lifesitenews--2020-04-23--Michigan gov cancels contracts with far-left firm for COVID-19 tracing project

April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Democrat Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer is under fire for awarding a contract for tracing the spread of COVID-19 to a company linked to her re-election campaign , among other left-wing causes .
On Monday , the state Department of Health and Human Services announced that it was partnering with Great Lakes Community Engagement ( GLCE ) on a contract-tracing program meant to identify people infected with COVID-19 , then identify individuals with whom they had been in contact .
However , Whitmer canceled the contract after it surfaced that GLCE is connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Democrat political operative Mike Kolehouse , and that GLCE intended to use software from the company NGP VAN , which was responsible for the email services of Whitmer ’ s re-election campaign , and bills itself as the “ leading technology provider to Democratic and progressive campaigns and organizations.
” Via its Every Action branch , NGP VAN ’ s clients also include the pro-abortion National Women ’ s Law Center and Reproductive Health Access Project , the left-wing Rock the Vote , and the anti-Israel Jewish Voice for Peace .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by stating that the contract featured a “ strict data use agreement that only allows the data collected to be used for this contact tracing project , ” but Whitmer ultimately canceled the project on Tuesday , the Detroit Metro Times reports .
PETITION : Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here .
“ I ’ ve been involved with grassroots activists for a little over a decade , ” and “ I ’ ve never seen anything like this on the conservative side of the ledger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nakagiri , “ where you ’ ve got this entity working with governmental bodies , dumping huge networks of information into one database .
They ’ re asking for contact information , they ’ re asking for who else lives in the house — it ’ s troubling that this information is being stored in a Democrat-aligned database.
” This is far from Whitmer ’ s first scandal related to COVID-19 .
She has become one of the most infamous governors in the nation for the scope of the restrictions she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop selling plants and seeds ( even as lottery tickets remain available ) to prohibiting travel between two private residences owned by the same individual .
Her lockdown provoked a protest at the state capitol , drawing thousands of angry Michiganders , and two federal lawsuits asserting violations of Americans ’ constitutional rights .
At the same time , Whitmer refuses to apply to the abortion industry the same suspension of medical services imposed on most other fields and procedures , which she justified last week on the grounds that abortion is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ s live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world .

This is far from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first scandal related to COVID-19.
April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is under fire for awarding a contract for tracing the spread of COVID-19 to a company linked to her re-election campaign, among other left-wing causes.
On Monday, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced that it was partnering with Great Lakes Community Engagement (GLCE) on a contract-tracing program meant to identify people infected with COVID-19, then identify individuals with whom they had been in contact.
However, Whitmer canceled the contract after it surfaced that GLCE is connected with K2K Consulting, an LLC owned by Democrat political operative Mike Kolehouse, and that GLCE intended to use software from the company NGP VAN, which was responsible for the email services of Whitmer’s re-election campaign, and bills itself as the “leading technology provider to Democratic and progressive campaigns and organizations.”
Via its Every Action branch, NGP VAN’s clients also include the pro-abortion National Women’s Law Center and Reproductive Health Access Project, the left-wing Rock the Vote, and the anti-Israel Jewish Voice for Peace.
A Health Department representative attempted to calm concerns by stating that the contract featured a “strict data use agreement that only allows the data collected to be used for this contact tracing project,” but Whitmer ultimately canceled the project on Tuesday, the Detroit Metro Times reports.
PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
“I’ve been involved with grassroots activists for a little over a decade,” and “I’ve never seen anything like this on the conservative side of the ledger,” said Livingston County commissioner Wes Nakagiri, “where you’ve got this entity working with governmental bodies, dumping huge networks of information into one database. They’re asking for contact information, they’re asking for who else lives in the house — it’s troubling that this information is being stored in a Democrat-aligned database.”
This is far from Whitmer’s first scandal related to COVID-19.
She has become one of the most infamous governors in the nation for the scope of the restrictions she’s imposed, from ordering grocery stores to stop selling plants and seeds (even as lottery tickets remain available) to prohibiting travel between two private residences owned by the same individual. Her lockdown provoked a protest at the state capitol, drawing thousands of angry Michiganders, and two federal lawsuits asserting violations of Americans’ constitutional rights.
At the same time, Whitmer refuses to apply to the abortion industry the same suspension of medical services imposed on most other fields and procedures, which she justified last week on the grounds that abortion is “fundamental” and “life-sustaining.”
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’s live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-23--Why so many pro-lifers are worried about Bill Gates’s charity

April 22 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Predictably , the debate over the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has disintegrated into a shouting match over government overreach , mandatory vaccination , and the frequently draconian tactics of law enforcement .
Over the past several weeks , people have grown increasingly suspicious of the government response , conspiracy theories have abounded , and the usual suspects have accused anyone questioning the government of being tinfoil-hatted crazies with a national death wish .
One of the prime targets of people ’ s suspicions appears to be billionaire , Microsoft founder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused a bit of bewilderment in the media .
Why , they ask , could anyone doubt the pure intentions of a man who throws mountains of cash at health crises around the world ?
Why would anyone suspect him of wrongdoing , of all people ?
While noting up front that many of the conspiracy theories floating around are indeed crazy , I want to take a moment to explain why so many people view Bill Gates with suspicion : it is because they believe , with good evidence , that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because that can lead to some admittedly absurd speculation does not mean that the reason for the suspicion is not well founded .
Let me provide a few examples .
First of all , Bill Gates has long been obsessed with population control .
Back in 2003 , he told Bill Moyers that global health initiatives meant that parents often realized they didn ’ t need to have so many children .
Moyers asked him where his passion for the issue came from : “ But did you come to reproductive issues as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was there something that happened ?
[ W ] as there a revelation ?
” “ When I was growing up , my parents were always involved in various volunteer things , ” Gates responded .
“ My dad was head of Planned Parenthood .
And it was very controversial to be involved with that .
And so it 's fascinating.
” Now , if you ’ re one of the elites , noting your dad , who “ was the head of Planned Parenthood ” as one of your primary inspirations may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who know that Planned Parenthood is responsible for killing millions of children in the womb , however , question Bill Gates ’ s view of “ health.
” Does the destruction of children in the womb count ?
For the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , it certainly does .
As Live Action reported several days ago , Bill Gates funds an international family planning organization that distributes the abortion pill worldwide .
He has condemned the Mexico City Policy for banning the use of American tax dollars for abortions overseas .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parenthood .
And he ’ s even proposed issuing “ digital certificates ” that people can produce to prove they ’ ve received the coronavirus vaccination , when such a thing becomes a reality .
The truth is that Bill and Melinda Gates have a view of global health that includes — and promotes — abortion , the reduction of fertility , and sterilization .
Some time ago , I interviewed Nigerian pro-life activist Obianuju Ekeocha on her book Target Africa : Ideological Neo-Colonialism in the Twenty-First Century and subsequent documentary Strings Attached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders and philanthropists are attempting to impose their view of life and family on the developing world .
As Ekeocha wrote after the Gates Foundation hosted a massive family planning conference in Ethiopia : “ We are thirsty and they give us condoms !
We are hungry and they offer us contraceptive pills !
We are sick and they offer us the most modern techniques of abortion !
We are naked and they lead us into the arms of sexual hedonism !
We are imprisoned by poverty and they offer us sexual liberation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a modern world that can neither see our pain nor hear our cry for help .
We mourn deeply for the destructive seeds of sexual revolution which were sown last week in Addis Ababa.
” It is important for people to understand why so many are suspicious of the philanthropy of Bill Gates and his ilk , and why so many react with suspicion to the medical opinions of a certain sector of our elites .
It is because they lie to us about abortion , day in and day out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the womb is “ health care ” and “ an essential service.
” It is because they tell us that the birth control pill has no side effects and is also health care , that the abortion pill is safe , that abortion has no negative impact on women , and hundreds of other lies that we know to be lies .
I have held an aborted baby in my hands and stared at his little face with my own eyes — knowing full well that some of the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look me in the face and tell me that the little boy I was holding wasn ’ t a baby .
PETITION : Pres .
Trump do n't give federal funds to COVID-19 vaccines made from aborted baby cells Sign the petition here .
The same people telling us that abortion is safe , that the child in the womb isn ’ t a child , that gender-dysphoric children and teenagers must be given puberty-blockers and surgical mutilation , and that sexual promiscuity is healthy ( exploration is good ! )
are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they pretend not to understand why .
I can clear that up : it is because we know that you have lied about so many things .
You may not be lying now .
But the reason there are so many conspiracy theories to begin with is because you attempted to sell us falsehoods like “ abortion is health care , ” and when we pointed to a massive heap of shattered baby corpses , you responded smoothly : “ Who are you going to believe , us or your lying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know whom to believe anymore .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In his latest episode , Marvin Olasky , editor-in-chief of WORLD magazine and author of pro-life books , discusses the true history of the pro-life movement and what it can teach us about winning the culture war .
Olasky points to the long history of abortion before Roe v. Wade to highlight the fact that fighting abortion on a strictly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far since it is truly a cultural issue .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

