lifesitenews--2020-10-30--Australian friars sanctioned by superior for criticizing depraved sex ed curriculum

October 29 , 2020 ( Family Life International ) — Bishop Long ’ s sympathies to the LGBTQI+ agenda and his new school curriculum , which promotes many errors including gender ideology , have been the source of a good deal of criticism both within and outside Australia .
But rather than being disciplined for his deviations from Church teaching , it appears Bishop Long has the protection of some in his order , the Conventual Franciscans , while two of his confreres who dared to voice their concerns have received canonical sanctions from their Superior .
Rev Dr Paschal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schmid OFM Conv are both based in Melbourne .
Fr Paschal is a respected bioethicist who formerly worked at the John Paul II Institute and now lectures in moral theology at the Catholic Theological College .
Br Louis is the spiritual assistant of the Militia Immaculata and is especially known for his promotion of Fatima and the rosary .
Br Louis ’ sanctions stem from his criticism of Bishop Long ’ s new curriculum via social media , while Fr Paschal is being denounced for a homily he gave in September .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franciscan Provincial , Fr Michael Zelkie OFM Conv , was read after every Mass in every parish run by the Conventual Franciscans in Australia : it did not escape the notice of many Catholics that October 4 was the feast-day of the order ’ s founder , St Francis of Assisi – a particularly painful day for faithful Franciscans to receive such an announcement .
One Mass after which the letter was read was live streamed on social media , making Fr Zelkie ’ s comments widely available .
This video shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Provincial of the Franciscans , Fr David Blowey OFM Conv at Our Lady of the Rosary parish in Kellyville , Sydney [ 1 ] .
Fr David said that it was Fr Michael ’ s express wish that the matter concerning Fr Paschal and Br Louis be made public , as their opinions were “ part of the public record.
” Fr Zelkie first condemned the friars ’ decision to go public with their criticism instead of seeking a private dialogue on the matter , then continued : “ … We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions .
“ Br Louis M Schmid , OFM Conv.
, and Fr Paschal Corboy , OFM Conv.
, have not only not presented the truth , but their words have been interpreted as defaming the bishop of the diocese of Parramatta .
They have acted as jury and judge by inferring that his views are heretical and one even implying that his views are influenced by the devil .
“ With sorrow I must declare , that from this point on , their pastoral involvement with the flock of Christ will change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for any anxiety they may have caused .
Their opinions are not the views of the Conventual Franciscans and we fully support Bishop Vincent and his pastoral initiatives .
“ I pray that may all remain open to the movement of the Spirit who inspires the Incarnation of the Word in ever new and renewing contexts .
And may St Francis of Asissi intercede for us and truly make us instruments of His peace and love .
At this point , it has not known what form the “ change and restriction ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take .
As shown below , according to Br Louis , there had in fact been an attempt to privately approach Bishop Long .
Br Louis ’ comments appeared on Facebook on September 4th : “ People have contacted me as I am sure they have other friars , to comment on Bishop Vincent Long ’ s practises as bishop of Parramatta .
Maybe I ’ ll be sent to Siberia , but I like Russian food .
“ As a friar of the Conventual Franciscan Order , I can assure you that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the controversial actions and words , and policies of Bishop Vincent Long .
We have made ourselves known to the appropriate authority .
As with all faithful Catholics , we pray that our bishops will be faithful shepherds of the Church .
May they have courage and clarity , teaching fully the authentic SAVING TRUTHS of Christ ’ s Gospel , especially the moral precepts and laws of God .
BUT He calls us to conversion , to go and sin no more , to recognise our sins as they are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a false , misguided inclusive compassion which is a deception from HQ in Hell .
This has unfortunately influenced clergy of the Hierarchy within the Church .
To be inclusive is to offer salvation to all , not to furnish false agendas , which lead to Hell .
With St Maximillian Mary Kolbe , a great Conventual Franciscan saint , we implore the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God to crush the serpent ’ s head , to deliver all those ensnared in compromised and false teachings , and return to the safe refuge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lord have Mercy on us all poor sinners .
“ Please feel free to share with all and offer the Rosary and chaplet for all our Bishops , priests and religious , and Pope .
“ As St Teresa of Calcutta reminded us , we are called to be faithful , not successful.
” [ edited for clarity . ]
Fr Paschal ’ s homily , given on Father ’ s Day and principally a reflection on Fatherhood , was likewise intended to charitably steer his flock on the right path while exhorting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bishops , and especially for Bishop Long .
Fr Paschal ’ s homily is reproduced here in its entirety , in order to give the context of his comments on Bishop Vincent : “ On this day in which we remember Fathers , we rejoice in the gift of our dads .
We pray for them , and thank God for their gift to us of life and love .
It is not only a time to be grateful for our own Fathers , whether living or deceased , but also for reflecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and for acknowledging what is particular or special to fathers .
“ The greatness of fathers does not lie simply in generating life – any fool can do that much .
No , the greatness of fathers exists in what happens after that moment : in being present , in nurturing and providing for that life .
“ The greatness of fathers lies in their solidity , their sureness , their dependability ; in their persuasive love and clarity in truth .
At least , that ’ s my experience of fatherhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to in my dad .
“ And these attributes of fatherhood – providence , solidity , truth and love – have their origin in God himself , who in Christ , reveals himself as Father ; who is the source of all fatherhood .
As the origin of our being , God ’ s Fatherhood establishes an order for our lives – who ’ s wisdom rules and guides us – and to which , as His children , we must submit in love .
“ God ’ s fatherly providence guides us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gift of reason by which we know and love Him , through the revelation of His will for us through Jesus Christ , and by the illumination of our minds through grace and the Holy Spirit .
Our lives must be conformed to the truth of our created nature and our dependence on God .
Our love must be informed by that truth and respond in kind .
To this we are exhorted throughout today ’ s readings from Sacred Scripture .
“ As the readings make clear , we would fail in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care for our brother ’ s salvation – were we to turn a blind eye to his sin .
From the prophet Ezekiel we learn that we have a God-given duty to correct our brother who strays , to encourage him to repent , to renounce sin and return to the Lord .
We are to be solicitous , not only for our own salvation , but for the salvation of others .
We are to be paternal – father-like – in our love and care for the other .
“ Such love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not mean indulging the vices and weakness of our neighbour .
Love flows from truth – the truth about God , and the truth about ourselves ; the type of love , that as Saint Paul says , ‘ can not hurt our neighbour ’ – a love that has his true good at heart .
“ We do not love our neighbour by allowing him to remain in ignorance , but by leading him to truth in which he finds his true happiness .
We do not love our neighbour by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by showing him the way to reconciliation with God and others .
In the gospel that we have heard , our Lord makes this abundantly clear , even giving us a strategy for going about the business of fraternal correction .
The God revealed by Jesus is not indifferent to sin .
He does not tolerate sin .
“ Tolerance , as it is forced down our throats in society today , has no place in the Gospel of Christ , for it denies truth ; it leads to moral relativism and denies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not tolerate sin , but he loves the sinner , and in his love seeks to draw us back to the truth about ourselves and our true happiness in obedience to His will .
“ In imaging this Father of truth and mercy we see the dignity of fatherhood .
But it extends to all of us in imaging God .
In a particular way , it falls upon us clerics – priests and bishops – to be at the forefront as dependable , rock-solid fathers , and loving in truth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fullness of God ’ s plan and teaching clearly .
“ In this context , and on this Fathers ’ Day , I ask you to pray in a particular way for priests and bishops to be faithful to this task , which too many today are failing in – by preaching error , undermining the moral teaching of the Church , causing scandal among the faithful .
“ Pray for Pope Francis , that , according to the commission of our Lord to St Peter , he might love and nurture the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of truth ; that he will strengthen his brothers and sisters in the true faith .
“ Pray for our bishops , that they will be less intent on accommodating the world and its distortions , and so preach the gospel in its fullness .
I ask you to pray in particular for one close to our hearts here in the parish of St. Joseph ’ s – I mean Bishop Vincent .
It is because we love him that I say this .
“ Bishop Vincent has come under scrutiny in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and secular , for by his actions and preaching , especially in his confused response to gay marriage and his accommodation of the ideology of gender fluidity , now enshrined in the religious education program of his diocese , he is not leading the people of God to truth , but into error , and scandalising the faithful .
“ Pray for him , and pray for all of us , that we might have the courage to take the risk on loving everyone in truth , and to speak the truth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminds us , if we fail in our charity towards others by not warning them of their error , we will be held responsible for their demise .
Not something to be taken lightly .
It is quite clear that there is no virtue in accommodating error or sin .
We have a God-given duty to speak the truth always , in love .
“ Dear friends , as followers of Christ , we do not preach the Gospel merely because it is personally satisfying , but because we are convinced of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therefore faced with this challenge : to go beyond what is comfortable in our faith , and to challenge , ( to critique and to correct ) , our own opinions , the opinions of others , and those of our society , in light of the truth of the Gospel .
“ In this way we will be true to the message of today ’ s Scriptures , making our own way , and leading others , to Jesus Christ who is the Way , the Truth , and the Life.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paschal ’ s sermon and Br Louis ’ social media comments by the Franciscan Superior appears to be completely disproportionate , given that both men were merely acting in accordance with their consciences and with their obligation to defend the Faith .
Questions must now be raised as to the extent which the Conventual Franciscans have been infected with Modernist gender ideology .
As former gay activist James Parker suggested , elements of the Parramatta programme are consistent with “ deliberate strategies that are in part furtively rolled out by identity ideologues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key areas of society to bring about homosuperiority by completely smashing heteronormativity.
” [ 3 ] Where is Fr Zelkie ’ s condemnation of Bishop Long ’ s curriculum and of his stance on same-sex “ marriage ” which has scandalised so many Catholics , Christians and even non-Christians ?
It can only be concluded that by a failure to condemn Bishop Long ’ s ideology and by his proposed sanctions against Fr Paschal and Br Louis , that Fr Zelkie perhaps shares the Bishop ’ s heretical views and refuses to countenance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranks .
[ 1 ] https : //m.facebook.com/story.php ?
story_fbid=2868601546703704 & id=100006616602289 .
The letter is read out at the 41 minute mark .
[ 2 ] https : //www.facebook.com/charlie.bakhos/videos/3422078064522019/ [ 3 ] https : //www.fli.org.au/parramattas-education-fiasco/

