lifesitenews--2020-08-21--The second Miracle of Fatima that hardly anyone knows about

PETITION : Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden !
Sign the petition here .
August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A new movie about Fatima , opening in theaters on August 28th , is expected to renew interest in the apparitions of our Blessed Mother to three shepherd children at Fatima , Portugal in 1917 .
Most Catholics know the story of the six apparitions , but how many recognize the full impact of the Fatima events including what happened after Mary ’ s visitation ended with the miracle of the sun in October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some many miles away and headlines all over the globe announced it .
Other personal miracles of healing and conversion occurred at Fatima , but the miracle of the sun was for everyone , a public witness to the power of Mary ’ s intercession .
It makes Fatima unique among the many appearances of Mary throughout history .
Our Lady promised a miracle during the July apparition responding to Lucia ’ s request for `` a sign '' saying , “ Continue to come here every month .
In October , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I want , and I will perform a miracle for all to see and believe.
” During that same visit , Mary showed the three children a terrifying vision of hell and repeated her urgent plea to “ pray for sinners.
” The vision of hell and the promise of a miracle , so all might believe , did not occur during the same apparition by coincidence .
Throughout history , Jesus has sent His Mother to warn her children to repent .
The October miracle was to be a mass wakeup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show us the reality of sin ’ s consequences and magnify her message of repentance .
Announcing the miracle ahead of time drew many to Fatima out of piety or curiosity or even to prove the message was a hoax .
As word of the visions spread , the Masonic government and secular press called it a Jesuit conspiracy and tried to stop it .
Their debunking and threats actually helped to spread the message more widely and brought many people to the Cova de Iria , the site of the apparitions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devout , skeptics , scoffers , even atheists swarmed to Fatima .
A pouring rain failed to suppress the tens of thousands gathered to witness the astounding moment when the sun , like a wheel of fire , danced and spun in the sky shooting out flashes of varying colors like a heavenly fireworks display .
When the sun appeared to plunge toward the earth , most in the crowd feared it was the end of the world and fell to their knees .
Some confessed their most hidden sins out loud and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended , everyone , despite being soaked and muddy minutes before , found themselves clean and dry .
But there is a lesser-known miracle of Fatima that also carries a message for the world , a miracle with a backstory .
It begins with the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors in the Middle Ages .
In the 12th century , a Moorish Princess named Fatima was captured in battle by a Portuguese officer , Goncalo Hermingues .
He fell in love with her and asked King Alfonso for permission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convert to Christianity .
The couple lived happily for only a short time when Oureana , Fatima ’ s Christian name , died and Goncalo , in sorrow , entered a Cistercian monastery .
Later , Goncalo was named superior of a neighboring community , where he built a chapel and relocated Fatima ’ s remains .
The chapel became the site of the parish church of Fatima , the same parish where the Santos and Marto families would worship eight centuries later .
King Alfonso won independence for Portugal from Spain by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offering annual tribute to Rome .
But Alfonso was more than an astute politician ; he was a man of faith and a friend of St. Bernard of Clairvaux .
He built monasteries and placed Portugal under the protection of the Queen of heaven .
And , in fact , according to legend , described by Fatima expert Mark Fellows , “ for a long time the Kings of Portugal wore no crown , deferring their earthly royalty to the heavenly Queenship of Mary.
” Several other Portuguese kings honored Our Lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , King John I asked Pope Boniface IX to dedicate all the cathedrals in Portugal to the Blessed Mother , and a decree doing so was read in Lisbon on May 13th , a date coinciding with the first apparition at Fatima five centuries later .
There are no coincidences in the heavenly calendar .
Portugal fell again under Spanish rule , but on December 8 , 1646 , King John IV declared independence and consecrated Portugal to Mary Immaculate as the nation ’ s patroness and protector .
King John swore under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s title of the Immaculate Conception .
( Later , Portuguese school children would also recite an oath to defend the Immaculate Conception of Mary . )
It would be two centuries before Pope Pius IX officially proclaimed the doctrine , but the Portuguese were already dedicated to Mary ’ s perpetual virginity .
Is it any wonder that Our Lady appeared in Portugal , a county whose pious people were so totally committed to her and where her message would be so universally welcomed by the simple peasants ?
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were anything but easy for Portuguese Catholics .
In 1910 , Freemasons fomented a bloody revolution , took power , and began to persecute the Church with draconian measures .
They suppressed the religious orders , expelled the Jesuits , legalized divorce , made marriage no more than a secular contract , forbade religious habits and clerical dress , confiscated monasteries and convents , invited Protestant religions into the country , and made all religious holidays workdays .
Magalhães Lima , Grand Master of the Portuguese Freemasonry , declared that within a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a priest .
Another Freemason , Afonso Costa , declared that the new law of separation of church and state would end the Catholic Church in Portugal in two generations .
Catholics devoted to Fatima are aware of the period of the apparitions , but how many know what happened after the October miracle ?
Freemasons did not take their defeats lying down .
They continued to oppose the events of Fatima even blowing up the first small chapel erected on the site .
Nothing they did could quell the enthusiasm of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government officials set up roadblocks , the people walked across the fields .
If they threatened the people , the pilgrims ignored them .
In fact , many police officials , pious men , sympathized with the crowds and had no stomach to confront them with violence .
Our Lady was facing down the Masons .
Keep in mind that the events at Fatima were taking place without the help of the Church .
The local bishop , understandably , forbade his priests to support the events from the very beginning , fearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that anything supernatural was taking place there .
In 1922 , the bishop established a commission to look into the events since the crowds continued to increase .
In 1927 , the privilege of a Votive Mass was finally conceded and the cult of Our Lady of Fatima was officially allowed .
The beginning of the 20th century was a time of chaos for Portugal .
Things did not change overnight after Mary ’ s apparitions , but they improved enough that in February 1918 , less than six months after the miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote to Pope Benedict XV that the country ’ s situation was better under military leader Sidonio Pais , who annulled much of the worst legislation against Catholics .
An apostolic nuncio was named to Lisbon and the Portuguese government sent a diplomat to Rome .
When Pais , known as the “ President-King , ” was assassinated in December 1918 , the people , strengthened by the apparitions , resisted a return to oppressive government through numerous social apostolates .
And in 1926 , a military triumvirate drove the Freemasons from power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Catholic leader M. Oliveira Salazar , who established peace and order .
And so we come to the second miracle of Fatima .
As the 20th anniversary of the angel ’ s first apparition approached , spring 1936 , Portugal remained in a precarious situation .
Spain was on the verge of civil war and Europe was ready to explode with Hitler on the rise remilitarizing Germany .
At this dangerous juncture , the bishops of Portugal acted .
In May 1936 , while on retreat at the Cova da Iria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national pilgrimage in May 1938 to consecrate the country to her Immaculate Heart if she would preserve the “ Land of Holy Mary ” from the threat of Communism .
Two months after this vow , the Spanish Civil War erupted with the Communist rebels massacring tens of thousands of Catholic clergy , religious , and laity -- an attack on God reminiscent of the French Revolution .
But in Portugal , peace reigned .
The country was spared the devastations of both the Spanish Civil War and World War II and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Our Lady of Light , enjoyed instead a “ spiritual , moral , and material restoration ” all in the space of less than one generation .
The bishops fulfilled their promise in 1938 and it ’ s estimated that one of every 12 inhabitants of Portugal joined them at Fatima on May 13 , 1938 .
In 1942 , the bishops of Portugal once again engaged in collective action by releasing a joint pastoral to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mary ’ s apparitions .
They implicitly recognized the “ miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Is there even one truly Catholic Portuguese who does not recognize that our privileged situation is a reflection of that light brought to Fatima by our Lady , projected by her upon the souls of the three little shepherds , and by their means upon the whole world ?
… One who would have closed his eyes 25 years ago , and would open them now , would no longer recognize Portugal , so deep and so extensive is the transformation wrought by that humble invisible factor which we know as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Light ) And that , in fact , is the second miracle of Fatima .
With the whole world engaged in war , Portugal kept the peace .
With a raging Communist assault on her very borders , Portugal was spared .
In a “ devastated , war-torn Europe … ( Portugal was ) the only country … where , in the year 1941 , food rationing was unknown.
” The country was truly under the protection of the Queen of Heaven .
Our situation in the United States today resembles the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaos that marked the 20th century , the bloodiest in history .
As we continue that horrible legacy with Marxist riots in many of our cities , is n't it time for our shepherds to imitate the Portuguese bishops by promising to defend the Immaculate Heart of Mary even to the death ?
Might we not expect to see the same miraculous protection of our country that the Portuguese experienced if we follow their path ?
Consider the impact if the bishops embraced the same promise as the Portuguese bishops in 1936 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imagine our shepherds leading tens of thousands of Catholics in a pilgrimage to the National Shrine calling on the Queen of Heaven to preserve us from the Marxist threat we face today .
Let us pray to Our Lady of Fatima for such a blessing and our bishops to embrace Fatima .
Mary Ann Kreitzer writes from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and blogs at Les Femmes - The Truth .

PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A new movie about Fatima, opening in theaters on August 28th, is expected to renew interest in the apparitions of our Blessed Mother to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Most Catholics know the story of the six apparitions, but how many recognize the full impact of the Fatima events including what happened after Mary’s visitation ended with the miracle of the sun in October? Over 70,000 witnessed the miracle, some many miles away and headlines all over the globe announced it. Other personal miracles of healing and conversion occurred at Fatima, but the miracle of the sun was for everyone, a public witness to the power of Mary’s intercession. It makes Fatima unique among the many appearances of Mary throughout history.
Our Lady promised a miracle during the July apparition responding to Lucia’s request for “a sign” saying, “Continue to come here every month. In October, I will tell you who I am and what I want, and I will perform a miracle for all to see and believe.” During that same visit, Mary showed the three children a terrifying vision of hell and repeated her urgent plea to “pray for sinners.” The vision of hell and the promise of a miracle, so all might believe, did not occur during the same apparition by coincidence. Throughout history, Jesus has sent His Mother to warn her children to repent. The October miracle was to be a mass wakeup call for all people. Mary wanted to show us the reality of sin’s consequences and magnify her message of repentance. Announcing the miracle ahead of time drew many to Fatima out of piety or curiosity or even to prove the message was a hoax.
As word of the visions spread, the Masonic government and secular press called it a Jesuit conspiracy and tried to stop it. Their debunking and threats actually helped to spread the message more widely and brought many people to the Cova de Iria, the site of the apparitions, for the October event. The devout, skeptics, scoffers, even atheists swarmed to Fatima. A pouring rain failed to suppress the tens of thousands gathered to witness the astounding moment when the sun, like a wheel of fire, danced and spun in the sky shooting out flashes of varying colors like a heavenly fireworks display. When the sun appeared to plunge toward the earth, most in the crowd feared it was the end of the world and fell to their knees. Some confessed their most hidden sins out loud and begged for forgiveness. When the apparition ended, everyone, despite being soaked and muddy minutes before, found themselves clean and dry.
But there is a lesser-known miracle of Fatima that also carries a message for the world, a miracle with a backstory. It begins with the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors in the Middle Ages. In the 12th century, a Moorish Princess named Fatima was captured in battle by a Portuguese officer, Goncalo Hermingues. He fell in love with her and asked King Alfonso for permission to marry her that was given provided Fatima convert to Christianity. The couple lived happily for only a short time when Oureana, Fatima’s Christian name, died and Goncalo, in sorrow, entered a Cistercian monastery. Later, Goncalo was named superior of a neighboring community, where he built a chapel and relocated Fatima’s remains. The chapel became the site of the parish church of Fatima, the same parish where the Santos and Marto families would worship eight centuries later.
King Alfonso won independence for Portugal from Spain by making himself a vassal of the pope and offering annual tribute to Rome. But Alfonso was more than an astute politician; he was a man of faith and a friend of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. He built monasteries and placed Portugal under the protection of the Queen of heaven. And, in fact, according to legend, described by Fatima expert Mark Fellows, “for a long time the Kings of Portugal wore no crown, deferring their earthly royalty to the heavenly Queenship of Mary.” Several other Portuguese kings honored Our Lady as well. In the 14th century, King John I asked Pope Boniface IX to dedicate all the cathedrals in Portugal to the Blessed Mother, and a decree doing so was read in Lisbon on May 13th, a date coinciding with the first apparition at Fatima five centuries later. There are no coincidences in the heavenly calendar.
Portugal fell again under Spanish rule, but on December 8, 1646, King John IV declared independence and consecrated Portugal to Mary Immaculate as the nation’s patroness and protector. King John swore under oath to defend with his life Mary’s title of the Immaculate Conception. (Later, Portuguese school children would also recite an oath to defend the Immaculate Conception of Mary.) It would be two centuries before Pope Pius IX officially proclaimed the doctrine, but the Portuguese were already dedicated to the truth that Mary was free from original sin from the moment of her conception. Is it any wonder that Our Lady appeared in Portugal, a county whose pious people were so totally committed to her and where her message would be so universally welcomed by the simple peasants?
But the years immediately preceding Mary’s apparitions were anything but easy for Portuguese Catholics. In 1910, Freemasons fomented a bloody revolution, took power, and began to persecute the Church with draconian measures. They suppressed the religious orders, expelled the Jesuits, legalized divorce, made marriage no more than a secular contract, forbade religious habits and clerical dress, confiscated monasteries and convents, invited Protestant religions into the country, and made all religious holidays workdays. Magalhães Lima, Grand Master of the Portuguese Freemasonry, declared that within a few years no one would want to be a priest. Another Freemason, Afonso Costa, declared that the new law of separation of church and state would end the Catholic Church in Portugal in two generations.
Catholics devoted to Fatima are aware of the period of the apparitions, but how many know what happened after the October miracle? Freemasons did not take their defeats lying down. They continued to oppose the events of Fatima even blowing up the first small chapel erected on the site. Nothing they did could quell the enthusiasm of the pilgrims thronging to the village. If government officials set up roadblocks, the people walked across the fields. If they threatened the people, the pilgrims ignored them. In fact, many police officials, pious men, sympathized with the crowds and had no stomach to confront them with violence. Our Lady was facing down the Masons.
Keep in mind that the events at Fatima were taking place without the help of the Church. The local bishop, understandably, forbade his priests to support the events from the very beginning, fearing a backlash from the government and uncertain that anything supernatural was taking place there. In 1922, the bishop established a commission to look into the events since the crowds continued to increase. In 1927, the privilege of a Votive Mass was finally conceded and the cult of Our Lady of Fatima was officially allowed.
The beginning of the 20th century was a time of chaos for Portugal. Things did not change overnight after Mary’s apparitions, but they improved enough that in February 1918, less than six months after the miracle of the sun, the Portuguese bishops wrote to Pope Benedict XV that the country’s situation was better under military leader Sidonio Pais, who annulled much of the worst legislation against Catholics. An apostolic nuncio was named to Lisbon and the Portuguese government sent a diplomat to Rome. When Pais, known as the “President-King,” was assassinated in December 1918, the people, strengthened by the apparitions, resisted a return to oppressive government through numerous social apostolates. And in 1926, a military triumvirate drove the Freemasons from power and set the stage for the rise of Catholic leader M. Oliveira Salazar, who established peace and order.
And so we come to the second miracle of Fatima. As the 20th anniversary of the angel’s first apparition approached, spring 1936, Portugal remained in a precarious situation. Spain was on the verge of civil war and Europe was ready to explode with Hitler on the rise remilitarizing Germany. At this dangerous juncture, the bishops of Portugal acted. In May 1936, while on retreat at the Cova da Iria, the bishops promised Mary to hold a national pilgrimage in May 1938 to consecrate the country to her Immaculate Heart if she would preserve the “Land of Holy Mary” from the threat of Communism.
Two months after this vow, the Spanish Civil War erupted with the Communist rebels massacring tens of thousands of Catholic clergy, religious, and laity — an attack on God reminiscent of the French Revolution. But in Portugal, peace reigned. The country was spared the devastations of both the Spanish Civil War and World War II and, and, according to the 1947 book, Our Lady of Light, enjoyed instead a “spiritual, moral, and material restoration” all in the space of less than one generation. The bishops fulfilled their promise in 1938 and it’s estimated that one of every 12 inhabitants of Portugal joined them at Fatima on May 13, 1938.
In 1942, the bishops of Portugal once again engaged in collective action by releasing a joint pastoral to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mary’s apparitions. They implicitly recognized the “miracle” of Portugal’s transformation writing:
Is there even one truly Catholic Portuguese who does not recognize that our privileged situation is a reflection of that light brought to Fatima by our Lady, projected by her upon the souls of the three little shepherds, and by their means upon the whole world? … One who would have closed his eyes 25 years ago, and would open them now, would no longer recognize Portugal, so deep and so extensive is the transformation wrought by that humble invisible factor which we know as the apparitions of Fatima. (Our Lady of Light)
And that, in fact, is the second miracle of Fatima. With the whole world engaged in war, Portugal kept the peace. With a raging Communist assault on her very borders, Portugal was spared. In a “devastated, war-torn Europe … (Portugal was) the only country … where, in the year 1941, food rationing was unknown.” The country was truly under the protection of the Queen of Heaven.
Our situation in the United States today resembles the world's descent into godless evil and chaos that marked the 20th century, the bloodiest in history. As we continue that horrible legacy with Marxist riots in many of our cities, isn't it time for our shepherds to imitate the Portuguese bishops by promising to defend the Immaculate Heart of Mary even to the death? Might we not expect to see the same miraculous protection of our country that the Portuguese experienced if we follow their path? Consider the impact if the bishops embraced the same promise as the Portuguese bishops in 1936. What a brilliant conquest for Mary. Imagine our shepherds leading tens of thousands of Catholics in a pilgrimage to the National Shrine calling on the Queen of Heaven to preserve us from the Marxist threat we face today. Let us pray to Our Lady of Fatima for such a blessing and our bishops to embrace Fatima.
Mary Ann Kreitzer writes from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and blogs at Les Femmes – The Truth.
Aug. 24, 2020 correction: This article now correctly states that the “Portuguese were already dedicated to the truth that Mary was free from original sin from the moment of her conception” whereas it had originally stated that the “Portuguese were already dedicated to Mary’s perpetual virginity…”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--US bishop: If we’re living in end times, you’d better ‘return to God…Just in case’