April 22, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Predictably, the debate over the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has disintegrated into a shouting match over government overreach, mandatory vaccination, and the frequently draconian tactics of law enforcement. Over the past several weeks, people have grown increasingly suspicious of the government response, conspiracy theories have abounded, and the usual suspects have accused anyone questioning the government of being tinfoil-hatted crazies with a national death wish.
One of the prime targets of people’s suspicions appears to be billionaire, Microsoft founder, and philanthropist Bill Gates. This has caused a bit of bewilderment in the media. Why, they ask, could anyone doubt the pure intentions of a man who throws mountains of cash at health crises around the world? Why would anyone suspect him of wrongdoing, of all people?
While noting up front that many of the conspiracy theories floating around are indeed crazy, I want to take a moment to explain why so many people view Bill Gates with suspicion: it is because they believe, with good evidence, that he has a much larger agenda. Just because that can lead to some admittedly absurd speculation does not mean that the reason for the suspicion is not well founded. Let me provide a few examples.
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
First of all, Bill Gates has long been obsessed with population control. Back in 2003, he told Bill Moyers that global health initiatives meant that parents often realized they didn’t need to have so many children. Moyers asked him where his passion for the issue came from: “But did you come to reproductive issues as an intellectual, philosophical pursuit? Or was there something that happened? [W]as there a revelation?”
“When I was growing up, my parents were always involved in various volunteer things,” Gates responded. “My dad was head of Planned Parenthood. And it was very controversial to be involved with that. And so it's fascinating.”
Now, if you’re one of the elites, noting your dad, who “was the head of Planned Parenthood” as one of your primary inspirations may seem perfectly natural. Those of us who know that Planned Parenthood is responsible for killing millions of children in the womb, however, question Bill Gates’s view of “health.” Does the destruction of children in the womb count?
For the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it certainly does. As Live Action reported several days ago, Bill Gates funds an international family planning organization that distributes the abortion pill worldwide. He has condemned the Mexico City Policy for banning the use of American tax dollars for abortions overseas. He’s donated generously to International Planned Parenthood. And he’s even proposed issuing “digital certificates” that people can produce to prove they’ve received the coronavirus vaccination, when such a thing becomes a reality.
The truth is that Bill and Melinda Gates have a view of global health that includes — and promotes — abortion, the reduction of fertility, and sterilization.
Some time ago, I interviewed Nigerian pro-life activist Obianuju Ekeocha on her book Target Africa: Ideological Neo-Colonialism in the Twenty-First Century and subsequent documentary Strings Attached, in which she details how Western leaders and philanthropists are attempting to impose their view of life and family on the developing world. As Ekeocha wrote after the Gates Foundation hosted a massive family planning conference in Ethiopia: “We are thirsty and they give us condoms! We are hungry and they offer us contraceptive pills! We are sick and they offer us the most modern techniques of abortion! We are naked and they lead us into the arms of sexual hedonism! We are imprisoned by poverty and they offer us sexual liberation! Silent tears roll down for Africa in a modern world that can neither see our pain nor hear our cry for help. We mourn deeply for the destructive seeds of sexual revolution which were sown last week in Addis Ababa.”
It is important for people to understand why so many are suspicious of the philanthropy of Bill Gates and his ilk, and why so many react with suspicion to the medical opinions of a certain sector of our elites. It is because they lie to us about abortion, day in and day out, and tell us that destroying a child in the womb is “health care” and “an essential service.” It is because they tell us that the birth control pill has no side effects and is also health care, that the abortion pill is safe, that abortion has no negative impact on women, and hundreds of other lies that we know to be lies. I have held an aborted baby in my hands and stared at his little face with my own eyes — knowing full well that some of the world’s richest and most intelligent medical experts would look me in the face and tell me that the little boy I was holding wasn’t a baby.
PETITION: Pres. Trump don't give federal funds to COVID-19 vaccines made from aborted baby cells Sign the petition here.
The same people telling us that abortion is safe, that the child in the womb isn’t a child, that gender-dysphoric children and teenagers must be given puberty-blockers and surgical mutilation, and that sexual promiscuity is healthy (exploration is good!) are now facing the suspicion of millions of people, and they pretend not to understand why. I can clear that up: it is because we know that you have lied about so many things. You may not be lying now. But the reason there are so many conspiracy theories to begin with is because you attempted to sell us falsehoods like “abortion is health care,” and when we pointed to a massive heap of shattered baby corpses, you responded smoothly: “Who are you going to believe, us or your lying eyes?”
A lot of people don’t know whom to believe anymore.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of WORLD magazine and author of pro-life books, discusses the true history of the pro-life movement and what it can teach us about winning the culture war. Olasky points to the long history of abortion before Roe v. Wade to highlight the fact that fighting abortion on a strictly legal front will only get us so far since it is truly a cultural issue.
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--Why more work will be needed even if Roe v Wade is overturned

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:
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lifesitenews--2020-04-22--YouTube CEO: We’ll delete anything that contradicts World 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--2020-04-24--Michigan gov’s fascist handling of COVID-19 ruined her chance to be Biden’s VP