October 29, 2020 (Family Life International) — Bishop Long’s sympathies to the LGBTQI+ agenda and his new school curriculum, which promotes many errors including gender ideology, have been the source of a good deal of criticism both within and outside Australia. But rather than being disciplined for his deviations from Church teaching, it appears Bishop Long has the protection of some in his order, the Conventual Franciscans, while two of his confreres who dared to voice their concerns have received canonical sanctions from their Superior.
Rev Dr Paschal Corby OFM Conv and Br Louis Mary Schmid OFM Conv are both based in Melbourne. Fr Paschal is a respected bioethicist who formerly worked at the John Paul II Institute and now lectures in moral theology at the Catholic Theological College. Br Louis is the spiritual assistant of the Militia Immaculata and is especially known for his promotion of Fatima and the rosary. Br Louis’ sanctions stem from his criticism of Bishop Long’s new curriculum via social media, while Fr Paschal is being denounced for a homily he gave in September.
On October 4, a letter from the Franciscan Provincial, Fr Michael Zelkie OFM Conv, was read after every Mass in every parish run by the Conventual Franciscans in Australia: it did not escape the notice of many Catholics that October 4 was the feast-day of the order’s founder, St Francis of Assisi – a particularly painful day for faithful Franciscans to receive such an announcement.
One Mass after which the letter was read was live streamed on social media, making Fr Zelkie’s comments widely available. This video shows the letter being read out by the Delegate of the Provincial of the Franciscans, Fr David Blowey OFM Conv at Our Lady of the Rosary parish in Kellyville, Sydney[1]. Fr David said that it was Fr Michael’s express wish that the matter concerning Fr Paschal and Br Louis be made public, as their opinions were “part of the public record.”
Fr Zelkie first condemned the friars’ decision to go public with their criticism instead of seeking a private dialogue on the matter, then continued:
“ … We cannot commend these friars for their actions. “Br Louis M Schmid, OFM Conv., and Fr Paschal Corboy, OFM Conv., have not only not presented the truth, but their words have been interpreted as defaming the bishop of the diocese of Parramatta. They have acted as jury and judge by inferring that his views are heretical and one even implying that his views are influenced by the devil. “With sorrow I must declare, that from this point on, their pastoral involvement with the flock of Christ will change and be restricted. I sincerely apologise for any anxiety they may have caused. Their opinions are not the views of the Conventual Franciscans and we fully support Bishop Vincent and his pastoral initiatives. “I pray that may all remain open to the movement of the Spirit who inspires the Incarnation of the Word in ever new and renewing contexts. And may St Francis of Asissi intercede for us and truly make us instruments of His peace and love. “Fr Michael Zelkie.”
At this point, it has not known what form the “change and restriction” to the friars’ pastoral involvement will take. As shown below, according to Br Louis, there had in fact been an attempt to privately approach Bishop Long. Br Louis’ comments appeared on Facebook on September 4th:
“People have contacted me as I am sure they have other friars, to comment on Bishop Vincent Long’s practises as bishop of Parramatta. Maybe I’ll be sent to Siberia, but I like Russian food. “As a friar of the Conventual Franciscan Order, I can assure you that many friars including myself do not agree with the controversial actions and words, and policies of Bishop Vincent Long. We have made ourselves known to the appropriate authority. As with all faithful Catholics, we pray that our bishops will be faithful shepherds of the Church. May they have courage and clarity, teaching fully the authentic SAVING TRUTHS of Christ’s Gospel, especially the moral precepts and laws of God. BUT He calls us to conversion, to go and sin no more, to recognise our sins as they are, not to compromise in the name of a false, misguided inclusive compassion which is a deception from HQ in Hell. This has unfortunately influenced clergy of the Hierarchy within the Church. To be inclusive is to offer salvation to all, not to furnish false agendas, which lead to Hell. With St Maximillian Mary Kolbe, a great Conventual Franciscan saint, we implore the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God to crush the serpent’s head, to deliver all those ensnared in compromised and false teachings, and return to the safe refuge of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Lord have Mercy on us all poor sinners. “Fraternally in St Francis of Assisi, Br Louis Mary Schmid OFM Conv. “Please feel free to share with all and offer the Rosary and chaplet for all our Bishops, priests and religious, and Pope. “As St Teresa of Calcutta reminded us, we are called to be faithful, not successful.” [edited for clarity.]
Fr Paschal’s homily, given on Father’s Day and principally a reflection on Fatherhood, was likewise intended to charitably steer his flock on the right path while exhorting his parishioners to pray for all the bishops, and especially for Bishop Long. Fr Paschal’s homily is reproduced here in its entirety, in order to give the context of his comments on Bishop Vincent:
“On this day in which we remember Fathers, we rejoice in the gift of our dads. We pray for them, and thank God for their gift to us of life and love. It is not only a time to be grateful for our own Fathers, whether living or deceased, but also for reflecting on the gift of Fatherhood in itself, and for acknowledging what is particular or special to fathers. “The greatness of fathers does not lie simply in generating life – any fool can do that much. No, the greatness of fathers exists in what happens after that moment: in being present, in nurturing and providing for that life. “The greatness of fathers lies in their solidity, their sureness, their dependability; in their persuasive love and clarity in truth. At least, that’s my experience of fatherhood. That’s what I look to in my dad. “And these attributes of fatherhood – providence, solidity, truth and love – have their origin in God himself, who in Christ, reveals himself as Father; who is the source of all fatherhood. As the origin of our being, God’s Fatherhood establishes an order for our lives – who’s wisdom rules and guides us – and to which, as His children, we must submit in love. “God’s fatherly providence guides us to our fulfilment, through the created gift of reason by which we know and love Him, through the revelation of His will for us through Jesus Christ, and by the illumination of our minds through grace and the Holy Spirit. Our lives must be conformed to the truth of our created nature and our dependence on God. Our love must be informed by that truth and respond in kind. To this we are exhorted throughout today’s readings from Sacred Scripture. “As the readings make clear, we would fail in charity – fail in our duty to care for our brother’s salvation – were we to turn a blind eye to his sin. From the prophet Ezekiel we learn that we have a God-given duty to correct our brother who strays, to encourage him to repent, to renounce sin and return to the Lord. We are to be solicitous, not only for our own salvation, but for the salvation of others. We are to be paternal – father-like – in our love and care for the other. “Such love, as demanded by the Gospel, does not mean indulging the vices and weakness of our neighbour. Love flows from truth – the truth about God, and the truth about ourselves; the type of love, that as Saint Paul says, ‘cannot hurt our neighbour’ – a love that has his true good at heart. “We do not love our neighbour by allowing him to remain in ignorance, but by leading him to truth in which he finds his true happiness. We do not love our neighbour by leaving him in his sin, but by showing him the way to reconciliation with God and others. In the gospel that we have heard, our Lord makes this abundantly clear, even giving us a strategy for going about the business of fraternal correction. The God revealed by Jesus is not indifferent to sin. He does not tolerate sin. “Tolerance, as it is forced down our throats in society today, has no place in the Gospel of Christ, for it denies truth; it leads to moral relativism and denies the need for conversion. The Father does not tolerate sin, but he loves the sinner, and in his love seeks to draw us back to the truth about ourselves and our true happiness in obedience to His will. “In imaging this Father of truth and mercy we see the dignity of fatherhood. But it extends to all of us in imaging God. In a particular way, it falls upon us clerics – priests and bishops – to be at the forefront as dependable, rock-solid fathers, and loving in truth. To be faithful in passing on the fullness of God’s plan and teaching clearly. “In this context, and on this Fathers’ Day, I ask you to pray in a particular way for priests and bishops to be faithful to this task, which too many today are failing in – by preaching error, undermining the moral teaching of the Church, causing scandal among the faithful. “Pray for Pope Francis, that, according to the commission of our Lord to St Peter, he might love and nurture the sheep entrusted to him with the clarity of truth; that he will strengthen his brothers and sisters in the true faith. “Pray for our bishops, that they will be less intent on accommodating the world and its distortions, and so preach the gospel in its fullness. I ask you to pray in particular for one close to our hearts here in the parish of St. Joseph’s – I mean Bishop Vincent. It is because we love him that I say this. “Bishop Vincent has come under scrutiny in the media in recent times, both religious and secular, for by his actions and preaching, especially in his confused response to gay marriage and his accommodation of the ideology of gender fluidity, now enshrined in the religious education program of his diocese, he is not leading the people of God to truth, but into error, and scandalising the faithful. “Pray for him, and pray for all of us, that we might have the courage to take the risk on loving everyone in truth, and to speak the truth in love. For, as the Lord reminds us, if we fail in our charity towards others by not warning them of their error, we will be held responsible for their demise. Not something to be taken lightly. It is quite clear that there is no virtue in accommodating error or sin. We have a God-given duty to speak the truth always, in love. “Dear friends, as followers of Christ, we do not preach the Gospel merely because it is personally satisfying, but because we are convinced of the truth contained in it. We are therefore faced with this challenge: to go beyond what is comfortable in our faith, and to challenge, (to critique and to correct), our own opinions, the opinions of others, and those of our society, in light of the truth of the Gospel. “In this way we will be true to the message of today’s Scriptures, making our own way, and leading others, to Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”[2]
The response to Fr Paschal’s sermon and Br Louis’ social media comments by the Franciscan Superior appears to be completely disproportionate, given that both men were merely acting in accordance with their consciences and with their obligation to defend the Faith. Questions must now be raised as to the extent which the Conventual Franciscans have been infected with Modernist gender ideology. As former gay activist James Parker suggested, elements of the Parramatta programme are consistent with “deliberate strategies that are in part furtively rolled out by identity ideologues, which include infiltrating and taking leadership within key areas of society to bring about homosuperiority by completely smashing heteronormativity.” [3]
Where is Fr Zelkie’s condemnation of Bishop Long’s curriculum and of his stance on same-sex “marriage” which has scandalised so many Catholics, Christians and even non-Christians? It can only be concluded that by a failure to condemn Bishop Long’s ideology and by his proposed sanctions against Fr Paschal and Br Louis, that Fr Zelkie perhaps shares the Bishop’s heretical views and refuses to countenance any opposition to them from within his ranks.
[1] https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2868601546703704&id=100006616602289. The letter is read out at the 41 minute mark.
[2] https://www.facebook.com/charlie.bakhos/videos/3422078064522019/
[3] https://www.fli.org.au/parramattas-education-fiasco/
Published with permission from Family Life International.
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lifesitenews--2020-10-31--Ivanka Trump: ‘I am pro-life, and unapologetically so’

