lifesitenews--2020-06-25--Top pro-life priest asks US bishops to allow clergy to publicly discredit baby ‘killing’ Democrat Pa

Top pro-life priest asks US bishops to allow clergy to publicly discredit baby ‘killing’ Democrat Party

June 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A priest well-known for his pro-life activism has penned an open letter to U.S. bishops asking them to use their authority to allow clergy to publicly advocate for the political party in the upcoming 2020 election that is pro-life and pro-religious freedom .
The priest also asks for the right to name and discredit the opposing political party .
“ The rights of the Church and the common good are under attack in unprecedented ways by the Democrat Party , ” Fr .
Frank Pavone , National Director of Priests for Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to the U.S. bishops ( read full letter below ) .
Pavone noted how current Church directives forbid clergy from engaging in partisan politics .
He also pointed out , however , that the current political situation is something that such directives do not take into account .
The priest ’ s letter , written to coincide with Religious Freedom Week , points out that guidance from the hierarchy often frustrates and hinders the mission of clergy and lay people when it comes to articulating and applying the teachings of the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Pavone , “ the faithful are told not to ‘ engage in any political activity which seeks to support or discredit any political party or candidate ’ one wonders how the moral judgment in matters relating to politics is to be expressed.
” “ When the Republican Party stands firmly for the principle that government can not authorize the killing of babies , and the Democrat Party firmly rejects that principle by embracing unrestricted abortion , how is it possible for the Church ‘ to proclaim its teaching ’ without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political party that so obviously opposes that teaching ?
” Pavone asks the bishops .
Pavone said that clergy are “ left to fight with two hands tied behind our backs and a gag over our mouths bearing an episcopal seal.
” “ The approximately 100,000 political races that comprise ‘ the 2020 Elections ’ bring us to an unprecedented choice in America , ” emphasized Pavone .
“ Never has the political divide been more substantial or consequential.
” “ Never has the voice of the Church been more needed ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for is on the line , ” he added .
With deep respect , and with equally deep urgency , I write to extend to you , individually and collectively , an invitation to engage in a public dialogue regarding some specific aspects of the involvement of Christ ’ s faithful in the elections of 2020 , now underway in the United States .
In the context of this invitation , and consistent with Canon 212 §3 , I also would like to point out a persistent problem in this regard that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Church .
Specifically , I refer to the repeated guidance issued from dioceses , Catholic Conferences , and the USCCB that restrict the speech of clerics and lay faithful in ways that not only exceed any restrictions found in Canon Law and Civil Law , but that are impossible to fulfill because of their broad reach and vagueness .
As a result , rather than fostering unity among the People of God in the pursuit of the mission they eagerly engage by virtue of their baptism and confirmation , this guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission .
Moreover , this guidance fails to take into account the unique circumstances of the current political landscape in the United States and the moral response those circumstances require .
I call for a public discussion in the manner you deem appropriate , concerned that efforts to address these issues are consistently met , both in public and in private , with a refusal to engage the questions on their merits .
Those questions are met instead with an appeal to discipline rather than dialogue , and to authority rather than reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legitimate authority you exercise among the faithful , it ’ s time to give a bit more attention to a robust discussion of the reasons behind the decisions that authority hands down in matters related to the political involvement of the faithful .
Nobody in the Church , including bishops , should be impervious to input , advice , and criticism based on the expertise the faithful possess in various disciplines ( cf .
Lumen Gentium , 37 ) .
Since 1994 , my own ministry team , which embodies a wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has addressed our national elections , seeking to articulate and apply the teachings of the Church to the political realm .
We affirm the teaching of Gaudium et Spes which states , “ Christ , to be sure , gave His Church no proper mission in the political , economic or social order .
The purpose which He set before her is a religious one ” ( 42 ) .
Yet as you well know , that statement provides the context for a vigorous exposition of the Church ’ s responsibilities to shape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of God .
In articulating those responsibilities , that same document of the Council goes on to state , `` At all times and in all places , the Church should have the true freedom to teach the faith , to proclaim its teaching about society , to carry out its task among men without hindrance and to pass moral judgments even in matters relating to politics , whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it ” ( 76 ; see also Compendium of the Social Doctrine of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Catholic Church , 2246 ; “ Doctrinal Note On some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life , ” CDF , November 24 , 2002 , and Code of Canon Law 747 §2 ) .
In a book I wrote in 2015 ( Abolishing Abortion , Thomas Nelson publishing ) , I document extensively the manner in which that duty of the faithful , both clerical and lay , to “ pass moral judgments even in matters relating to politics , ” has been hindered by the kind of guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USCCB routinely issue .
When , as expressed in many of the diocesan memos I quote , the faithful are told not to “ engage in any political activity which seeks to support or discredit any political party or candidate ” ( p.117 ) one wonders how the moral judgment in matters relating to politics is to be expressed .
The public dialogue I am urgently inviting you to engage in at this time is based on the fact that we are not dealing with normal “ political disagreements ” in this election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were matters merely of prudential judgment , or policy disagreements that should be worked out by open debate , trial and error , and the corrective processes provided by our legislative , executive , and judicial mechanisms , then the official neutrality of the Church could be easily understood and implemented .
But that is not where we are right now .
We do not have a division simply on policy , but on principle .
Our political divide is not simply about prudential judgments , but about ‘ the fundamental rights of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ souls ’ referred to by the Second Vatican Council , the Catechism , and numerous other sources .
When the Republican Party stands firmly for the principle that government can not authorize the killing of babies , and the Democrat Party firmly rejects that principle by embracing unrestricted abortion , how is it possible for the Church “ to proclaim its teaching ” without discrediting ( implicitly if not explicitly ) the political party that so obviously opposes that teaching ?
As you well know , St. John Paul II called governments that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( EV , 20 ) .
That ’ s pretty discrediting .
How is it possible , moreover , to defend religious freedom , where again , there is a fundamental difference of principle , not just policy , at work in our political divide ?
My ministry of Priests for Life and I , along with Alveda King who is part of our pastoral team , were joined shoulder to shoulder by the Archdiocese of Washington , the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Erie , the Little Sisters of the Poor , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apostolates to fight all the way to the Supreme Court for our religious freedom against mandates imposed by a Democrat Presidential Administration .
We won only because of the election of President Trump .
A serious public discussion is needed here , lest while urged by the Church to fight State mandates that restrict our freedom , we subject ourselves to Church mandates that restrict that same freedom .
What makes this all the more ironic is that we are living now in a climate where the federal government is not only defending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the moral dimensions of politics , but is urging us to do so !
On May 4 , 2017 , President Trump issued an Executive Order protecting our religious freedom .
He said , This also relates also to the rights of clerics to be politically involved .
Canon 287 §2 legitimately affirms of clerics , “ They are not to play an active role in political parties or in directing trade unions unless , in the judgement of the competent ecclesiastical authority , this is required for the defense of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the common good.
” While the first part of that canon is vigorously enforced , the second part requires due attention as well .
The rights of the Church and the common good are under attack in unprecedented ways by the Democrat Party .
But again , after being told to defend those goods , we are left to fight with two hands tied behind our backs and a gag over our mouths bearing an episcopal seal .
In calling for more open and respectful dialogue , I speak for many priests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side by side for decades in the fight for life and religious freedom , and whose commitment to these causes has all too often been met with criticism rather than appreciation by the pastors of the Church .
Indeed , even attempts to address the matter like I am doing in this letter are often met with unwarranted disciplinary action that appears to be motivated not by a concern for the good of the Church but by the very types of partisan political agendas that clerics are warned not to pursue .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sisters in other Christian denominations who are strong allies in the fight for life , family and freedom .
Unfortunately , while they have courageously defended the freedom of churches to preach the Gospel and “ to pass moral judgments even in matters relating to politics , ” they have found much of the response from Catholic religious leaders to be disheartening .
Your Eminences and Excellencies , as I said at the outset , I write with deep respect .
I am a son of the Church and have always defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her leaders .
But this is an appeal to engage in a dialogue that the circumstances of the moment call for most urgently .
The approximately 100,000 political races that comprise “ the 2020 Elections ” bring us to an unprecedented choice in America .
Never has the political divide been more substantial or consequential .
Never has the voice of the Church been more needed ; everything we stand for and have fought for is on the line .
Be assured , the voice of the Church will be heard , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Church is more than the hierarchy .
We know what is right , we know what the Church teaches , and we know how to win elections .
We just would rather not feel like we ’ re fighting without our leaders or , worse , having our leaders fight against us .
This election is not business as usual , and therefore I have written to you publicly .
Many of the faithful , and I , respectfully await a response from you that is likewise more than business as @ @

PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
June 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A priest well-known for his pro-life activism has penned an open letter to U.S. bishops asking them to use their authority to allow clergy to publicly advocate for the political party in the upcoming 2020 election that is pro-life and pro-religious freedom. The priest also asks for the right to name and discredit the opposing political party.
“The rights of the Church and the common good are under attack in unprecedented ways by the Democrat Party,” Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, declared in a June 25 open letter to the U.S. bishops (read full letter below).
Pavone noted how current Church directives forbid clergy from engaging in partisan politics. He also pointed out, however, that the current political situation is something that such directives do not take into account. The priest’s letter, written to coincide with Religious Freedom Week, points out that guidance from the hierarchy often frustrates and hinders the mission of clergy and lay people when it comes to articulating and applying the teachings of the Church to the political realm.
“When,” says Pavone, “the faithful are told not to ‘engage in any political activity which seeks to support or discredit any political party or candidate’ one wonders how the moral judgment in matters relating to politics is to be expressed.”
“When the Republican Party stands firmly for the principle that government cannot authorize the killing of babies, and the Democrat Party firmly rejects that principle by embracing unrestricted abortion, how is it possible for the Church ‘to proclaim its teaching’ without discrediting (implicitly if not explicitly) the political party that so obviously opposes that teaching?” Pavone asks the bishops.
Pavone said that clergy are “left to fight with two hands tied behind our backs and a gag over our mouths bearing an episcopal seal.”
“The approximately 100,000 political races that comprise ‘the 2020 Elections’ bring us to an unprecedented choice in America,” emphasized Pavone. “Never has the political divide been more substantial or consequential.”
“Never has the voice of the Church been more needed; everything we stand for and have fought for is on the line,” he added.
***
June 25, 2020
Your Eminences/Excellencies,
With deep respect, and with equally deep urgency, I write to extend to you, individually and collectively, an invitation to engage in a public dialogue regarding some specific aspects of the involvement of Christ’s faithful in the elections of 2020, now underway in the United States. In the context of this invitation, and consistent with Canon 212 §3, I also would like to point out a persistent problem in this regard that is hindering the common good and the rights of the Church.
Specifically, I refer to the repeated guidance issued from dioceses, Catholic Conferences, and the USCCB that restrict the speech of clerics and lay faithful in ways that not only exceed any restrictions found in Canon Law and Civil Law, but that are impossible to fulfill because of their broad reach and vagueness. As a result, rather than fostering unity among the People of God in the pursuit of the mission they eagerly engage by virtue of their baptism and confirmation, this guidance discourages and frustrates them and hinders that mission.
Moreover, this guidance fails to take into account the unique circumstances of the current political landscape in the United States and the moral response those circumstances require.
I call for a public discussion in the manner you deem appropriate, concerned that efforts to address these issues are consistently met, both in public and in private, with a refusal to engage the questions on their merits. Those questions are met instead with an appeal to discipline rather than dialogue, and to authority rather than reason. While maintaining the utmost respect for the legitimate authority you exercise among the faithful, it’s time to give a bit more attention to a robust discussion of the reasons behind the decisions that authority hands down in matters related to the political involvement of the faithful. Nobody in the Church, including bishops, should be impervious to input, advice, and criticism based on the expertise the faithful possess in various disciplines (cf. Lumen Gentium, 37).
Since 1994, my own ministry team, which embodies a wide range of pastoral and political experience, has addressed our national elections, seeking to articulate and apply the teachings of the Church to the political realm.
We affirm the teaching of Gaudium et Spes which states, “Christ, to be sure, gave His Church no proper mission in the political, economic or social order. The purpose which He set before her is a religious one” (42). Yet as you well know, that statement provides the context for a vigorous exposition of the Church’s responsibilities to shape temporal realities in accordance with the Kingdom of God. In articulating those responsibilities, that same document of the Council goes on to state, “At all times and in all places, the Church should have the true freedom to teach the faith, to proclaim its teaching about society, to carry out its task among men without hindrance and to pass moral judgments even in matters relating to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it” (76; see also Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 426; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2246; “Doctrinal Note On some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life,” CDF, November 24, 2002, and Code of Canon Law 747 §2).
In a book I wrote in 2015 (Abolishing Abortion, Thomas Nelson publishing), I document extensively the manner in which that duty of the faithful, both clerical and lay, to “pass moral judgments even in matters relating to politics,” has been hindered by the kind of guidance that dioceses, Catholic Conferences and the USCCB routinely issue. When, as expressed in many of the diocesan memos I quote, the faithful are told not to “engage in any political activity which seeks to support or discredit any political party or candidate” (p.117) one wonders how the moral judgment in matters relating to politics is to be expressed.
The public dialogue I am urgently inviting you to engage in at this time is based on the fact that we are not dealing with normal “political disagreements” in this election. If what divided the political parties were matters merely of prudential judgment, or policy disagreements that should be worked out by open debate, trial and error, and the corrective processes provided by our legislative, executive, and judicial mechanisms, then the official neutrality of the Church could be easily understood and implemented.
But that is not where we are right now.
We do not have a division simply on policy, but on principle. Our political divide is not simply about prudential judgments, but about ‘the fundamental rights of man’ and ‘the salvation of souls’ referred to by the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism, and numerous other sources.
When the Republican Party stands firmly for the principle that government cannot authorize the killing of babies, and the Democrat Party firmly rejects that principle by embracing unrestricted abortion, how is it possible for the Church “to proclaim its teaching” without discrediting (implicitly if not explicitly) the political party that so obviously opposes that teaching? As you well know, St. John Paul II called governments that legalize abortion “a tyrant state” (EV, 20). That’s pretty discrediting.
How is it possible, moreover, to defend religious freedom, where again, there is a fundamental difference of principle, not just policy, at work in our political divide? My ministry of Priests for Life and I, along with Alveda King who is part of our pastoral team, were joined shoulder to shoulder by the Archdiocese of Washington, the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Erie, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and numerous other Catholic and Christian institutions and apostolates to fight all the way to the Supreme Court for our religious freedom against mandates imposed by a Democrat Presidential Administration.
We won only because of the election of President Trump.
A serious public discussion is needed here, lest while urged by the Church to fight State mandates that restrict our freedom, we subject ourselves to Church mandates that restrict that same freedom.
What makes this all the more ironic is that we are living now in a climate where the federal government is not only defending our right to speak and teach freely on the moral dimensions of politics, but is urging us to do so! On May 4, 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order protecting our religious freedom. He said,
I want to hear from you, and so do a lot of other people. So, you’re now in a position where you can say what you want to say. And I know you’ll only say good and you’ll say what’s in your heart. And that’s what we want from you.…This executive order directs the IRS not to unfairly target churches and religious organizations for political speech. … In America we do not fear people speaking freely from the pulpit. We embrace it. …Under my administration, free speech does not end at the steps of a cathedral or a synagogue or any other house of worship.
This also relates also to the rights of clerics to be politically involved. Canon 287 §2 legitimately affirms of clerics, “They are not to play an active role in political parties or in directing trade unions unless, in the judgement of the competent ecclesiastical authority, this is required for the defense of the rights of the Church or to promote the common good.”
While the first part of that canon is vigorously enforced, the second part requires due attention as well. The rights of the Church and the common good are under attack in unprecedented ways by the Democrat Party. But again, after being told to defend those goods, we are left to fight with two hands tied behind our backs and a gag over our mouths bearing an episcopal seal.
In calling for more open and respectful dialogue, I speak for many priests and lay faithful with whom I have worked side by side for decades in the fight for life and religious freedom, and whose commitment to these causes has all too often been met with criticism rather than appreciation by the pastors of the Church. Indeed, even attempts to address the matter like I am doing in this letter are often met with unwarranted disciplinary action that appears to be motivated not by a concern for the good of the Church but by the very types of partisan political agendas that clerics are warned not to pursue.
I speak also on behalf of our brothers and sisters in other Christian denominations who are strong allies in the fight for life, family and freedom. Unfortunately, while they have courageously defended the freedom of churches to preach the Gospel and “to pass moral judgments even in matters relating to politics,” they have found much of the response from Catholic religious leaders to be disheartening.
Your Eminences and Excellencies, as I said at the outset, I write with deep respect. I am a son of the Church and have always defended her legitimate authority and prayed daily for her leaders. But this is an appeal to engage in a dialogue that the circumstances of the moment call for most urgently. The approximately 100,000 political races that comprise “the 2020 Elections” bring us to an unprecedented choice in America. Never has the political divide been more substantial or consequential.
Never has the voice of the Church been more needed; everything we stand for and have fought for is on the line. Be assured, the voice of the Church will be heard, because as you know and as you teach, the Church is more than the hierarchy. We know what is right, we know what the Church teaches, and we know how to win elections. We just would rather not feel like we’re fighting without our leaders or, worse, having our leaders fight against us.
This election is not business as usual, and therefore I have written to you publicly. Many of the faithful, and I, respectfully await a response from you that is likewise more than business as usual.
Sincerely,
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
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lifesitenews--2020-06-25--Minnesota lawmaker reportedly concerned about Antifa policing Minneapolis ‘under Muslim rule’

