lifesitenews--2020-06-13--Has the coronavirus caused a spike in abortions?

June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — While the state of emergency lockdowns are beginning to ease , pro-lifers across the West are entering into a new state of emergency : a sharp spike in the abortion rate brought on by ongoing economic devastation .
Tragic numbers in both the United Kingdom and the United States this week are a cause for enormous concern .
According to The Guardian , abortions in both England and Wales surged again last year , with official figures hitting 207,384 abortions — the highest number of abortions since abortion was legalized in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of women over thirty years of age having abortions has increased .
According to abortion activists , this is potentially due to a combination of financial struggles and a “ trend towards older motherhood.
” These numbers are even more chilling when considering the fact that financial difficulties are likely to be exacerbated enormously by the economic devastation wrought by the COVID-19 lockdowns this year .
The number of abortions has been steadily rising since 2016 , after remaining steady at approximately 185,000 abortions between 2012 and 2016 .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 18 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 .
London had the highest rate ( 21.4 per 1,000 ) and the south-west the lowest ( 14.8 ) .
The proportion of women undergoing the procedure for whom it was at least their second abortion rose to 40 % , compared with 34 % in 2009 .
Among those aged 30 and over , almost half ( 49 % ) had had at least one previous termination .
The rate is going up among all women aged 25 or over , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aged 30 to 34 it rose to 20.9 per 1,000 last year , compared with 15.7 in 2009 , the biggest jump of any age group .
Among those over 35 it rose to 9.7 per 1,000 , from 6.6 a decade earlier .
The only good news is that for those under the age of 18 , the abortion rate has been falling , with the rate now sitting at 8.1 per 1,000 and the rate for those under 16 plummeting to 1.4 per 1,000 , a sharp decline from the 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the women having abortions , The Guardian reported , already have a child , with a full 87 % of those seeking an abortion over the age of 35 already having a child or children .
According to Clare Murphy of the euphemistically named British Pregnancy Advisory Service , financial pressures , desire for smaller families , and women wishing to delay starting a family are among the reasons for the rise in abortion rates .
Antonia Tully , the director of campaigns at the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are looking at a national tragedy here .
This appalling figure shows us that abortion is becoming more and more normalised .
Propaganda telling women that abortion is ‘ simple and safe ’ , coupled with easier access to abortion pills , is driving up abortion numbers.
” Pro-life activists have been concerned for months that financial pressures created by the COVID-19 lockdowns will spike the abortion rates everywhere .
While other businesses were shut down , nearly all abortion facilities remained open , and according to abortion researcher and statistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in a spike in the abortion rate in the United States .
The unemployment rate and accompanying economic hardship , he noted in a column this week for the National Catholic Register , are particularly bad news , as “ research has steadily indicated that a significant percentage of women seeking abortions do so for financial reasons .
Separate surveys conducted by the Guttmacher Institute and 1987 and 2004 both show that about 70 % of women obtaining abortions cited financial issues.
” This , says Newman , means that pro-lifers should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate in the months ahead : Additionally , there exist data points that pertain to the current pandemic .
An April CBSNews.com article found that some abortion facilities were seeing an increase in the number of women seeking abortions .
The story reported that one abortion facility in Granite City , Illinois , indicated that their “ show rate ” for women who made abortion appointments increased from 50 % to 85 % .
Also , a May ABCNews.com article found that many “ abortion funds , ” which use private donations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in calls .
Finally , an April 20 Live Action News article by Carole Novielli interviewed pro-life sidewalk counselors around the country .
They provided varying reports about how the coronavirus was affecting the number of people entering abortion facilities .
PETITION : Demand Planned Parenthood return $ 80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund !
Sign the petition here .
Florida ’ s Agency for Health Care Administration has already reported a spike , with the abortion numbers rising from 26,903 between January and June of 2019 to 27,851 in that same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 3.5 % .
It is possible , Newman says , that these numbers are being skewed based on the reporting practices of Florida abortion facilities , but “ a 3.5 % increase in the number of abortions is still a figure that should trouble pro-lifers — especially considering the consistent long-term decline in the U.S. abortion rate.
” Perversely , pro-life groups everywhere have been shut down during the COVID-19 lockdowns , while abortion facilities kept their doors open and their businesses booming .
Pro-lifers were even arrested for attempting to safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options .
In the months ahead , the pro-life movement will face a new challenge : highlighting the truth that abortion is not an “ essential service , ” but an act of violence that ends the life of a human being .
Our culture proved during the coronavirus crisis that we expect people to make enormous sacrifices to protect the weak and vulnerable because their lives have value .
Pro-lifers must confront the culture with the fact that this expectation applies to all human beings — even those in the womb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In the latest episode , African-American pro-life leader Ryan Bomberger speaks out about the harm being done by the Black Lives Matter organization and the best way to respond to the injustices that are happening in the U.S. and around the world .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

Tragic numbers in both the United Kingdom and the United States this week are a cause for enormous concern.
June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — While the state of emergency lockdowns are beginning to ease, pro-lifers across the West are entering into a new state of emergency: a sharp spike in the abortion rate brought on by ongoing economic devastation. Tragic numbers in both the United Kingdom and the United States this week are a cause for enormous concern.
According to The Guardian, abortions in both England and Wales surged again last year, with official figures hitting 207,384 abortions — the highest number of abortions since abortion was legalized in the United Kingdom in 1967. In particular, the number of women over thirty years of age having abortions has increased. According to abortion activists, this is potentially due to a combination of financial struggles and a “trend towards older motherhood.” These numbers are even more chilling when considering the fact that financial difficulties are likely to be exacerbated enormously by the economic devastation wrought by the COVID-19 lockdowns this year.
Follow Jonathon van Maren on Facebook
The number of abortions has been steadily rising since 2016, after remaining steady at approximately 185,000 abortions between 2012 and 2016. According to The Guardian:
Last year there were 18 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. London had the highest rate (21.4 per 1,000) and the south-west the lowest (14.8). The proportion of women undergoing the procedure for whom it was at least their second abortion rose to 40%, compared with 34% in 2009. Among those aged 30 and over, almost half (49%) had had at least one previous termination. The rate is going up among all women aged 25 or over, and particularly among the over-30s. Among women aged 30 to 34 it rose to 20.9 per 1,000 last year, compared with 15.7 in 2009, the biggest jump of any age group. Among those over 35 it rose to 9.7 per 1,000, from 6.6 a decade earlier.
The only good news is that for those under the age of 18, the abortion rate has been falling, with the rate now sitting at 8.1 per 1,000 and the rate for those under 16 plummeting to 1.4 per 1,000, a sharp decline from the 4 per 1,000 in 2009. Most of the women having abortions, The Guardian reported, already have a child, with a full 87% of those seeking an abortion over the age of 35 already having a child or children. According to Clare Murphy of the euphemistically named British Pregnancy Advisory Service, financial pressures, desire for smaller families, and women wishing to delay starting a family are among the reasons for the rise in abortion rates.
Antonia Tully, the director of campaigns at the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), told The Guardian, “We are looking at a national tragedy here. This appalling figure shows us that abortion is becoming more and more normalised. Propaganda telling women that abortion is ‘simple and safe’, coupled with easier access to abortion pills, is driving up abortion numbers.”
Pro-life activists have been concerned for months that financial pressures created by the COVID-19 lockdowns will spike the abortion rates everywhere. While other businesses were shut down, nearly all abortion facilities remained open, and according to abortion researcher and statistics expert Dr. Michael New, this has resulted in a spike in the abortion rate in the United States. The unemployment rate and accompanying economic hardship, he noted in a column this week for the National Catholic Register, are particularly bad news, as “research has steadily indicated that a significant percentage of women seeking abortions do so for financial reasons. Separate surveys conducted by the Guttmacher Institute and 1987 and 2004 both show that about 70% of women obtaining abortions cited financial issues.”
This, says Newman, means that pro-lifers should be gearing up for a higher abortion rate in the months ahead:
Additionally, there exist data points that pertain to the current pandemic. An April CBSNews.com article found that some abortion facilities were seeing an increase in the number of women seeking abortions. The story reported that one abortion facility in Granite City, Illinois, indicated that their “show rate” for women who made abortion appointments increased from 50% to 85%. Also, a May ABCNews.com article found that many “abortion funds,” which use private donations to subsidize abortions, were seeing an increase in calls. Finally, an April 20 Live Action News article by Carole Novielli interviewed pro-life sidewalk counselors around the country. They provided varying reports about how the coronavirus was affecting the number of people entering abortion facilities.
PETITION: Demand Planned Parenthood return $80M improperly taken from coronavirus emergency fund! Sign the petition here.
Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration has already reported a spike, with the abortion numbers rising from 26,903 between January and June of 2019 to 27,851 in that same time frame in 2020, an increase of 3.5%. It is possible, Newman says, that these numbers are being skewed based on the reporting practices of Florida abortion facilities, but “a 3.5% increase in the number of abortions is still a figure that should trouble pro-lifers — especially considering the consistent long-term decline in the U.S. abortion rate.”
Perversely, pro-life groups everywhere have been shut down during the COVID-19 lockdowns, while abortion facilities kept their doors open and their businesses booming. Pro-lifers were even arrested for attempting to safely offer women heading into abortion clinics life-affirming options. In the months ahead, the pro-life movement will face a new challenge: highlighting the truth that abortion is not an “essential service,” but an act of violence that ends the life of a human being. Our culture proved during the coronavirus crisis that we expect people to make enormous sacrifices to protect the weak and vulnerable because their lives have value. Pro-lifers must confront the culture with the fact that this expectation applies to all human beings — even those in the womb.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement.
In the latest episode, African-American pro-life leader Ryan Bomberger speaks out about the harm being done by the Black Lives Matter organization and the best way to respond to the injustices that are happening in the U.S. and around the world.
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-13--US bishops caught funding radical groups supporting riots, calling for ‘death’ to police