October 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) -- Despite her father ’ s pro-life political positions , Ivanka Trump had been elusive on the subject of abortion until recently , when she declared that “ I am pro-life , and unapologetically so , ” in an exclusive interview with RealClearPolitics .
“ I am also a mother of three children , and parenthood affected me in a profound way in terms of how I think about these things , ” she said .
While Ivanka had never previously expressed clearly her position on abortion , it appeared that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a meeting with former Planned Parenthood president Cecil Richards did not go as Planned Parenthood hoped .
In the months after President Trump ’ s inauguration , Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner set up an interview with Richards so she could make her case for the abortion giant receiving ongoing taxpayer dollars .
She and Kushner were willing to negotiate continued funding for Planned Parenthood under one condition -- stop providing abortions .
Richards declined , and later went on record in her book to criticize Ivanka .
Richards said couple led her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- a claim that was unsubstantiated .
From the beginning of Trump 's presidency , the left has not been kind to Ivanka for failing to embrace feminism according to their standards .
She was criticized in Vogue for changing her Twitter bio to read “ wife , mother , sister , daughter.
” She was spoofed on Saturday Night Live in a perfume skit called “ complicit.
” Complicit to what , exactly , was never made clear .
The New York Times called her a brand of feminism “ fake ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the knee-jerk extremism that played a role in her newly vocalized stance against abortion .
“ A huge driving part of that ( stance ) is where the Democratic Party has gone , ” the RealClearPolitics interview stated .
Every 2020 Democrat presidential candidate was pro-abortion , and the party has voted numerous times in the House of Representatives against protecting born-alive babies .
Thank you for signing this petition !

Donald Trump/Joe Biden Photo Credit: White House/Flickr | mark reinstein/Shutterstock.com
Core conservative and Christian values are at stake in the upcoming election.
So, it's vital that we - and our family and friends - know which candidate will defend them.
Please SIGN this open letter which calls for the preservation of our core values of Life, Family, Faith and Freedom.
Then, please USE and SHARE our 2020 LifeSite Voter Guide: https://www.lifesitenews.com/votelife
The following core conservative and Christian values will all be affected, one way or the other, by the outcome of the election:
The protection of human life from conception till natural death .
. The protection of the natural family .
. The protection of our right to freely and meaningfully practice our religion both inside and outside our houses of worship, without interference from the state .
. And, the protection of our freedoms - especially, our freedom of speech, our freedom of assembly and licit medical freedom.
So, where do the candidates stand on Life, Family, Faith and Freedom?
_______________________
ON LIFE
President Trump has already proven himself to be pro-life. He reinstated the Mexico City Policy, prohibiting U.S. foreign aid from paying for and, or, promoting abortions. And, he has also pledged to sign a late-term abortion ban and veto any pro-abortion legislation.
Former Vice President Biden supports tax-payer funded abortion (i.e., getting rid of the Hyde Amendment), and has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood and NARAL.
ON FAMILY
President Trump’s tax cuts have helped 82% of middle-class American families, which saved an average of $1,260 on their taxes according to Breitbart News.
On the contrary, if former Vice President Joe Biden implements the "Green New Deal," thousands of energy sector jobs will be eliminated. What’s more, Biden plans on raising taxes by more than three trillion dollars – a move which could severely hurt the average American family.
Additionally, President Trump backs school choice for all American families, which will allow parents to choose the school that best meets the needs of their children.
However, former Vice President Biden supports policies that are not in favor school choice. His policies would hurt families by keeping parents from choosing a school that would help their children and provide them with the best opportunities.
Finally, President Trump's administration has co-sponsored the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which reaffirms that “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State", and which seeks to achieve the "strengthening of family as the foundational unit of society."
While, earlier this year, former Vice President Biden revealed his “LGBTQ+ and equality” plan, which he will use to “protect,” “enforce,” and “advance” the homosexual agenda and homosexual “rights."
ON FAITH
President Trump’s second-term agenda includes the promise to "defend the freedoms of religious believers and organizations."
Former Vice President Biden stands against conscience rights - vowing to sue the Little Sisters of the Poor to force them to pay for abortion and contraceptives. And, Biden also stands against religious freedom, as he and the Democrats support mandating that pro-life Christian business-owners, like cake bakers, violate their religious beliefs.
ON FREEDOM
If re-elected, President Trump has promised to minimize lockdowns and mask mandates.
If elected, former Vice President Biden has promised to enact a nationwide mask mandate, and allow more lockdowns.
________________________
Now that you know where the candidates stand, please consider voting to preserve Life, the Family, our Faith, and our Freedoms!
And, please SIGN this open letter, USE the LifeSite Voter Guide, and SHARE the LifeSite Voter Guide. Thank you!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
LifeSite's 2020 Voter Guide - https://www.lifesitenews.com/votelife


lifesitenews--2020-10-31--Trudeau’s parental prosecution law must be stopped

October 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — On October 28 , the Trudeau Liberals succeeded in passing 2nd reading @ @ @ @ @ of 308 to 7 .
Sadly , many Conservatives joined with the Liberals to vote @ @ @ @ @ so as to avoid being called “ homophobic.
” We thank the seven M.P.s who @ @ @ @ @ against criminalizing parents who may want to obtain body-affirming counseling for their gender-confused children : @ @ @ @ @ the courage and integrity to stand against the Liberal agenda to jail parents for up @ @ @ @ @ well as pastors , priests , and professional therapists who agree to help sexually confused @ @ @ @ @ voluntarily ask for help to live according to their faith .