PETITION : Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here .
April 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The likelihood that Gretchen Whitmer will be named Joe Biden ’ s running mate seems to be diminishing with each passing day .
Michigan — the state she is currently governing with an iron fist — is a must-win for the Democrats .
For a while there , it seemed Whitmer was the natural choice for Biden , who can ’ t afford to see the Wolverine State support Donald Trump again .
As of late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her bungling of the COVID-19 outbreak .
Whitmer has only herself to blame .
The media and the Democratic Party did everything they could to let her prove she was ready for primetime .
In February , she gave the Democratic response to Trump ’ s State of the Union address .
It wasn ’ t an outstanding performance , but , then again , few of these speeches are .
If anything , it was a national platform that helped raise her profile .
Next came the media circuit .
After she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public spat with President Trump , Whitmer was featured on liberal comedian Trevor Noah ’ s program .
Meet the Press also rolled out the red carpet .
During her media appearances , Whitmer highlighted the work she was doing while coming off as somewhat non-partisan .
Admittedly , I thought she was doing a decent job in the spotlight .
She initially exempted religious gatherings of over 50 people from being penalized and took what seemed like necessary precautions to keep the spread of the virus at bay .
But over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions that have crossed the line , bordering on arbitrary if not dictatorial power grabs .
More than a few of my fellow Michiganders agree with me .
On Wednesday last week a 4,000-person strong protest was held in the capital city of Lansing in response to what some attendees called “ tyrannical ” executive orders .
“ Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people .
Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people , ” protestor Meshawn Maddock of Michigan Conservative Coalition told Fox News .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of work voters , Whitmer doubled down .
In an interview with leftist Joy Reid on MSNBC , Whitmer lashed out at her critics , essentially telling them to pound sand .
Yesterday she announced she is extending her “ Stay Home , Stay Safe ” order , which was set to end on April 30 .
But I think the protestors had good reason to be upset .
Two weeks ago , a pro-life activist in Detroit was confronted by 15 – count that , 15– police officers as he peacefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the man was violating Whitmer ’ s executive order .
Fortunately , the governor has since clarified that her order does n't punish pro-lifers standing outside abortion clinics , but that only came after the American Freedom Law Center threatened a lawsuit .
On April 2 , Michigan ’ s Department of Health and Human Services announced that anyone who violates so-called social distancing guidelines will receive a hefty $ 1,000 fine .
A day earlier , Whitmer asked the Michigan legislature to extend her state of emergency powers for another 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grant , thank God .
But perhaps the most significant moment in all this took place when Whitmer expanded her original executive order on April 9 .
The new rules did a number of things .
For one , citizens were banned from traveling to their vacation homes — a timeless tradition for millions of Michiganders who want to get away from the stress of everyday life .
Golf courses and landscaping companies were to remain closed as well .
Motorized boating , of all things , was also deemed non-essential .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop the sale of seeds , paint , and gardening equipment .
Whitmer justified her draconian measures during an interview on the TODAY show by suggesting that snow – yes , snow , as in cold weather – was going to make Michiganders stay in their homes anyway , so her decree wasn ’ t really an inconvenience for them .
Predictably , Michiganders have not taken kindly to these restrictions on their liberties .
A petition calling for Whitmer ’ s removal has been launched on Change.org .
More than 275,000 names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Facebook group titled “ Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine ” was started as well .
It currently has 352,000 members .
As if that wasn ’ t enough , four Michigan sheriffs have written a public letter saying they wo n't enforce Whitmer ’ s lock down order , which they called an “ overstepping [ of ] her executive authority.
” While Governor Whitmer ’ s audition for Joe Biden ’ s Vice Presidential pick may have started out strong , in recent weeks she has displayed what Tucker Carlson has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of arbitrary fascism.
” Instead of trying to micromanage the everyday lives of ordinary Michiganders , Whitmer should open up most of the state 's economy while focusing her efforts on the city of Detroit and its surrounding counties , which is where the majority of the COVID-19 cases are occurring .
Tailored government interventions aimed at helping local authorities contain the virus and treat those who are infected is the solution to Michigan ’ s problems — not blanket state-wide bans .
There is no reason the rest of us have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsolvable incompetence .
If Biden chooses Whitmer as his running mate , Trump ’ s base in Michigan will be more enraged than ever .
It wo n't take much to mobilize them come November .
Trump 's campaign team will also spend millions highlighting Whitmer 's dictatorial decisions so the entire country will know just what to expect under a Biden-Whitmer regime .
A Whitmer pick could very well be what tips the state — which Trump won by a mere 11,000 votes in 2016 — into the Republican column .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he ’ s serious about winning Michigan ’ s 16 Electoral College votes .

PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
April 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The likelihood that Gretchen Whitmer will be named Joe Biden’s running mate seems to be diminishing with each passing day.
Michigan — the state she is currently governing with an iron fist — is a must-win for the Democrats. For a while there, it seemed Whitmer was the natural choice for Biden, who can’t afford to see the Wolverine State support Donald Trump again. As of late, her star has faded due to her bungling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Whitmer has only herself to blame. The media and the Democratic Party did everything they could to let her prove she was ready for primetime.
In February, she gave the Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address. It wasn’t an outstanding performance, but, then again, few of these speeches are. If anything, it was a national platform that helped raise her profile.
Next came the media circuit. After she seemed to get the best of a public spat with President Trump, Whitmer was featured on liberal comedian Trevor Noah’s program. Meet the Press also rolled out the red carpet. During her media appearances, Whitmer highlighted the work she was doing while coming off as somewhat non-partisan.
Admittedly, I thought she was doing a decent job in the spotlight. She initially exempted religious gatherings of over 50 people from being penalized and took what seemed like necessary precautions to keep the spread of the virus at bay.
But over the last two weeks Whitmer has been making decisions that have crossed the line, bordering on arbitrary if not dictatorial power grabs. More than a few of my fellow Michiganders agree with me.
On Wednesday last week a 4,000-person strong protest was held in the capital city of Lansing in response to what some attendees called “tyrannical” executive orders.
“Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people. Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people,” protestor Meshawn Maddock of Michigan Conservative Coalition told Fox News.
Instead of listening to these frustrated, blue-collar, out of work voters, Whitmer doubled down. In an interview with leftist Joy Reid on MSNBC, Whitmer lashed out at her critics, essentially telling them to pound sand.
Yesterday she announced she is extending her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, which was set to end on April 30.
But I think the protestors had good reason to be upset.
Two weeks ago, a pro-life activist in Detroit was confronted by 15 – count that, 15– police officers as he peacefully stood outside an abortion facility. They said the man was violating Whitmer’s executive order.
Fortunately, the governor has since clarified that her order doesn't punish pro-lifers standing outside abortion clinics, but that only came after the American Freedom Law Center threatened a lawsuit.
On April 2, Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services announced that anyone who violates so-called social distancing guidelines will receive a hefty $1,000 fine.
A day earlier, Whitmer asked the Michigan legislature to extend her state of emergency powers for another 70 days — a request they ultimately refused to grant, thank God.
But perhaps the most significant moment in all this took place when Whitmer expanded her original executive order on April 9. The new rules did a number of things.
For one, citizens were banned from traveling to their vacation homes — a timeless tradition for millions of Michiganders who want to get away from the stress of everyday life.
Golf courses and landscaping companies were to remain closed as well. Motorized boating, of all things, was also deemed non-essential. Moreover, many businesses were forced to stop the sale of seeds, paint, and gardening equipment.
Whitmer justified her draconian measures during an interview on the TODAY show by suggesting that snow – yes, snow, as in cold weather – was going to make Michiganders stay in their homes anyway, so her decree wasn’t really an inconvenience for them.
Predictably, Michiganders have not taken kindly to these restrictions on their liberties.
A petition calling for Whitmer’s removal has been launched on Change.org. More than 312,000 names have been added to the letter.
A Facebook group titled “Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine” was started as well. It currently has 371,000 members.
As if that wasn’t enough, four Michigan sheriffs have written a public letter saying they won't enforce Whitmer’s lock down order, which they called an “overstepping [of] her executive authority.”
While Governor Whitmer’s audition for Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential pick may have started out strong, in recent weeks she has displayed what Tucker Carlson has called a “comical ineptitude and a weird kind of arbitrary fascism.”
Instead of trying to micromanage the everyday lives of ordinary Michiganders, Whitmer should open up most of the state's economy while focusing her efforts on the city of Detroit and its surrounding counties, which is where the majority of the COVID-19 cases are occurring.
Tailored government interventions aimed at helping local authorities contain the virus and treat those who are infected is the solution to Michigan’s problems — not blanket state-wide bans. There is no reason the rest of us have to suffer for Detroit’s seemingly unsolvable incompetence.
If Biden chooses Whitmer as his running mate, Trump’s base in Michigan will be more enraged than ever. It won't take much to mobilize them come November. Trump's campaign team will also spend millions highlighting Whitmer's dictatorial decisions so the entire country will know just what to expect under a Biden-Whitmer regime.
A Whitmer pick could very well be what tips the state — which Trump won by a mere 11,000 votes in 2016 — into the Republican column. Biden would be wise to choose someone else if he’s serious about winning Michigan’s 16 Electoral College votes.
Follow Stephen Stephen Kokx is a journalist for LifeSiteNews. He previously worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago under the late Francis Cardinal George. A former community college instructor, Stephen has written and spoken extensively about Catholic social teaching and politics. His essays have appeared in a variety of outlets, including Catholic Family News, CatholicVote, and Alpha News.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-24--Abortion pill reversal saved her baby. Now she’s pro-life