PETITION : No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine !
Sign the petition here .
PROVIDENCE , Rhode Island , August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Bishop Thomas Tobin is urging people to return to God “ just in case ” the natural disasters , political upheaval , and global pandemic are signs that the “ end times ” could be near .
Tobin , 72 , unlike his confrere who bears the same surname , Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark , New Jersey , is known for for his conservative and pro-life views , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tobin was hit with a global backlash in June 2019 when he tweeted a simple warning to his diocese to not take part in pro-homosexual LGBT “ Pride ” events during so-called “ Pride Month , ” pointing out that these events “ promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Catholic faith and morals .
They are especially harmful for children.
” More recently , he was rebuked by many for sarcastically implying that pro-abortion , pro-LGBT Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is not a Catholic , tweeting : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic ticket hasn ’ t had a Catholic on it .
Sad.
” Tobin ’ s August 20 message received mixed reviews .
While there was agreement that , in the words of Psalty Catholic , “ it ’ s beginning to look a bit apocalyptic , ” others found fault with the bishop ’ s wording : “ With all due respect your excellency , but your ‘ Just in case ’ sounds like Pascal ’ s wager .
We should return to God because there is Love , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should always return to God because of the Love of God .
And I agree , we should return now , ” tweeted Lost Son .
A couple of people added to Tobin ’ s list of omens the thunderstorm complex , or derecho , or land hurricane that devastated Iowa August 10 , reportedly killing three people and leaving thousands in the state without power for at least a week : “ Wildfires , storms , droughts , polit divisions , & public unrest have happened LOTS of times in history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually pretty mild by historical comparison.BUT , regardless , yes ... we do need to turn/return to God .
All the time !
” tweeted Prodigal Son .
“ Well wildfires unfortunately happen every year in the West .
And nothing is given to help these states better prepare , ” noted OneLove .
One participant identified as Debbie sounded exasperated at the reception Tobin ’ s message to turn to God received .
“ Goodness , can ’ t he just say something and not have it picked apart ?
I understood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she tweeted .
The Gospels record at least three occasions where Christ refers to the “ signs of the end of the age ” : Matthew 24 : 3-29 , Luke 17:22-37 , and Luke 21 : 5-28 .
“ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars .
See that you are not alarmed , for this must take place , but the end is not yet .
For nation will rise against nation , and kingdom against kingdom , and there will be famines and earthquakes in various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning of the birth pains , ” Our Lord says in Matthew 24:3-7 .
“ And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars , and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves , people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world .
For the powers of the heavens will be shaken .
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory .
Now when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straighten up and raise your heads , because your redemption is drawing near , ” he says in Luke 21:25-28 .
The Apostle Peter foretold of “ scoffers ” in the last days and reminded his readers that God desires repentance : Knowing this first , that in the last days there shall come deceitful scoffers , walking after their own lusts , saying : Where is his promise or his coming ?
for since the time that the fathers slept , all things continue as they were from the beginning of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignorant of , that the heavens were before , and the earth out of water , and through water , consisting by the word of God .
Whereby the world that then was , being overflowed with water , perished .
But the heavens and the earth which are now , by the same word are kept in store , reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of the ungodly men .
But of this one thing be not ignorant , my beloved , that one day with the Lord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a thousand years as one day .
The Lord delayeth not his promise , as some imagine , but dealeth patiently for your sake , not willing that any should perish , but that all should return to penance .
( 2 Peter 3:3-9 . )

Bp. Thomas Tobin said natural disasters, political upheaval, and the global pandemic are signs that the ‘end times’ could be near.
PETITION: No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine! Sign the petition here.
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Thomas Tobin is urging people to return to God “just in case” the natural disasters, political upheaval, and global pandemic are signs that the “end times” could be near.
The bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, tweeted Thursday:
I don't subscribe to dire forecasts of the end times, but with horrible wildfires out West, tropical storms in the ocean, widespread drought, a global pandemic, political division, and anger in the streets, one has to wonder. We'd better return to God. Now. Just in case. — Bishop Thomas Tobin (@ThomasJTobin1) August 20, 2020
Tobin, 72, unlike his confrere who bears the same surname, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, is known for for his conservative and pro-life views, and for his seemingly controversial tweets.
Tobin was hit with a global backlash in June 2019 when he tweeted a simple warning to his diocese to not take part in pro-homosexual LGBT “Pride” events during so-called “Pride Month,” pointing out that these events “promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Catholic faith and morals. They are especially harmful for children.”
More recently, he was rebuked by many for sarcastically implying that pro-abortion, pro-LGBT Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is not a Catholic, tweeting: “Biden-Harris. First time in awhile that the Democratic ticket hasn’t had a Catholic on it. Sad.”
Tobin’s August 20 message received mixed reviews. While there was agreement that, in the words of Psalty Catholic, “it’s beginning to look a bit apocalyptic,” others found fault with the bishop’s wording:
Just in case??? So, a bishop of the Catholic Church is saying God is a last resort?? — OnFireCatholic (@OnFireCatholic_) August 20, 2020
“With all due respect your excellency, but your ‘Just in case’ sounds like Pascal’s wager. We should return to God because there is Love, there is Purpose, there is Peace. We should always return to God because of the Love of God. And I agree, we should return now,” tweeted Lost Son.
A couple of people added to Tobin’s list of omens the thunderstorm complex, or derecho, or land hurricane that devastated Iowa August 10, reportedly killing three people and leaving thousands in the state without power for at least a week:
Don’t forge the Iowa derecho, Your Excellency. I didn’t even know what a derecho was until a week ago. — Fr. Patrick Behm (@FrPBehm) August 20, 2020
Others downplayed current calamities.
“Wildfires, storms, droughts, polit divisions, & public unrest have happened LOTS of times in history. As for pandemics, this one is actually pretty mild by historical comparison.BUT, regardless, yes … we do need to turn/return to God. All the time!” tweeted Prodigal Son.
“Well wildfires unfortunately happen every year in the West. And nothing is given to help these states better prepare,” noted OneLove.
One participant identified as Debbie sounded exasperated at the reception Tobin’s message to turn to God received.
“Goodness, can’t he just say something and not have it picked apart? I understood him. Pray to get patience,” she tweeted.
The Gospels record at least three occasions where Christ refers to the “signs of the end of the age”: Matthew 24: 3-29, Luke 17:22-37, and Luke 21: 5-28.
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains,” Our Lord says in Matthew 24:3-7.
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near,” he says in Luke 21:25-28.
The Apostle Peter foretold of “scoffers” in the last days and reminded his readers that God desires repentance:
Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come deceitful scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying: Where is his promise or his coming? for since the time that the fathers slept, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they are wilfully ignorant of, that the heavens were before, and the earth out of water, and through water, consisting by the word of God. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of the ungodly men. But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance. (2 Peter 3:3-9.)
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--JetBlue kicks mom and six kids off flight over baby refusing to wear mask

