be with us.
Since the government is placing heavy penalties on those who defy the ban, many are unable to make it to Mass for fear of exposing themselves, the priest, and the chapel. Out of 100 + regular faithful, only 13 of us come regularly for Mass.
Despite the fact that we are only 13, we had Sung Masses every Sunday and the entire Easter Triduum ceremonies. These were also fully sung.
Since Easter Vigil ends at about 2 a.m. there was no way we could leave the chapel without drawing attention to ourselves because restaurants, supermarkets and grocery shops are closed by 8 p.m. Therefore, we all slept in the chapel and stayed on for Easter Day Mass. It was truly a memorable moment for me, as I now can say “I slept with Jesus by my side.” This was literally so, as I was sleeping on the pew facing the Blessed Sacrament.
Why did I decide to go? How can I not, when the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered? Could I, having the opportunity (with proper safety measures) to go to it, refuse? Going to Mass is by no means done out of disrespect to the authorities, nor is it to ignore the reality of the epidemic. Personal health and hygiene are always kept and adhered to. Furthermore, apart from going to the chapel, we are always at home, hence the risk of inter-infection is very low, if not non-existent.
Fortunately for us, we have plenty of cover as several restaurants […] are open for take-out. If we were to be stopped by the authorities, we could always say that we were out to buy food, rations, and necessary household items. I have been sure to buy something because the only way back into my neighbourhood is through a police roadblock where they stop every vehicle to conduct a search and briefly question us on our whereabouts.
Even in a private capacity, diocesan priests here won’t say Requiem Masses
Every day after Mass there is Benediction. At every Benediction, the prayer for the Pope is prayed. Nay, rather, sung! I am not sure if the prayer for the Pope is said at Benediction in the diocesan Churches, but in the traditional Benediction, this prayer is always prayed.
Also, at every Mass the name of the local ordinary is mentioned.
I understand that many Catholics cannot agree with the SSPX position, but it is now 2020 and with all the developments (good and bad) happening in the Church, and in light of the momentum of the Traditional Catholic movement globally, I hope that regardless of the disagreements about the SSPX, Catholics can at least try to be thankful and appreciate that an additional Mass a day is offered for the benefit of the local ordinary and the Pope wherever and whenever an SSPX priest says his Mass.
[Local diocesan priests] are telling us that confessions can be done [only] after the ban is lifted, and no concessions have been given regarding emergency cases like extreme unction and viaticum. Yet here we have a foreign priest who has heroically offered himself and cooperates in the work of Christ's redemption for the salvation of souls.
A family friend of one of our faithful passed away during the lockdown. The deceased was [a Catholic but] not a faithful of the SSPX. She died without the sacraments and the last rites. The local diocesan priest was contacted to say a Requiem Mass for her, but he said he would do it only after the ban was lifted. This goes to show that, even in their private capacity, diocesan priests don't say their Masses. At last resort, our community was contacted, and so in the end it was Fr. Dex who said the Requiem Mass.
The woman died without any loved ones beside her as all her children are overseas. A wake was held for her at one of the parishes with no one attending, and no one was present at her cremation. In your charity, please pray for her soul.
If supermarkets are still open for the natural needs and sustenance of mankind, certainly and all the more should Churches be opened for the supernatural needs and sustenance for our immortal souls. Needless to say, we ought to take safety precautions, too.
Instead of being the first to close churches, the Episcopate should come up with ways to ensure that the Sacraments are available and spiritual health is provided for, just as the secular authorities came up with ways to keep the supermarkets open and certain sectors of the economy afloat. At the very least, they should give it a thought and fight for it. As the saying goes, justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.
This testimony has been edited for clarity and to preserve anonymity.
Follow Dorothy Dorothy Cummings McLean is a Canadian journalist, essayist, and novelist. She earned an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Toronto and an M.Div./S.T.B. from Toronto’s Regis College. She was a columnist for the Toronto Catholic Register for nine years and has contributed to Catholic World Report. Her first book, Seraphic Singles, was published by Novalis (2010) in Canada, Liguori in the USA, and Homo Dei in Poland. Her second, Ceremony of Innocence, was published by Ignatius Press (2013). Dorothy lives near Edinburgh, Scotland with her husband.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-21--Theology for beginners: part 1

Theology for beginners: part 1

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 !
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Watch Mother Miriam's Live show from 4.21.2020. Today, Mother reads from the book Theology for Beginners. This time of quarantine is a great time to dive deeper into our study of theology.
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