PARTLOW , Virginia , June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A new investigation by the Lepanto Institute has revealed that the bishops in the United States , through their Catholic Campaign for Human Development ( CCHD ) , are funding organizations that support riots and whose goal includes not only defunding police , but even killing them .
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) , the CCHD “ is the national anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops , working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ ‘ ... to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to captives ... sight to the blind , and let the oppressed go free.
’ ( Luke 4:18 ) ” Michael Hichborn , who runs the Lepanto Institute , pointed to four groups who have received money from the CCHD and are now agitating against law and order in the United States amid the riots in the wake of the death of George Floyd .
One of the organizations , the New Orleans Workers ’ Center for Racial Justice ( NOWCRJ ) , “ received $ 150,000 from the CCHD over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s grant of $ 50,000.
” On May 30 , the Lepanto Institute reported , “ NOWCRJ posted a video on [ T ] witter of a protest they were participating in , chanting ‘ Death to the racist pigs , ’ about police.
” Similarly , the Workers ’ Center of Central New York received $ 200,000 over the last few years .
On May 29 , the organization wrote on Facebook that “ these riots and lootings are taking back what the masses of working black and brown communities are owed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we fully support ... An injury to one is a [ sic ] injury to all.
” Additionally , the Workers ’ Center explicitly and publicly called for defunding the police in a Facebook post earlier this month .
Both the NOWCRJ and the Workers ’ Center of Central New York display a clenched fist as their logo .
As the Lepanto Institute pointed out , the clenched fist “ is a hallmark of Marxist revolution.
” The third group working to undermine the rule of law in the United States is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based in Chicago .
The CCHD gave $ 165,000 to the group in the last three years .
Through social media , the group repeatedly called for the defunding of the police as well as the defunding of prisons .
PETITION : Yes to reform .
No to riots & revolution !
Sign the petition here .
The Workers ’ Defense Project received as much money from the CCHD over the past three years as did The People ’ s Lobby Education Institute .
In a tweet , the group accused Houston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color ] with impunity , ” followed by the obligatory call to defund the police .
The organization also praised homosexuality , the practice of which , according to Catholic teaching , is an act “ of great depravity.
” Several other groups funded by the CCHD have signed a Solidarity Letter from the Immigrant Justice Movement , which called “ to dismantle the police state by defunding and decreasing police budgets.
” The CCHD claims to provide “ the Catholic faithful with concrete opportunities to live out the love of God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baptismal call and continuing Eucharistic transformation.
” Additionally , the bishops ’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development states that it is “ pro-life , pro-family , and pro-community and will never do anything to undermine that commitment.
” It is unclear how support for an end to the rule of law in the United States fits into that mission .
The USCCB did not immediately answer LifeSiteNews ’ s request for comment .
While the CCHD funds radical organizations , the CCHD in turn is funded , as the USCCB points out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States , especially through an annual parish collection.
” In a previous investigation , the Lepanto Institute found that “ at the very core of the CCHD is a philosophy of revolutionary leftist ideologies.
” The 2015 investigation looked at several groups funded by the CCHD , giving the reader “ an idea of just how Catholic money is being funneled to Communist , pro-abortion , pro-homosexual front groups.
” CCHD director Ralph McCloud , the Lepanto Institute pointed out at the time , had served “ as a city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Worth , Texas .
While still serving in Texas government , McCloud gave a political endorsement to radical pro-abortion politician Wendy Davis when she announced her run for state senate against the solidly pro-life incumbent , Kim Brimer.
” McCloud also spoke at an event celebrating the election of Barack Obama in 2008 .
“ Just listen to what McCloud said about how this celebration of Obama ’ s election is a ‘ great day ’ where ‘ we will see a new Jerusalem , and justice will flow like waters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCloud is still the director of the CCHD .
“ It ’ s important to state here , ” the Lepanto Institute wrote , “ that while Ralph McCloud may not be a Communist himself , and may very well have every good intention in serving the Church in the way he believes is best , the network of CCHD-funded groups pushing radical ideological agendas under the banner of justice clearly follows the Marxist paradigm , and has since the founding of the CCHD .
And Ralph McCloud is very much a part @ @ @ @

It is unclear how support for an end to the rule of law in the United States fits into the Catholic Campaign for Human Development's mission.
PARTLOW, Virginia, June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A new investigation by the Lepanto Institute has revealed that the bishops in the United States, through their Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), are funding organizations that support riots and whose goal includes not only defunding police, but even killing them.
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the CCHD “is the national anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ ‘… to bring glad tidings to the poor … liberty to captives … sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free.’ (Luke 4:18)”
Michael Hichborn, who runs the Lepanto Institute, pointed to four groups who have received money from the CCHD and are now agitating against law and order in the United States amid the riots in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
One of the organizations, the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice (NOWCRJ), “received $150,000 from the CCHD over the last three years, including last year’s grant of $50,000.” On May 30, the Lepanto Institute reported, “NOWCRJ posted a video on [T]witter of a protest they were participating in, chanting ‘Death to the racist pigs,’ about police.”
Similarly, the Workers’ Center of Central New York received $200,000 over the last few years. On May 29, the organization wrote on Facebook that “these riots and lootings are taking back what the masses of working black and brown communities are owed. Riots and protests are necessary tools and we fully support … An injury to one is a [sic] injury to all.”
Additionally, the Workers’ Center explicitly and publicly called for defunding the police in a Facebook post earlier this month.
Both the NOWCRJ and the Workers’ Center of Central New York display a clenched fist as their logo. As the Lepanto Institute pointed out, the clenched fist “is a hallmark of Marxist revolution.”
The third group working to undermine the rule of law in the United States is The People’s Lobby Education Institute, based in Chicago. The CCHD gave $165,000 to the group in the last three years. Through social media, the group repeatedly called for the defunding of the police as well as the defunding of prisons.
PETITION: Yes to reform. No to riots & revolution! Sign the petition here.
The Workers’ Defense Project received as much money from the CCHD over the past three years as did The People’s Lobby Education Institute. In a tweet, the group accused Houston police of “murdering PoC [people of color] with impunity,” followed by the obligatory call to defund the police.
The organization also praised homosexuality, the practice of which, according to Catholic teaching, is an act “of great depravity.”
Several other groups funded by the CCHD have signed a Solidarity Letter from the Immigrant Justice Movement, which called “to dismantle the police state by defunding and decreasing police budgets.”
The CCHD claims to provide “the Catholic faithful with concrete opportunities to live out the love of God and neighbor in ways that express our baptismal call and continuing Eucharistic transformation.” Additionally, the bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development states that it is “pro-life, pro-family, and pro-community and will never do anything to undermine that commitment.”
It is unclear how support for an end to the rule of law in the United States fits into that mission.
The USCCB did not immediately answer LifeSiteNews’s request for comment.
While the CCHD funds radical organizations, the CCHD in turn is funded, as the USCCB points out, “by the generous support of Catholics in the United States, especially through an annual parish collection.”
In a previous investigation, the Lepanto Institute found that “at the very core of the CCHD is a philosophy of revolutionary leftist ideologies.”
The 2015 investigation looked at several groups funded by the CCHD, giving the reader “an idea of just how Catholic money is being funneled to Communist, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual front groups.”
CCHD director Ralph McCloud, the Lepanto Institute pointed out at the time, had served “as a city council member and mayor pro tem in Fort Worth, Texas. While still serving in Texas government, McCloud gave a political endorsement to radical pro-abortion politician Wendy Davis when she announced her run for state senate against the solidly pro-life incumbent, Kim Brimer.”
McCloud also spoke at an event celebrating the election of Barack Obama in 2008. “Just listen to what McCloud said about how this celebration of Obama’s election is a ‘great day’ where ‘we will see a new Jerusalem, and justice will flow like waters,’” the Lepanto Institute commented.
McCloud is still the director of the CCHD.
“It’s important to state here,” the Lepanto Institute wrote, “that while Ralph McCloud may not be a Communist himself, and may very well have every good intention in serving the Church in the way he believes is best, the network of CCHD-funded groups pushing radical ideological agendas under the banner of justice clearly follows the Marxist paradigm, and has since the founding of the CCHD. And Ralph McCloud is very much a part of that.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-13--LGBT, BLM movements encourage youth to be part of civil rebellion