PETITION : No to radical mandatory mask mandates !
Sign the petition here .
August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A New York mother says she and her six kids were treated in an “ inhumane ” way after being tossed from a JetBlue flight because her two-year-old child kept pulling her mask off .
“ She was pulling it off , she had a pacifier in her mouth and they [ flight attendants ] saw it happening , ” Chaya Bruck was reported by Fox News as saying about the incident , which took place on August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident left the mother and kids stranded in a Florida airport for more than five hours .
Bruck said she struggled to have her two-year-old child keep a mask on before the plane departed the gate .
This resulted in flight attendants telling her that unless her child kept the mask on , she would be kicked off the flight along with everyone else .
“ The way they treated me and went about it is inhumane , ” said Bruck in the Fox News report , adding that she was “ targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They got scared .
They didn ’ t know what was going on .
It was very traumatizing , ” Bruck says she and her husband are looking into suing JetBlue because of the incident .
A video of the event posted on Fox News shows a clip of the ordeal .
In the background , voices can be heard by some passengers who appear to be defending Bruck , with one voice clearly saying , “ She ’ s two years old , she ’ s two years old , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice also says , “ Then why is it on your website ?
” The video also shows everyone disembarking the plane , and in the background disgruntled passengers can be heard voicing their displeasure about the situation .
Bruck alleges in the Fox News report that before boarding the plane , she heard on the speaker at the gate that “ small children ” did not have to wear a face mask if they could not keep it on .
On May 4 , the New York–based airline was the first U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings while boarding , in-flight , and deboarding .
JetBlue ’ s president , Joanna Geraghty Wearing , said at the time that “ a face covering isn ’ t about protecting yourself ; it ’ s about protecting those around you.
” Bruck ’ s husband alleges that the airline changed the wording of its mask policy for kids shortly after the incident .
A screen shot taken by the Bruck family and posted in the Fox News report shows the wording , “ Children who are not able to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement.
” Bruck claims that JetBlue later changed its face covering policy to what it currently says on its website shortly after the incident to read , “ All travelers 2 years and older must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey , including during check-in , boarding , while in flight and deplaning.
” A spokesman for the airline said in the Fox News report that the face covering policy was last updated on August 10 and is consistent with CDC guidelines , which state that anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask .
However , a Seattle Times report says JetBlue updated its mask policy just 44 minutes after Bruck ’ s flight was to have taken off .
The same report also says the incident started on Bruck ’ s trip to Orlando over a week ago , when she first argued with a flight attendant about masking her two-year-old .
According to the Seattle Times report , Bruck said that “ the minute ” the flight attendant saw her , “ he recognized me.
” “ I heard him tell the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoted as saying in the Fox News report that she thinks it ’ s “ not feasible for a child who is 2 years old to wear a mask , ” adding that she does not think “ under 4 is even possible to force a child to wear a mask , and especially if they have a pacifier in their mouth.
” “ A 2-year-old child does not have the logic as an older kid and doesn ’ t understand the consequences of not wearing the mask , ” she was quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not a confrontational person , I didn ’ t want any trouble , I just wanted to get home with my six kids after a family vacation.
” Bruck said JetBlue did not help her book another flight , and they made it home on a United Airlines flight later in the day .
This is not the first reported incident involving people being kicked off planes due to not wearing a mask .
A report from last week says a Texas woman and her family were kicked off a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has autism , refused to wear a mask .
Steve Jalsevac , LifeSiteNews co-founder and managing director , said in a recent blog post that the increase in mandatory masking is driven not by science , but by fear and is a change from what “ health experts ” were saying earlier on .
“ There are now increasing statements that broad mask mandates definitely save many lives .
That is a complete flip from what we were told up to a few weeks ago that masks are not helpful , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who owns Accelerated Urgent Care and who spoke at the “ White Coat Summit , ” whose press conference was banned from social media , said in a Breitbart report that “ I ’ m watching people in their Prius by themselves driving with a mask on .
There ’ s no sense to it.
” A Wisconsin state agency recently required that employees wear masks during at-home Zoom meetings to “ visually remind folks that masking is an important part of navigating the business of natural resources during this tumultuous time .
@

The incident left the mother and kids stranded in a Florida airport for more than five hours.
PETITION: No to radical mandatory mask mandates! Sign the petition here.
August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A New York mother says she and her six kids were treated in an “inhumane” way after being tossed from a JetBlue flight because her two-year-old child kept pulling her mask off.
“She was pulling it off, she had a pacifier in her mouth and they [flight attendants] saw it happening,” Chaya Bruck was reported by Fox News as saying about the incident, which took place on August 19 in Orlando, Florida.
The incident left the mother and kids stranded in a Florida airport for more than five hours.
Bruck said she struggled to have her two-year-old child keep a mask on before the plane departed the gate. This resulted in flight attendants telling her that unless her child kept the mask on, she would be kicked off the flight along with everyone else.
“The way they treated me and went about it is inhumane,” said Bruck in the Fox News report, adding that she was “targeted.”
“My kids started crying. They got scared. They didn’t know what was going on. It was very traumatizing,”
Bruck says she and her husband are looking into suing JetBlue because of the incident.
A video of the event posted on Fox News shows a clip of the ordeal.
In the background, voices can be heard by some passengers who appear to be defending Bruck, with one voice clearly saying, “She’s two years old, she’s two years old, it’s on your website.” Another voice also says, “Then why is it on your website?”
The video also shows everyone disembarking the plane, and in the background disgruntled passengers can be heard voicing their displeasure about the situation.
Bruck alleges in the Fox News report that before boarding the plane, she heard on the speaker at the gate that “small children” did not have to wear a face mask if they could not keep it on.
On May 4, the New York–based airline was the first U.S. carrier to mandate that its passengers wear face coverings while boarding, in-flight, and deboarding.
JetBlue’s president, Joanna Geraghty Wearing, said at the time that “a face covering isn’t about protecting yourself; it’s about protecting those around you.”
Bruck’s husband alleges that the airline changed the wording of its mask policy for kids shortly after the incident. A screen shot taken by the Bruck family and posted in the Fox News report shows the wording, “Children who are not able to maintain a face covering are exempt from the requirement.”
Bruck claims that JetBlue later changed its face covering policy to what it currently says on its website shortly after the incident to read, “All travelers 2 years and older must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey, including during check-in, boarding, while in flight and deplaning.”
A spokesman for the airline said in the Fox News report that the face covering policy was last updated on August 10 and is consistent with CDC guidelines, which state that anyone over the age of two should wear a mask.
However, a Seattle Times report says JetBlue updated its mask policy just 44 minutes after Bruck’s flight was to have taken off.
The same report also says the incident started on Bruck’s trip to Orlando over a week ago, when she first argued with a flight attendant about masking her two-year-old. According to the Seattle Times report, Bruck said that “the minute” the flight attendant saw her, “he recognized me.”
“I heard him tell the other stewardesses about me.”
Bruck was quoted as saying in the Fox News report that she thinks it’s “not feasible for a child who is 2 years old to wear a mask,” adding that she does not think “under 4 is even possible to force a child to wear a mask, and especially if they have a pacifier in their mouth.”
“A 2-year-old child does not have the logic as an older kid and doesn’t understand the consequences of not wearing the mask,” she was quoted as saying to Fox News.
“I’m not a confrontational person, I didn’t want any trouble, I just wanted to get home with my six kids after a family vacation.”
Bruck said JetBlue did not help her book another flight, and they made it home on a United Airlines flight later in the day.
This is not the first reported incident involving people being kicked off planes due to not wearing a mask.
A report from last week says a Texas woman and her family were kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight because their 3-year-old, who has autism, refused to wear a mask.
Steve Jalsevac, LifeSiteNews co-founder and managing director, said in a recent blog post that the increase in mandatory masking is driven not by science, but by fear and is a change from what “health experts” were saying earlier on.
“There are now increasing statements that broad mask mandates definitely save many lives. That is a complete flip from what we were told up to a few weeks ago that masks are not helpful,” wrote Jalsevac.
Dr. Dan Erickson, who owns Accelerated Urgent Care and who spoke at the “White Coat Summit,” whose press conference was banned from social media, said in a Breitbart report that “I’m watching people in their Prius by themselves driving with a mask on. There’s no sense to it.”
“It’s fear,” he added.
A Wisconsin state agency recently required that employees wear masks during at-home Zoom meetings to “visually remind folks that masking is an important part of navigating the business of natural resources during this tumultuous time.”
Contact information
JetBlue
Phone: 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583)
Contact Us page: https://www.jetblue.com/contact-us
Email: [email protected]
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--Bishops’ main duty is to safeguard their flock’s salvation – and many fail

PETITION : Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden !
Sign the petition here .
August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Bishops are discouraged by all sorts of things from performing their duties with the fidelity and vigor that the nature of their job enjoins .
I don ’ t envy them .
It is often said that many priests decline the offer of episcopal promotion , and it is not difficult to see why .
But there is a big difference between saying that doing the right thing is very difficult and saying it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do what is very difficult .
We can ’ t be obliged to do the impossible : that is , really impossible .
What should bishops be doing ?
They have an obligation to safeguard the salvation of all the Catholics in their dioceses , so they must act against spiritual dangers to their flock .
Thus , they are under an obligation to denounce ideas or individuals who present an urgent threat to their people ’ s spiritual welfare , and remove people from roles in the diocese , including schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiritual welfare .
This kind of thing must be done in an intelligent and strategic way , and there is nothing wrong in itself in a bishop minimizing bad publicity and observing his obligations as an employer and things like that .
But it is difficult to avoid the impression that even many bishops who have a reputation for orthodoxy are not doing this intelligently and strategically : they are just not doing it .
They inherit deep-seated problems and content themselves with fiddling about on the edges of these problems .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would involve annoying too many people , and these bishops would defend themselves by saying that this would be , for practical purposes , “ impossible.
” A prime example of this has been the behavior of bishops over the past 30 or 40 years who find networks of clerical abusers in their dioceses .
In many cases , we will never know which bishops knew what , but no rational person could deny that a great many bishops know a great deal , and failed to act decisively , or sometimes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We see exactly the same pattern with other serious problems in dioceses , such as the corruption of Catholic schools , liturgical abuses , the teaching of heresy in seminaries , and so on .
Bishops — the good ones , the ones who would like to do something about these things — will tell us the same thing in each case .
They do a little , they would have liked to do more , but it is “ impossible , ” because it would annoy too many people .
Why are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be that they are psychologically inadequate individuals desperate for approval from evil people , but there may be more to it than that .
It may be that they are convinced , let us suppose with good reason , that the stink their opponents would kick up would be enough to prevent them doing any more good .
This may mean that if a local newspaper demonizes them they won ’ t be invited to nice parties to schmooze potential benefactors , but again , there may be more to it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibilities is that they will be removed from office by the Holy See or civil authorities .
This is an extremely unusual event , but it is not unheard of .
Let us make the maximum concession possible and say : OK , in this case , the bishop would be removed if he took the only steps that would make real headway into the problems in his diocese , which it is his job to oppose with the utmost of his strength .
Does that mean he should not take those steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that their effectiveness will be short-lived , and this is something a bishop with foresight can take into consideration in deciding how to go about it .
He can arrange things so he goes out in a blaze of glory , giving witness to the truth .
( It is interesting that this never happens . )
OK , suppose things are even worse : suppose that his enemies are so pervasive and powerful that they can make sure that no positive witness will arise from his futile efforts and swift removal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow .
First , bishops and their friends will tell us that the choice is between doing nothing effective , and being removed , and doing small good things .
But this is not so .
The choice is between refusing to cooperate with evil , and agreeing to cooperate with evil .
Because the career they have mapped out will involve ceaseless , close , and often formal ( intentional ) cooperation with evil .
The second thing is that these pervasive and powerful enemies , who are able to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give any effective positive witness by standing up to evil , will obviously arrange the most effective possible negative witness of an apparently good bishop cooperating with abusers and heretics .
This has a cripplingly demoralizing effect on those beleaguered people in the diocese who are trying to do the right thing .
God alone will judge our bishops , and I hope and pray they are found to have done more good than is visible to us .
But if they fail to protect their flocks , as parents must protect their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then their judgment will be heavy .