Only seven M.P.s who voted with honor and integrity against criminalizing parents who may want to obtain body-affirming counseling for their gender-confused children.
October 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — On October 28, the Trudeau Liberals succeeded in passing 2nd reading of Bill C-6 by vote of 308 to 7. Sadly, many Conservatives joined with the Liberals to vote in a politically correct manner so as to avoid being called “homophobic.”
We thank the seven M.P.s who voted with honor and integrity against criminalizing parents who may want to obtain body-affirming counseling for their gender-confused children:
Only these Conservative M.P.s had the courage and integrity to stand against the Liberal agenda to jail parents for up to five years, as well as pastors, priests, and professional therapists who agree to help sexually confused or same-sex attracted persons who voluntarily ask for help to live according to their faith.
Please thank these seven lawmakers by clicking on their name above to send each of them a thank you note for taking a stand against Justin Trudeau’s parental prosecution bill. They will undoubtedly be flooded with hate mail from LGBT activists across the country.
Hope is not lost. The fight has just begun.
We have a plan to educate the M.P.s who voted badly, about the fact that what is being falsely labeled as “conversion therapy” has actually been extremely helpful in improving the lives of people with unwanted gender confusion or same-sex attraction. These counseling supports have even saved lives.
We’ve just launched a brand new website called www.stoptheban.ca. There, we have collected video testimonies of ex-gays and ex-trans who testify that spiritual guidance or clinical therapy saved them from despair, depression, and even suicide.
Stoptheban.ca debunks the myth that so-called conversion therapy is “degrading” and a form of “torture,” as leftists (and even some Conservative M.P.s) like to claim.
We provide straightforward talking points to use with members of Parliament and their staff to help them understand why Bill C-6 would harm the people it claims to help, including people who no longer want to identify as LGBT.
At stoptheban.ca, we provide evidence from scientific, peer-reviewed literature proving that sexual orientation change is possible for some people, and that many who chose to identify as transgender, and even to pursue chemical/surgical transition, eventually want to de-transition. We make it clear that counseling supports, both psychological and spiritual, must be available for them.
And there are many more resources at www.stoptheban.ca, including an Action Alert Email campaign to federal M.P.s that allows you to send a pre-written email or tweet or make a phone call to your local M.P. within just two minutes. (Tip: The easiest option is to send an email, but please go back to the Action Alert Email campaign and place a phone call, too.)
Expose the lie that claims that conversion therapy is “torture” and “discredited”
We know that the media-driven narrative of people being forcibly confined and electroshocked against their will to cure homosexuality is a lie. This doesn’t happen at all, anywhere in Canada, and has not happened for nearly half a century. It’s a fake, straw-man argument against “conversion therapy.”
In fact, forcibly confining someone and electroshocking him is already illegal. No new law is required to stop this fictitious horror. The Liberals know this, too.
Making Christianity illegal in Canada
What’s more, we know from the LGBT activists themselves that the real goal of this legislation is to criminalize all public expression of biblical teaching on homosexuality and transgenderism.
Justin Trudeau cannot openly criminalize Christian doctrinal teaching on sexuality, as he would like to do, because there are strong constitutional protections for religious freedom.
So he’s doing it indirectly instead, by classifying attempts to “change a person’s sexual orientation … or gender identity” and to “repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behavior” as “harmful” and therefore criminal.
Bill C-6 incites professionals to aid in the “conversion” of gender-confused individuals to the opposite sex using pharmaceutical and surgical transition but makes it illegal to help homosexuals “convert” from an LGBT lifestyle to one that honors God and forges a new identity in Jesus Christ.
Do not give up on fighting Bill C-6. I ask you, instead, to renew your commitment to defeating this evil bill.
Please go to www.stoptheban.ca now. Study the amazing content, most especially the video testimonies, and then share it with everybody you know.
Let’s work hard to defeat Bill C-6 on 3rd reading by building an army of resistance across the nation.
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lifesitenews--2020-10-30--Judge rules Alberta city wronged pro-life group by rejecting life-affirming ads

October 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Justice Gates of the Court of Queen ’ s Bench of Alberta has issued a ruling for Lethbridge Pro-Life ( LPL ) on LPL ’ s court claim against the City of Lethbridge on the City ’ s rejection of all five of LPL ’ s pro-life ads , including an ad which featured a healthy newborn baby with the caption , “ Life Should be the Most Fundamental Human Right.
” Another LPL ad featured a picture of a pregnant woman with the caption , “ Equality Should Begin in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Human Rights Should Not Depend on Who You Are.
” The Court judgment said that the City ’ s decision to ban the ads was unreasonable because while the City said it conducted LPL ’ s Charter rights in making its decision , its reasons did not show that .
The Court also ruled that it was unreasonable to ban the ads on the basis of the LPL ’ s website and that rejecting the ads on the basis of inaccuracy does not accord with the right to freedom of expression because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expression does not support the contention that the expression must be widely accepted , accurate or scientifically verifiable.
” The Court also ruled on the issue of whether public complaints provide a legitimate basis for prohibiting expression , saying , “ public upset and alarm are not sufficient to tip the balance away from the protection of freedom of expression , and that “ … a strong and healthy democracy requires a willingness on the part of the public to accept that the expression of opinions and ideas may , at time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Court also underlined that LPL ’ s Charter right includes the right to share messages some may deem unpopular : “ Freedom of expression is meant to protect minority opinions from being drowned out by the majority.
” The Court also found that the decision demonstrated a reasonable apprehension of bias because , in part , the City only looked at the negative responses to LPL ’ s ads and failed to consider the positive ones .
“ This decision is a win for every Canadian who prizes the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a biased position on one side while neglecting the duty to protect freedom of expression for all ” says Carol Crosson , the constitutional lawyer representing LPL .
“ The City should have considered our right to freedom of expression , and while the City contended that it did so , the Court found the opposite , ” commented LPL .
Carol Crosson can be reached for comment at 403-796-8110 .

Please SIGN this petition which asks the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to launch an investigation into the controversial WE Charity contract deal.
Canadians deserve a corruption-free government, but allegations of impropriety are hanging over matters related to the WE Charity contract deal with the current government.
And, only the RCMP is positioned to launch an independent inquiry into the issues of whether or not any laws were broken, and or possible abuse of political office for personal or family gain.
Indeed, the WE Charity was criticized in June 2020 when the Canadian government selected the charity to administer the Canada Student Service Grant program, a $900 million program which would help students experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of particular concern are revelations that WE Charity paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of the Trudeau family for past speaking engagements, and that the charity paid for Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s vacation (Morneau later repaid them).
These revelations obviously raise serious questions:
What is the connection between WE Charity and high-ranking government officials?
What, if anything, did either party stand to gain from this contract?
Why and how was the $43.53 M contract awarded to WE Charity without going through a competitive bidding process?
And, was the Lobbying Act violated?
The main concern is that the charity has deep connections with the Trudeau Family and other important government officials, and that serious conflicts of interests may have existed between members of government and the charity...and that laws may have been broken.
Although an investigation into the connection between the federal government and WE Charity was launched, questions have not been answered. Instead, more questions have been brought up.
Since the story broke, the Liberals have repeatedly delayed voting on the release of WE Charity documents.
And, just recently, a motion, which was sponsored by the Conservatives in the House of Commons and which called for an investigation into the relationships between WE Charity and the government and Ministers of the Crown and their families, was defeated.
But, the fact that the government and its political allies seem to be trying to bury this issue politically should not distract the attention of law enforcement who have a duty to ensure that government officials are held to account for serious breaches of conflict of interest.
No government leader or official should behave as though they are above the law.
Please SIGN this petition which calls on the RCMP to launch an independent investigation into the WE Charity controversy.
Then, please SHARE with your like-minded family, friends and relations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'Politician accuses Trudeau of redacting ‘damning information’ in released docs on WE Charity scandal'
'Conservative MP grills Trudeau on family’s enrichment in WE Charity scandal'
'Scandal-plagued WE Charity shuts down Canadian operations, will leave ‘endowment’'
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com