PETITION : Yes to reform .
No to riots & revolution !
Sign the petition here .
June 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The USA Today headline was intended to pull heart strings : “ Internet has proven to be an LGBTQ ‘ lifeline.
’ ” But for those who have been standing against the full surrender of America to depravity , it was gag-worthy .
Because you know who they focused on : kids .
The article features a 14-year-old New York girl who was looking forward to her first “ Pride ” march this summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are valid and you are loved.
” Also highlighted is a 12-year-old “ girl ” ( possibly a gender-confused boy ) named Eevee .
But since many homosexual parades are cancelled for 2020 , online “ pride ” is where these children should turn .
Or not , if somehow a sane adult could intervene .
We need to take a hard look at the “ LGBTQ ” agenda targeting youth , now online , which is dangerous enough .
But that movement is sometimes the prelude to the next step : becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ LGBTQ ” movement ?
Seems to be the latest thing that ’ s “ out of the closet , ” as many rainbow radicals sign on to the lawless plans of Black Lives Matter .
Parents , be alert .
The online world is packed with deception , obscenity and multiple paths to youth rebellion , including encouragement to dismiss any Christian witness .
Virtual contacts between young adolescents and older teens , radical teachers , college students and even activists a thousand miles away make it easy to avoid parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressionable teens .
They hear the monolithic indoctrination — “ you were born this way , ” “ don ’ t listen to the voices of hate saying this is wrong , ” “ there ’ s no risk and it ’ s equal to straight life.
” Any doubts ?
Download the readily available pansexual porn and the propagandized teen is quickly drawn into the rotten sexual fruits of this movement .
It ’ s critical these kids experience no doubts .
Cathy Renna of the National LGBTQ Task Force said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is important for youth now because of “ kids living in homes that are not accepting or where families are rejecting.
” In other words , we have no respect for parents ’ rights , and we will bypass the parent-child relationship to deceive and corrupt your child online .
If only kids heard a corresponding counter-argument .
But that ’ s rare at teacher-union-controlled schools or in most churches .
Satan has built an underground empire with emerging warriors for “ social justice ” and screaming for “ rights.
” It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t mean he won ’ t try to take as many captives as possible .
Over a decade ago , I researched high school “ social justice academies ” that were pilot projects in mostly urban schools in cities like Chicago and Boston .
Read : white liberals testing revolutionary concepts on mostly black kids .
Along with racial reconciliation messages , social justice lessons neatly incorporate “ LGBTQ ” propaganda and it ’ s almost impossible to object ( you are automatically a “ racist ” ) .
Never forget , Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deviance agenda , even calling for the end of the traditional family , which they call the “ western nuclear family.
” The divisive tactics are not new , just becoming more irrational .
Sexual rebellion is often a precursor of civic rebellion , as history shows us .
And so it comes as no surprise that Black Lives Matter is a fervently pro- “ LGBTQ ” group .
Its mission statement says , “ We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks , disabled folks , undocumented folks , folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black lives along the gender spectrum … ” The intersectionality is proud and obvious .
Similar to race issue manipulation , the homosexual agenda features relatively few , tragic anecdotes ; magnifies a victimhood narrative ; and then proceeds to subvert the law , recruit youth , unleash intimidation tactics , make outrageous demands , and never be satisfied .
If necessary , they will initiate street action .
And police are the enemy .
Twenty years ago , a key player in the indoctrination of kids in “ social justice ” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ‘ 60s bomb-thrower who became a Ph.D. and a professor of education , was a social justice movement pioneer as well as a sexual radical .
He wrote a glowing endorsement for the 1999 book Queering Elementary Education that featured a foreword by Kevin Jennings , founder of the Gay , Lesbian and Straight Education Network , GLSEN and safe schools “ czar ” under Obama .
GLSEN ’ s revolutionary roots are still producing poisonous fruit .
GLSEN has joined 75 other homosexual groups to stand in solidarity with Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence.
” GLSEN presumably also supports the insane proposal to abolish police .
But facts have never been GLSEN ’ s strong suit .
The “ LGBTQ ” public relations group GLAAD just published an open letter expressing support for BLM written by the group ’ s campus outreach spokesperson .
The letter seems to justify violence , because the infamous Stonewall “ gay ” uprising incident included a riot , you see , and “ it worked.
” No mention of potential loss of property and life , and in fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” sentiment that has been expressed .
Also , the extreme group Advocates for Youth , which pushes porn-based “ comprehensive sex ed ” to young children , is advertising its upcoming training for 120 youth activists for “ reproductive justice.
” They want youth ages 14 to 24 .
We should not be surprised if anti-police street action is part of this “ training.
” And let ’ s not forget the gender rebels .
The National Trans Youth Council Nine-Point Platform disseminated a poster to students through the GSA Network and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abolition of the police , ICE , borders and the judicial system .
A “ manifesto ” petition from the GSA Network ( GSA stands or “ gay straight alliance ” or “ genders and sexualities alliance ” ) featured these nine points and proudly claimed roots in the Black Panther movement , telling kids this : “ We are in a moment which calls for us to bravely and ferociously fight for our communal liberation.
” No concern for any bystander victims of “ ferocious fighting.
” It almost seems that anti-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ ” youth organizations .
But that couldn ’ t be true — or could it ?
There are millions of black victims who could be mourned -- black unborn humans killed through abortion .
Do all lives matter ?
Or don ’ t they ?
Why don ’ t our students here about this ?
And the racism is where again ?
From conservatives ?
Who recommend staying in school , not having early sex , not adopting perverse lifestyles , committing to God-honoring marriage , and getting and holding a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any crimes ?
You mean , the path that is most associated with life success and happiness ?
That kind of racism ?
The recommendations shared by many black Christian conservatives with those of other backgrounds ?
No wonder BLM joins the “ LGBTQ ” groups in their desperation to undermine the family .
It ’ s the most powerful institution on earth .
And never forget — these leftists ’ number one goal is power .
The family -- founded by God , confirmed by Jesus -- is where sexually confused young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most likely to find peace , acceptance and sound guidance .
We need to keep standing together for sexual and civic responsibility , all of us members of one race — the human one .