MINNESOTA , June 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — A Minnesota lawmaker has said that he believes that Antifa and Muslim organizations plan to “ police Minneapolis under Muslim rule , ” as he warned that communism is moving into the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul .
The comments were apparently made last week by Minnesota House Rep. Steve Green ( R-Fosston ) and reported by his fellow state legislator Rep. Matt Grossell ( R-Clearbrook ) during a confab with the Hubbard County Board .
Responding to a comment by board chair Chair Christenson that “ while there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she has not seen an alternate plan for safety ” Green reportedly said that he believes “ Antifa and Muslim organizations plan to ‘ police Minnesapolis under Muslim rule.
’ ” Green also warned that “ some [ Minnesota ] House representatives have a bill that would impose eminent domain on every business destroyed during the George Floyd protests , the city would purchase them and ‘ only sell back to people under conditions ’ imposed by the city.
” “ What you ’ re looking at , in my humble opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Paul , ” Green said .
LifeSiteNews contacted Green and Grossell to ask if they could provide any further comment on their remarks , but has not received a response .
U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn ( R-MN ) said earlier this week that “ The Democrat 'Black Lives Matter ' Party , along with armies of rioters , are at war with our country , our beliefs and western culture.
” Hagedorn made the comments in a Facebook post responding to calls from Shaun King , a leading voice in the Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for the destruction of images and statues of a “ white ” Jesus and Mary his mother .
‘ We must never let them take power .
We must stand up and defend our country , our nation ’ s identity , our Judeo-Christian values and our American way of life.
” Minnesota , where riots which spread across the country first broke out following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , has a number of high-profile Muslim politicians who are both passionate advocates of socialism and dismantling the police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Muslim who is also pro-abortion and a vocal advocate for LGBT causes , said earlier this month that policing methods in the state “ have to start from scratch.
” Omar regularly posts anti-police messages on social media .
Earlier this week Omar said on Twitter that “ police unions fight to function with impunity and harm communities.
” The congresswoman also retweeted a post by MSNBC correspondent Joy Reid earlier this month , which implied the prevalence of widespread police brutality .
Omar is set to preside over the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats ’ Justice in Policing Act .
In an article published earlier this month in Crisis magazine , William Kirkpatrick claims that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison “ embodies both the extremes of liberalism and the extremes of Islamism.
” Kirkpatrick notes that Ellison , who is also Deputy Director of the Democratic National Committee , was supported for his candidacy for Congress by the Communist Party USA ; has praised Fidel Castro and other leftist heroes ; and was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus .
“ On the other hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as solid , ” Kirkpatrick continues .
“ A convert to Islam , Ellison took his oath of office on the Koran at the photo-op re-enactment of his swearing-in ceremony .
And he has disparaged moderate Muslims as “ Uncle Toms , ” which suggests that Ellison himself could , perhaps , be categorized as an immoderate Muslim.
” Ellison has also implied his support for Antifa .
In January 2018 , in a now deleted tweet , he posted an image of himself with The Anti-Fascist Handbook , along with the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found the book that strike fear in the heart of @ realDonaldTrump.
” Ellison ’ s son , Jeremiah , has in the past month declared his unequivocal support for Antifa .
“ I hereby declare , officially , my support for ANTIFA , ” he wrote on Twitter .
“ Unless someone can prove to me ANTIFA is behind the burning of black and immigrant owned businesses in my ward , I ’ ll keep focusing on stopping the white power terrorist THE ARE ACTUALLY ATTACKING US !
” he continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council member , has been likewise open about his aim to dismantle the police .
“ We 're dismantling our police department .
And we wo n't be silent .
We 'll be loud .
We 'll fight .
We 'll win , ” he stated on social media earlier this month .
“ The possibility that we now stand on the brink of revolutionary change is difficult to entertain , ” Kirkpatrick concludes .
“ In America , we have grown accustomed to long periods of internal peace and prosperity .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will soon return to normalcy .
But that ’ s not always the case in history .
‘ Current trends ’ are often replaced by new , radically different trends .
”

Communism is moving into the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, warned Minnesota House Rep. Steve Green.
MINNESOTA, June 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Minnesota lawmaker has said that he believes that Antifa and Muslim organizations plan to “police Minneapolis under Muslim rule,” as he warned that communism is moving into the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The comments were apparently made last week by Minnesota House Rep. Steve Green (R-Fosston) and reported by his fellow state legislator Rep. Matt Grossell (R-Clearbrook) during a confab with the Hubbard County Board.
Responding to a comment by board chair Chair Christenson that “while there is nationwide talk of defunding police departments, she has not seen an alternate plan for safety” Green reportedly said that he believes “Antifa and Muslim organizations plan to ‘police Minnesapolis under Muslim rule.’”
Green also warned that “some [Minnesota] House representatives have a bill that would impose eminent domain on every business destroyed during the George Floyd protests, the city would purchase them and ‘only sell back to people under conditions’ imposed by the city.”
“What you’re looking at, in my humble opinion, is communism moving into Minneapolis and St. Paul,” Green said.
LifeSiteNews contacted Green and Grossell to ask if they could provide any further comment on their remarks, but has not received a response.
U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) said earlier this week that “The Democrat 'Black Lives Matter' Party, along with armies of rioters, are at war with our country, our beliefs and western culture.”
Hagedorn made the comments in a Facebook post responding to calls from Shaun King, a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, calling for the destruction of images and statues of a “white” Jesus and Mary his mother.
“Their radical movement is orchestrated and growing,” Hagedorn continued.
‘We must never let them take power. We must stand up and defend our country, our nation’s identity, our Judeo-Christian values and our American way of life.”
Minnesota, where riots which spread across the country first broke out following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, has a number of high-profile Muslim politicians who are both passionate advocates of socialism and dismantling the police.
Leftist House Representative for Minnesota Ilhan Omar, a Muslim who is also pro-abortion and a vocal advocate for LGBT causes, said earlier this month that policing methods in the state “have to start from scratch.”
Omar regularly posts anti-police messages on social media. Earlier this week Omar said on Twitter that “police unions fight to function with impunity and harm communities.” The congresswoman also retweeted a post by MSNBC correspondent Joy Reid earlier this month, which implied the prevalence of widespread police brutality.
I refuse to accept even a penny from the Fraternal Order of Police (and other police-only unions) — unlike labor unions that fight for more humane and dignified workplaces, police unions fight to function with impunity and harm communities: https://t.co/3ATz38fkku — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 23, 2020
You run, they shoot you
You're on the ground, they choke you
You sit in your car, they shoot or shock you
You march, they pepper spray or beat you
You say “I can't breathe,” they ignore you
These things MUST change about policing-especially POC. That's why the calls to defund. — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) June 14, 2020
Omar is set to preside over the U.S. House floor for debate today over the Democrats’ Justice in Policing Act.
In an article published earlier this month in Crisis magazine, William Kirkpatrick claims that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison “embodies both the extremes of liberalism and the extremes of Islamism.”
Kirkpatrick notes that Ellison, who is also Deputy Director of the Democratic National Committee, was supported for his candidacy for Congress by the Communist Party USA; has praised Fidel Castro and other leftist heroes; and was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
“On the other hand, his radical Islamist credentials are just as solid,” Kirkpatrick continues.
“A convert to Islam, Ellison took his oath of office on the Koran at the photo-op re-enactment of his swearing-in ceremony. And he has disparaged moderate Muslims as “Uncle Toms,” which suggests that Ellison himself could, perhaps, be categorized as an immoderate Muslim.”
Ellison has also implied his support for Antifa. In January 2018, in a now deleted tweet, he posted an image of himself with The Anti-Fascist Handbook, along with the words “At @MoonPalaceBooks and I just found the book that strike fear in the heart of @realDonaldTrump.”
Ellison’s son, Jeremiah, has in the past month declared his unequivocal support for Antifa.
“I hereby declare, officially, my support for ANTIFA,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Unless someone can prove to me ANTIFA is behind the burning of black and immigrant owned businesses in my ward, I’ll keep focusing on stopping the white power terrorist THE ARE ACTUALLY ATTACKING US!” he continued.
I hereby declare, officially, my support for ANTIFA Unless someone can prove to me ANTIFA is behind the burning of black and immigrant owned businesses in my ward, I’ll keep focusing on stopping the white power terrorist THE ARE ACTUALLY ATTACKING US! https://t.co/m6jxtDYmTi — Jeremiah Ellison (@jeremiah4north) May 31, 2020
Jeremiah Ellison, himself a Minneapolis City Council member, has been likewise open about his aim to dismantle the police. “We're dismantling our police department. And we won't be silent. We'll be loud. We'll fight. We'll win,” he stated on social media earlier this month.
When police kill someone in Colombia, there's a saying: “For those who have died
Not one minute of silence
We must always carry on the struggle and fight!” We're dismantling our police department. And we won't be silent. We'll be loud. We'll fight. We'll win. pic.twitter.com/6O7qV4CKOp — Jeremiah Ellison (@jeremiah4north) June 8, 2020
“The possibility that we now stand on the brink of revolutionary change is difficult to entertain,” Kirkpatrick concludes.
“In America, we have grown accustomed to long periods of internal peace and prosperity. When disruptions occur, we assume that we will soon return to normalcy. But that’s not always the case in history. ‘Current trends’ are often replaced by new, radically different trends.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-25--Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