lifesitenews--2020-10-30--UN Human Rights Council will review Trump’s record

NEW YORK , October 30 ( C-Fam ) — The Human Rights Council will review the record of the Trump administration next month .
Foreign powers are expected to criticize the administration , including U.S. pro-life laws and policies .
It may come as a surprise or even seem contradictory .
After all , the Trump administration gave up the U.S. seat on the Geneva-based council two years ago .
But the U.S. did not withdraw from the council entirely .
The result is that the administration will submit the U.S. government to the scrutiny of the Human Rights Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has continued to engage a human rights process called the Universal Periodic Review whereby other governments rather than human rights “ experts ” review other member states .
As in past reviews of the U.S. human rights record , foreign powers are expected to single out U.S. pro-life laws and policies , even though the U.S. has among the most radically permissive abortion laws in the world .
The UN human rights office released a report ahead of the review which signals their intentions .
The report summarizes complaints about “ ever-increasing barriers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN human rights experts .
It calls on the federal government to guarantee abortion-on demand in the first trimester , which is already a part of the Roe v. Wade decision .
But it also calls for banning conscientious objection by healthcare personnel , providers and insurers for abortion , as well as transgender hormone therapy and sex change operations .
And it criticizes the Trump executive order that granted an exemption from the federal mandate to fund abortion drugs and contraception in the Affordable Care Act , commonly known as Obamacare .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time U.S. pro-life laws are criticized by the UN Human Rights Council .
During the last review in 2015 , four countries criticized the Helms Amendment , a federal law that forbids the use of U.S. funds to perform abortion overseas or to coerce doctors overseas to perform abortion .
Norway , the Netherlands , Belgium and the United Kingdom asked the U.S. government to pay for “ safe abortion ” in cases of rape , incest , and when the life of a mother is in danger .
The countries suggested the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress to change or clarify the Helms amendment .
They told the Obama administration to simply give a new interpretation to the Helms amendment , to allow for U.S. funds to pay for abortion in those cases .
The Trump administration is expected to reject these and similar recommendations .
The administration co-sponsored the pro-life Geneva Consensus Declaration last week .
The international declaration on women ’ s health and protection of the family categorically states that abortion is not an international right and that there is no international obligation to fund abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the U.S. government no longer has the ability to influence decisions and resolutions of the council .
But it continues to criticize other countries during the Universal Periodic Review .
It also submits its own report to the council .
In the Universal Periodic Review each country of the UN General Assembly submits its human rights record to the wider UN membership at the Human Rights Council .
The rotation of all 193 UN member states lasts roughly five years .
This will be the third time the U.S. reports to the @ @ @ @

PETITION UPDATE (9/26/2020):
With President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we are closer than we have been in decades to seeing Roe vs. Wade overturned.
We now encourage the Senate to confirm Barrett as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Judge Barrett has a fantastic track recond on sanctity of life issues, has seven children, and is a devout believer. She is the perfect remedy for Ruth Bader Ginsburg's radical pro-abortionism.
Please READ the full story here: 'BREAKING: Trump nominates Catholic mom of 7 Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court'
And then, please SIGN this petition telling the High Court that it's now time to end the activist Roe vs. Wade judgment. Thank you!
__________________________________________________________________
PETITION UPDATE (6/29/2020):
In a decision which has imperiled more abortion-minded women, sentenced more preborn to death, and upset pro-lifers across the nation,the United States Supreme Court decided 5-4 to strike down a Louisiana law requiring basic medical precautions in the event of abortion complications, with Chief Justice John Roberts reversing his own past decision to uphold a similar Texas law.
Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the majority opinion, which held that the Louisiana law was unconstitutional for the simple fact that it was “almost word-for-word identical” to the Texas one the court already struck down in 2016.
In his concurring opinion, Chief Justice Roberts acknowledged that he had “joined the dissent in Whole Woman’s Health and continue to believe that the case was wrongly decided. The question today however is not whether Whole Woman’s Health was right or wrong, but whether to adhere to it in deciding the present case.”
We call on the Supreme Court to stop supporting the culture of death and overturn Roe vs Wade, now.
PETITION UPDATE (1/20/2020):
Hundreds of thousands of people will gather in Washington, D.C., this coming Friday, January 24th, for the March for Life. They will be praying for an end to Roe vs Wade, as the Supreme Court will hear a crucial, abortion-related case later this year in March. United our voices can change the course of history. Sign this petition TODAY! (LEARN MORE BELOW)
PETITION UPDATE (1/3/2020):
In advance of the Supreme Court's hearing arguments in an important abortion case later this year in March, 207 U.S. Senators and Representatives have signed amicus briefs supporting a Louisiana law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital nearby an abortion center.
Some of these supporting briefs also suggest that now is the time to reconsider Roe vs Wade as sound law.
Please SIGN this petition, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Roe vs Wade.
_____________________________________________________________________________
More than 60 million Americans have been slaughtered in their mother's wombs as a result of Roe v. Wade. This activist, unconstitutional ruling in 1973 has left countless women emotionally and psychologically scarred.
It was believed by many that Roe would be overturned in 1992 with Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Despite having eight Republican-appointed judges at the time, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold it.
Since then, major gains have been made in the fight for life, and many lives have been saved.
However, Roe v. Wade remains the law of the land, leaving millions of defenseless pre-born children vulnerable to murder.
According to a 2016 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35% of aborted babies are African American, despite black women only making up six percent of the U.S. population. 19% of aborted babies are Hispanic.
We thus again call on the court to do everything they can to end Roe vs Wade.
Now is the time for pro-lifers to join together and ensure that all of God's children have a right to life.
Roe v. Wade must come to an end!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/supreme-court-strikes-down-louisiana-abortion-regulations
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/over-200-congressmen-as-us-supreme-court-to-reconsider-roe-v-wade
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/congress-members-file-competing-legal-briefs-in-key-scotus-abortion-case


lifesitenews--2020-10-30--LGBT advocacy comes back strong in United Nations negotiations

NEW YORK , October 30 ( C-Fam ) — Countries have witnessed a strong resurgence of LGBT advocacy in UN General Assembly negotiations .
The European Union , Brazil , Canada , Israel , Nordic countries , and the United Kingdom aggressively promoted the contested category of “ sexual orientation and gender identity ” ( SOGI ) in UN negotiations this week .
They asked to incorporate SOGI in UN resolutions on the protection of children from bullying , and the right to privacy .
It is unclear if historic opposition to SOGI from the Holy See , majority Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caribbean nations will be sufficient to block them .
The complaint from many governments is that special rights for LGBTs tend to trump other well-established rights like freedom of religion .
The progressive countries were especially adamant about the inclusion of language about data collection on bullying disaggregated by sexual orientation and gender identity , an effort supported by the United States .
Experts question whether sexual orientation and gender identity are categories capable of generating reliable data .
Scientifically and legally , they are fluid and subjective categories .
And surveys about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are widely known in the statistical community to be limited and biased .
But the consequences of adopting such language are clear .
Turning sexual orientation and gender identity into UN statistical categories will legitimize the work of the UN system to incorporate LGBT issues in the 2030 agenda .
And it will translate into pressure from UN agencies and international donors to establish offices to track LGBT data and to promote LGBT policies in every country .
The resolution on protecting children from bullying sponsored by Mexico came as a surprise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strained by the unusual working methods and virtual negotiations due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
And it was last adopted in 2018 , with the understanding that it was a one-off resolution that would not be presented again .
From the first time it was presented , many countries thought bullying was not a topic meriting a stand-alone resolution .
Others saw it as an attempt to promote LGBT issues .
The General Assembly rejected the inclusion of language about sexual orientation and gender identity in the resolution on bullying all three previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , and 2018 .
Also , this year , Germany and Brazil , sponsors of the resolution on the right to privacy , added language on “ sexual orientation and gender identity.
” This was also a surprise given that Brazil , whose president , Jair Bolsnaro of Brazil has been outspoken against the LGBT agenda , including in the UN General Assembly .
Until now the only General Assembly resolution to incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity is a resolution on extrajudicial killings .
The inclusion of the category is contested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution is supported by less than half of the General Assembly .
These debates will be a measure of how much leeway the LGBT agenda receives at the United Nations going forward .
There is no international treaty defining any human rights or their application based on sexual orientation and gender identity .
The more resolutions are colonized by the new category , the more legitimacy it gains .
With more legitimacy , the terms are likely to rapidly expand to other areas of UN policy .