‘They are under an obligation to denounce ideas or individuals who present an urgent threat to their people’s spiritual welfare, and remove people from roles in the diocese, including schools, where they threaten people’s spiritual welfare.’
PETITION: Urge Catholic bishops to refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion Biden! Sign the petition here.
August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Bishops are discouraged by all sorts of things from performing their duties with the fidelity and vigor that the nature of their job enjoins. I don’t envy them. It is often said that many priests decline the offer of episcopal promotion, and it is not difficult to see why. But there is a big difference between saying that doing the right thing is very difficult and saying it is impossible. We can be obliged to do what is very difficult. We can’t be obliged to do the impossible: that is, really impossible.
What should bishops be doing? They have an obligation to safeguard the salvation of all the Catholics in their dioceses, so they must act against spiritual dangers to their flock. Thus, they are under an obligation to denounce ideas or individuals who present an urgent threat to their people’s spiritual welfare, and remove people from roles in the diocese, including schools, where they threaten people’s spiritual welfare.
This kind of thing must be done in an intelligent and strategic way, and there is nothing wrong in itself in a bishop minimizing bad publicity and observing his obligations as an employer and things like that. But it is difficult to avoid the impression that even many bishops who have a reputation for orthodoxy are not doing this intelligently and strategically: they are just not doing it. They inherit deep-seated problems and content themselves with fiddling about on the edges of these problems. To strike into the heart of the problem would involve annoying too many people, and these bishops would defend themselves by saying that this would be, for practical purposes, “impossible.”
A prime example of this has been the behavior of bishops over the past 30 or 40 years who find networks of clerical abusers in their dioceses. In many cases, we will never know which bishops knew what, but no rational person could deny that a great many bishops know a great deal, and failed to act decisively, or sometimes at all, to deal with it. We see exactly the same pattern with other serious problems in dioceses, such as the corruption of Catholic schools, liturgical abuses, the teaching of heresy in seminaries, and so on. Bishops — the good ones, the ones who would like to do something about these things — will tell us the same thing in each case. They do a little, they would have liked to do more, but it is “impossible,” because it would annoy too many people.
Why are they concerned about annoying people? It might be that they are psychologically inadequate individuals desperate for approval from evil people, but there may be more to it than that. It may be that they are convinced, let us suppose with good reason, that the stink their opponents would kick up would be enough to prevent them doing any more good. This may mean that if a local newspaper demonizes them they won’t be invited to nice parties to schmooze potential benefactors, but again, there may be more to it. The extreme end of the spectrum of possibilities is that they will be removed from office by the Holy See or civil authorities.
This is an extremely unusual event, but it is not unheard of. Let us make the maximum concession possible and say: OK, in this case, the bishop would be removed if he took the only steps that would make real headway into the problems in his diocese, which it is his job to oppose with the utmost of his strength.
Does that mean he should not take those steps? Of course not. It means that their effectiveness will be short-lived, and this is something a bishop with foresight can take into consideration in deciding how to go about it. He can arrange things so he goes out in a blaze of glory, giving witness to the truth. (It is interesting that this never happens.)
OK, suppose things are even worse: suppose that his enemies are so pervasive and powerful that they can make sure that no positive witness will arise from his futile efforts and swift removal. What then? Well, two things follow.
First, bishops and their friends will tell us that the choice is between doing nothing effective, and being removed, and doing small good things. But this is not so. The choice is between refusing to cooperate with evil, and agreeing to cooperate with evil. Because the career they have mapped out will involve ceaseless, close, and often formal (intentional) cooperation with evil.
The second thing is that these pervasive and powerful enemies, who are able to ensure that the bishop will not be able to give any effective positive witness by standing up to evil, will obviously arrange the most effective possible negative witness of an apparently good bishop cooperating with abusers and heretics. This has a cripplingly demoralizing effect on those beleaguered people in the diocese who are trying to do the right thing.
God alone will judge our bishops, and I hope and pray they are found to have done more good than is visible to us. But if they fail to protect their flocks, as parents must protect their children, regardless of the cost, then their judgment will be heavy.
Follow Joseph Dr Joseph Shaw has a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University, where he also gained a first degree in Politics and Philosophy and a graduate Diploma in Theology. He has published on Ethics and Philosophy of Religion and is the editor of The Case for Liturgical Restoration: Una Voce Position Papers on the Extraordinary Form (Angelico Press). He is the Chairman of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales and Secretary of Una Voce International. He teaches Philosophy in Oxford University and lives nearby with his wife and nine children.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--US bishops’ conference: ‘Trump Administration deserves our praise’ for pro-life policies

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) praised the Trump administration on Thursday for implementing pro-life policies in foreign affairs , specifically the so-called Mexico City Policy .
“ The Trump Administration deserves our praise for ensuring that U.S. global health assistance funding actually promotes health and human rights , and doesn ’ t undermine them by promoting abortion , ” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serves as chairman of the USCCB ’ s Committee on Pro-Life Activities .
“ Killing innocent and defenseless unborn children through abortion is not health care , ” he continued .
“ Abortion violates an unborn child ’ s most basic human right , the right to life , and it also can wound the mother emotionally and physically.
” “ Americans recognize this injustice and an overwhelming majority of them oppose giving tax dollars to organizations that are more committed to promoting abortion than providing health services , ” the archbishop emphasized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , President Donald Trump had expanded the so-called Mexico City Policy , renaming it “ Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance ( PLGHA ) .
” Trump ’ s policy “ requires foreign non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ) that receive global health assistance from affected Federal Departments and Agencies to agree that they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning or provide financial support to any other organization that conducts such activities.
” In its second review of the policy , released just days ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two of the largest and most-vocal organizations that have attempted to assert a global right to abortion on demand , International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International , declined to agree to PLGHA and therefore forfeited their eligibility for global health assistance funding from the U.S. Government.
” Archbishop Naumann also commented on the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) Human Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board ’ s recommendation to withhold federal funding from 13 of 14 research proposals involving the use of fetal tissue .
“ We applaud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction that shows greater consideration for medical ethics in research , and greater respect for innocent human life , ” he said .
“ It is neither ethical nor necessary to further violate the bodies of aborted babies by commodifying them for use in medical research.
” “ The victims of abortion deserve the same respect as every other human person , ” Naumann pointed out .
“ We are grateful that the Administration is following through on its commitment to end federal funding of research using aborted fetal tissue.
” Naumann ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a lower-level USCCB official expressed her enthusiasm for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s selection of Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate .
“ I was so elated .
We , the community , need good news , and this was just wonderful , ” Donna Toliver Grimes , the USCCB ’ s assistant director of African American Affairs , told Catholic News Service .
A look at former Vice President Biden ’ s campaign platform reveals positions faithful Catholics can not support in good conscience , even if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , climate change or other issues .
At the end of July , Biden dedicated one section of his Agenda for Women to “ Reproductive Health , ” which is generally a reference to abortion .
The former vice president under President Barack Obama said he “ will work to codify Roe v. Wade , and his Justice Department will do everything in its power to stop the rash of state laws that so blatantly violate Roe v. Wade.
” Roe v. Wade is the 1973 Supreme Court ruling essentially legalizing abortion across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman ’ s right to privacy .
Many states passed legislation trying to limit the widespread killing of unborn babies .
One piece of legislation is so-called heartbeat bills , which prohibit abortions as soon as the unborn baby ’ s heartbeat can be detected after roughly six weeks of pregnancy .
Biden said he wanted to repeal the Hyde Amendment by reissuing “ guidance specifying that states can not refuse Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers and reverse the Trump Administration ’ s rule preventing these organizations from obtaining Title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 345,000 abortions annually , according to its most recent report .
Additionally , the organization handed out more than 593,000 emergency contraception kits , commonly known as the morning-after pill , which can also cause abortions in many cases .
Biden ’ s plan would , accordingly , enable women to abort their babies using taxpayer money .
In fact , Biden had supported the Hyde Amendment for many years before reversing his position early during his campaign for president in 2019 .
Biden had caused some controversy in June 2019 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language that forbids taxpayer dollars from funding abortions except for cases of rape or incest or to save a mother ’ s life .
After a video showed him answering “ yes ” to an activist asking if he would “ commit to abolishing ” Hyde , the Biden campaign claimed he had misheard the question and still supported the amendment — while reserving the right to change his mind , depending on the progress of “ draconian attempts to limit access to abortion.
” Pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood pounced on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day later that he was changing his position .
“ If I believe health care is a right , as I do , I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone 's ZIP code , ” Biden said at the time .
The Democratic presidential candidate , in his Agenda for Women , also vowed to rescind the Mexico City Policy .
First introduced under Republican President Ronald Reagan , it was rescinded by Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama , while Republican Presidents George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Donald Trump kept it in place or reinstated it .

URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) praised the Trump administration on Thursday for implementing pro-life policies in foreign affairs, specifically the so-called Mexico City Policy.
“The Trump Administration deserves our praise for ensuring that U.S. global health assistance funding actually promotes health and human rights, and doesn’t undermine them by promoting abortion,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who also serves as chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
“Killing innocent and defenseless unborn children through abortion is not health care,” he continued. “Abortion violates an unborn child’s most basic human right, the right to life, and it also can wound the mother emotionally and physically.”
“Americans recognize this injustice and an overwhelming majority of them oppose giving tax dollars to organizations that are more committed to promoting abortion than providing health services,” the archbishop emphasized.
Shorty after his inauguration in January 2017, President Donald Trump had expanded the so-called Mexico City Policy, renaming it “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA).”
Trump’s policy “requires foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive global health assistance from affected Federal Departments and Agencies to agree that they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning or provide financial support to any other organization that conducts such activities.”
In its second review of the policy, released just days ago, the State Department wrote, “Notably, two of the largest and most-vocal organizations that have attempted to assert a global right to abortion on demand, International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International, declined to agree to PLGHA and therefore forfeited their eligibility for global health assistance funding from the U.S. Government.”
Archbishop Naumann also commented on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Human Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board’s recommendation to withhold federal funding from 13 of 14 research proposals involving the use of fetal tissue.
“We applaud the Administration for moving NIH in a direction that shows greater consideration for medical ethics in research, and greater respect for innocent human life,” he said. “It is neither ethical nor necessary to further violate the bodies of aborted babies by commodifying them for use in medical research.”
“The victims of abortion deserve the same respect as every other human person,” Naumann pointed out. “We are grateful that the Administration is following through on its commitment to end federal funding of research using aborted fetal tissue.”
Naumann’s praise for the Trump administration comes after a lower-level USCCB official expressed her enthusiasm for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s selection of Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate.
“I was so elated. We, the community, need good news, and this was just wonderful,” Donna Toliver Grimes, the USCCB’s assistant director of African American Affairs, told Catholic News Service.
A look at former Vice President Biden’s campaign platform reveals positions faithful Catholics cannot support in good conscience, even if they appreciate Biden’s approach to economics, climate change or other issues.
At the end of July, Biden dedicated one section of his Agenda for Women to “Reproductive Health,” which is generally a reference to abortion. The former vice president under President Barack Obama said he “will work to codify Roe v. Wade, and his Justice Department will do everything in its power to stop the rash of state laws that so blatantly violate Roe v. Wade.”
Roe v. Wade is the 1973 Supreme Court ruling essentially legalizing abortion across the country under the guise of a woman’s right to privacy. Many states passed legislation trying to limit the widespread killing of unborn babies. One piece of legislation is so-called heartbeat bills, which prohibit abortions as soon as the unborn baby’s heartbeat can be detected after roughly six weeks of pregnancy.
Biden said he wanted to repeal the Hyde Amendment by reissuing “guidance specifying that states cannot refuse Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers and reverse the Trump Administration’s rule preventing these organizations from obtaining Title X funds.”
Planned Parenthood provides more than 345,000 abortions annually, according to its most recent report. Additionally, the organization handed out more than 593,000 emergency contraception kits, commonly known as the morning-after pill, which can also cause abortions in many cases.
Biden’s plan would, accordingly, enable women to abort their babies using taxpayer money.
In fact, Biden had supported the Hyde Amendment for many years before reversing his position early during his campaign for president in 2019.
Biden had caused some controversy in June 2019 by saying he still supported the annual budget language that forbids taxpayer dollars from funding abortions except for cases of rape or incest or to save a mother’s life.
After a video showed him answering “yes” to an activist asking if he would “commit to abolishing” Hyde, the Biden campaign claimed he had misheard the question and still supported the amendment — while reserving the right to change his mind, depending on the progress of “draconian attempts to limit access to abortion.”
Pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood pounced on his remarks, leading him to announce just a day later that he was changing his position. “If I believe health care is a right, as I do, I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone's ZIP code,” Biden said at the time.
The Democratic presidential candidate, in his Agenda for Women, also vowed to rescind the Mexico City Policy.
First introduced under Republican President Ronald Reagan, it was rescinded by Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, while Republican Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump kept it in place or reinstated it.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--US school district asks parents to agree not to monitor kids’ online classes

MURFREESBORO , Tennessee , August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A central Tennessee school district sparked concern when it asked parents to sign a form agreeing not to monitor their children ’ s online classes .
The Rutherford County School ( RCS ) letter asking parents to steer clear of their children ’ s virtual classroom for privacy reasons was reported August 15 by the Tennessee Star , which received a copy of the form .
“ RCS strives to present these opportunities in a secure format that protects student privacy to the greatest extent possible , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is limited in its ability to fully control certain factors such as non-student observers that may be present in the home of a student participating in the virtual meeting , ” the form stated .
“ RCS strongly discourages non-student observation of online meetings due to the potential of confidential information about a student being revealed.
” Parents are asked to sign the form , which warns that “ violation of this agreement may result in RCS removing my child from the virtual meeting , ” the Tennessee Star reported .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evans told the Star in an email that the school district had sent its schools new directives .
“ We are aware of the concern that has been raised about this distance-learning letter that was sent to parents , ” Evans said .
“ The intent was not to prevent parents from being involved with their children during distance learning , but it was intended to protect the academic privacy of other students in the classroom who are visible during certain virtual class sessions , ” he added .
“ We have issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor but should refrain from sharing or recording any information about other students in the classroom.
” PETITION : No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine !
Sign the petition here .
While the majority of RCS ’ s 48,000 students chose to return to their schools , about 20,000 , or 41 percent , opted for distance learning , Evans told LifeSiteNews .
The RCS incident comes as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation ( TBI ) is warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children are doing online after tracking an increase in cyber-activity by sexual predators since March , as Fox13 reported .
The agency has received 450 tips about cyber-crimes already this year as individuals seeking to sexually prey on children adapt , along with families , to an increased online existence because of the coronavirus crisis , said TBI director David Rausch .
“ These are not just big-city issues , we are seeing efforts to exploit children in both the urban and rural areas all across our state , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with the TBI to increase cyber-security for virtual learning , and the bureau has assigned more agents to this division , Rausch said .
But parents must be constantly on guard , he emphasized .
“ Just as you wouldn ’ t let strangers into your home , or certainly your children ’ s bedroom , you shouldn ’ t let cybercriminals into your home through phones or other screen sources , ” observed Rausch .
“ It can only take a few steps to get from a virtual school to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a common area of the home , not in their bedrooms or the bathroom , and parents should make use of all available parental control features , he advised .
Parents should read all their children ’ s online chat room conversations to be sure they know the recipient and what is being sent , Rausch said .
“ Our agents have seen children as young as five years old taking photos of themselves and at the direction of someone they communicated with online , ” he added .
Concerns over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher complained in a private chat last week that the increased parental oversight that comes with virtual classrooms will “ damage ” sex education .
“ I am most intrigued by the damage that ‘ helicopter/snowplow ’ parents can do in honest conversations about gender/sexuality , ” wrote Kay , whose comments were captured in a screenshot by another Twitter user and posted publicly .
While “ ‘ conservative ’ parents are my chief concern , ” Kay tweeted , “ the damage can come from the left too .
If we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a kids [ sic ] racism or homophobia or transphobia — how much do we want their classmates ’ parents piling on ?
” According to the Family Research Council ( FRC ) report , “ Sex Education in Public Schools , ” released in May , “ sex ed programs push the limits on what is appropriate , both in terms of the material presented to students and the age at which it is presented.
” Author Cathy Ruse detailed how parents are often unaware that these things are happening at school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentionally deceived about what is being taught .