April 23 , 2020 ( Pregnancy Help News ) — Rita and her fiancé were in the midst of a three-hour car drive home when she began hemorrhaging .
She was eight weeks pregnant and had just left an abortion facility where she had begun a chemical abortion .
As Rita would later recall , she was bleeding “ so severely it was dripping like a faucet that wouldn ’ t turn off.
” Rita ’ s fiancé rushed her to the hospital where she was given a blood transfusion and monitored for the next three days .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like I was being ripped apart internally !
” she said .
Despite the terror of those few days at the hospital , Rita discovered something that would bring her immense happiness : She was still pregnant and her baby still had a heartbeat .
With that news , Rita was able to find a life-saving treatment known as abortion pill reversal .
To Rita ’ s joy , it worked .
Now , nearly two years after that fateful day on the road , Rita is the mother to a happy one-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months old now and is the sweetest , happiest and most beautiful little boy I have ever laid my eyes on !
” she wrote on a Facebook post made by pro-life advocate Laura Klassen .
“ God was truly with me , and now I see why , my son ’ s my biggest blessing.
” So impactful was the experience on Rita ’ s life that today she is outspokenly pro-life .
According to a message she sent to Klassen , that wasn ’ t always the case .
Rita explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a “ choice ” and that an unborn child in the womb wasn ’ t a human life .
Her own mother had two abortions .
But because of the transformative experience of saving her baby , Rita was able to help her mother become pro-life , as well .
“ I should have never been able to take my son ’ s life , ” Rita wrote to Klassen .
“ And seeing him here today is such a blessing !
He ’ s a radiant soul with a happy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a room !
He , like all other babies , deserves life !
” That ’ s exactly what the team at Abortion Pill Rescue is hoping to ensure .
The group — a network of more than 800 medical providers run by Heartbeat International — has helped save more than 1,100 from in-progress chemical abortions since it launched more than a decade ago .
“ Many women regret their abortions and often that regret sets in right away , ” said Christa Brown , director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as they get to their cars in the abortion clinic parking lot .
Or , like Rita , regret already begins on their way home from the clinic .
The realization sets in that they are ending the life of a child and they want to know if they have options.
” A chemical abortion — often referred to as the “ abortion pill ” or RU-486 — actually involves two drugs .
The first , which Rita took , is mifepristone , a drug that destabilizes the pregnancy by blocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misoprostol , triggers contractions , forcing the woman ’ s body to expel her baby in very premature labor , often at home .
If a woman changes her mind after taking the first drug , she may be able to save her baby with help from the Abortion Pill Rescue Network .
By calling the 24/7 helpline ( 877-558-0333 ) , she is connected with a local medical provider who offers the treatment .
Brown says that even in seemingly dire cases — like Rita ’ s — babies have been rescued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after taking mifepristone means it 's too late to save the baby , ” Brown said .
“ But that is n't necessarily true.
” She said that mifepristone is known to cause fever , heavy bleeding , abdominal pain and nausea .
“ The FDA states that cramping and vaginal bleeding are expected with mifepristone and warns that one in one hundred women who have taken just the mifepristone will have bleeding so heavy they will require a surgical procedure to stop it , ” she said .
When combined with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a chemical abortion are more alarming still .
“ I ’ m very concerned about the abortion pill because aside from the fact that it ’ s killing babies , it ’ s being marketed heavily to young women as ‘ easy ’ , and ‘ safe ’ , and that you can ‘ do it in the comfort of your own home , ’ ” Laura Klassen told Pregnancy Help News in an email .
“ But I am hearing the horror stories regularly.
” Some of those she posted recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to find is that the RU-486 pill is much more bloody and painful than the abortion industry portrays it , ” Klassen said .
“ What I am hearing is that women are often sent to the hospital during the process because of hemorrhaging , or else they ’ re having to go weeks later to have surgery because parts were left inside.
” “ The medical staff of APR hear from women who are scared , alone and bleeding heavily , ” she said .
“ Because chemical abortion is often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ and because abortion providers often describe the bleeding as spotting , many women are shocked by the amount of pain and bleeding the abortion pill causes.
” Yet if a woman contacts the Abortion Pill Rescue hotline soon enough after taking the first drug , she may not suffer the same experience .
In cases where an ultrasound can still detect a baby ’ s heartbeat — even a faint one — the abortion pill reversal treatment can begin .
To initiate that process , a medical provider prescribes bioidentical progesterone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman .
The hope is that by flooding her body with progesterone , they can restabilize the pregnancy .
“ It works to outnumber and outcompete the mifepristone for those receptor sites in the uterus and placenta and is successful about 68 percent of the time , ” Brown said , referring to a study by physician George Delgado , one of the founders of the Abortion Pill Rescue Network .
With more and more babies being rescued by the treatment , Brown says the protocol is an important form of empowerment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real choice , ” Brown said .
“ No woman should ever feel pressure to complete a medical procedure she no longer desires.
” Published with permission from Pregnancy Help News .