The goal is to create upheaval and change the definition of family.
PETITION: Yes to reform. No to riots & revolution! Sign the petition here.
June 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The USA Today headline was intended to pull heart strings: “Internet has proven to be an LGBTQ ‘lifeline.’” But for those who have been standing against the full surrender of America to depravity, it was gag-worthy.
Because you know who they focused on: kids.
The article features a 14-year-old New York girl who was looking forward to her first “Pride” march this summer. “Pride is a pledge that you are valid and you are loved.” Also highlighted is a 12-year-old “girl” (possibly a gender-confused boy) named Eevee. But since many homosexual parades are cancelled for 2020, online “pride” is where these children should turn.
Or not, if somehow a sane adult could intervene.
We need to take a hard look at the “LGBTQ” agenda targeting youth, now online, which is dangerous enough. But that movement is sometimes the prelude to the next step: becoming revolutionaries.
Is that a goal of the “LGBTQ” movement? Seems to be the latest thing that’s “out of the closet,” as many rainbow radicals sign on to the lawless plans of Black Lives Matter.
Parents, be alert. The online world is packed with deception, obscenity and multiple paths to youth rebellion, including encouragement to dismiss any Christian witness.
Virtual contacts between young adolescents and older teens, radical teachers, college students and even activists a thousand miles away make it easy to avoid parents and penetrate the minds and hearts of impressionable teens.
They hear the monolithic indoctrination — “you were born this way,” “don’t listen to the voices of hate saying this is wrong,” “there’s no risk and it’s equal to straight life.” Any doubts? Download the readily available pansexual porn and the propagandized teen is quickly drawn into the rotten sexual fruits of this movement.
It’s critical these kids experience no doubts. Cathy Renna of the National LGBTQ Task Force said in the USA Today article that online connection is important for youth now because of “kids living in homes that are not accepting or where families are rejecting.”
In other words, we have no respect for parents’ rights, and we will bypass the parent-child relationship to deceive and corrupt your child online.
If only kids heard a corresponding counter-argument. But that’s rare at teacher-union-controlled schools or in most churches.
Satan has built an underground empire with emerging warriors for “social justice” and screaming for “rights.” It’s doomed, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try to take as many captives as possible.
Over a decade ago, I researched high school “social justice academies” that were pilot projects in mostly urban schools in cities like Chicago and Boston. Read: white liberals testing revolutionary concepts on mostly black kids.
Along with racial reconciliation messages, social justice lessons neatly incorporate “LGBTQ” propaganda and it’s almost impossible to object (you are automatically a “racist”). Never forget, Black Lives Matter fully embraces the whole sexual deviance agenda, even calling for the end of the traditional family, which they call the “western nuclear family.”
The divisive tactics are not new, just becoming more irrational. Sexual rebellion is often a precursor of civic rebellion, as history shows us.
And so it comes as no surprise that Black Lives Matter is a fervently pro-“LGBTQ” group. Its mission statement says, “We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women, and all Black lives along the gender spectrum … ”
The intersectionality is proud and obvious. Similar to race issue manipulation, the homosexual agenda features relatively few, tragic anecdotes; magnifies a victimhood narrative; and then proceeds to subvert the law, recruit youth, unleash intimidation tactics, make outrageous demands, and never be satisfied. If necessary, they will initiate street action. And police are the enemy.
Twenty years ago, a key player in the indoctrination of kids in “social justice” was a violent revolutionary. Obama-pal William Ayers, the ‘60s bomb-thrower who became a Ph.D. and a professor of education, was a social justice movement pioneer as well as a sexual radical. He wrote a glowing endorsement for the 1999 book Queering Elementary Education that featured a foreword by Kevin Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, GLSEN and safe schools “czar” under Obama.
GLSEN’s revolutionary roots are still producing poisonous fruit. GLSEN has joined 75 other homosexual groups to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter to condemn “white supremacist violence.”
GLSEN presumably also supports the insane proposal to abolish police. But facts have never been GLSEN’s strong suit.
The “LGBTQ” public relations group GLAAD just published an open letter expressing support for BLM written by the group’s campus outreach spokesperson. The letter seems to justify violence, because the infamous Stonewall “gay” uprising incident included a riot, you see, and “it worked.” No mention of potential loss of property and life, and in fact, much concern over “anti-protest and anti-riot” sentiment that has been expressed.
Also, the extreme group Advocates for Youth, which pushes porn-based “comprehensive sex ed” to young children, is advertising its upcoming training for 120 youth activists for “reproductive justice.” They want youth ages 14 to 24. We should not be surprised if anti-police street action is part of this “training.”
And let’s not forget the gender rebels. The National Trans Youth Council Nine-Point Platform disseminated a poster to students through the GSA Network and various homosexual youth groups calling for the abolition of the police, ICE, borders and the judicial system. A “manifesto” petition from the GSA Network (GSA stands or “gay straight alliance” or “genders and sexualities alliance”) featured these nine points and proudly claimed roots in the Black Panther movement, telling kids this:
“We are in a moment which calls for us to bravely and ferociously fight for our communal liberation.”
No concern for any bystander victims of “ferocious fighting.”
It almost seems that anti-American Marxist revolutionaries have taken over the “LGBTQ” youth organizations. But that couldn’t be true — or could it?
There are millions of black victims who could be mourned — black unborn humans killed through abortion. Do all lives matter? Or don’t they? Why don’t our students here about this?
And the racism is where again? From conservatives? Who recommend staying in school, not having early sex, not adopting perverse lifestyles, committing to God-honoring marriage, and getting and holding a job? Not doing drugs and not committing any crimes? You mean, the path that is most associated with life success and happiness?
That kind of racism? The recommendations shared by many black Christian conservatives with those of other backgrounds?
No wonder BLM joins the “LGBTQ” groups in their desperation to undermine the family. It’s the most powerful institution on earth. And never forget — these leftists’ number one goal is power.
The family — founded by God, confirmed by Jesus — is where sexually confused young people of all races and backgrounds are most likely to find peace, acceptance and sound guidance.
We need to keep standing together for sexual and civic responsibility, all of us members of one race — the human one.
Linda Harvey is president of Mission America.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-13--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

June 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united in praying the rosary together , at the same time , every day at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
To date , Catholics from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as other countries , have been joining in .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we can shape history , change the world , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]

(LifeSiteNews) — In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church, LifeSite is happy to promote Regina Angelorum Press’s Daily Rosary, which is offering Catholics throughout the world the chance to be united daily in prayer, in the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade.
Catholics from all over the world — from Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries — are gathering daily to pray the Rosary, led by Father Pillari, JCL, MCL, STL, an American priest currently studying in Italy.
The Daily Rosary is being offered each day at 12noon EST through Regina Angelorum Press’ YouTube Channel to which you can subscribe HERE.
The goal is, by means of this Daily Rosary and by embracing and living out the message given by the Virgin Mary at Fatima, the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
To help obtain that goal, Bishop Athanasius Schneider graciously composed the following prayer for this worldwide Rosary crusade:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life. O Queen of the holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen. + Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
To learn more about the urgency of responding to Our Lady’s message at Fatima, and about what you can do, please read Cardinal Burke’s 2017 address at the Rome Life Forum.
As St. Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Through prayer, God can shape history, change the world, and bring about a great time of renewal and peace for the Church and for the world, through the triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Join us today!
If you would like to follow along with the prayers said during this Rosary, you can access them HERE. The document also includes a brief F.A.Q. pertaining to the daily Rosary.
You can send your prayer requests to https://reginangelorumpress.com/prayer-intentions/
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lifesitenews--2020-06-14--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

June 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the coronavirus crisis , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a chance to be united in praying the rosary together , at the same time , every day at 12:00 noon EST .
The rosary is led by Father Anthony Pillari , an American priest currently in Italy .
To date , Catholics from Israel , Uganda , Italy , France , Germany , Ireland , the United Kingdom , the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as other countries , have been joining in .
The whole world – including the Church – has been thrown into chaos because of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Thousands of people have passed away as a result of the viral outbreak , while thousands more have been sickened .
And , across the world , business has come to a grinding halt , resulting in sudden job loss and threatening economic recession .
If there ever was a time for prayer , this is it .
Catholics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacraments , but in many places are unable to access them because of bishops ’ orders or government restrictions .
We know that community with other believers is vital all the time , but especially during this time of global calls for “ sheltering-in-place ” and quarantine .
“ The rosary is the weapon for these times , ” St. Padre Pio said .
Through prayer , we can shape history , change the world , and bring this painful crisis to an end .
Join us today !
Send photos or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rosary with Father Pillari to [ email protected ]


lifesitenews--2020-06-16--Italian bishops’ employee uses Pope Francis’ teaching to call on Church to accept homosexuality