Join our daily worldwide rosary HERE

June 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – In response to the crisis unfolding in our world and in the Church , LifeSite is offering Catholics throughout the world a 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Pillari , J.C.L.
, an American priest currently studying in Italy .
Our 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //voiceofthefamily.com/full-text-cardinal-burkes-historic-call-for-consecration-of-russia/ ) .
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 !
Send photos or videos of you and your family praying 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--2020-06-25--Black Lives Matter activist tells rioters to protest Catholic parish for being ‘Trump supporters’

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
SAN DIEGO , California , June 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A Black Lives Matter activist used social media to call on mobs and rioters to protest a Catholic parish in San Diego , saying that the “ white ” parishioners did not think black lives mattered and they were “ staunch ” Trump supporters .
Local Catholics , including the pastor of St. Anne Catholic Church in San Diego ’ s Logan Heights neighborhood , took the threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the message began to spread on Twitter yesterday afternoon .
Yesterday a Twitter user calling herself “ BLACKLIVESMATTER @ bebedeazucarrr ” ( i.e .
“ Sugar Baby ” ) published a photograph of St. Anne Church with words calling for a protest .
The image , which appeared to have originally been shared on an Instagram story , had the following message printed on it : “ St .
Anne ’ s doesn ’ t think Black Lives Matter and are staunch Trump supporters .
These are white people who bought out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would like to see if we can organize a group to protest here ASAP.
” This was followed by the church ’ s address and the following allegations : “ Also they don ’ t believe coronavirus and have been congregating since the beginning of the Stay @ home orders.
” The Twitter-user seemed to incite residents of the neighborhood by adding her own comment , “ Logan Heights !
!
!
!
” When reproached by Catholic Twitter users , the BLM fan denied threatening the church .
She claimed she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that she follows and that the context of her remark “ Logan Heights ” was her opposition to its “ gentrification.
” She has since removed the Tweet .
The pastor and parishioners of St. Anne Catholic Church are concerned that a violent protest could indeed appear outside their place of worship .
Fr .
John Lyons , FSSP , told parishioners in an email that the parish administrators had contacted police and said that the police would “ intervene if necessary.
” He asked that nobody take any other action “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this would “ most likely only make matters worse.
” “ We do sincerely encourage you to pray for those who have promoted this action against our parish , ” he said .
But several men have pledged over social media to protect the church from the violence and vandalism that in recent weeks has spread from Minneapolis throughout the western world .
At first confining themselves to statues of secular heroes , BLM activist have begun to attack images of Christ and Catholic saints .
“ I was just informed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest at our Latin-mass parish in San Diego , ” tweeted author Trent Horne .
“ I will be following the San Diego Police Department 's recommendations for physically protecting the parish but I pray no protest materializes and I hope you will do the same.
” “ I am happy to put my body on the line , but I live in San Antonio , ” wrote Mike King in response to an appeal by online Catholic talk show host Dr. Taylor Marshall .
“ If miscreants show up at St. Anne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter so I will come , ” he continued .
“ I have been praying about how we can oppose the desecration and anarchy we have been seeing in the news.
” Today Susan Ortega published a photograph of police and young men of mixed ethnic origins standing outside St. Anne Catholic Church .
“ Police and faithful are united to protect St. Anne ’ s , ” she wrote .
“ Sounds like they are talking about having a 24 hours surveillance set up.
” Another St. Anne ’ s parishioner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novena ” for the protection of the church and its priests , the conversion of those who dislike Christ and His Church , and reparation for sins against the Sacred Heart .
It will begin at 12:00 a.m. on Friday and continue until midnight on Saturday , July 4 .
Some parishioners attested on social media that people from different ethnic backgrounds attend Mass at St. Anne and that it belonged to the Diocese of San Diego before it was given to the priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter to minister .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ English and Spanish .
Meanwhile , parishioners also attest that the church has followed the local coronavirus guidelines .
The church reopened for public worship on June 8 , but currently only 60 people may attend each Mass .
The partisan and race-baiting threat to St. Anne Catholic Church appeared three days after BLM activist Shawn King called for the destruction of statues and other religious art depicting Jesus Christ , His mother Mary and “ his white [ sic ] friends , ” saying that they are a “ gross form [ @ @ @ @ @ @

'I would like to see if we can organize a group to protest here ASAP'
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
SAN DIEGO, California, June 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A Black Lives Matter activist used social media to call on mobs and rioters to protest a Catholic parish in San Diego, saying that the “white” parishioners did not think black lives mattered and they were “staunch” Trump supporters.
Local Catholics, including the pastor of St. Anne Catholic Church in San Diego’s Logan Heights neighborhood, took the threat seriously and prepared to protect their church after the message began to spread on Twitter yesterday afternoon.
Yesterday a Twitter user calling herself “BLACKLIVESMATTER @bebedeazucarrr” (i.e. “Sugar Baby”) published a photograph of St. Anne Church with words calling for a protest. The image, which appeared to have originally been shared on an Instagram story, had the following message printed on it:
“St. Anne’s doesn’t think Black Lives Matter and are staunch Trump supporters. These are white people who bought out the church from a Mexican family. I would like to see if we can organize a group to protest here ASAP.”
This was followed by the church’s address and the following allegations: “Also they don’t believe coronavirus and have been congregating since the beginning of the Stay @ home orders.”
The Twitter-user seemed to incite residents of the neighborhood by adding her own comment, “Logan Heights!!!!”
When reproached by Catholic Twitter users, the BLM fan denied threatening the church. She claimed she found the image on “a platform” that she follows and that the context of her remark “Logan Heights” was her opposition to its “gentrification.” She has since removed the Tweet.
The pastor and parishioners of St. Anne Catholic Church are concerned that a violent protest could indeed appear outside their place of worship.
Fr. John Lyons, FSSP, told parishioners in an email that the parish administrators had contacted police and said that the police would “intervene if necessary.” He asked that nobody take any other action “on his own initiative,” saying that this would “most likely only make matters worse.”
“We do sincerely encourage you to pray for those who have promoted this action against our parish,” he said.
But several men have pledged over social media to protect the church from the violence and vandalism that in recent weeks has spread from Minneapolis throughout the western world. At first confining themselves to statues of secular heroes, BLM activist have begun to attack images of Christ and Catholic saints.
“I was just informed that a BLM supporter is calling for a protest at our Latin-mass parish in San Diego,” tweeted author Trent Horne.
“I will be following the San Diego Police Department's recommendations for physically protecting the parish but I pray no protest materializes and I hope you will do the same.”
“I am happy to put my body on the line, but I live in San Antonio,” wrote Mike King in response to an appeal by online Catholic talk show host Dr. Taylor Marshall.
“If miscreants show up at St. Anne’s please put the message out on Twitter so I will come,” he continued.
“I have been praying about how we can oppose the desecration and anarchy we have been seeing in the news.”
Today Susan Ortega published a photograph of police and young men of mixed ethnic origins standing outside St. Anne Catholic Church.
“Police and faithful are united to protect St. Anne’s,” she wrote. “Sounds like they are talking about having a 24 hours surveillance set up.”
Another St. Anne’s parishioner has organized a “Holy Hour Crusade Novena” for the protection of the church and its priests, the conversion of those who dislike Christ and His Church, and reparation for sins against the Sacred Heart. It will begin at 12:00 a.m. on Friday and continue until midnight on Saturday, July 4.
Some parishioners attested on social media that people from different ethnic backgrounds attend Mass at St. Anne and that it belonged to the Diocese of San Diego before it was given to the priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter to minister. The parish bulletin is published in both English and Spanish. Meanwhile, parishioners also attest that the church has followed the local coronavirus guidelines. The church reopened for public worship on June 8, but currently only 60 people may attend each Mass.
The partisan and race-baiting threat to St. Anne Catholic Church appeared three days after BLM activist Shawn King called for the destruction of statues and other religious art depicting Jesus Christ, His mother Mary and “his white [sic] friends,” saying that they are a “gross form [of] white supremacy.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-25--Urgent- Only 2 days left!

Urgent- Only 2 days left!