'I should have never been able to take my son's life,' Rita wrote. Now she's glad that in the end, she didn't.
April 23, 2020 (Pregnancy Help News) — Rita and her fiancé were in the midst of a three-hour car drive home when she began hemorrhaging. She was eight weeks pregnant and had just left an abortion facility where she had begun a chemical abortion.
As Rita would later recall, she was bleeding “so severely it was dripping like a faucet that wouldn’t turn off.”
Rita’s fiancé rushed her to the hospital where she was given a blood transfusion and monitored for the next three days.
“I was in so much pain it felt like I was being ripped apart internally!” she said.
Despite the terror of those few days at the hospital, Rita discovered something that would bring her immense happiness: She was still pregnant and her baby still had a heartbeat.
With that news, Rita was able to find a life-saving treatment known as abortion pill reversal. To Rita’s joy, it worked.
Now, nearly two years after that fateful day on the road, Rita is the mother to a happy one-year-old boy.
“He’s 15 months old now and is the sweetest, happiest and most beautiful little boy I have ever laid my eyes on!” she wrote on a Facebook post made by pro-life advocate Laura Klassen. “God was truly with me, and now I see why, my son’s my biggest blessing.”
So impactful was the experience on Rita’s life that today she is outspokenly pro-life.
According to a message she sent to Klassen, that wasn’t always the case.
Rita explained that she grew up believing that abortion was a “choice” and that an unborn child in the womb wasn’t a human life. Her own mother had two abortions.
But because of the transformative experience of saving her baby, Rita was able to help her mother become pro-life, as well.
“I should have never been able to take my son’s life,” Rita wrote to Klassen. “And seeing him here today is such a blessing! He’s a radiant soul with a happy, laughing, and smiley energy that radiates a room! He, like all other babies, deserves life!”
That’s exactly what the team at Abortion Pill Rescue is hoping to ensure. The group — a network of more than 800 medical providers run by Heartbeat International — has helped save more than 1,100 from in-progress chemical abortions since it launched more than a decade ago.
“Many women regret their abortions and often that regret sets in right away,” said Christa Brown, director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International. “Many women contact the APR hotline as soon as they get to their cars in the abortion clinic parking lot. Or, like Rita, regret already begins on their way home from the clinic. The realization sets in that they are ending the life of a child and they want to know if they have options.”
A chemical abortion — often referred to as the “abortion pill” or RU-486 — actually involves two drugs. The first, which Rita took, is mifepristone, a drug that destabilizes the pregnancy by blocking progesterone receptors. The second, typically misoprostol, triggers contractions, forcing the woman’s body to expel her baby in very premature labor, often at home.
If a woman changes her mind after taking the first drug, she may be able to save her baby with help from the Abortion Pill Rescue Network. By calling the 24/7 helpline (877-558-0333), she is connected with a local medical provider who offers the treatment.
Brown says that even in seemingly dire cases — like Rita’s — babies have been rescued.
“Many assume that some bleeding after taking mifepristone means it's too late to save the baby,” Brown said. “But that isn't necessarily true.”
She said that mifepristone is known to cause fever, heavy bleeding, abdominal pain and nausea.
“The FDA states that cramping and vaginal bleeding are expected with mifepristone and warns that one in one hundred women who have taken just the mifepristone will have bleeding so heavy they will require a surgical procedure to stop it,” she said.
When combined with the second drug, misoprostol, the effects of a chemical abortion are more alarming still.
“I’m very concerned about the abortion pill because aside from the fact that it’s killing babies, it’s being marketed heavily to young women as ‘easy’, and ‘safe’, and that you can ‘do it in the comfort of your own home,’” Laura Klassen told Pregnancy Help News in an email. “But I am hearing the horror stories regularly.”
Some of those she posted recently on Facebook.
“What I have come to find is that the RU-486 pill is much more bloody and painful than the abortion industry portrays it,” Klassen said. “What I am hearing is that women are often sent to the hospital during the process because of hemorrhaging, or else they’re having to go weeks later to have surgery because parts were left inside.”
Brown says the Abortion Pill Rescue Network hears similar accounts.
“The medical staff of APR hear from women who are scared, alone and bleeding heavily,” she said. “Because chemical abortion is often advertised as ‘inducing a period,’ and because abortion providers often describe the bleeding as spotting, many women are shocked by the amount of pain and bleeding the abortion pill causes.”
Yet if a woman contacts the Abortion Pill Rescue hotline soon enough after taking the first drug, she may not suffer the same experience.
In cases where an ultrasound can still detect a baby’s heartbeat — even a faint one — the abortion pill reversal treatment can begin. To initiate that process, a medical provider prescribes bioidentical progesterone, such as Prometrium, to the pregnant woman. The hope is that by flooding her body with progesterone, they can restabilize the pregnancy.
“It works to outnumber and outcompete the mifepristone for those receptor sites in the uterus and placenta and is successful about 68 percent of the time,” Brown said, referring to a study by physician George Delgado, one of the founders of the Abortion Pill Rescue Network.
With more and more babies being rescued by the treatment, Brown says the protocol is an important form of empowerment for women.
“APR empowers women with real choice,” Brown said. “No woman should ever feel pressure to complete a medical procedure she no longer desires.”
Published with permission from Pregnancy Help News.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-23--Vatican plans gradual reopening of ‘ordinary services’ in May

VATICAN CITY , April 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Holy See announced that beginning next month it will begin to gradually restore its normal services as it moves into a new phase of its response to the coronavirus pandemic , which has overwhelmed the entire Italian peninsula .
This morning , in the Old Synod Hall , an extraordinary meeting took place , chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin , in the presence of the heads of the Dicasteries and entities of the Holy See .
The aim of the meeting was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency , to begin this coming May .
The efforts made by the Holy See to face the crisis in a sustainable way were highlighted .
In addition , it was decided to gradually reactivate ordinary services , while keeping in place the health precautions intended to limit the contagion , so as to ensure service to the Holy Father and to the Universal Church .
The Vatican announcement came amid news from Italian Church leaders that they too are about to enter into a new phase of recovery from the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the secretary general of the Italian Bishops ’ Conference , Father Ivan Maffeis , said bishops aim to restart public Masses , funerals , baptisms and marriages on Sunday , May 3 , as long as proper social distancing is maintained , and attendees wear masks and gloves .
“ With all the attention required by the emergency , we must return to living in the church ; the country has a profound need for it , ” said Maffeis .
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world : Feed your flock @ @ @ @ @

Meanwhile, Italian bishops reportedly expect to resume public Masses, funerals, baptisms and marriages on May 3.
VATICAN CITY, April 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Holy See announced that beginning next month it will begin to gradually restore its normal services as it moves into a new phase of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has overwhelmed the entire Italian peninsula.
The Vatican Press Office revealed yesterday:
This morning, in the Old Synod Hall, an extraordinary meeting took place, chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, in the presence of the heads of the Dicasteries and entities of the Holy See. The aim of the meeting was to consider the second phase of the Covid-19 emergency, to begin this coming May. The efforts made by the Holy See to face the crisis in a sustainable way were highlighted. In addition, it was decided to gradually reactivate ordinary services, while keeping in place the health precautions intended to limit the contagion, so as to ensure service to the Holy Father and to the Universal Church.
The Vatican announcement came amid news from Italian Church leaders that they too are about to enter into a new phase of recovery from the pandemic.
According to a report from Crux, the secretary general of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Father Ivan Maffeis, said bishops aim to restart public Masses, funerals, baptisms and marriages on Sunday, May 3, as long as proper social distancing is maintained, and attendees wear masks and gloves.
“With all the attention required by the emergency, we must return to living in the church; the country has a profound need for it,” said Maffeis.
Urgent appeal to the bishops of the world: Feed your flock Sign the petition here.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-23--Trump-appointed intel director determined to make spy agencies more LGBT-friendly