NEW YORK, October 30 (C-Fam) — Countries have witnessed a strong resurgence of LGBT advocacy in UN General Assembly negotiations.
The European Union, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Nordic countries, and the United Kingdom aggressively promoted the contested category of “sexual orientation and gender identity” (SOGI) in UN negotiations this week. They asked to incorporate SOGI in UN resolutions on the protection of children from bullying, and the right to privacy.
It is unclear if historic opposition to SOGI from the Holy See, majority Muslim countries, as well as African and Caribbean nations will be sufficient to block them. The complaint from many governments is that special rights for LGBTs tend to trump other well-established rights like freedom of religion.
The progressive countries were especially adamant about the inclusion of language about data collection on bullying disaggregated by sexual orientation and gender identity, an effort supported by the United States.
Experts question whether sexual orientation and gender identity are categories capable of generating reliable data. Scientifically and legally, they are fluid and subjective categories. And surveys about discrimination on the basis of LGBT status are widely known in the statistical community to be limited and biased.
But the consequences of adopting such language are clear. Turning sexual orientation and gender identity into UN statistical categories will legitimize the work of the UN system to incorporate LGBT issues in the 2030 agenda. And it will translate into pressure from UN agencies and international donors to establish offices to track LGBT data and to promote LGBT policies in every country.
The resolution on protecting children from bullying sponsored by Mexico came as a surprise to many delegates this year. Delegates are strained by the unusual working methods and virtual negotiations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And it was last adopted in 2018, with the understanding that it was a one-off resolution that would not be presented again.
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: Call for an additional Presidential Debate on Family Issues Show Petition Text 7021 have signed the petition. Let's get to 7500 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition The issues discussed during the three forthcoming Presidential debates will likely focus on the economy, public health, and defense and foreign policy. But, the family is the cornerstone of American life and deserves its own Presidential debate. And, if we don't act fast, issues like marriage, the right to life, parental rights in education and health, population control and declining fertility will be overlooked entirely or treated as an afterthought. That's why LifeSite and the Ruth Institute are partnering on this important appeal. Please SIGN our petition which urges the Commission on Presidential Debates to schedule a debate which focuses solely on family issues. The purpose of the Presidential debates is to allow voters to witness an interchange between the candidates and to determine their position on issues which will impact their lives, as well as their rationale for holding those positions. Of course, the economy, public health and foreign policy are all serious matters, but family breakdown and the over-sexualization of society create massive problems that affect the economy, the criminal justice system, public health, and even national defense. Everything begins with the family. Everything depends on the family. It impacts every area of life. A strong economy depends on the next generation learning the virtues of hard work and discipline in the family. Strong national defense requires individuals who are willing to sacrifice for their families, even more than the national interest. And, the decline of the family in America’s cities has led to spiraling crime rates and urban unrest. Simply put, family issues are key to the success or failure of the country. And, therefore, the family must be a major focus of the debates. We need to put the focus where it belongs. We need one debate exclusively on what the candidates will do to support the family. Thank you for SIGNING this petition which urges the U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates and the candidates, themselves, to agree to a fourth debate focusing solely on family issues. FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'Ruth Inst. and Life Site News Launch Petition for Presidential Debate on the Family' - http://www.ruthinstitute.org/press/ruth-inst-and-life-site-news-launch-petition-for-presidential-debate-on-the-family 'Petition asks for fourth presidential debate focused on pro-life, family issues' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/petition-asks-for-fourth-presidential-debate-focused-on-pro-life-family-issues Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
From the first time it was presented, many countries thought bullying was not a topic meriting a stand-alone resolution. Others saw it as an attempt to promote LGBT issues. The General Assembly rejected the inclusion of language about sexual orientation and gender identity in the resolution on bullying all three previous times it was negotiated in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
Also, this year, Germany and Brazil, sponsors of the resolution on the right to privacy, added language on “sexual orientation and gender identity.” This was also a surprise given that Brazil, whose president, Jair Bolsnaro of Brazil has been outspoken against the LGBT agenda, including in the UN General Assembly.
Until now the only General Assembly resolution to incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity is a resolution on extrajudicial killings. The inclusion of the category is contested by over 50 countries and even that resolution is supported by less than half of the General Assembly.
These debates will be a measure of how much leeway the LGBT agenda receives at the United Nations going forward. There is no international treaty defining any human rights or their application based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The more resolutions are colonized by the new category, the more legitimacy it gains. With more legitimacy, the terms are likely to rapidly expand to other areas of UN policy.
Published with permission from C-Fam.
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lifesitenews--2020-10-30--Canadian Catholic church nixes Latin Mass, cites COVID non-compliance

KITCHENER , Ontario , October 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A Canadian Catholic church has suspended its Sunday Latin Mass due to a “ lack of adherence to Diocesan safety protocols , ” causing some who attend the Mass to voice their anger over the decision .
On Friday , October 16 , parishioners of St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church , located in Kitchener , Ontario , were notified by their parish that the Mass in the Extraordinary Form celebrated on Sundays would be suspended “ until further notice.
” “ Due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Diocesan safety protocols , the 3 pm Latin Mass has been suspended until further notice , ” reads the note from the parish posted to its Facebook page and website .
“ This was a difficult decision for the leadership of St. Mary ’ s and the Chancellor of the Diocese to make .
For those wishing to attend a Latin Mass , two others are still taking place at St. Ann 's Parish in downtown Hamilton — one at 8 am and the other at 12 noon.
” LifeSiteNews spoke with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Mary ’ s in Kitchener , who said she believes that the postponement was “ odd , ” done not only because some attendees were not wearing masks .
“ Is it not odd ?
There have been Latin Masses .
It ’ s really weird — three , which have been recently canceled , ” said a regular parishioner and attendant of the Latin Mass at St. Mary ’ s , who asked not to be identified due to fear of being stigmatized , to LifeSiteNews .
“ What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Is it just masks ?
There is no indication of when this will be reviewed , reinstated .
What ’ s the measure which you [ the diocese ] are deciding to do this ?
” Fr .
Brendan McGrath is the Hamilton diocesan director of pastoral care for the Extraordinary Form .
He serves as the main celebrant of the Latin Mass in Kitchener and in other parts of the diocese that offer the Latin Mass .
LifeSiteNews reached out to him for comment on the situation but as of press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the Diocese of Hamilton , in addition to St. Mary ’ s in Kitchener , LifeSiteNews confirmed that the Latin Mass has also been postponed at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Owen Sound and canceled at St.
Basil ’ s Parish in Brantford .
According to a Facebook post dated July 5 , the Latin Mass in Branford was canceled due to COVID-19 as well as “ misconceptions ” regarding the Extraordinary Form .
“ Dear Friends in Christ , [ I ] t is with a heavy heart to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Souza has cancelled the Latin Mass at St.
Basil ’ s .
His reasons were administrative , COVID related and misconceptions on the TLM .
We are now parish orphans .
We are waiting to hear back from Fr .
McGrath on where we can possibly go and/or what can we do [ . ]
Please pray , ” reads the July 5 Facebook post from the Brantford Latin Mass Community .
Currently , the Latin Mass is still being said in the Hamilton diocese at St. Ann Parish .
The diocese ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sound as locations .
Ontario premier Doug Ford announced in early October that masks would be mandated in all indoor “ public ” settings .
Regarding private places , such as a church or a place of worship , the government ’ s guidelines state that face coverings are “ strongly recommended.
” Bishop Douglas Crosby of the Diocese of Hamilton revised his diocese ’ s COVID-19 protocols on October 7 to in effect make the wearing of masks mandatory .
Masks were previously not explicitly mandated .
Churches in the Diocese of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mass on June 16 , following the government of Ontario under Premier Ford allowing indoor worship to resume effective June 12 .
Under the Diocese of Hamilton ’ s reopening guidelines , issued by Bishop Douglas Crosby on June 10 , there is no mention of mandatory mask-wearing .
However , the October 7 guidelines state clearly that masks must “ worn at all times , ” adding that those who are unable to wear a mask must sit in a “ designated zone.
” “ In accord with the current government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask or face covering upon entry into the church .
This includes priests and other liturgical ministers .
Only the priest , reader and cantor are permitted to remove their masks when in the sanctuary at a distance of four metres from the members of the assembly , ” read the guidelines .
“ Those who are unable to wear a mask because of an underlying medical condition which inhibits their ability to wear a mask , are to be admitted to the church , and are to be seated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from others .
They may not come forward to receive Communion with others ; the priest or extraordinary minister will bring them Communion where they are seated , ” read the guidelines .
LifeSiteNews contacted the Diocese of Hamilton ’ s communications and public relations manager , Pam Aleman , and the Very Reverend Monsignor Murray J. Kroetsch , the chancellor of the Diocese of Hamilton , for comment regarding the suspension of the Latin Mass at St. Mary ’ s in Kitchener .
There was no response as of press time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary ’ s in Kitchener who spoke with LifeSiteNews said she estimates that about 40 percent of those who attended the Latin Mass before it was postponed wore masks , but she refused to do so .
“ In the house of God , I refuse to wear a mask .
...
I don ’ t wear the mask in God ’ s house .
I feel it ’ s a form of sacrilege , and I ’ m not being rash and cavalier , ” the attendee told LifeSiteNews .
A September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass Community spells out that those who attend the Latin Mass must “ remain obedient to our spiritual and government leaders or we risk the closing of our church.
” “ The Hamilton diocese is requesting that all parishioners entering their churches wear a face mask in compliance with local bylaws .
Despite the discomfort and inconvenience of wearing a mask during Mass we must remain obedient to our spiritual and government leaders or we risk the closing of our church .
Please offer this up as a penance for our individual sins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” reads the September 29 Kitchener Latin Mass Facebook post .
LifeSiteNews also spoke with a second Latin Mass attendee of St. Mary ’ s in Kitchener , who also did not want to be named .
She claimed there was a buildup of pressure , from church staff in the weeks leading up to the last Latin Mass said on October 11 , for people to wear masks in church .
“ They speak of charity and then chastised us for not wearing masks , ” said the attendee .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendee who spoke to LifeSiteNews also claimed she witnessed “ really callous treatment ” of an elderly person who refused to wear a mask after he was asked to do so by church staff .
“ The courtesies that are extended at Costco , for those who don ’ t wear a mask , are not being extended at the church , and people are being bullied , and shamed.
” LifeSiteNews contacted the Pastor of St. Mary ’ s in Kitchener , Father Toby Collins , to ask him why the Latin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , there was no response .
A Catholic theologian who works at a Canadian Catholic university provided an opinion to LifeSiteNews about whether or not a bishop can mandate that his flock wear masks in church .
The professor concluded that although one could argue that a universal masking mandate inside a church does not bind one in conscience to following the law , one should generally still obey his bishop in this regard .
“ Even if a given law does not bind in conscience , we should generally still obey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal and disturbance , ’ ” said the professor , who asked not to be named , to LifeSiteNews .
“ The thing about authority is that it itself need not be ‘ just , ’ but it ’ s still authority .
It ’ s almost a moot point whether the bishop has the legitimate authority to mandate masks ; in theory , he does ( imagine a truly lethal pandemic , for example — but in such a case , we wouldn ’ t need laws to prompt us to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intents and purposes , the bishop is the final court of appeal — barring an intervention by the Pope , which is , to say the least , not likely .
What he says in a church or diocese usually goes.
” The Diocese of Hamilton ’ s June 10 re-opening message from Bishop Crosby mentioned that Holy Communion is to be received on the hand only .
The diocese ’ s October 7 message added that “ no exceptions ” to this rule will be allowed .
Because of this rule , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Holy Eucharist .
The second Kitchener St. Mary ’ s Latin Mass attendee who spoke to LifeSiteNews said she and others have not lost hope in one day being able again to receive the Holy Eucharist .
“ We are heartsick and soul-sick , ” said the second Kitchener St. Mary ’ s Latin Mass attendee who spoke to LifeSiteNews .
“ We haven ’ t lost hope because we recognize God does not abandon us .
Praying is very important , but being active is important as well .
”