June 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Although there are only 2 days left in our Summer Fundraising , we have faith that the goal can still be reached .
You depend on our news because LifeSite is a very unique source of professional , reliable , and timely news reporting on the issues the mainstream media deliberately ignores , distorts and lies about in order to advance their globalist anti-life , anti-family , anti-freedom agenda .
Unfortunately , it ’ s becoming more difficult every day to bring LifeSite articles to the millions of people who come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ censorship tactics .
Especially because of the upcoming US election , social media and big tech corporations are hell-bent on silencing you and those who share your worldview .
But we still manage to get around them in many ways thanks to the incredibly talented marketing , technical and other highly motivated professionals that LifeSite has been blessed to have on our team .
It ’ s become clearer in recent months that the New World Order manipulators will stop at nothing to silence us .
It is all-out information warfare right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump frightens them that much !
Just this past week , YouTube censored one of our investigative videos showing the connection between the civil chaos happening here , and around the world , with George Soros and the organizations he funds .
That incredibly revealing 11-minute investigative video simply used the facts and evidence publicly available - and yet we were still censored !
We did the research , and we were the ones censored .
Why ?
Because of the Truth .
They absolutely do not want you to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just might possibly lead to George Soros finally being investigated , convicted and jailed for his multi-billion-dollar-funded , globalist radicalization schemes .
This is what we are up against , and this is exactly why I must challenge you to stop everything , right now , and make a gift of support of whatever amount you can afford to for our pro-life and pro-family news reporting .
To make a donation , follow this secure link : https : //give.lifesitenews.com To sustain our mission year-round , I hope you will consider supporting LifeSite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out this video made by some of our monthly Sustainers to hear why they Sustain Life : https : //youtu.be/1_dIkouDFZM .
A chip-in gift of $ 10 , $ 20 , or $ 35 or more per month will go a long way to help us reach our fundraising goal by June 26th .
Please click on the following link to make your secure gift today : https : //give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife When you join our family of Sustain Life monthly supporters today , you will : • Get our exclusive sustainer-only quarterly newsletter with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly impacting the culture , • Have an easy and consistent way to budget your giving , And to make your monthly gift commitment even more impactful , thanks to a generous donor , we are able to match your monthly gift for the rest of the year – up to $ 120,000 !
That means your $ 10 monthly gift becomes $ 20 , $ 25 becomes $ 50 , and so on .
As a reader-funded organization , your generosity , no matter how large or small the gift , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact that it has on the culture .
We absolutely must reach our fundraising goal in the next 2 days !
The areas where the mainstream media is either silent , or hopelessly biased , are exactly the areas that need a voice to speak out boldly , fearlessly , and unapologetically .
Our mission is committed to stand up in defense of the unborn , the family , people of faith , and freedom - no matter what !
Unlike the huge anti-life and anti-family non-profits and media organizations , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive no government or church funding , and we can not count on huge grants from foundations funded by the world ’ s wealthy elite .
This is a good thing , but this is exactly why we need your support !
For over 20 years now , our army of everyday readers like you have sustained this truth mission , and the impact of such committed readers has truly been amazing .
Your generosity is what makes this mission a David vs. Goliath effort .
Though your donation may feel small in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations seeking to destroy our culture , with God on our side , we always know that anything is possible !
With the faithful support of so many dedicated pro-life and pro-family warriors like you , we always seem to be able to achieve what others would consider to be impossible !
To make a donation of any amount , follow this secure link : https : //give.lifesitenews.com

There are only 2 days left and we still have a long way to go to reach our goal!
June 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Although there are only 2 days left in our Summer Fundraising, we have faith that the goal can still be reached.
You depend on our news because LifeSite is a very unique source of professional, reliable, and timely news reporting on the issues the mainstream media deliberately ignores, distorts and lies about in order to advance their globalist anti-life, anti-family, anti-freedom agenda.
Unfortunately, it’s becoming more difficult every day to bring LifeSite articles to the millions of people who come to our site every month because of growing censorship tactics. Especially because of the upcoming US election, social media and big tech corporations are hell-bent on silencing you and those who share your worldview.
But we still manage to get around them in many ways thanks to the incredibly talented marketing, technical and other highly motivated professionals that LifeSite has been blessed to have on our team.
It’s become clearer in recent months that the New World Order manipulators will stop at nothing to silence us. It is all-out information warfare right now – with all means being justified. President Donald Trump frightens them that much!
Just this past week, YouTube censored one of our investigative videos showing the connection between the civil chaos happening here, and around the world, with George Soros and the organizations he funds. That incredibly revealing 11-minute investigative video simply used the facts and evidence publicly available – and yet we were still censored!
We did the research, and we were the ones censored. Why? Because of the Truth. They absolutely do not want you to see what is in that video because it just might possibly lead to George Soros finally being investigated, convicted and jailed for his multi-billion-dollar-funded, globalist radicalization schemes.
This is what we are up against, and this is exactly why I must challenge you to stop everything, right now, and make a gift of support of whatever amount you can afford to for our pro-life and pro-family news reporting. To make a donation, follow this secure link: https://give.lifesitenews.com
To sustain our mission year-round, I hope you will consider supporting LifeSite on a monthly basis. Please check out this video made by some of our monthly Sustainers to hear why they Sustain Life: https://youtu.be/1_dIkouDFZM.
A chip-in gift of $10, $20, or $35 or more per month will go a long way to help us reach our fundraising goal by June 26th.
Please click on the following link to make your secure gift today: https://give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife
When you join our family of Sustain Life monthly supporters today, you will:
Enjoy unique access to the latest breaking stories,
Get our exclusive sustainer-only quarterly newsletter with behind-the-scenes information on how your support is directly impacting the culture,
Have an easy and consistent way to budget your giving,
Receive an exclusive “Proud Sustainer” fridge magnet.
And to make your monthly gift commitment even more impactful, thanks to a generous donor, we are able to match your monthly gift for the rest of the year – up to $120,000! That means your $10 monthly gift becomes $20, $25 becomes $50, and so on.
As a reader-funded organization, your generosity, no matter how large or small the gift, is incredibly important to our continued reporting and the impact that it has on the culture.
We absolutely must reach our fundraising goal in the next 2 days!
The areas where the mainstream media is either silent, or hopelessly biased, are exactly the areas that need a voice to speak out boldly, fearlessly, and unapologetically. Our mission is committed to stand up in defense of the unborn, the family, people of faith, and freedom – no matter what!
Unlike the huge anti-life and anti-family non-profits and media organizations, we have no multi-million-dollar celebrity supporters, we receive no government or church funding, and we cannot count on huge grants from foundations funded by the world’s wealthy elite. This is a good thing, but this is exactly why we need your support!
For over 20 years now, our army of everyday readers like you have sustained this truth mission, and the impact of such committed readers has truly been amazing.
Your generosity is what makes this mission a David vs. Goliath effort. Though your donation may feel small in comparison to the millions being funneled into organizations seeking to destroy our culture, with God on our side, we always know that anything is possible!
With the faithful support of so many dedicated pro-life and pro-family warriors like you, we always seem to be able to achieve what others would consider to be impossible!
To make a donation of any amount, follow this secure link: https://give.lifesitenews.com
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-26--It’s ‘child abuse’ for scientists to extensively gene-edit human embryos and then destroy them: Ethi

It’s ‘child abuse’ for scientists to extensively gene-edit human embryos and then destroy them: Ethicist