WASHINGTON , D.C. , April 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The openly gay acting director of National Intelligence for the U.S. , Richard Grenell , is expanding his mandate from President Trump to eliminate the death penalty for and otherwise decriminalize being gay around the world to include the normalization of homosexuality in the vast array of spy agencies he oversees .
In February , President Donald Trump tapped Grenell — who was already serving as United States ambassador to Germany — for the position , making him the first openly gay member of a White House Cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices concurrently .
As intelligence head , Grenell oversees the nation ’ s seventeen intelligence agencies , including the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) , the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) , the Department of Homeland Security , and the intelligence arms of each branch of the U.S. military .
In 2019 , Grenell was asked by President Trump to spearhead a global effort to get countries to end their criminalization of homosexuality .
That effort has now resulted in a policy that would limit the intelligence that U.S. spy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminalize homosexuality in order to strong-arm them into conforming with Western norms .
According to multiple reports , the Trump White House is supportive of the initiative .
Sixty-nine countries currently criminalize homosexuality .
Most are located in the Middle East , Africa , and Southeast Asia .
Grenell is an interesting hybrid : an out gay man loved by most conservative pundits and politicos , who at the same time is often the target of scorn by liberals , especially LGBT media and political organizations .
He has worked for pro-life causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views on many issues , and says he wants Christian conscience rights protected , but he is also a self-described “ gay Christian ” who advocates for same-sex “ marriage ” and has decried the influence of “ loud religious right activists ” in the conservative coalition .
Stuart Milk is the nephew of Harvey Milk , the murdered San Francisco supervisor who made history in the 1970s as California ’ s first openly homosexual elected official .
Stuart now heads the Harvey Milk Foundation .
He told the New York Times that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon for employees of the National Security Agency , Defense Intelligence Agency , and other agencies .
“ We had a lot of people from the intelligence community at this listening event , ” said Milk — “ people from the N.S.A .
and other intelligence branches , who were talking about how difficult it was , still to this day , to be L.G.B.T .
in those branches of government.
” That era may soon be coming to an end .
In a letter sent last week to all the agencies under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complete normalization of homosexuality and transgenderism within all Intelligence Community ( I.C . )
operations .
“ While I will likely not be in this role for long , I plan to use this opportunity to drive lasting impact for the IC Pride community .
And I am asking every member of the IC leadership team to join me , ” wrote Grenell .
“ I am committed to doing more to detect and respond to all discrimination and harassment within the workforce , ” he contniued .
“ I expect every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deliberate in protecting the LGBT workforce.
” \ In a separate letter that he sent to Adam Schiff this month , Grenell said , “ Diversity of the IC workforce should always be celebrated , and I am proud that we increased diversity within the ODNI ’ s senior ranks , to include more women and members of the LGBT community.
” “ Rick Grenell has proven in his work for the Trump administration that he is a gay activist first and a loyal Republican second , ” Peter LaBarbera , founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homosexuality ( AFTAH ) , told LifeSiteNews in February .
“ He has made it his primary mission to work for the normalization of homosexuality worldwide , which would seem to be more of an Obama foreign policy goal than a Trump goal , ” added the AFTAH head .

'I plan to use this opportunity,' Grenell wrote to all of the U.S. intelligence agencies, 'to drive lasting impact for the IC [Intelligence Community] Pride community.'
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The openly gay acting director of National Intelligence for the U.S., Richard Grenell, is expanding his mandate from President Trump to eliminate the death penalty for and otherwise decriminalize being gay around the world to include the normalization of homosexuality in the vast array of spy agencies he oversees.
In February, President Donald Trump tapped Grenell — who was already serving as United States ambassador to Germany — for the position, making him the first openly gay member of a White House Cabinet in history. He now holds both offices concurrently.
As intelligence head, Grenell oversees the nation’s seventeen intelligence agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Department of Homeland Security, and the intelligence arms of each branch of the U.S. military.
In 2019, Grenell was asked by President Trump to spearhead a global effort to get countries to end their criminalization of homosexuality.
That effort has now resulted in a policy that would limit the intelligence that U.S. spy agencies share with nations that continue to criminalize homosexuality in order to strong-arm them into conforming with Western norms.
According to multiple reports, the Trump White House is supportive of the initiative.
Sixty-nine countries currently criminalize homosexuality. Most are located in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Grenell is an interesting hybrid: an out gay man loved by most conservative pundits and politicos, who at the same time is often the target of scorn by liberals, especially LGBT media and political organizations.
He has worked for pro-life causes at the U.N., holds traditional conservative views on many issues, and says he wants Christian conscience rights protected, but he is also a self-described “gay Christian” who advocates for same-sex “marriage” and has decried the influence of “loud religious right activists” in the conservative coalition.
Stuart Milk is the nephew of Harvey Milk, the murdered San Francisco supervisor who made history in the 1970s as California’s first openly homosexual elected official. Stuart now heads the Harvey Milk Foundation. He told the New York Times that he recently held a session at the Pentagon for employees of the National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and other agencies.
“We had a lot of people from the intelligence community at this listening event,” said Milk — “people from the N.S.A. and other intelligence branches, who were talking about how difficult it was, still to this day, to be L.G.B.T. in those branches of government.”
That era may soon be coming to an end.
In a letter sent last week to all the agencies under his auspices, Grenell seemed to demand the complete normalization of homosexuality and transgenderism within all Intelligence Community (I.C.) operations.
“While I will likely not be in this role for long, I plan to use this opportunity to drive lasting impact for the IC Pride community. And I am asking every member of the IC leadership team to join me,” wrote Grenell.
“I am committed to doing more to detect and respond to all discrimination and harassment within the workforce,” he contniued. “I expect every IC agency to ensure policies are specific and deliberate in protecting the LGBT workforce.”
His letter concluded:
Finally, I ask you to remember that June is Pride Month. Although this year’s IC Pride Summit has been postponed, I look forward to hosting members, allies, and friends of the IC’s LGBT community in-person when we return to the new normal after COVID-19.
In a separate letter that he sent to Adam Schiff this month, Grenell said, “Diversity of the IC workforce should always be celebrated, and I am proud that we increased diversity within the ODNI’s senior ranks, to include more women and members of the LGBT community.”
“Rick Grenell has proven in his work for the Trump administration that he is a gay activist first and a loyal Republican second,” Peter LaBarbera, founder and president of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH), told LifeSiteNews in February.
“He has made it his primary mission to work for the normalization of homosexuality worldwide, which would seem to be more of an Obama foreign policy goal than a Trump goal,” added the AFTAH head.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-23--High-ranking Vatican cardinal criticizes police for interrupting Mass