'Due [to] the lack of adherence to Diocesan safety protocols, the 3 pm Latin Mass has been suspended until further notice.'
KITCHENER, Ontario, October 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Canadian Catholic church has suspended its Sunday Latin Mass due to a “lack of adherence to Diocesan safety protocols,” causing some who attend the Mass to voice their anger over the decision.
On Friday, October 16, parishioners of St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, located in Kitchener, Ontario, were notified by their parish that the Mass in the Extraordinary Form celebrated on Sundays would be suspended “until further notice.”
“Due [to] the lack of adherence to Diocesan safety protocols, the 3 pm Latin Mass has been suspended until further notice,” reads the note from the parish posted to its Facebook page and website.
“This was a difficult decision for the leadership of St. Mary’s and the Chancellor of the Diocese to make. For those wishing to attend a Latin Mass, two others are still taking place at St. Ann's Parish in downtown Hamilton — one at 8 am and the other at 12 noon.”
LifeSiteNews spoke with an attendee of the Latin Mass at St. Mary’s in Kitchener, who said she believes that the postponement was “odd,” done not only because some attendees were not wearing masks.
“Is it not odd? There have been Latin Masses. It’s really weird — three, which have been recently canceled,” said a regular parishioner and attendant of the Latin Mass at St. Mary’s, who asked not to be identified due to fear of being stigmatized, to LifeSiteNews.
“What’s really behind this decision? I wonder. Is it just masks? There is no indication of when this will be reviewed, reinstated. What’s the measure which you [the diocese] are deciding to do this?”
Fr. Brendan McGrath is the Hamilton diocesan director of pastoral care for the Extraordinary Form. He serves as the main celebrant of the Latin Mass in Kitchener and in other parts of the diocese that offer the Latin Mass. LifeSiteNews reached out to him for comment on the situation but as of press time did not receive a response.
In the Diocese of Hamilton, in addition to St. Mary’s in Kitchener, LifeSiteNews confirmed that the Latin Mass has also been postponed at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Owen Sound and canceled at St. Basil’s Parish in Brantford.
According to a Facebook post dated July 5, the Latin Mass in Branford was canceled due to COVID-19 as well as “misconceptions” regarding the Extraordinary Form.
— Article continues below Petition — PETITION: Urge the RCMP to launch independent investigation into the WE Charity contract deal Show Petition Text 6904 have signed the petition. Let's get to 7500 ! Thank you for signing this petition! Add your signature: Show Petition Text Country... State... Sign this Petition Please SIGN this petition which asks the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to launch an investigation into the controversial WE Charity contract deal. Canadians deserve a corruption-free government, but allegations of impropriety are hanging over matters related to the WE Charity contract deal with the current government. And, only the RCMP is positioned to launch an independent inquiry into the issues of whether or not any laws were broken, and or possible abuse of political office for personal or family gain. Indeed, the WE Charity was criticized in June 2020 when the Canadian government selected the charity to administer the Canada Student Service Grant program, a $900 million program which would help students experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of particular concern are revelations that WE Charity paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of the Trudeau family for past speaking engagements, and that the charity paid for Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s vacation (Morneau later repaid them). These revelations obviously raise serious questions: What is the connection between WE Charity and high-ranking government officials?
What, if anything, did either party stand to gain from this contract?
Why and how was the $43.53 M contract awarded to WE Charity without going through a competitive bidding process?
And, was the Lobbying Act violated? The main concern is that the charity has deep connections with the Trudeau Family and other important government officials, and that serious conflicts of interests may have existed between members of government and the charity...and that laws may have been broken. Although an investigation into the connection between the federal government and WE Charity was launched, questions have not been answered. Instead, more questions have been brought up. Since the story broke, the Liberals have repeatedly delayed voting on the release of WE Charity documents. And, just recently, a motion, which was sponsored by the Conservatives in the House of Commons and which called for an investigation into the relationships between WE Charity and the government and Ministers of the Crown and their families, was defeated. But, the fact that the government and its political allies seem to be trying to bury this issue politically should not distract the attention of law enforcement who have a duty to ensure that government officials are held to account for serious breaches of conflict of interest. No government leader or official should behave as though they are above the law. Please SIGN this petition which calls on the RCMP to launch an independent investigation into the WE Charity controversy. Then, please SHARE with your like-minded family, friends and relations. FOR MORE INFORMATION: 'Politician accuses Trudeau of redacting ‘damning information’ in released docs on WE Charity scandal' 'Conservative MP grills Trudeau on family’s enrichment in WE Charity scandal' 'Scandal-plagued WE Charity shuts down Canadian operations, will leave ‘endowment’' Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com Hide Petition Text Sign this Petition
“Dear Friends in Christ, [I]t is with a heavy heart to inform you that Fr. D’Souza has cancelled the Latin Mass at St. Basil’s. His reasons were administrative, COVID related and misconceptions on the TLM. We are now parish orphans. We are waiting to hear back from Fr. McGrath on where we can possibly go and/or what can we do[.] Please pray,” reads the July 5 Facebook post from the Brantford Latin Mass Community.
Currently, the Latin Mass is still being said in the Hamilton diocese at St. Ann Parish. The diocese’s website still lists Kitchener and Owen Sound as locations.
Ontario premier Doug Ford announced in early October that masks would be mandated in all indoor “public” settings. Regarding private places, such as a church or a place of worship, the government’s guidelines state that face coverings are “strongly recommended.”
Bishop Douglas Crosby of the Diocese of Hamilton revised his diocese’s COVID-19 protocols on October 7 to in effect make the wearing of masks mandatory. Masks were previously not explicitly mandated.
Churches in the Diocese of Hamilton reopened their doors for the celebration of Mass on June 16, following the government of Ontario under Premier Ford allowing indoor worship to resume effective June 12.
Under the Diocese of Hamilton’s reopening guidelines, issued by Bishop Douglas Crosby on June 10, there is no mention of mandatory mask-wearing. However, the October 7 guidelines state clearly that masks must “worn at all times,” adding that those who are unable to wear a mask must sit in a “designated zone.”
“In accord with the current government legislation, all persons are required to wear a mask or face covering upon entry into the church. This includes priests and other liturgical ministers. Only the priest, reader and cantor are permitted to remove their masks when in the sanctuary at a distance of four metres from the members of the assembly,” read the guidelines.
“Those who are unable to wear a mask because of an underlying medical condition which inhibits their ability to wear a mask, are to be admitted to the church, and are to be seated in a designated area at least four metres away from others. They may not come forward to receive Communion with others; the priest or extraordinary minister will bring them Communion where they are seated,” read the guidelines.
LifeSiteNews contacted the Diocese of Hamilton’s communications and public relations manager, Pam Aleman, and the Very Reverend Monsignor Murray J. Kroetsch, the chancellor of the Diocese of Hamilton, for comment regarding the suspension of the Latin Mass at St. Mary’s in Kitchener. There was no response as of press time.
The Latin Mass attendee of St. Mary’s in Kitchener who spoke with LifeSiteNews said she estimates that about 40 percent of those who attended the Latin Mass before it was postponed wore masks, but she refused to do so.
“In the house of God, I refuse to wear a mask. … I don’t wear the mask in God’s house. I feel it’s a form of sacrilege, and I’m not being rash and cavalier,” the attendee told LifeSiteNews.
A September 29 Facebook post from the Kitchener Latin Mass Community spells out that those who attend the Latin Mass must “remain obedient to our spiritual and government leaders or we risk the closing of our church.”
“The Hamilton diocese is requesting that all parishioners entering their churches wear a face mask in compliance with local bylaws. Despite the discomfort and inconvenience of wearing a mask during Mass we must remain obedient to our spiritual and government leaders or we risk the closing of our church. Please offer this up as a penance for our individual sins and for the conversion of sinners,” reads the September 29 Kitchener Latin Mass Facebook post.
LifeSiteNews also spoke with a second Latin Mass attendee of St. Mary’s in Kitchener, who also did not want to be named. She claimed there was a buildup of pressure, from church staff in the weeks leading up to the last Latin Mass said on October 11, for people to wear masks in church.
“They speak of charity and then chastised us for not wearing masks,” said the attendee.
The first Kitchener St. Mary’s Latin Mass attendee who spoke to LifeSiteNews also claimed she witnessed “really callous treatment” of an elderly person who refused to wear a mask after he was asked to do so by church staff.
“The courtesies that are extended at Costco, for those who don’t wear a mask, are not being extended at the church, and people are being bullied, and shamed.”
LifeSiteNews contacted the Pastor of St. Mary’s in Kitchener, Father Toby Collins, to ask him why the Latin Mass was suspended. As of press time, there was no response.
A Catholic theologian who works at a Canadian Catholic university provided an opinion to LifeSiteNews about whether or not a bishop can mandate that his flock wear masks in church. The professor concluded that although one could argue that a universal masking mandate inside a church does not bind one in conscience to following the law, one should generally still obey his bishop in this regard.
“Even if a given law does not bind in conscience, we should generally still obey, if disobedience would cause significant ‘scandal and disturbance,’” said the professor, who asked not to be named, to LifeSiteNews.
“The thing about authority is that it itself need not be ‘just,’ but it’s still authority. It’s almost a moot point whether the bishop has the legitimate authority to mandate masks; in theory, he does (imagine a truly lethal pandemic, for example — but in such a case, we wouldn’t need laws to prompt us to protect ourselves). Yet, for all intents and purposes, the bishop is the final court of appeal — barring an intervention by the Pope, which is, to say the least, not likely. What he says in a church or diocese usually goes.”
The Diocese of Hamilton’s June 10 re-opening message from Bishop Crosby mentioned that Holy Communion is to be received on the hand only. The diocese’s October 7 message added that “no exceptions” to this rule will be allowed.
Because of this rule, Latin Mass attendees are unable to receive the Holy Eucharist. The second Kitchener St. Mary’s Latin Mass attendee who spoke to LifeSiteNews said she and others have not lost hope in one day being able again to receive the Holy Eucharist.
“We are heartsick and soul-sick,” said the second Kitchener St. Mary’s Latin Mass attendee who spoke to LifeSiteNews.
“We haven’t lost hope because we recognize God does not abandon us. Praying is very important, but being active is important as well.”
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lifesitenews--2020-10-30--Masks and burqas are both dehumanizing and freedom-crushing