LONDON , England , June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A Catholic ethicist has characterized as “ child abuse ” the embryonic research of a team of UK scientists after they destroyed over a dozen tiny humans following extensive manipulation of their DNA using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR .
The scientists published their findings in a paper .
“ Child abuse is an offense reportable by health care providers .
Yet scientific journals publish such research as if it represents a good , ” Catholic ethicist Dr. Marie Hilliard told LifeSiteNews in an interview .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described by the scientists in a June 5 , 2020 paper that has not yet been peer-reviewed , several of the little babies had “ abnormalities across a particular chromosome.
” The team of scientists “ started with 25 human embryos and used CRISPR to snip out a gene known as POU5F1 in 18 of them .
The other seven embryos acted as controls.
” “ The researchers then used sophisticated computational methods to analyze all of the embryos , ” OneZero reported .
“ What they found was that of the edited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had abnormalities across a particular chromosome .
Of those , four contained inadvertent deletions or additions of DNA directly adjacent to the edited gene.
” While CRISPR has been known for the possibility for “ off-target ” effects , “ which can happen if the CRISPR machinery doesn ’ t edit the intended gene and mistakenly edits someplace else in the genome , ” the London team of scientists , led by Kathy K. Niakan , “ sounds the alarm for so-called ‘ on-target ’ edits , which result from edits to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unintended consequences.
” In other words , not only the particular gene is edited that was intended to be edited in the first place , but other parts of the DNA around that particular gene are also affected , which can cause problems .
Hilliard told LifeSiteNews that the methods described by the team of scientists in their paper , “ while intending to demonstrate if on-target gene editing of human embryos is possible , constitute the most egregious abuse of the most helpless of human beings , who are then destroyed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethics Committee of the Catholic Medical Association and works with The National Catholic Bioethics Center .
She holds graduate degrees in maternal-child health nursing , religious studies , canon law , and professional higher education administration .
Even if the embryos were to develop into adults , Hilliard pointed out , reproductive cells could have been altered , which could then impact the human race if these human beings reproduced just like human beings whose DNA had not been altered .
This is why the scientists have opted to destroy the embryos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of scientists , in their paper , represented “ the ultimate cannibalization of human beings , conceived through in-vitro fertility treatments ( IVF ) , purportedly because they were desired by loving parents , then abandoned by them to science .
In reality , these offspring are treated by their unknowing parents as commodities , after their brothers or sisters , who were allowed to live , were deemed to be more desirable.
” Hilliard explained that parents “ erroneously are told that a human being does not exist until the embryo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thus , parents often mistakenly intend to do a good by donating their conceived human embryos to science.
” “ Yet a grave evil is imposed upon their sons and daughters , who are experimented upon and then destroyed , ” she continued .
“ Ethical principles of research not only demand informed consent of the subject , but also that the research will benefit the subject , or at least have a neutral effect .
In this case , the embryos were mutilated before they were destroyed.
” Hilliard emphasized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong , meaning by its very nature always an evil .
In fact , it may constitute a ‘ good , ’ depending on how it is done and for what purpose.
” However , gene-editing should first be tested on certain animals like mice .
“ Ethically , the prerequisite animal research must demonstrate effectiveness and safety before applied to human beings , ” Hilliard explained .
“ Studies on animals indicate there is great potential for targeted base-editing , and human success with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia is being demonstrated.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists destroying what they know to be human beings while abortion supporters often argue that the embryo in the mother ’ s womb is not ( yet ) a human being .
“ The very fact that the research is being conducted on human embryos demonstrates what science confirms , the embryos are human beings , ” she said .
“ Since the research is aimed at correcting genetic abnormalities in human beings , researching on embryos demonstrates that these are human beings.
” “ Furthermore , destroying them before implantation in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reproduce could impact the human gene pool , clearly demonstrates that these embryos are human beings , ” she added .
“ How scientists can deny , or at least ignore this truth is unfathomable .
”

‘Child abuse is an offense reportable by health care providers. Yet scientific journals publish such research as if it represents a good’
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
LONDON, England, June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A Catholic ethicist has characterized as “child abuse” the embryonic research of a team of UK scientists after they destroyed over a dozen tiny humans following extensive manipulation of their DNA using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR. The scientists published their findings in a paper.
“Child abuse is an offense reportable by health care providers. Yet scientific journals publish such research as if it represents a good,” Catholic ethicist Dr. Marie Hilliard told LifeSiteNews in an interview.
According to OneZero, which summarized the findings described by the scientists in a June 5, 2020 paper that has not yet been peer-reviewed, several of the little babies had “abnormalities across a particular chromosome.”
The team of scientists “started with 25 human embryos and used CRISPR to snip out a gene known as POU5F1 in 18 of them. The other seven embryos acted as controls.”
“The researchers then used sophisticated computational methods to analyze all of the embryos,” OneZero reported. “What they found was that of the edited embryos, 10 looked normal but eight had abnormalities across a particular chromosome. Of those, four contained inadvertent deletions or additions of DNA directly adjacent to the edited gene.”
While CRISPR has been known for the possibility for “off-target” effects, “which can happen if the CRISPR machinery doesn’t edit the intended gene and mistakenly edits someplace else in the genome,” the London team of scientists, led by Kathy K. Niakan, “sounds the alarm for so-called ‘on-target’ edits, which result from edits to the right place in the genome but have unintended consequences.”
In other words, not only the particular gene is edited that was intended to be edited in the first place, but other parts of the DNA around that particular gene are also affected, which can cause problems.
Hilliard told LifeSiteNews that the methods described by the team of scientists in their paper, “while intending to demonstrate if on-target gene editing of human embryos is possible, constitute the most egregious abuse of the most helpless of human beings, who are then destroyed.”
Dr. Marie Hilliard is co-chair of the Ethics Committee of the Catholic Medical Association and works with The National Catholic Bioethics Center. She holds graduate degrees in maternal-child health nursing, religious studies, canon law, and professional higher education administration.
Even if the embryos were to develop into adults, Hilliard pointed out, reproductive cells could have been altered, which could then impact the human race if these human beings reproduced just like human beings whose DNA had not been altered. This is why the scientists have opted to destroy the embryos.
According to Dr. Hilliard, the team of scientists, in their paper, represented “the ultimate cannibalization of human beings, conceived through in-vitro fertility treatments (IVF), purportedly because they were desired by loving parents, then abandoned by them to science. In reality, these offspring are treated by their unknowing parents as commodities, after their brothers or sisters, who were allowed to live, were deemed to be more desirable.”
Hilliard explained that parents “erroneously are told that a human being does not exist until the embryo is implanted in the mother’s womb. Thus, parents often mistakenly intend to do a good by donating their conceived human embryos to science.”
“Yet a grave evil is imposed upon their sons and daughters, who are experimented upon and then destroyed,” she continued. “Ethical principles of research not only demand informed consent of the subject, but also that the research will benefit the subject, or at least have a neutral effect. In this case, the embryos were mutilated before they were destroyed.”
Hilliard emphasized that gene-editing as such “is not intrinsically wrong, meaning by its very nature always an evil. In fact, it may constitute a ‘good,’ depending on how it is done and for what purpose.”
However, gene-editing should first be tested on certain animals like mice. “Ethically, the prerequisite animal research must demonstrate effectiveness and safety before applied to human beings,” Hilliard explained. “Studies on animals indicate there is great potential for targeted base-editing, and human success with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia is being demonstrated.”
The ethicist noted the irony of scientists destroying what they know to be human beings while abortion supporters often argue that the embryo in the mother’s womb is not (yet) a human being.
“The very fact that the research is being conducted on human embryos demonstrates what science confirms, the embryos are human beings,” she said. “Since the research is aimed at correcting genetic abnormalities in human beings, researching on embryos demonstrates that these are human beings.”
“Furthermore, destroying them before implantation in a mother, because to let them develop and reproduce could impact the human gene pool, clearly demonstrates that these embryos are human beings,” she added. “How scientists can deny, or at least ignore this truth is unfathomable.”
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lifesitenews--2020-06-26--Rising Canadian political star slams UN for showing support for ‘radical leftist’ group Antifa

ONTARIO , June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Conservative Party of Canada ( CPC ) leadership candidate and member of Parliament ( MP ) Derek Sloan says the United Nations is “ hopelessly out of touch ” for showing support for Antifa in a social media post last week .
The United Nations Office at Geneva ( UNOG ) voiced support for Antifa in a June 19 Twitter post , by “ expressing profound concern ” over the fact the United States government is looking at labeling them a terrorist organization .
In a June 23 email to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it was “ shockingly inappropriate ” for them to show support for Antifa .
“ Incredible but true !
The United Nations actually voiced their support for an anti-government , radical leftist organization that has incited violence and rioting in cities across the U.S. during the past three weeks !
” said Sloan .
“ Besides being shockingly inappropriate , this is also a profoundly politically ignorant statement….the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly are foundational , but they don ’ t include burglary , arson , vandalism , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life and pro-family , also said in his email that if elected Prime Minister , he will “ designate ANTIFA as a terrorist group.
” “ ANTIFA ’ s aim is nothing less than the destruction of western democracy…Conservatives , in particular , have to be concerned about this , because ANTIFA is well known for singling out conservatives for vicious attacks , ” said Sloan in his email .
“ It ’ s clear that the UN is becoming either hopelessly out of touch , or irredeemably radically leftist in its beliefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” added Sloan in his email .
He also said the same thing on Twitter this week .
The UN social media post showing support for Antifa caused an uproar from many , which prompted the UNOG to delete the post a few days ago .
The deleted post can still be seen on an archive site .
The now-deleted UN Twitter post showed a photo of the Antifa flag with the following text : “ UN Human Rights experts express profound concern over a recent statement by the US Attorney-General describing Antifa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it undermines the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly in the country.
” In an announcement last month , U.S. President Donald Trump said he will declare Antifa a terrorist organization , as the group is suspected to have played a key role in the rioting that followed the death of George Floyd .
Antifa , which is short for “ anti-fascist , ” is a political movement that promotes leftist extremism that in recent years has gained strong traction in the U.S .
The leftist group has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people claiming to be members of it have been active participants in the violent and destructive rioting taking place in the U.S. , which were sparked by Floyd ’ s death .
Sloan also said in his email that the UN is “ anything but the impartial , multi-national body they were intended to be , ” and that they have “ proven ” to be “ increasingly influenced by , and to be exporters of , political and social radical leftism.
” Sloan then said that if elected Prime Minister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing UN treaties that undermine Canadian sovereignty.
” “ Why is the UN trying to normalize the actions of ANTIFA under the false umbrella of ‘ peaceful assembly ’ , when their assembly invariably involves pre-meditated and extreme violence , rioting , and harassment ?
” said Sloan .
In his email , Sloan again promised to defund the World Health Organization ( WHO ) should he be elected prime minister , and added that he is the “ only candidate willing to take us out of the UN Paris Agreement.
” Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become prime minister , he would defund foreign abortions , Planned Parenthood , and “ Pride ” parades as well as the WHO .
In last week ’ s CPC English leaders debate , he said his fellow candidates would “ agree with him ” that “ it ’ s not right ” that Canada has no laws protecting babies from abortion .