In the wake of controversy, the school district revised the policy to make parents get teachers' permission to observe their children's online lessons.
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A central Tennessee school district sparked concern when it asked parents to sign a form agreeing not to monitor their children’s online classes.
The Rutherford County School (RCS) letter asking parents to steer clear of their children’s virtual classroom for privacy reasons was reported August 15 by the Tennessee Star, which received a copy of the form.
“RCS strives to present these opportunities in a secure format that protects student privacy to the greatest extent possible, however because these meetings will occur virtually RCS is limited in its ability to fully control certain factors such as non-student observers that may be present in the home of a student participating in the virtual meeting,” the form stated.
“RCS strongly discourages non-student observation of online meetings due to the potential of confidential information about a student being revealed.”
Parents are asked to sign the form, which warns that “violation of this agreement may result in RCS removing my child from the virtual meeting,” the Tennessee Star reported.
In the wake of controversy, RCS spokesman James Evans told the Star in an email that the school district had sent its schools new directives.
“We are aware of the concern that has been raised about this distance-learning letter that was sent to parents,” Evans said.
“The intent was not to prevent parents from being involved with their children during distance learning, but it was intended to protect the academic privacy of other students in the classroom who are visible during certain virtual class sessions,” he added.
“We have issued new guidance to principals that parents can assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor but should refrain from sharing or recording any information about other students in the classroom.”
PETITION: No to government and corporate penalties for refusing COVID-19 vaccine! Sign the petition here.
While the majority of RCS’s 48,000 students chose to return to their schools, about 20,000, or 41 percent, opted for distance learning, Evans told LifeSiteNews.
The RCS incident comes as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is warning parents to be exceptionally vigilant about what their children are doing online after tracking an increase in cyber-activity by sexual predators since March, as Fox13 reported.
The agency has received 450 tips about cyber-crimes already this year as individuals seeking to sexually prey on children adapt, along with families, to an increased online existence because of the coronavirus crisis, said TBI director David Rausch.
“These are not just big-city issues, we are seeing efforts to exploit children in both the urban and rural areas all across our state,” he said.
The Tennessee Board of Education is working with the TBI to increase cyber-security for virtual learning, and the bureau has assigned more agents to this division, Rausch said.
But parents must be constantly on guard, he emphasized.
“Just as you wouldn’t let strangers into your home, or certainly your children’s bedroom, you shouldn’t let cybercriminals into your home through phones or other screen sources,” observed Rausch.
“It can only take a few steps to get from a virtual school to an escort ad.”
Children should use computers in a common area of the home, not in their bedrooms or the bathroom, and parents should make use of all available parental control features, he advised.
Parents should read all their children’s online chat room conversations to be sure they know the recipient and what is being sent, Rausch said.
“Our agents have seen children as young as five years old taking photos of themselves and at the direction of someone they communicated with online,” he added.
Concerns over the RCS form also come a a Philadelphia teacher complained in a private chat last week that the increased parental oversight that comes with virtual classrooms will “damage” sex education.
“I am most intrigued by the damage that ‘helicopter/snowplow’ parents can do in honest conversations about gender/sexuality,” wrote Kay, whose comments were captured in a screenshot by another Twitter user and posted publicly.
While “‘conservative’ parents are my chief concern,” Kay tweeted, “the damage can come from the left too. If we are engaged in the messy work of destabilizing a kids [sic] racism or homophobia or transphobia — how much do we want their classmates’ parents piling on?”
According to the Family Research Council (FRC) report, “Sex Education in Public Schools,” released in May, “sex ed programs push the limits on what is appropriate, both in terms of the material presented to students and the age at which it is presented.”
Author Cathy Ruse detailed how parents are often unaware that these things are happening at school and, in some cases, are intentionally deceived about what is being taught.
Note: LifeSite’s Martin Bürger contributed to this report.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--Nun who led prayers at Dem National Convention: Abortion issue ‘above my pay grade’

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
UNITED STATES , August 21 , 2020 , ( LifeSiteNews ) — A nun who led prayers at the recent Democratic National Convention along with pro-LGBT priest Fr .
James Martin has told Catholic media that the question of whether abortion should be opposed is above her “ pay grade.
” Catholic News Agency ( CNA ) reports that in response to being asked whether her organization opposes the legal protection of abortion , Sr. Simone Campbell responded : “ That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
It is above my pay grade.
” Sr. Simone , who is the executive director of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice , led prayers at the political convention that mentioned caring for the earth ; healing the planet ; ending structural racism , bigotry , and sexism ; and welcoming immigrants .
She said nothing about the thousands of babies aborted every day in the U.S .
In 2016 , Sr. Simone said a major pro-abortion leader ’ s account of her own abortion was “ touching and compelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think it ’ s a good policy to outlaw abortion.
” CNA also reported that a review of the funding of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice show that the lobby group has received a number of donations from pro-abortion groups .
“ From 2012 to 2015 the Ford Foundation gave three grants totaling $ 350,000 to the Network Education Program to train faith leaders and to elevate their voices regarding ‘ federal budget and tax debates and on policies affecting low- and middle-income populations , ’ ” the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America , has been on the Network ’ s Board of Trustees since 2010 .
In October 2019 , Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler , Texas denounced as “ disgusting cooperation with evil ” the news that the Ford Foundation was providing multi-million-dollar grants to key synod groups at the Vatican ’ s Amazon Synod in Rome .
CNA further reported that the Bauman Foundation , which has among its board members Jenny Lawson , the vice president of organizing and electoral campaigns at the Planned Parenthood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20,000 to $ 50,000 to Sr. Simone ’ s organization in every fiscal year from 2008 through 2019 .
When announcing the news of her delivering prayers at the DNC , the Associated Press described Sr. Simone as “ a longtime Biden ally dating to the push to pass President Barack Obama ’ s health care plan.
” Sr. Simone confirmed her support for the Obama ’ s radically pro-abortion health care plan , which has caused years of legal diffculties for the Little Sisters of the Poor , a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview following the DNC .
Asked by interviewer Rev .
Dr. C. Welton Gaddy how to begin conversations with Catholics “ with very strong feelings about key moral issues which are informed by their faith , ” Sr. Simone replied that she was calling on Catholics to be “ Pope Francis voters ” and to support the unborn through protecting Obama ’ s Affordable Care Act .
“ One of the problems that ’ s hard on this issue , the moral issue of abortion , which is the one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s expressed in your attitude towards Roe v. Wade , ” Simone said .
“ We 're trying to say what Pope Francis does , ” Sr. Simone continued .
“ Care for the unborn is critically important , but it ’ s not the political thing that you ’ ve got to outlaw abortion is being the only Catholic teaching .
No !
What the Catholic teaching is , care for the unborn .
And so we ’ re trying to have that conversation .
How do we care ?
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unborn is to ensure that pregnant women have access to health care .
What a radical thought !
Not try to take it away by sabotaging the Affordable Care Act.
” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , who himself identifies as a Catholic despite supporting abortion “ under any circumstance , ” recently published two campaign videos highlighting his friendship with Pope Francis .
Last year , Biden told a PBS interviewer that Pope Francis gives him Communion after a Catholic priest followed Church law and denied him Communion because of his @ @ @ @ @

When pressed on whether abortion should be legal, Sr. Simone Campbell answered that to be pro-life is to protect Obamacare, which funds abortions.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
UNITED STATES, August 21, 2020, (LifeSiteNews) — A nun who led prayers at the recent Democratic National Convention along with pro-LGBT priest Fr. James Martin has told Catholic media that the question of whether abortion should be opposed is above her “pay grade.”
Catholic News Agency (CNA) reports that in response to being asked whether her organization opposes the legal protection of abortion, Sr. Simone Campbell responded: “That is not our issue. That is not it. It is above my pay grade.”
Sr. Simone, who is the executive director of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, led prayers at the political convention that mentioned caring for the earth; healing the planet; ending structural racism, bigotry, and sexism; and welcoming immigrants. She said nothing about the thousands of babies aborted every day in the U.S.
In 2016, Sr. Simone said a major pro-abortion leader’s account of her own abortion was “touching and compelling” and stated: “I don’t think it’s a good policy to outlaw abortion.”
CNA also reported that a review of the funding of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice show that the lobby group has received a number of donations from pro-abortion groups.
“From 2012 to 2015 the Ford Foundation gave three grants totaling $350,000 to the Network Education Program to train faith leaders and to elevate their voices regarding ‘federal budget and tax debates and on policies affecting low- and middle-income populations,’” the news agency reported.
Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has been on the Network’s Board of Trustees since 2010.
In October 2019, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas denounced as “disgusting cooperation with evil” the news that the Ford Foundation was providing multi-million-dollar grants to key synod groups at the Vatican’s Amazon Synod in Rome.
CNA further reported that the Bauman Foundation, which has among its board members Jenny Lawson, the vice president of organizing and electoral campaigns at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, has given grants of $20,000 to $50,000 to Sr. Simone’s organization in every fiscal year from 2008 through 2019.
When announcing the news of her delivering prayers at the DNC, the Associated Press described Sr. Simone as “a longtime Biden ally dating to the push to pass President Barack Obama’s health care plan.”
Sr. Simone confirmed her support for the Obama’s radically pro-abortion health care plan, which has caused years of legal diffculties for the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of nuns dedicated to aiding the elderly, in an interview following the DNC.
Asked by interviewer Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy how to begin conversations with Catholics “with very strong feelings about key moral issues which are informed by their faith,” Sr. Simone replied that she was calling on Catholics to be “Pope Francis voters” and to support the unborn through protecting Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
“One of the problems that’s hard on this issue, the moral issue of abortion, which is the one that is so rigidly held onto and it’s expressed in your attitude towards Roe v. Wade,” Simone said.
“We're trying to say what Pope Francis does,” Sr. Simone continued.
“Care for the unborn is critically important, but it’s not the political thing that you’ve got to outlaw abortion is being the only Catholic teaching. No! What the Catholic teaching is, care for the unborn. And so we’re trying to have that conversation. How do we care? For us, the way we care for the unborn is to ensure that pregnant women have access to health care. What a radical thought! Not try to take it away by sabotaging the Affordable Care Act.”
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who himself identifies as a Catholic despite supporting abortion “under any circumstance,” recently published two campaign videos highlighting his friendship with Pope Francis.
Last year, Biden told a PBS interviewer that Pope Francis gives him Communion after a Catholic priest followed Church law and denied him Communion because of his public support for abortion.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--Pro-life leaders look for  ‘pro-life election volunteers’ to help make life win in America