October 30 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A 2001 State Department report on life under the Taliban in Afghanistan describes a frightful , miserable society : In urban areas , the Taliban brutally enforced a dress code that required women to be covered under a burqa — a voluminous , tent-like full-body outer garment that covers them from head to toe .
One Anglo-Afghan journalist reported that the burqa ’ s veil is so thick that the wearer finds it difficult to breathe ; the small mesh panel permitted for seeing allows such limited vision that even crossing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T ] he Taliban enforced the wearing of the burqa with threats , fines , and on-the-spot beatings .
Even the accidental showing of the feet or ankles was severely punished .
No exceptions were allowed .
One woman who became violently carsick was not permitted to take off the garment .
When paying for food in the market , a woman ’ s hand could not show when handing over money or receiving the purchase .
Even girls as young as eight or nine years old were expected to wear the burqa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report on life under the coronavirus tyranny in 2020 America ?
In urban areas , the government brutally enforced a dress code that required everyone ’ s face to be covered under a mask — a paper or cloth outer face garment that covers their nose and mouth , and sometimes their neck .
One journalist reported that the mask ’ s veil is so thick that the wearer finds it difficult to breathe .
...
The government enforced the wearing of the mask with threats , fines , and on-the-spot beatings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was severely punished .
No exceptions were allowed .
One woman who became violently carsick was not permitted to take off the mask .
When paying for alcohol at the store , a person ’ s face could not show when asked for photo identification .
Even kids as young as two or three years old were expected to wear the mask .
The Taliban mandated burqas to enforce a deeply perverted sense of “ modesty ” that ultimately dehumanized women and increased the power of the rule-makers ( the murderous Taliban ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world are forcing face masks upon women and men as part of a deeply perverted sense of “ health ” and “ safety.
” Compare a woman at the market in Kabul , dressed head to toe in “ a voluminous , tent-like full-body outer garment , ” to a woman at an American grocery store , wearing very little but obediently hiding her face behind a hideous blue surgical mask .
Yes , the burqa-clad woman faced much harsher penalties for noncompliance than the Walmart mask-wearer does .
No one argues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fined , or publicly humiliated is as bad as being literally beheaded or stoned to death .
But both women are dehumanized by the mandated garment that hides the most distinct , unique , human thing about them — their faces .
And is either of these women free ?
In order to participate in society in whatever limited way is allowed ( the Taliban banned sports , kites , singing , anything fun or joyful ; Western governments have banned religious gatherings , singing , parties , sports , and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few ) , both are forced to wear a monstrous sign of submission to a nonsensical regime that shows dissenters absolutely no mercy .

Compare a woman at the market in Kabul, dressed head to toe in 'a voluminous, tent-like full-body outer garment,' to a woman at an American grocery store, wearing very little but obediently hiding her face behind a hideous blue surgical mask.
October 30, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A 2001 State Department report on life under the Taliban in Afghanistan describes a frightful, miserable society:
In urban areas, the Taliban brutally enforced a dress code that required women to be covered under a burqa — a voluminous, tent-like full-body outer garment that covers them from head to toe. One Anglo-Afghan journalist reported that the burqa’s veil is so thick that the wearer finds it difficult to breathe; the small mesh panel permitted for seeing allows such limited vision that even crossing the street safely is difficult. … [T]he Taliban enforced the wearing of the burqa with threats, fines, and on-the-spot beatings. Even the accidental showing of the feet or ankles was severely punished. No exceptions were allowed. One woman who became violently carsick was not permitted to take off the garment. When paying for food in the market, a woman’s hand could not show when handing over money or receiving the purchase. Even girls as young as eight or nine years old were expected to wear the burqa.
Will there someday be a similar report on life under the coronavirus tyranny in 2020 America?
In urban areas, the government brutally enforced a dress code that required everyone’s face to be covered under a mask — a paper or cloth outer face garment that covers their nose and mouth, and sometimes their neck. One journalist reported that the mask’s veil is so thick that the wearer finds it difficult to breathe. … The government enforced the wearing of the mask with threats, fines, and on-the-spot beatings. Even the accidental showing of the face was severely punished. No exceptions were allowed. One woman who became violently carsick was not permitted to take off the mask. When paying for alcohol at the store, a person’s face could not show when asked for photo identification. Even kids as young as two or three years old were expected to wear the mask.
The Taliban mandated burqas to enforce a deeply perverted sense of “modesty” that ultimately dehumanized women and increased the power of the rule-makers (the murderous Taliban). Now governments in many parts of the world are forcing face masks upon women and men as part of a deeply perverted sense of “health” and “safety.”
Compare a woman at the market in Kabul, dressed head to toe in “a voluminous, tent-like full-body outer garment,” to a woman at an American grocery store, wearing very little but obediently hiding her face behind a hideous blue surgical mask. Yes, the burqa-clad woman faced much harsher penalties for noncompliance than the Walmart mask-wearer does. No one argues that being kicked out of a store, fined, or publicly humiliated is as bad as being literally beheaded or stoned to death. But both women are dehumanized by the mandated garment that hides the most distinct, unique, human thing about them — their faces.
And is either of these women free? In order to participate in society in whatever limited way is allowed (the Taliban banned sports, kites, singing, anything fun or joyful; Western governments have banned religious gatherings, singing, parties, sports, and “non-essential” shopping, to name a few), both are forced to wear a monstrous sign of submission to a nonsensical regime that shows dissenters absolutely no mercy.
Follow Claire As a journalist and editor for LifeSiteNews, Claire Chretien has written more than 1,500 articles about abortion, human dignity, bioethics, the Catholic Church, politics, and related topics. Claire holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama. It was there that she first became involved in pro-life activism.
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