PRAYER PLEDGE : Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here .
April 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Cardinal Angelo Becciu , the head of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints , has criticized Italian police for interrupting a priest in Soncino ( Lombardy ) as he offered Mass with some 13 people present .
“ No authority is allowed to interrupt Mass , ” the cardinal insisted on Twitter .
The cardinal 's tweet has been reported on by media in different languages .
Becciu recalls in his tweet that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by what happened to a confrere in the Diocese of Cremona ” that “ the principle that no authority is allowed to interrupt Mass must be defended.
” “ If the celebrant is guilty of any infraction , ” the curial cardinal continues , “ let him be reprimanded afterwards , not during !
” As one commentator says in response to this tweet , article 405 of the Italian penal code prohibits any interruption of the Holy Mass .
Other media reports on the event in the Diocese of Cremona also show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lino Viola , who refused to stop his Mass .
As LifeSite reported , last Sunday , police interrupted this priest 's Mass in Soncina , in the Diocese of Cremona .
A policeman interrupted the priest and pointed out to him that public Masses are forbidden .
The priest insisted upon continuing his Mass , even though the officer then returned with the local mayor on the phone .
The priest simply turned off the phone and returned to his Mass .
Subsequently , the priest and the congregating faithful have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the faithful with 280 Euros .
The Diocese of Cremona distanced itself from the priest 's conduct .
It stated that , “ with regard to the matter , the Diocese of Cremona , while aware of the intimate suffering and profound discomfort of so many priests and faithful due to the forced and prolonged deprivation of the Eucharist , can not but emphasize with regret that the behavior of the parish priest is in contradiction with civil norms and canonical indications that for several weeks now have been affecting the liturgical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy and of our Church of Cremona.
” Cardinal Becciu has previously been one of the leading figures at the Vatican .
He was , from 2011 until 2018 , the Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State , similar to a chief of staff .
As such , he was heavily involved in the manipulations and intrusion into the affairs of the Order of Malta .
To return to the matter of the Italian police 's interruption of a Holy Mass .
As of today , yet another Holy Mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in Paris , France .
Michel Aupetit , the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Paris , however , defended his priest who refused to stop his Mass .
Aupetit reminded the public of the “ formal interdiction for the police to enter a church with weapons.
” This , he continued , is valid also for the corona crisis .
The separation of church and state must be respected , “ otherwise , we will become loud , ( … ) very loud , ” he added .
Next to Cardinal Becciu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recently regretted some of the interventions on the part of the police is Cardinal Walter Brandmüller .
In his reflections on the corona crisis , Brandmüller says that today , “ there is the police state [ that ] intervenes harshly and enforces the closing of churches on the high feast of Easter .
Could one not achieve more by appealing to the reason and discipline of free , mature citizens , rather than by using force and violence ?
” Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has commented on this particular incident in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ it must also be clear , though , especially in a country like Italy which signed a Concordat with the Church in 1929 , that the ecclesiastical authorities have sole rights over places of worship.
” He regrets the lame response on the part of the diocese when he adds that “ the Holy See and the local Ordinary really ought to have protested over such a violation of the Lateran Treaty , which was confirmed again in 1984 and which is still in force.
” Don Viola himself is considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was abuse of power ” in his case .
Some commentators point out that police are not permitted to enter a Catholic church without a serious emergency .
Don Viola told the faithful who had been fined that if necessary , his parish would cover these costs .
He also said that “ they were a family who at that Mass commemorated some people who had died , plus a lady who had lost a relative to coronavirus two days earlier .
It wasn ’ t human to send them out.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mass is a serious matter for the Catholic Church .
Another example of such an interruption was when Pope Francis interrupted Cardinal Gerhard Müller in 2013 when celebrating Mass .
Here is what the Rome-based journalist Marco Tosatti reported in 2017 : “ The cardinal was celebrating Mass in the church attached to the congregation palace , for a group of German students and scholars .
His secretary joined him at the altar : 'The pope wants to speak to you . '
'Did you tell him I am celebrating Mass ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the secretary , 'but he says he does not mind—he wants to talk to you all the same . '
The cardinal went to the sacristy .
The pope , in a very bad mood , gave him some orders about a dossier concerning one of his friends , a cardinal .
( This is a very delicate matter .
I have sought an explanation of this incident from the official channels .
Until the explanation comes , if it ever comes , I can not give further details . )
Obviously @ @ @ @ @ @

PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
April 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the head of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, has criticized Italian police for interrupting a priest in Soncino (Lombardy) as he offered Mass with some 13 people present.
“No authority is allowed to interrupt Mass,” the cardinal insisted on Twitter.
The cardinal's tweet has been reported on by media in different languages. Becciu recalls in his tweet that he told a priest who was “appalled by what happened to a confrere in the Diocese of Cremona” that “the principle that no authority is allowed to interrupt Mass must be defended.”
“If the celebrant is guilty of any infraction,” the curial cardinal continues, “let him be reprimanded afterwards, not during!”
As one commentator says in response to this tweet, article 405 of the Italian penal code prohibits any interruption of the Holy Mass. Other media reports on the event in the Diocese of Cremona also show much sympathy for the priest, Don Lino Viola, who refused to stop his Mass.
As LifeSite reported, last Sunday, police interrupted this priest's Mass in Soncina, in the Diocese of Cremona. A policeman interrupted the priest and pointed out to him that public Masses are forbidden. The priest insisted upon continuing his Mass, even though the officer then returned with the local mayor on the phone. The priest simply turned off the phone and returned to his Mass.
Subsequently, the priest and the congregating faithful have been fined: the priest with 680 Euros, the faithful with 280 Euros. The Diocese of Cremona distanced itself from the priest's conduct. It stated that, “with regard to the matter, the Diocese of Cremona, while aware of the intimate suffering and profound discomfort of so many priests and faithful due to the forced and prolonged deprivation of the Eucharist, cannot but emphasize with regret that the behavior of the parish priest is in contradiction with civil norms and canonical indications that for several weeks now have been affecting the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church in Italy and of our Church of Cremona.”
Cardinal Becciu has previously been one of the leading figures at the Vatican. He was, from 2011 until 2018, the Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State, similar to a chief of staff. As such, he was heavily involved in the manipulations and intrusion into the affairs of the Order of Malta.
To return to the matter of the Italian police's interruption of a Holy Mass. As of today, yet another Holy Mass has been interrupted by police, this time in Paris, France. Michel Aupetit, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Paris, however, defended his priest who refused to stop his Mass. Aupetit reminded the public of the “formal interdiction for the police to enter a church with weapons.” This, he continued, is valid also for the corona crisis. The separation of church and state must be respected, “otherwise, we will become loud, (…) very loud,” he added.
Next to Cardinal Becciu and Archbishop Aupetit, another cardinal who has recently regretted some of the interventions on the part of the police is Cardinal Walter Brandmüller. In his reflections on the corona crisis, Brandmüller says that today, “there is the police state [that] intervenes harshly and enforces the closing of churches on the high feast of Easter. Could one not achieve more by appealing to the reason and discipline of free, mature citizens, rather than by using force and violence?”
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has commented on this particular incident in Italy, as well, and states that “it must also be clear, though, especially in a country like Italy which signed a Concordat with the Church in 1929, that the ecclesiastical authorities have sole rights over places of worship.”
He regrets the lame response on the part of the diocese when he adds that “the Holy See and the local Ordinary really ought to have protested over such a violation of the Lateran Treaty, which was confirmed again in 1984 and which is still in force.”
Don Viola himself is considering talking with a lawyer about whether “there was abuse of power” in his case. Some commentators point out that police are not permitted to enter a Catholic church without a serious emergency.
Don Viola told the faithful who had been fined that if necessary, his parish would cover these costs. He also said that “they were a family who at that Mass commemorated some people who had died, plus a lady who had lost a relative to coronavirus two days earlier. It wasn’t human to send them out.”
The interruption of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a serious matter for the Catholic Church. Another example of such an interruption was when Pope Francis interrupted Cardinal Gerhard Müller in 2013 when celebrating Mass. Here is what the Rome-based journalist Marco Tosatti reported in 2017:
“The cardinal was celebrating Mass in the church attached to the congregation palace, for a group of German students and scholars. His secretary joined him at the altar: 'The pope wants to speak to you.' 'Did you tell him I am celebrating Mass?' asked Müller. 'Yes,' said the secretary, 'but he says he does not mind—he wants to talk to you all the same.' The cardinal went to the sacristy. The pope, in a very bad mood, gave him some orders about a dossier concerning one of his friends, a cardinal. (This is a very delicate matter. I have sought an explanation of this incident from the official channels. Until the explanation comes, if it ever comes, I cannot give further details.) Obviously, Mūller was flabbergasted.”
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-04-23--UK minister says govt may stop supporting ‘gender transition’ drugs, surgery for children