DROP Disney+ : New teen film 'Out ' features openly homosexual main character !
Sign the petition here .
ROME , Italy , June 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – An employee of the Italian bishops ’ conference has published a book that he says is drawn from Pope Francis ’ teachings found in Amoris laetitia that calls for the Church to overturn its condemnation of homosexual acts .
A new book published by Luciano Moia , a senior journalist for the Italian Bishops ’ Conference ’ s daily newspaper Avvenire , argues that the Church should look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same way she looks at chastity within marriage .
According to a report by the Catholic News Agency ( CNA ) , the proposed change in Christian anthropology “ would call for theological and doctrinal changes away from the Church ’ s teachings on homosexuality , as delineated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ’ s statement on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons , which is not quoted by Moia .
In his book , Church and Homosexuality : An investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magisterium , Moia focuses on the question of chastity , arguing that the definition of the term chastity needs to be revised .
He wonders whether chastity in the context of homosexuality is to be understood like marital chastity , namely as “ ( r ) espect , fidelity and commitment to mutual help in the relationship , ” or as “ absolute abstinence.
” “ Maybe the desire to read the issue from a different lens , to open the debate , to listen to the perspective of the base could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ‘ not all discussions of doctrinal , moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the magisterium , ’ ” Moia wrote .
Moia also recounted the episode of a leader of the Catholic scouts in Italy being involved as one of the partners in a homosexual “ marriage ” in 2017 , shedding light on what Moia accepts as a way forward in advancing the homosexual agenda .
He praised the way local Archbishop Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli of Gorizia “ threw everyone off .
He refused the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t absolve , but neither did he condemn .
He invited the community to reflect together to understand if , even from such a divisive occurrence , one can receive aspects of grace .
An intervention in search of moderation and of that invitation to welcome , discern and integrate that impregnates the magisterium of Pope Francis.
” Contrary to the attitudes of Moia and Archbishop Redaelli , the Catechism of the Catholic Church is very clear on homosexuality : Only after stating that homosexual acts can not be approved does the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chastity .
In other words , chastity for people with homosexual inclinations plainly means absolute continence .
The preface to the book was written by the archbishop of Bologna , Cardinal Matteo Zuppi .
News that Zuppi was going to be made a cardinal in 2019 caused the Italian left to cry out , “ We have a Cardinal !
” At the time , Zuppi had already contributed an essay to the Italian edition of pro-homosexual Jesuit Fr .
James Martin ’ s Building a Bridge : How the Catholic Church and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Relationship of Respect , Compassion , and Sensitivity .
As pointed out by CNA , “ Alongside Moia ’ s own take on homosexuality in the first chapter , the book includes interviews from 12 ‘ experts , ’ of varying levels of professional status and credibility , on the issue of pastoral care for persons with same sex attraction , all of whom were interviewed by Moia in 2018 and 2019.
” One chapter was written by Gianni Geraci , a spokesman for a conglomerate of advocacy groups for homosexuality and gender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book is obviously biased against traditional Catholic teaching , it was published by the Society of Saint Paul , a religious congregation dedicated to spreading the message of Christ through technology and media .
In May , a book commissioned by the Austrian Bishops ’ Conference had also argued for a recognition of homosexuality in the Church .
The book claimed that homosexual relationships come from God , revealing God ’ s “ goodness and humanity.
” It called upon the Church to change her teaching against homosexuality and to bless homosexual relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , Fr .
Ewald Volgger OT , said , “ Just as marriage between a man and a woman is an image of God ’ s creative love , so is a same-sex relationship an image of God ’ s attention to human beings.
” “ If partners live the gift of mutual love in faithfulness to one another and live their lives with the spiritual gifts of God such as kindness , forbearance , patience , reconciliation , etc.
, their relationship is also an image of God ’ s goodness @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The book attempts to redefine chastity to no longer mean absolute continence for people with homosexual tendencies.
DROP Disney+: New teen film 'Out' features openly homosexual main character! Sign the petition here.
ROME, Italy, June 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – An employee of the Italian bishops’ conference has published a book that he says is drawn from Pope Francis’ teachings found in Amoris laetitia that calls for the Church to overturn its condemnation of homosexual acts.
A new book published by Luciano Moia, a senior journalist for the Italian Bishops’ Conference’s daily newspaper Avvenire, argues that the Church should look at “chastity” within a same-sex relationship the same way she looks at chastity within marriage.
According to a report by the Catholic News Agency (CNA), the proposed change in Christian anthropology “would call for theological and doctrinal changes away from the Church’s teachings on homosexuality, as delineated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s statement on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, which is not quoted by Moia.
In his book, Church and Homosexuality: An investigation in the light of Pope Francis’ magisterium, Moia focuses on the question of chastity, arguing that the definition of the term chastity needs to be revised. He wonders whether chastity in the context of homosexuality is to be understood like marital chastity, namely as “(r)espect, fidelity and commitment to mutual help in the relationship,” or as “absolute abstinence.”
“Maybe the desire to read the issue from a different lens, to open the debate, to listen to the perspective of the base could be the prevailing result, in the conviction that ‘not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the magisterium,’” Moia wrote.
Moia also recounted the episode of a leader of the Catholic scouts in Italy being involved as one of the partners in a homosexual “marriage” in 2017, shedding light on what Moia accepts as a way forward in advancing the homosexual agenda.
He praised the way local Archbishop Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli of Gorizia “threw everyone off. He refused the role of the judge, he didn’t absolve, but neither did he condemn. He invited the community to reflect together to understand if, even from such a divisive occurrence, one can receive aspects of grace. An intervention in search of moderation and of that invitation to welcome, discern and integrate that impregnates the magisterium of Pope Francis.”
Contrary to the attitudes of Moia and Archbishop Redaelli, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is very clear on homosexuality:
“Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”
Only after stating that homosexual acts cannot be approved does the catechism move on to a discussion of chastity. In other words, chastity for people with homosexual inclinations plainly means absolute continence.
The preface to the book was written by the archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. News that Zuppi was going to be made a cardinal in 2019 caused the Italian left to cry out, “We have a Cardinal!”
At the time, Zuppi had already contributed an essay to the Italian edition of pro-homosexual Jesuit Fr. James Martin’s Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.
As pointed out by CNA, “Alongside Moia’s own take on homosexuality in the first chapter, the book includes interviews from 12 ‘experts,’ of varying levels of professional status and credibility, on the issue of pastoral care for persons with same sex attraction, all of whom were interviewed by Moia in 2018 and 2019.”
One chapter was written by Gianni Geraci, a spokesman for a conglomerate of advocacy groups for homosexuality and gender ideology in Italy.
Even though the book is obviously biased against traditional Catholic teaching, it was published by the Society of Saint Paul, a religious congregation dedicated to spreading the message of Christ through technology and media.
In May, a book commissioned by the Austrian Bishops’ Conference had also argued for a recognition of homosexuality in the Church.
The book claimed that homosexual relationships come from God, revealing God’s “goodness and humanity.” It called upon the Church to change her teaching against homosexuality and to bless homosexual relationships.
One of the contributors to the book, Fr. Ewald Volgger OT, said, “Just as marriage between a man and a woman is an image of God’s creative love, so is a same-sex relationship an image of God’s attention to human beings.”
“If partners live the gift of mutual love in faithfulness to one another and live their lives with the spiritual gifts of God such as kindness, forbearance, patience, reconciliation, etc., their relationship is also an image of God’s goodness and humanity,” Volgger added.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-16--33 years of legal abortion in Spain has led to demographic death spiral