August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – As the general election for the next President of the United States kicks into high gear , pro-life activist groups planning to ramp up their outreach efforts have set aside Friday , August 28 for a National Call for Pro-life Election Volunteers .
“ There are many ways to help make sure the elections of 2020 secure the kind of nation we want for our grandchildren , ” says Fr .
Frank Pavone , director of Priests for Life .
“ This is the phase of the election season in which direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasis .
And person-to-person contact always works best.
” The campaign will connect volunteers with organizations that can use them , including Catholic Vote , Faith & Freedom Coalition , and Susan B. Anthony List , for a wide range of grassroots actions including phone calls , distributing literature , registering voters , speaking out on social media and in letters to local newspapers , and speaking to church groups .
Priests for Life has an array of online resources for both voters and prospective volunteers – voter registration information , early voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ links to finding candidates ’ positions on abortion and how incumbents voted on banning late-term abortion ; charts detailing how party control of the House and Senate has historically affected the courts and abortion-related legislation ; volunteer training assistance ; an inter-denominational prayer that also can be freely distributed ; and more .
Priests for Life has also created a guide to the Republican and Democrat Parties ’ official positions on abortion , Planned Parenthood , judicial nominees , religious liberty , climate change , school choice , sex education , Obamacare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and foreign aid .
The nonpartisan document presents every stance as a direct quote from both platforms , not a summary by someone favorable to either side , so it can be freely shared by churches and 501- ( c ) -3 organizations .
From slashing taxpayer funding of abortion at home and abroad to defending the right not to dispense or subsidize abortifacients , incumbent President Donald Trump has broadly supported the pro-life cause .
His Democrat opponent , former Vice President Joe Biden , is running on a promise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal law , and even use the Justice Department to quash states ’ freedom to impose even mild information or safety regulations on abortion .
The choice for our nation is not simply about which political party will have power , but about which kind of America we will be – one marked by moral chaos , the Culture of Death , socialism and religious oppression , or one based on the freedom and principles our Founders made clear , ” Pavone wrote Thursday .
“ And the choice for our churches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will retreat in silence and cowardice out of fear of being ‘ too political , ’ and hence become irrelevant to the world around us , or respond clearly and courageously to this moment of unprecedented conflict , and lead the People of God to protect their rights , their freedom , their Church and their beloved country .
”

'There are many ways to help make sure the elections of 2020 secure the kind of nation we want for our grandchildren'
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – As the general election for the next President of the United States kicks into high gear, pro-life activist groups planning to ramp up their outreach efforts have set aside Friday, August 28 for a National Call for Pro-life Election Volunteers.
“There are many ways to help make sure the elections of 2020 secure the kind of nation we want for our grandchildren,” says Fr. Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life. “This is the phase of the election season in which direct contact with the voters becomes the primary emphasis. And person-to-person contact always works best.”
The campaign will connect volunteers with organizations that can use them, including Catholic Vote, Faith & Freedom Coalition, and Susan B. Anthony List, for a wide range of grassroots actions including phone calls, distributing literature, registering voters, speaking out on social media and in letters to local newspapers, and speaking to church groups.
Priests for Life has an array of online resources for both voters and prospective volunteers – voter registration information, early voting deadlines, and where to vote; links to finding candidates’ positions on abortion and how incumbents voted on banning late-term abortion; charts detailing how party control of the House and Senate has historically affected the courts and abortion-related legislation; volunteer training assistance; an inter-denominational prayer that also can be freely distributed; and more.
Priests for Life has also created a guide to the Republican and Democrat Parties’ official positions on abortion, Planned Parenthood, judicial nominees, religious liberty, climate change, school choice, sex education, Obamacare, marriage, ethically-controversial medical research, Iran, and foreign aid. The nonpartisan document presents every stance as a direct quote from both platforms, not a summary by someone favorable to either side, so it can be freely shared by churches and 501-(c)-3 organizations.
From slashing taxpayer funding of abortion at home and abroad to defending the right not to dispense or subsidize abortifacients, incumbent President Donald Trump has broadly supported the pro-life cause. His Democrat opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, is running on a promise to enshrine effectively unlimited and taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand into federal law, and even use the Justice Department to quash states’ freedom to impose even mild information or safety regulations on abortion.
The choice for our nation is not simply about which political party will have power, but about which kind of America we will be – one marked by moral chaos, the Culture of Death, socialism and religious oppression, or one based on the freedom and principles our Founders made clear,” Pavone wrote Thursday.
“And the choice for our churches,” he added, “is whether we will retreat in silence and cowardice out of fear of being ‘too political,’ and hence become irrelevant to the world around us, or respond clearly and courageously to this moment of unprecedented conflict, and lead the People of God to protect their rights, their freedom, their Church and their beloved country.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-08-21--Actress attends illegal California church service: ‘It’s my God-given right to be able to worship Go

Actress attends illegal California church service: ‘It’s my God-given right to be able to worship God freely’

August 21 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Christian actress Sam Sorbo , the wife of actor Kevin Sorbo — of God ’ s Not Dead and Hercules fame — told LifeSiteNews after attending an illegal church service in California that it ’ s her “ God-given right to be able to worship God freely.
” Godspeak Calvary Chapel in California has kept its doors open despite liberal Democratic governor Gavin Newsom ’ s executive order banning indoor worship services across the state .
Several Christians who have been attending the mega-church in recent weeks spoke to LifeSite ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sam Sorbo , an actress , author , and mother of three children .
“ It ’ s my God-given right to be able to worship God freely , and it ’ s protected by the Constitution , ” Sorbo stated .
She also explained that it ’ s frustrating to see the government overstep its bounds and disregard the constitutional , God-given rights of every American citizen .
She encouraged Christians to take a stand in the face of government restrictions that have “ no scientific basis whatsoever.
” Sorbo also remarked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the compliance they ’ re practicing ” by obeying Newsom ’ s order .
Parents should homeschool their children , she continued .
We should “ not sacrifice our children to the State.
” Sorbo ’ s final bit of encouragement was that Christians need to “ stand for freedom , because that ’ s the message in the Bible , and that ’ s why Jesus came.
” PETITION : Support pastors fighting against oppressive state mandates !
Sign the petition here .
While at Godspeak , LifeSite ’ s Lisa Stover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this time of uncertainty .
Watch the whole series of videos below : WATCH : Church defies city restraining order despite threats of mass arrests and armed guards ‘ God has not called us to be cowards ’ : Another pastor stands against church closures ‘ My faith is everything ’ : California church members share why it ’ s important to worship freely

Christian actress Sam Sorbo spoke out for religious freedom during COVID: ‘Be more afraid of compliance.’
August 21, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Christian actress Sam Sorbo, the wife of actor Kevin Sorbo — of God’s Not Dead and Hercules fame — told LifeSiteNews after attending an illegal church service in California that it’s her “God-given right to be able to worship God freely.”
Godspeak Calvary Chapel in California has kept its doors open despite liberal Democratic governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order banning indoor worship services across the state. Several Christians who have been attending the mega-church in recent weeks spoke to LifeSite’s Lisa Stover. One of them was Sam Sorbo, an actress, author, and mother of three children.
“It’s my God-given right to be able to worship God freely, and it’s protected by the Constitution,” Sorbo stated.
She also explained that it’s frustrating to see the government overstep its bounds and disregard the constitutional, God-given rights of every American citizen. She encouraged Christians to take a stand in the face of government restrictions that have “no scientific basis whatsoever.”
Sorbo also remarked that Christians should be “afraid of the compliance they’re practicing” by obeying Newsom’s order. Parents should homeschool their children, she continued. We should “not sacrifice our children to the State.”
Sorbo’s final bit of encouragement was that Christians need to “stand for freedom, because that’s the message in the Bible, and that’s why Jesus came.”
PETITION: Support pastors fighting against oppressive state mandates! Sign the petition here.
While at Godspeak, LifeSite’s Lisa Stover interviewed other Christians concerned about government overreach during this time of uncertainty. Watch the whole series of videos below:
WATCH: Church defies city restraining order despite threats of mass arrests and armed guards
‘God has not called us to be cowards’: Another pastor stands against church closures
‘My faith is everything’: California church members share why it’s important to worship freely
Share