UNITED KINGDOM , April 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The U.K. equalities minister , Liz Truss , has suggested that the government may take measures to prevent children confused about their sex from harming themselves through so-called “ gender transition treatment.
” In a speech given to the Women and Equalities Committee via video link Truss also said that “ the protection of single-sex spaces … is extremely important.
” Truss made the comments while announcing that the government ’ s reform of the U.K. ’ s Gender Recognition , which allows people who have gender dysphoria to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made this summer .
“ We ’ ve been doing a lot of work internally , making sure we ’ re in a position to respond to that consultation and launch what we propose to do on the future of the Gender Recognition Act .
We will be in a position to do that by the summer , and there are three very important principles that I will be putting in place , ” she said .
“ First of all , the protection of single-sex spaces , which is extremely important .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are free to live their lives as they wish without fear of persecution , whilst maintaining the proper checks and balances in the system , ” the equalities minister continued .
“ Finally — which is not a direct issue concerning the Gender Recognition Act but is relevant — making sure that the under-18s are protected from decisions that they could make , that are irreversible in the future .
“ I believe strongly that adults should have the freedom to lead their lives as they see fit , but I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still developing their decision-making capabilities that we protect them from making those irreversible decisions , ” Truss added .
The Independent reports that Stonewall , a U.K. LGBT activist group roughly equivalent to the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) in the United States , has demanded talks with the minister .
Dr. Tom Rogers , education outreach manager for U.K. pro-life group the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ( SPUC ) , told LifeSiteNews that the organization “ welcome this indication of a change towards the direction of sanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous Conservative administration ’ s LGBT fanaticism , under Teresa May.
” “ Any measures to protect children from being influenced into making such catastrophic life-destroying decisions is a good thing , ” Rogers said .
“ However , children will continue to be victims of Government policy whilst they remain exposed to the imposition of harmful LGBT propaganda at school .
“ Parents need to be empowered again to protect their children by restoring their right of withdrawal from compulsory Relationships & Sex Education , and children desperately need further protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many infiltrated almost the entirety of their school life and curriculum , ” he continued .
Rogers added that transgenderism and “ sex change , ” including for adults , should “ never have the official sanction of public policy.
” “ Many vulnerable adults also are burdened with deep regret over the devastating changes to their bodies they ’ ve been encouraged to make .
For those with psychological problems concerning their sexual identity , the emphasis should always be on helping such people back into a fulfilling acceptance of the biological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he explained .
“ ‘ Changing genders ’ is never just a private matter but a public declaration of falsehood which , as we ’ ve seen , results in a distorted rights agenda that affects the whole of culture and society , and puts children at risk.
” In January , a young woman in the U.K. who has given up her attempts to “ become ” a man joined a lawsuit against the state-funded health center that supported her so-called “ gender transition treatment.
” And just last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff of secretly brainwashing their 13-year-old daughter to think she is a boy through one-on-one sessions of which they were not informed .
LifeSite ’ s Jonathon van Maren has recently speculated how changing societal priorities resulting from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic “ could damage the influence of the trans activists.
” “ They do not have widespread public support for their most radical demands , they dominate the public discussion with the assistance of the media , and gender ideology is resulting in a massive and dangerous spike in children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ van Maren commented .
“ Trans activists are wreaking havoc on our society , and with a pandemic , a potential depression , and loud cracking sounds emanating from society ’ s foundations , perhaps people will finally lose patience with their insane demands .
”

The U.K. equalities minister, Liz Truss, stressed the importance of 'single-sex spaces' and expressed concern about children making decisions they can never take back.
PETITION: Stop 'sex change' operations during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
UNITED KINGDOM, April 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The U.K. equalities minister, Liz Truss, has suggested that the government may take measures to prevent children confused about their sex from harming themselves through so-called “gender transition treatment.”
In a speech given to the Women and Equalities Committee via video link Truss also said that “the protection of single-sex spaces … is extremely important.”
Truss made the comments while announcing that the government’s reform of the U.K.’s Gender Recognition, which allows people who have gender dysphoria to change their legal gender, will be made this summer.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work internally, making sure we’re in a position to respond to that consultation and launch what we propose to do on the future of the Gender Recognition Act. We will be in a position to do that by the summer, and there are three very important principles that I will be putting in place,” she said.
“First of all, the protection of single-sex spaces, which is extremely important. Secondly, making sure that transgender adults are free to live their lives as they wish without fear of persecution, whilst maintaining the proper checks and balances in the system,” the equalities minister continued.
“Finally — which is not a direct issue concerning the Gender Recognition Act but is relevant — making sure that the under-18s are protected from decisions that they could make, that are irreversible in the future.
“I believe strongly that adults should have the freedom to lead their lives as they see fit, but I think it’s very important that while people are still developing their decision-making capabilities that we protect them from making those irreversible decisions,” Truss added.
The Independent reports that Stonewall, a U.K. LGBT activist group roughly equivalent to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in the United States, has demanded talks with the minister.
Dr. Tom Rogers, education outreach manager for U.K. pro-life group the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), told LifeSiteNews that the organization “welcome this indication of a change towards the direction of sanity, and away from certain extremes of the previous Conservative administration’s LGBT fanaticism, under Teresa May.”
“Any measures to protect children from being influenced into making such catastrophic life-destroying decisions is a good thing,” Rogers said.
“However, children will continue to be victims of Government policy whilst they remain exposed to the imposition of harmful LGBT propaganda at school.
“Parents need to be empowered again to protect their children by restoring their right of withdrawal from compulsory Relationships & Sex Education, and children desperately need further protection from the LGBT extremism that has for many infiltrated almost the entirety of their school life and curriculum,” he continued.
Rogers added that transgenderism and “sex change,” including for adults, should “never have the official sanction of public policy.”
“Many vulnerable adults also are burdened with deep regret over the devastating changes to their bodies they’ve been encouraged to make. For those with psychological problems concerning their sexual identity, the emphasis should always be on helping such people back into a fulfilling acceptance of the biological sex that God has blessed them with,” he explained.
“‘Changing genders’ is never just a private matter but a public declaration of falsehood which, as we’ve seen, results in a distorted rights agenda that affects the whole of culture and society, and puts children at risk.”
In January, a young woman in the U.K. who has given up her attempts to “become” a man joined a lawsuit against the state-funded health center that supported her so-called “gender transition treatment.”
And just last month, parents in the U.K. accused teaching staff of secretly brainwashing their 13-year-old daughter to think she is a boy through one-on-one sessions of which they were not informed.
LifeSite’s Jonathon van Maren has recently speculated how changing societal priorities resulting from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic “could damage the influence of the trans activists.”
“They do not have widespread public support for their most radical demands, they dominate the public discussion with the assistance of the media, and gender ideology is resulting in a massive and dangerous spike in children identifying as the opposite sex,” van Maren commented.
“Trans activists are wreaking havoc on our society, and with a pandemic, a potential depression, and loud cracking sounds emanating from society’s foundations, perhaps people will finally lose patience with their insane demands.”
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