June 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Spain has lost nearly 2.4 million babies to abortion in 33 years , since the killing of the unborn became legal there in 1985 — the equivalent of the population of twelve rural provinces in a country with fewer than 48 million inhabitants .
More than one third of these abortions took place over the years from 2011 until 2018 , as abortion rates kept rising , reaching over 100,000 every year .
The Spanish statistics on abortion , as released this Monday by the “ Instituto de Politica Familiar ” — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has special consulting status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council — show the sheer size of the tragedy faced by Spain , where the birthrate has plummeted to 1.26 children per woman of childbearing age .
That is way below the minimum rate for replacement of generations in developed countries : 2.1 children per woman of childbearing age .
Had the 2.4 million pregnancies that were cut short by abortion been allowed to reach their term , the Spanish birthrate would be 1.6 child per woman today — not enough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer be top-heavy , with more elderly people than children and young people .
Today , Spain has reached a stage where the population is in “ negative growth ” since 2015 , with a balance of -54,944 in 2018 .
In its 69-page report , “ Abortion in Spain 35 years later , 1985–2020 , ” the IPF looks at the realities of abortion in Spain , showing clearly how laws and their liberal evolution have led to an increasing number of abortions over the years in an almost uninterrupted upward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1985 , it moved up to about 50,000 a year in the beginning of the 1990s , reaching over 91,000 in 2005 and 113,000 in 2010 .
At that point , the curve descended to about 95,000 abortions a year , but 2010 is the year when chemical abortion was made legal .
The medical follow-up and registration of chemical abortions is not compulsory in a number of autonomous regions in Spain , explains the IPF ’ s study ; by extrapolation , and given that about a quarter of all abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgical , an estimated 7,000 undeclared abortions , at least , take place each year in the country .
All the same , the general “ official ” curve has been slowly rising again since 2015 .
The abortion industry , which operates mostly in private facilities , generates some 60 million euros ’ worth of income each year .
The number of abortion centers itself has gone up and up , from 146 centers in 2010 — a pivotal year for abortion — to 211 in 2018 .
Successive governments , be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually restricted access to abortion .
In one of the most revealing chapters of the study , the IPF highlights how left-wing governments have facilitated access to abortion while their “ conservative ” successors have done nothing to reverse the trend ; they have “ consolidated ” the progressive laws , according to the IPF .
It was the socialist government of Felipe González that introduced the first law in 1985 .
It decriminalized abortion in case of danger to the physical or psychological health of the mother — psychological health being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as free of access — a suspicion of grave physical or psychiatric defects in the child , and rape .
Under the right-wing government of José Maria Aznar ( PP ) , from 1996 to 2003 , the Spanish abortion laws were not touched or modified in any way , and yearly abortion statistics kept rising .
This was despite the legalization of the morning-after pill , which has potential abortive effects .
According to a study by Alicia Fernandez and Andrea Gimenez of the University Hospital of Puerto Real , Cádiz in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 percent of women who use the so-called “ emergency contraception ” pill abort a conceived child because the pill creates a hostile environment preventing implantation of the embryo in the womb .
The IPF gives an estimate of at least 7,000 such unnoticed abortions each year , given that about 700,000 morning-after pills are sold annually in Spain , no prescription being necessary for the high-hormone drugs .
Underage girls can obtain them without parental consent from age 16 .
PETITION : No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus !
Sign the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning-after pill was introduced by José-Luis Zapatero ’ s socialist government ( 2004–2012 ) in 2010 .
The same Organic Law no longer decriminalized abortion , but rather proclaimed abortion was a “ woman ’ s right.
” Abortion has been since then fully legal up to 14 weeks ’ gestation .
Up to 22 weeks , risks to the life or health of the mother justify late abortion , as well as “ serious anomalies ” in the child .
Abortion is possible up to term if the condition of the unborn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The 2010 law also allowed chemical abortions that are much easier to obtain and implement .
Under Mariano Rajoy ( Partido Popular , center-right , from 2012 to 2018 ) , all these liberal dispositions remained intact except for the 2010 measure that allowed girls to abort without parental consent from age 16 .
Before that , Rajoy and his team pulled back a restrictive draft law by justice minister Gallardon , who lost his post over the affair .
The present left-wing government of Pedro González seeks to introduce abortion for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IPF ’ s presentation of its study offers many graphs , visual representations of its wide-ranging statistics and striking examples and comparisons .
One of its main findings is that increasing numbers of young women and girls have recourse to abortion which is , the IPF claims , more and more used as a “ contraceptive ” method .
Only France ( with over 200,000 each year ) and Germany ( over 100,000 ) have more yearly abortions than Spain in the European Union ; it should be noted , as a complement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevalence is high in these countries .
In France , in 2013 , it reached 97 percent of the 70 percent of sexually active women who wanted to avoid pregnancy .
In Spain , one out of every five pregnancies ends in abortion .
That proportion is also on a steady rise , up from 12 percent in 1995 and 16.4 percent in 2005 .
It reached 20.5 percent in 2018 , while 53 percent of abortions took place before age 30 .
And one out of ten abortions takes place before age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of adolescents who are pregnant will abort .
Spanish women ’ s average age at first live birth is 32 .
Multiple abortions have increased accordingly : “ In 1990 , 1 out of 6 women had more than one abortion , in 2018 more that 1 out of 3 women have had more than one abortion , ” according to IPF ’ s assessment of women who actually have abortions , that is , about 18 out of 1,000 women every year .
With nearly 100,000 fetal deaths in 2018 , abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Spain , just behind respiratory diseases ( 122,466 in 2017 ) and cancer ( 112,714 in 2018 ) .
The official number of homicides in Spain in 2017 was 308 .
While the IPF repeatedly calls the situation “ dramatic ” because of the nature of abortion , it also underscores that the lack of young people is already weighing heavily on the social security system .
As the population grows older , with increasing pension and health costs , income is also on a downhill slope as the active population shrinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributions to provide for the needs of the elderly .
“ The probable result will be the reduction or elimination of social benefits because of lack of revenues , especially regarding pensions , ” the IPF report concludes .
At the end of its report , the Instituto de Politica Familiar makes a series of proposals to reverse the trend , suggesting that the abortion law be repealed , in particular those dispositions that speak of the “ psychological risk ” of pregnancy “ for the mother.
” It calls for studies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abortion in Spain , together with a study of the morning-after pill and restrictions on its sale .
The IPF wants a national plan to boost the birthrate and campaigns to teach about the realities of the birthrate , pregnancy , and maternity .
Abortion should be included as a case of “ violence against woman and child in the prenatal period , ” it says .
The IPF also wants laws to protect motherhood and promote demography in a cross-party agreement , a general prohibition of surrogacy , and government measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among these measures , the IPF would like specific help to be given to teenage girls and immigrants , together with the creation of pregnancy centers available to all women who need help to take their pregnancy to term and the promotion of adoption as an alternative to abortion .
A special state budget line should be opened to fund NGOs helping pregnant women , adds IPF , as well as material and economical support for women , including those who want to stay at home to look after their kids during the @ @ @ @ @

Spain has lost nearly 2.4 million babies to abortion in 33 years, since the killing of the unborn became legal there in 1985.
June 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Spain has lost nearly 2.4 million babies to abortion in 33 years, since the killing of the unborn became legal there in 1985 — the equivalent of the population of twelve rural provinces in a country with fewer than 48 million inhabitants. More than one third of these abortions took place over the years from 2011 until 2018, as abortion rates kept rising, reaching over 100,000 every year.
The Spanish statistics on abortion, as released this Monday by the “Instituto de Politica Familiar” — the IPF, a pro-family movement that has special consulting status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council — show the sheer size of the tragedy faced by Spain, where the birthrate has plummeted to 1.26 children per woman of childbearing age.
That is way below the minimum rate for replacement of generations in developed countries: 2.1 children per woman of childbearing age. Had the 2.4 million pregnancies that were cut short by abortion been allowed to reach their term, the Spanish birthrate would be 1.6 child per woman today — not enough, but at least the population pyramid would no longer be top-heavy, with more elderly people than children and young people. Today, Spain has reached a stage where the population is in “negative growth” since 2015, with a balance of -54,944 in 2018.
In its 69-page report, “Abortion in Spain 35 years later, 1985–2020,” the IPF looks at the realities of abortion in Spain, showing clearly how laws and their liberal evolution have led to an increasing number of abortions over the years in an almost uninterrupted upward trend. Starting at zero legal abortions in 1985, it moved up to about 50,000 a year in the beginning of the 1990s, reaching over 91,000 in 2005 and 113,000 in 2010.
At that point, the curve descended to about 95,000 abortions a year, but 2010 is the year when chemical abortion was made legal. The medical follow-up and registration of chemical abortions is not compulsory in a number of autonomous regions in Spain, explains the IPF’s study; by extrapolation, and given that about a quarter of all abortions in Spain are now chemical instead of surgical, an estimated 7,000 undeclared abortions, at least, take place each year in the country. All the same, the general “official” curve has been slowly rising again since 2015.
The abortion industry, which operates mostly in private facilities, generates some 60 million euros’ worth of income each year. The number of abortion centers itself has gone up and up, from 146 centers in 2010 — a pivotal year for abortion — to 211 in 2018.
Successive governments, be they Christian-Democrat or Socialist, have never actually restricted access to abortion. In one of the most revealing chapters of the study, the IPF highlights how left-wing governments have facilitated access to abortion while their “conservative” successors have done nothing to reverse the trend; they have “consolidated” the progressive laws, according to the IPF.
It was the socialist government of Felipe González that introduced the first law in 1985. It decriminalized abortion in case of danger to the physical or psychological health of the mother — psychological health being the catchall condition that made abortion as good as free of access — a suspicion of grave physical or psychiatric defects in the child, and rape.
Under the right-wing government of José Maria Aznar (PP), from 1996 to 2003, the Spanish abortion laws were not touched or modified in any way, and yearly abortion statistics kept rising. This was despite the legalization of the morning-after pill, which has potential abortive effects. According to a study by Alicia Fernandez and Andrea Gimenez of the University Hospital of Puerto Real, Cádiz in 2012 quoted by IPF, 1 to 10 percent of women who use the so-called “emergency contraception” pill abort a conceived child because the pill creates a hostile environment preventing implantation of the embryo in the womb.
The IPF gives an estimate of at least 7,000 such unnoticed abortions each year, given that about 700,000 morning-after pills are sold annually in Spain, no prescription being necessary for the high-hormone drugs. Underage girls can obtain them without parental consent from age 16.
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
Free access to the morning-after pill was introduced by José-Luis Zapatero’s socialist government (2004–2012) in 2010. The same Organic Law no longer decriminalized abortion, but rather proclaimed abortion was a “woman’s right.” Abortion has been since then fully legal up to 14 weeks’ gestation. Up to 22 weeks, risks to the life or health of the mother justify late abortion, as well as “serious anomalies” in the child. Abortion is possible up to term if the condition of the unborn child is deemed “incompatible with life.”
The 2010 law also allowed chemical abortions that are much easier to obtain and implement.
Under Mariano Rajoy (Partido Popular, center-right, from 2012 to 2018), all these liberal dispositions remained intact except for the 2010 measure that allowed girls to abort without parental consent from age 16. Before that, Rajoy and his team pulled back a restrictive draft law by justice minister Gallardon, who lost his post over the affair.
The present left-wing government of Pedro González seeks to introduce abortion for underage girls without parental consent.
The IPF’s presentation of its study offers many graphs, visual representations of its wide-ranging statistics and striking examples and comparisons. One of its main findings is that increasing numbers of young women and girls have recourse to abortion which is, the IPF claims, more and more used as a “contraceptive” method.
Only France (with over 200,000 each year) and Germany (over 100,000) have more yearly abortions than Spain in the European Union; it should be noted, as a complement to the IPF study, that contraceptive prevalence is high in these countries. In France, in 2013, it reached 97 percent of the 70 percent of sexually active women who wanted to avoid pregnancy.
In Spain, one out of every five pregnancies ends in abortion. That proportion is also on a steady rise, up from 12 percent in 1995 and 16.4 percent in 2005. It reached 20.5 percent in 2018, while 53 percent of abortions took place before age 30. And one out of ten abortions takes place before age 20 — that is, 58 percent of adolescents who are pregnant will abort.
Spanish women’s average age at first live birth is 32.
Multiple abortions have increased accordingly: “In 1990, 1 out of 6 women had more than one abortion, in 2018 more that 1 out of 3 women have had more than one abortion,” according to IPF’s assessment of women who actually have abortions, that is, about 18 out of 1,000 women every year.
With nearly 100,000 fetal deaths in 2018, abortion is now the third cause of mortality in Spain, just behind respiratory diseases (122,466 in 2017) and cancer (112,714 in 2018). The official number of homicides in Spain in 2017 was 308.
While the IPF repeatedly calls the situation “dramatic” because of the nature of abortion, it also underscores that the lack of young people is already weighing heavily on the social security system. As the population grows older, with increasing pension and health costs, income is also on a downhill slope as the active population shrinks, with less income tax and social contributions to provide for the needs of the elderly.
“The probable result will be the reduction or elimination of social benefits because of lack of revenues, especially regarding pensions,” the IPF report concludes.
At the end of its report, the Instituto de Politica Familiar makes a series of proposals to reverse the trend, suggesting that the abortion law be repealed, in particular those dispositions that speak of the “psychological risk” of pregnancy “for the mother.”
It calls for studies to be made of the causes and consequences of abortion in Spain, together with a study of the morning-after pill and restrictions on its sale.
The IPF wants a national plan to boost the birthrate and campaigns to teach about the realities of the birthrate, pregnancy, and maternity. Abortion should be included as a case of “violence against woman and child in the prenatal period,” it says.
The IPF also wants laws to protect motherhood and promote demography in a cross-party agreement, a general prohibition of surrogacy, and government measures to reduce the numbers of abortions.
Among these measures, the IPF would like specific help to be given to teenage girls and immigrants, together with the creation of pregnancy centers available to all women who need help to take their pregnancy to term and the promotion of adoption as an alternative to abortion.
A special state budget line should be opened to fund NGOs helping pregnant women, adds IPF, as well as material and economical support for women, including those who want to stay at home to look after their kids during the first year of life.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-15--German archdiocese celebrates Corpus Christi with photos of monstrance in profane places