Conservative leadership candidate Sloan called the UN ‘hopelessly out of touch’ for supporting the anti-government group
PETITION: Investigate George Soros' role in funding domestic terrorism! Sign the petition here.
ONTARIO, June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership candidate and member of Parliament (MP) Derek Sloan says the United Nations is “hopelessly out of touch” for showing support for Antifa in a social media post last week.
The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) voiced support for Antifa in a June 19 Twitter post, by “expressing profound concern” over the fact the United States government is looking at labeling them a terrorist organization.
In a June 23 email to his followers, Sloan blasted the UN, saying it was “shockingly inappropriate” for them to show support for Antifa.
“Incredible but true! The United Nations actually voiced their support for an anti-government, radical leftist organization that has incited violence and rioting in cities across the U.S. during the past three weeks!” said Sloan.
“Besides being shockingly inappropriate, this is also a profoundly politically ignorant statement….the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly are foundational, but they don’t include burglary, arson, vandalism, and assault.”
Sloan, who identifies as pro-life and pro-family, also said in his email that if elected Prime Minister, he will “designate ANTIFA as a terrorist group.”
“ANTIFA’s aim is nothing less than the destruction of western democracy…Conservatives, in particular, have to be concerned about this, because ANTIFA is well known for singling out conservatives for vicious attacks,” said Sloan in his email.
“It’s clear that the UN is becoming either hopelessly out of touch, or irredeemably radically leftist in its beliefs and policies. Or perhaps both,” added Sloan in his email. He also said the same thing on Twitter this week.
The UN social media post showing support for Antifa caused an uproar from many, which prompted the UNOG to delete the post a few days ago. The deleted post can still be seen on an archive site.
The now-deleted UN Twitter post showed a photo of the Antifa flag with the following text: “UN Human Rights experts express profound concern over a recent statement by the US Attorney-General describing Antifa and other anti-fascist activists as domestic terrorists, saying it undermines the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly in the country.”
In an announcement last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will declare Antifa a terrorist organization, as the group is suspected to have played a key role in the rioting that followed the death of George Floyd.
Antifa, which is short for “anti-fascist,” is a political movement that promotes leftist extremism that in recent years has gained strong traction in the U.S.
The leftist group has no official leader but in recent months, people claiming to be members of it have been active participants in the violent and destructive rioting taking place in the U.S., which were sparked by Floyd’s death.
Sloan also said in his email that the UN is “anything but the impartial, multi-national body they were intended to be,” and that they have “proven” to be “increasingly influenced by, and to be exporters of, political and social radical leftism.”
Sloan then said that if elected Prime Minister, he will “stop the practice of signing UN treaties that undermine Canadian sovereignty.”
“Why is the UN trying to normalize the actions of ANTIFA under the false umbrella of ‘peaceful assembly’, when their assembly invariably involves pre-meditated and extreme violence, rioting, and harassment?” said Sloan.
In his email, Sloan again promised to defund the World Health Organization (WHO) should he be elected prime minister, and added that he is the “only candidate willing to take us out of the UN Paris Agreement.”
Last week, Sloan said that should he become prime minister, he would defund foreign abortions, Planned Parenthood, and “Pride” parades as well as the WHO.
In last week’s CPC English leaders debate, he said his fellow candidates would “agree with him” that “it’s not right” that Canada has no laws protecting babies from abortion.
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lifesitenews--2020-06-25--Pope Francis belittles as ‘adolescent’ priests who defied COVID lockdowns to give faithful sacrament

Pope Francis belittles as ‘adolescent’ priests who defied COVID lockdowns to give faithful sacraments

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
VATICAN CITY , June 25 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pope Francis has indicated that he was not impressed with priests who violated coronavirus lockdown rules to minister to the laity .
In a speech he delivered Saturday to primarily bishops , doctors , nurses , and other healthcare workers from the Italian region of Lombardy , Pope Francis contrasted priests who violated the ban on public worship with priests who ministered to their flock in “ creative ” ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pastoral zeal and creative solicitude of priests helped people to follow the way of faith and not to remain alone before sorrow and fear , ” he said .
“ This priestly creativity ... overcame ... a few , ‘ adolescent ’ expressions against the measures of the authority having the duty of protecting the health of the people.
” Francis said most priests were “ obedient and creative.
” “ I admired the apostolic spirit of many priests who visited by telephone , knocked on doors , called by homes ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something ?
I will do your shopping , ’ ” he added .
“ A thousand things .
Closeness , creativity , without shame .
...
They were a sign of the consoling presence of God.
” He said these priests were “ fathers , not adolescents.
” The pontiff said Italian Catholics were able to feel like a community even without public worship .
“ These past months , the people could not participate personally at the liturgical celebrations , but they didn ’ t miss the feeling of community , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or with their families , even through means of social communication , spiritually united , and perceiving that the embrace of the Lord goes beyond the limits of space.
” Pope Francis praised doctors and nurses and other people in secular life who brought healing and comfort to the sick during the bleakest days of Italy ’ s early experience of the coronavirus pandemic .
He asked his audience not to forget the “ positive energy ” generated at that time and said individualism as a guiding principle for society has been , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be illusory .
“ God has created us for communion , for fraternity , ” he said .
Among those present at the lecture were the Archbishop of Milan and the bishops of Bergamo , Brescia , Cremona , Crema , Lodì and Padua .
The coronavirus pandemic hit Lombardy early and hard before spreading throughout the rest of Italy , Europe and the United Kingdom .
The first known Italian COVID-19 patient in the region fell ill in mid-February .
On March 8 , as the virus spread rapidly through northern Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and central areas under quarantine .
This was only partially effective .
As of today , there have been more than 93,000 cases reported for the Lombardy region , and the deaths of more than 16,500 residents have been blamed on the virus .
The quarantine , which included a ban on public worship and most travel outside the home , extended to the entire country on March 10 .
This left many priests uncertain as to how to minister to the spiritual needs of their people .
In some places , authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other devotional processions ; in others , police fined priests for appearing outdoors without sufficient cause or even interrupted Mass .
One aspect of the coronavirus measures that troubled faithful Catholics in northern Italy was that churches were singled out for closure weeks before restaurants , swimming pools and other public venues were made to close their doors .
On March 8 , shortly after the nationwide ban on public gatherings , even private prayer in the churches of Rome was suspended .
This decision was overturned on March 13 after Papal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doors to his titular church and displayed the Blessed Sacrament for adoration .
“ It is the act of disobedience , yes , I myself put the Blessed Sacrament out and opened my church , ” Krajewski said .
“ It did not happen under Fascism , it did not happen under the Russian or Soviet rule in Poland — the churches were not closed , ” he explained .
“ This is an act that should bring courage to other priests .
”