PETITION : Join faithful German Catholics in resisting bishops ’ plan to ‘ Protestantize ’ Church !
Sign the petition here .
MUNICH , Germany , June 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In a new publicity stunt for the feast of Corpus Christi ( where Catholic celebrate the body of Christ in Holy Communion ) , the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising , headed by Cardinal Reinhard Marx , is promoting photos of a monstrance with a non-consecrated host in profane places like a playground , a trophy room , and a park bench .
The photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection to the meaning of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist .
Taken by two lay ministers employed by the archdiocese , the pictures show a monstrance “ in different places of everyday life , ” outside of liturgical functions , for instance on a bench in the park , or in what appears to be a beauty salon .
The text for the picture of the monstrance in the beauty salon , for instance , stated , “ I love the laugh lines under your eyes .
You should laugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gray hairs : you have already experienced and endured so much.
” “ I also remember the scar : it was very dangerous to go hiking in this weather .
And that pimple behind the ear .
Funny that it is there .
How beautiful you are , ” the text added .
Another photo shows the monstrance in the foreground , with two children on a swing in the back .
“ Higher , and higher , yeah , ” the two lay ministers wrote .
“ Nothing matters anymore .
Only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me further and further .
It should never stop .
Good thing I ’ m not alone.
” A third photo presents the monstrance on a shelf , surrounded by many trophies .
“ A whole series of successes .
Some things were easy to achieve , for others I had to try really hard .
It ’ s amazing what I ’ ve already done and accomplished , ” the text stated .
“ And in the middle of it all , God .
He hardly stands out .
His message is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way you are .
No matter what happens or what you do .
I love you.
” The Catechism of the Catholic Church , however , does not tell people that they “ are good just the way you are , ” no matter what they do .
Instead , every Catholic is called to holiness .
“ You , therefore , must be perfect , as your heavenly Father is perfect , ” Christ said , according to the Gospel of Matthew .
“ There is no holiness without renunciation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
“ Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes.
” The catechism is equally clear on the adoration and worship the Eucharist is due .
“ In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by , among other ways , genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord .
‘ The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of adoration , not only during Mass , but also outside of it , reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care , exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful , and carrying them in procession.
’ ” The catechism does not mention putting a monstrance with a consecrated host into profane places , even as a public relations campaign aimed at getting people to become interested in the Catholic faith .
“ The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those absent outside of Mass , ” the catechism teaches , indicating the utmost care used by the Church in relation to the Eucharist .
“ As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened , the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species .
It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes and manifests the truth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blessed Sacrament.
” The two lay ministers said their idea for putting a monstrance in profane places came about during a conference in 2019 that discussed “ how to speak about God today in a modern and understandable way.
” They did not explain how their photos and texts are supposed to draw people to the Catholic faith , nor did they address the scandal the photos would cause among the faithful .
On Facebook , the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising made clear it was siding with the two lay ministers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stunt .
“ We thank you all for this controversial discussion : both the critics and those who , like us , are pleased that , in addition to traditional representations , there are new approaches to showing that God is among us , ” the archdiocese wrote .

PETITION: Join faithful German Catholics in resisting bishops’ plan to ‘Protestantize’ Church! Sign the petition here.
MUNICH, Germany, June 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – In a new publicity stunt for the feast of Corpus Christi (where Catholic celebrate the body of Christ in Holy Communion), the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, headed by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, is promoting photos of a monstrance with a non-consecrated host in profane places like a playground, a trophy room, and a park bench.
The photos are accompanied by short texts without any connection to the meaning of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Taken by two lay ministers employed by the archdiocese, the pictures show a monstrance “in different places of everyday life,” outside of liturgical functions, for instance on a bench in the park, or in what appears to be a beauty salon.
The text for the picture of the monstrance in the beauty salon, for instance, stated, “I love the laugh lines under your eyes. You should laugh more. And I love these few gray hairs: you have already experienced and endured so much.”
“I also remember the scar: it was very dangerous to go hiking in this weather. And that pimple behind the ear. Funny that it is there. How beautiful you are,” the text added.
Another photo shows the monstrance in the foreground, with two children on a swing in the back. “Higher, and higher, yeah,” the two lay ministers wrote. “Nothing matters anymore. Only the moment counts. The momentum carries me further and further. It should never stop. Good thing I’m not alone.”
A third photo presents the monstrance on a shelf, surrounded by many trophies.
“A whole series of successes. Some things were easy to achieve, for others I had to try really hard. It’s amazing what I’ve already done and accomplished,” the text stated. “And in the middle of it all, God. He hardly stands out. His message is also inconspicuous: You are good just the way you are. No matter what happens or what you do. I love you.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, however, does not tell people that they “are good just the way you are,” no matter what they do.
Instead, every Catholic is called to holiness. “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Christ said, according to the Gospel of Matthew.
“There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle,” the catechism points out. “Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes.”
The catechism is equally clear on the adoration and worship the Eucharist is due.
“In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. ‘The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession.’”
The catechism does not mention putting a monstrance with a consecrated host into profane places, even as a public relations campaign aimed at getting people to become interested in the Catholic faith.
“The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent outside of Mass,” the catechism teaches, indicating the utmost care used by the Church in relation to the Eucharist.
“As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species. It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes and manifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.”
The two lay ministers said their idea for putting a monstrance in profane places came about during a conference in 2019 that discussed “how to speak about God today in a modern and understandable way.”
They did not explain how their photos and texts are supposed to draw people to the Catholic faith, nor did they address the scandal the photos would cause among the faithful.
On Facebook, the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising made clear it was siding with the two lay ministers, after several users had criticized the publicity stunt.
“We thank you all for this controversial discussion: both the critics and those who, like us, are pleased that, in addition to traditional representations, there are new approaches to showing that God is among us,” the archdiocese wrote.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-15--Christian statues in Europe targeted for vandalism in the name of ‘pagan justice’

June 15 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — When St. Boniface traveled from Devon in England to convert the pagans of Germany in the 8th century , he did so with supernatural courage .
The Germans ’ savagery had been notorious for centuries , and they did , indeed , eventually martyr him , while he was traveling in Frisia ( now the Netherlands ) in the year 754 .
Fourteen centuries on , it seems that the pagans have returned to Devon .
A stone statue of him in the small town of Crediton has had sprayed onto its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ Pagan justice , ” the latter accompanied by a pentangle , the symbol of Satanism .
PETITION : Ask Archbishop Gregory to apologize to President Trump and the Knights of Columbus !
Sign the petition here .
There is a lot of neo-paganism in England ’ s bucolic southwest .
Glastonbury , some way to the north and east of Crediton , is a particular center .
The incongruous combination of messages — suggesting atheism , paganism , and Satanism — is characteristic of the more militant varieties .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anarchists , ” which may be a fair description but seems intended to distract attention from the central point : that this vandalism has got nothing to do with the riots in the United States or London but is the manifestation of local anti-Christian hatred .
Pagan attacks on Christian and above all Catholic symbols and churches are nothing new .
What the secular press would rather not say is that Christians are the targets of a sustained , if low-level , campaign of physical and spiritual violence : thefts , vandalism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very clear , talking to Catholics in this part of England , and also to pagan converts to the Faith .
Neo-pagans are not all dreamy nature-lovers .
It is common for them to harbor a deep antipathy to Christianity .
In the system of political correctness , prejudice , discrimination , and even violence toward Christians is not regarded as very problematic , because Christians are stereotyped as aggressors , not victims .
Christians attacked by neo-pagans , or by secularists , or indeed anyone else , can expect scant sympathy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even Christians from minority ethnic groups are bypassed in the contest of victimhood : indeed , Asian and African Christians can find it particularly difficult to make themselves heard , for their very existence seems to contradict the favored worldview .
In past eras , it was often difficult for political leaders and the press to get complete and accurate information about who was doing what to whom , and why , in conflicts at home or abroad .
Falling back on stereotypes in that situation was at least understandable .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : of the press and politicians steadfastly ignoring facts that are repeatedly drawn to their attention when they don ’ t fit into a favored narrative .
I wonder if there has ever been a time in history when ideology has so effectively distorted what is reported , discussed , and regarded as important .
This ideology is deeply engrained in journalists , and it is being aggressively taught to the young in schools .
As antipathy to Christianity increases , we can expect to suffer while the world looks the other way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thing : if the wrong kinds of victims are attacked by the wrong kinds of criminals — people who are not behaving according to the approved stereotype — police , social workers , and the education system appear incapable of responding in an appropriate way .
One part of Christians ’ response to this situation must be a greater sense of solidarity and mutual support .
This seems a distant prospect , however , while our leaders , both clerical and lay , are focusing their efforts on trying to prove their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embarrassing to the Anglican ( Episcopalian ) Archbishop Justin Welby , as he performs rituals of self-abnegation over “ the sins of my British colonial history ” in India , than the fate of Indian and Pakistani Christians who face violence in their own countries , or the black Evangelical Christians arrested in British cities for quoting the Bible in public .
I ’ m sure that on a personal level , he sympathizes with these victims , but I ’ ve never heard of him or any other Anglican bishop campaigning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t claim that Catholic leaders are much better .
Catholics can not wait for better bishops , and we get the lay opinion-formers we deserve .
We should be focusing our concern on those who are , in the words of St. Paul , “ of the household of the Faith ” ( Gal .
6:10 ) .
We will be told this is tribalism and sectarianism , but actually such an attitude is simply what it means to belong to a community .
St. John admonishes us : “ Wonder not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ” and commands us to charity toward our fellow Christians .
“ But whoso hath the world ’ s goods , and beholdeth his brother in need , and shutteth up his compassion from him , how doth the love of God abide in him ?
” ( 1 John 3:13 ; 17 ) .

June 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — When St. Boniface traveled from Devon in England to convert the pagans of Germany in the 8th century, he did so with supernatural courage. The Germans’ savagery had been notorious for centuries, and they did, indeed, eventually martyr him, while he was traveling in Frisia (now the Netherlands) in the year 754. Fourteen centuries on, it seems that the pagans have returned to Devon. A stone statue of him in the small town of Crediton has had sprayed onto its pedestal the words “God is dead” and “Pagan justice,” the latter accompanied by a pentangle, the symbol of Satanism.
PETITION: Ask Archbishop Gregory to apologize to President Trump and the Knights of Columbus! Sign the petition here.
There is a lot of neo-paganism in England’s bucolic southwest. Glastonbury, some way to the north and east of Crediton, is a particular center. The incongruous combination of messages — suggesting atheism, paganism, and Satanism — is characteristic of the more militant varieties. The local newspaper describes the attackers as “anarchists,” which may be a fair description but seems intended to distract attention from the central point: that this vandalism has got nothing to do with the riots in the United States or London but is the manifestation of local anti-Christian hatred.
Pagan attacks on Christian and above all Catholic symbols and churches are nothing new. What the secular press would rather not say is that Christians are the targets of a sustained, if low-level, campaign of physical and spiritual violence: thefts, vandalism, and sacrilege. That this is so is very clear, talking to Catholics in this part of England, and also to pagan converts to the Faith. Neo-pagans are not all dreamy nature-lovers. It is common for them to harbor a deep antipathy to Christianity.
In the system of political correctness, prejudice, discrimination, and even violence toward Christians is not regarded as very problematic, because Christians are stereotyped as aggressors, not victims. Christians attacked by neo-pagans, or by secularists, or indeed anyone else, can expect scant sympathy from the dominant opinion-formers of our society. Even Christians from minority ethnic groups are bypassed in the contest of victimhood: indeed, Asian and African Christians can find it particularly difficult to make themselves heard, for their very existence seems to contradict the favored worldview.
In past eras, it was often difficult for political leaders and the press to get complete and accurate information about who was doing what to whom, and why, in conflicts at home or abroad. Falling back on stereotypes in that situation was at least understandable. Today, we have a very different problem: of the press and politicians steadfastly ignoring facts that are repeatedly drawn to their attention when they don’t fit into a favored narrative. I wonder if there has ever been a time in history when ideology has so effectively distorted what is reported, discussed, and regarded as important.
This ideology is deeply engrained in journalists, and it is being aggressively taught to the young in schools. As antipathy to Christianity increases, we can expect to suffer while the world looks the other way. We have already seen this kind of thing: if the wrong kinds of victims are attacked by the wrong kinds of criminals — people who are not behaving according to the approved stereotype — police, social workers, and the education system appear incapable of responding in an appropriate way.
One part of Christians’ response to this situation must be a greater sense of solidarity and mutual support. This seems a distant prospect, however, while our leaders, both clerical and lay, are focusing their efforts on trying to prove their woke credentials. Nothing could be more embarrassing to the Anglican (Episcopalian) Archbishop Justin Welby, as he performs rituals of self-abnegation over “the sins of my British colonial history” in India, than the fate of Indian and Pakistani Christians who face violence in their own countries, or the black Evangelical Christians arrested in British cities for quoting the Bible in public.
I’m sure that on a personal level, he sympathizes with these victims, but I’ve never heard of him or any other Anglican bishop campaigning on their behalf. Sadly, I can’t claim that Catholic leaders are much better.
Catholics cannot wait for better bishops, and we get the lay opinion-formers we deserve. We should be focusing our concern on those who are, in the words of St. Paul, “of the household of the Faith” (Gal. 6:10). We will be told this is tribalism and sectarianism, but actually such an attitude is simply what it means to belong to a community. St. John admonishes us: “Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you” and commands us to charity toward our fellow Christians. “But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:13; 17).
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.
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