'I admired the apostolic spirit of many priests who visited by telephone, knocked on doors, called by homes (saying): 'Do you need something? I will do your shopping.''
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
VATICAN CITY, June 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis has indicated that he was not impressed with priests who violated coronavirus lockdown rules to minister to the laity.
In a speech he delivered Saturday to primarily bishops, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers from the Italian region of Lombardy, Pope Francis contrasted priests who violated the ban on public worship with priests who ministered to their flock in “creative” ways, like buying their shopping.
“The pastoral zeal and creative solicitude of priests helped people to follow the way of faith and not to remain alone before sorrow and fear,” he said.
“This priestly creativity … overcame … a few, ‘adolescent’ expressions against the measures of the authority having the duty of protecting the health of the people.”
Francis said most priests were “obedient and creative.”
“I admired the apostolic spirit of many priests who visited by telephone, knocked on doors, called by homes (saying): ‘Do you need something? I will do your shopping,’” he added.
“A thousand things. Closeness, creativity, without shame. … They were a sign of the consoling presence of God.”
He said these priests were “fathers, not adolescents.”
The pontiff said Italian Catholics were able to feel like a community even without public worship.
“These past months, the people could not participate personally at the liturgical celebrations, but they didn’t miss the feeling of community,” he said.
“They prayed alone or with their families, even through means of social communication, spiritually united, and perceiving that the embrace of the Lord goes beyond the limits of space.”
Pope Francis praised doctors and nurses and other people in secular life who brought healing and comfort to the sick during the bleakest days of Italy’s early experience of the coronavirus pandemic. He asked his audience not to forget the “positive energy” generated at that time and said individualism as a guiding principle for society has been, more now than ever, shown to be illusory.
“God has created us for communion, for fraternity,” he said.
Among those present at the lecture were the Archbishop of Milan and the bishops of Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, Crema, Lodì and Padua.
The coronavirus pandemic hit Lombardy early and hard before spreading throughout the rest of Italy, Europe and the United Kingdom. The first known Italian COVID-19 patient in the region fell ill in mid-February. On March 8, as the virus spread rapidly through northern Italy, Lombardy was placed with other northern and central areas under quarantine. This was only partially effective. As of today, there have been more than 93,000 cases reported for the Lombardy region, and the deaths of more than 16,500 residents have been blamed on the virus.
The quarantine, which included a ban on public worship and most travel outside the home, extended to the entire country on March 10. This left many priests uncertain as to how to minister to the spiritual needs of their people. In some places, authorities turned a blind eye to cautious Eucharistic and other devotional processions; in others, police fined priests for appearing outdoors without sufficient cause or even interrupted Mass.
One aspect of the coronavirus measures that troubled faithful Catholics in northern Italy was that churches were singled out for closure weeks before restaurants, swimming pools and other public venues were made to close their doors. On March 8, shortly after the nationwide ban on public gatherings, even private prayer in the churches of Rome was suspended. This decision was overturned on March 13 after Papal Almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski refused to close the doors to his titular church and displayed the Blessed Sacrament for adoration.
“It is the act of disobedience, yes, I myself put the Blessed Sacrament out and opened my church,” Krajewski said.
“It did not happen under Fascism, it did not happen under the Russian or Soviet rule in Poland — the churches were not closed,” he explained.
“This is an act that should bring courage to other priests.”
Share


lifesitenews--2020-06-27--Anglican archbishop of Canterbury: Statues ‘will have to come down…names will have to change’

PETITION : Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues !
Sign the petition here .
CANTERBURY , England , June 26 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that some statues in England ’ s principal cathedrals will have to be removed .
Justin Welby , the leading cleric of the worldwide Anglican Communion , was given an opportunity by BBC Radio 4 this morning to say that the trespasses of historical figures honoured with statues could be forgiven .
The Anglican archbishop didn ’ t take it .
“ Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we ’ ve got justice , which means that the statue needs to be put in context , ” he said .
“ Some will have to come down .
Some names will have to change .
I mean , the Church , goodness me .
You just go around Canterbury Cathedral : there ’ s monuments everywhere .
Or Westminster Abbey , ” he continued .
“ We ’ re looking into all that .
Some will have to come down , ” he repeated .
“ Yes , there can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we come together , but only if there ’ s justice.
” Welby ’ s interviewer , Justin Webb , stated that this did not sound like forgiveness .
“ You say you ’ re going to take down statues at Canterbury Cathedral , ” Webb exclaimed .
“ No , I didn ’ t say that , ” Welby replied .
“ I very carefully didn ’ t say that .
It ’ s not my decision.
” However , the Archbishop of Canterbury again indicated that some monuments might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be looking at them very carefully and putting them into context and seeing if they should be there , ” he said .
Welby then compared the removal of monuments to British dignitaries to the removal of Bolshevik Felix Dzerzhinsky , the first head of the Soviet secret police , from outside KGB headquarters in 1991 .
“ It ’ s what people do at times like this , ” the archbishop said , “ and it ’ s a good thing.
” Welby seemed to draw a line , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus Christ as a “ white European ” called for by Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King , whom the archbishop agreed was “ a thinking person.
” Asked if the way the western church portrays Jesus needed to be rethought , Welby agreed that the “ sense that God is white ” is wrong .
However , he noted that as the leader of the Anglican Communion , he had been all over the world and seen Jesus depicted differently in the churches of many countries .
“ You see a black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a Middle Eastern Jesus , which is , of course , the most accurate , ” he said .
Welby believes the way to correct the impression that God is white is not by destroying sacred art but by emphasizing who Jesus is and is not .
“ You see Jesus portrayed in as many ways as there are cultures , languages and understandings .
I don ’ t think throwing out everything we ’ ve got ( from ) the past here does it , but I do think saying ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists , that ’ s not who we worship , ” he said .
“ It is a reminder of the universality of the God who became fully human.
” It was once customary for tombs and monuments of people or local or national interest , as well as statues of saints and war memorials , to be erected in British and European churches .
There is a monument to George Gipps , the first Governor of New Zealand , in Canterbury cathedral .
Over 3,300 people have been buried or commemorated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Charles Dickens .
The iconoclasm raging through the United States , toppling statues of Christopher Columbus , Thomas Jefferson , George Washington , and St. Junipero Serra , among others , has spread to the United Kingdom , where statues of Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria have been vandalised as well as monuments to noted merchants ― and slave traders ― Robert Coulston and Robert Mulligan .
The destruction has continued farther afield in Europe , sparing not even images sacred to minority groups .
The mayor of the Dutch city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community when an outdoor shrine to the Black Madonna of Częstochowa was vandalized , the mosaic image disfigured and the altar marked with BLM .

'We’re going to be looking at them very carefully and putting them into context and seeing if they should be there,' Justin Welby said.
PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
CANTERBURY, England, June 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that some statues in England’s principal cathedrals will have to be removed.
Justin Welby, the leading cleric of the worldwide Anglican Communion, was given an opportunity by BBC Radio 4 this morning to say that the trespasses of historical figures honoured with statues could be forgiven. The Anglican archbishop didn’t take it.
“Well, we can only (forgive) if we’ve got justice, which means that the statue needs to be put in context,” he said.
“Some will have to come down. Some names will have to change. I mean, the Church, goodness me. You just go around Canterbury Cathedral: there’s monuments everywhere. Or Westminster Abbey,” he continued.
“We’re looking into all that. Some will have to come down,” he repeated.
“Yes, there can be forgiveness, I hope and pray as we come together, but only if there’s justice.”
Welby’s interviewer, Justin Webb, stated that this did not sound like forgiveness.
“You say you’re going to take down statues at Canterbury Cathedral,” Webb exclaimed.
“No, I didn’t say that,” Welby replied. “I very carefully didn’t say that. It’s not my decision.”
However, the Archbishop of Canterbury again indicated that some monuments might be removed.
“We’re going to be looking at them very carefully and putting them into context and seeing if they should be there,” he said.
Welby then compared the removal of monuments to British dignitaries to the removal of Bolshevik Felix Dzerzhinsky, the first head of the Soviet secret police, from outside KGB headquarters in 1991.
“It’s what people do at times like this,” the archbishop said, “and it’s a good thing.”
Welby seemed to draw a line, however, at the mass destruction of representations of Jesus Christ as a “white European” called for by Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King, whom the archbishop agreed was “a thinking person.”
Asked if the way the western church portrays Jesus needed to be rethought, Welby agreed that the “sense that God is white” is wrong. However, he noted that as the leader of the Anglican Communion, he had been all over the world and seen Jesus depicted differently in the churches of many countries.
“You see a black Jesus, or a Chinese Jesus, or a Middle Eastern Jesus, which is, of course, the most accurate,” he said.
Welby believes the way to correct the impression that God is white is not by destroying sacred art but by emphasizing who Jesus is and is not.
“You see Jesus portrayed in as many ways as there are cultures, languages and understandings. I don’t think throwing out everything we’ve got (from) the past here does it, but I do think saying ‘That’s not the Jesus who exists, that’s not who we worship,” he said.
“It is a reminder of the universality of the God who became fully human.”
It was once customary for tombs and monuments of people or local or national interest, as well as statues of saints and war memorials, to be erected in British and European churches. There is a monument to George Gipps, the first Governor of New Zealand, in Canterbury cathedral. Over 3,300 people have been buried or commemorated in Westminster Abbey, including Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens.
The iconoclasm raging through the United States, toppling statues of Christopher Columbus, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and St. Junipero Serra, among others, has spread to the United Kingdom, where statues of Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria have been vandalised as well as monuments to noted merchants ― and slave traders ― Robert Coulston and Robert Mulligan.
The destruction has continued farther afield in Europe, sparing not even images sacred to minority groups. The mayor of the Dutch city of Breda expressed sympathy for the local Polish community when an outdoor shrine to the Black Madonna of Częstochowa was vandalized, the mosaic image disfigured and the altar marked with BLM.
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